Where in florida should i vacation

In downtown Orlando, the newly opened Jan. Two wings of the same bird, St. Edgier St. The opening of the stunningly modern and intuitive St. Pete Pier—with its bikeable perimeter, rooftop tiki bar, beach on the bayfront, playground, and art installations—was the biggest news on the gulf coast last year. Clearwater Beach skews extra family friendly, with sands that are particularly powdery, nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60, and stylish beach resorts fronting the Gulf of Mexico that include the Sandpearl Resort , Opal Sands Resort , and the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach.

Leave the spring break mayhem to Panama City Beach. Neighboring Panama City proper is a Panhandle revelation home to an Oyster Trail with a dozen restaurants proffering the fruits of the local Gulf and a burgeoning Mural Trail , too. Less than a five-hour drive from cities like Atlanta , Birmingham, New Orleans , and Jacksonville, Panama City—with its historic downtown and easy access to the nearby sugar sand beaches of Panama City Beach—might surprise you.

Andrews , ten minutes away, a funky fishing village with streets lined with oyster shells, a few decent waterfront restaurants for a seafood meal, and pretty Oaks by the Bay Park, with its highly Instagrammable and ancient oak tree, "Old Sentry," estimated to be more than years old. The first major beach resort area you hit heading south along Interstate into Florida, the Jacksonville Beaches comprise a string of several laid-back communities. Atlantic Beach—home to the oceanfront One Ocean resort and miles of dunes backed with stately oceanfront homes—and the friendly little surf community of Neptune Beach are our favorites for their untrampeled-by-the-masses appeal.

Augustine, which claims to be the oldest city in the U. About two hours south of Tampa along the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers and nearby Sanibel are known for great shell collecting on white sand beaches so pristine you may blink to be sure they're real. Or stay on a acre nature preserve at South Seas Island Resort , also on Captiva Island, where hotel rooms, tennis villas, and entire beach homes are among the many options for staying the night.

Downtown Fort Myers is a delight to explore, with its pleasant, pedestrian friendly River District snaking along the Caloosahatchee River. Right on the river, the newly opened Sept. The Gulf Coast Visitors Center entrance is in Everglades City—an easy road trip of less than an hour southeast of Naples—where you can head out on pontoon boat cruises into the Ten Thousand Islands then feast on stone crab claws for lunch at the dockside Camellia Street Grill as air boats and fishing boats cruise past.

For a beautiful beach stay that will facilitate all those nature outings and plenty of strolls past the outdoor cafes along Naples' Fifth Avenue, make your base LaPlaya Beach Resort or Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples.

While the state eats, sleeps, and breathes tourism, deciding exactly where to visit in Florida can prove to be the hardest part. Any kind of traveler can enjoy a trip to Florida because the state has it all: theme parks for the family, nature adventures for the outdoorsy, historical significance for the curious, and tons of activities for thrill-seekers.

Think of the Palm Beaches as a fast pass to the best of Florida. Out west, you can book airboat tours of the Everglades or get up close and personal with rhinos, giraffes, and zebras at Lion Country Safari , a drive-through cageless zoo spread over acres.

Across the bridge, West Palm Beach has a big-city feel without the big-city headaches of traffic and congestion. Take the free trolley between Clematis Street, Rosemary Square , and the waterfront, or head out to Grandview Public Market and Elizabeth Ave Station in the up-and-coming Warehouse District, where hipsters and cool kids gather to dine and shop. As the oldest city in America, St. Augustine has had a lot of time to get it right.

Settlers arrived in the mids and some still-standing spots, like the Fountain of Youth and Castillo de San Marcos, date back almost that far. In St. Visit during St. For a taste of old-world elegance, St. Francis Inn — built in — is a bed and breakfast that perfectly captures the spirit of the city and all there is to love about homey accommodations. Things to Do in Gainesville. The nearby barrier island and its wonderful beaches are a perfect place for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing, with the most popular being Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach.

Take the kids to the lush, tropical Jacksonville Zoo to see elephants close up. Visit the 16th-century Forth Caroline National Memorial to learn about the times when the French ruled this part of Florida. Things to Do in Jacksonville. Visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, where colorful butterflies fly freely from flower to flower.

Check out the foot Key West lighthouse and enjoy the views of the ocean all around you. Things to Do in Key West. A city of colorful, unique neighborhoods, visitors will love the pastel-hued art deco architecture of the Art Deco district, the Latin energy and music at Little Havana, the fancy luxury hotels and fabulous beaches at Miami Beach, a sense of history at Coral Gables, and unique shopping at Coconut Grove. Some of the best country golf courses are in Miami, as are some of the best baseball, basketball, football, and hockey teams.

And all around is the sea, with opportunities for fantastic deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, boating, sailing, and diving as well as watching dolphins and other marine life. Things to Do in Miami. Top sights, 4 day road trip map, weather, 24 hour restaurants, 48 hours in, cheapest good restaurants for families with dogs, beaches near me, directions, events, spa resorts, elevation, summer, nice pools, healthy, romantic restaurants, forest, buffet, city, tree, dinner, rentals, tent, flight, upscale, under water, pools: Best beaches near Tampa , Southern Florida , Florida beaches , Shelling Beaches in Florida , Weekend in Florida , Underwater hotel Florida , Best camping in Florida , Key Largo Beaches They stretch on both sides of the popular city icon, the Naples Pier, a lively spot for fishing or watching passing dolphins.

When you get tired of lying on the beach, take the kids to the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, located on small islands in the artificial lake. It is fun watching the animals from a boat. Catch a performance of the Naples Philharmonic and see diverse art at the Baker Museum at the Artis—Naples center for the arts.

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Louis Peterkin - Fotolia. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the county consists of several charming small towns where the visitors can enjoy swimming in the warm Gulf waters as well as boating, fishing, hiking, and bird watching.

The most visited is the town of St. Marks, with only permanent residents. If you want to see a different side to Orlando, hop on a boat and visit the vast Everglades or see Kennedy Space Center. Things to Do in Orlando , Beaches near Orlando. Weekend getaways, top 10 things to do, places to visit near me, East, West, North, South, cheap family vacation activities for birthday, hot tub, whirlpool, public transport by train, local bus, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, relaxing parks, coffee near me: Things to Do in Colorado Springs , St.

Its fantastic beaches and rich nightlife make it a popular destination for thousands of students during the spring break. Younger kids prefer Gulf World Marine Park, where they can swim with dolphins, or Shipwreck Island Waterpark with its pools and waterslides.

Take a boat tour to see the dolphins or throw a line off Russell-Fields Pier. Things to Do in Panama City Beach. You are reading "25 Best Places to Visit in Florida" Back to Top or More weekend getaways, what to do near me, must see attractions, stuff to do near me Places to eat near me, coffee shops, flea, farmers market, tropical honeymoon trip finder, wedding venues near me, lunch, brunch, restaurant near me, RV camp, cruise, hotel, where to stay, sandy beach by car: Santa Barbara Restaurants , Things to Do in Toronto , Columbia Wedding , Things to Do in Norwalk , Things to Do in Cheyenne , Caves in Iowa , Things to Do in Mesa The Everglades consists of coastal mangroves, pine flatwoods, and sawgrass marshes that provide a home to hundreds of species of animals, some of them rare and endangered such as the manatee, American crocodile, Florida panther, and leatherback turtle.

The best way to experience the magic of the Everglades is by taking a quiet walk along one of many boardwalk trails, a boat guided tour of the Ten Thousand Islands or Florida Bay, or a tram ride through fascinating Shark Valley. If you are lucky and patient, you might spot an alligator sunning itself on a log in addition to deer or one of many wading birds.

Romantic weekend getaways near me, spring break, places to live, what to do near me, coffee, breakfast restaurants, when you are bored, sea vacation, relaxing overnight trips, no-contact delivery, pickup, rainy day trips, cabin camping, best small beach towns to retire: Savannah , Oregon , South Carolina , Portsmouth , Fort Collins , Corpus Christi Wedding , Vancouver BC , Romantic Weekend Getaways in South Dakota The island is surrounded by magnificent beaches and is famous for its breathtaking sunsets, historic lighthouses, and thousands of shells that provide endless entertainment to tourists who collect them as souvenirs.

The best thing to do on Sanibel is absolutely nothing, in one of many luxury resorts all around the island. If swimming, snorkeling, boating, and sunset watching are not enough for you, visit J. Things to Do in Sanibel. You are reading "25 Best Places to Visit in Florida" Back to Top or Getting married, lunch near me, romantic things to do, places around me Weekend trips, what is a great day trip destination, couples getaway, romantic hotels, unique places to stay, East, North, West, South, cheap getaways, staycation, must visit islands, botanical gardens, hamburgers, bbq, snowboarding, skiing, trailer parks near me, hot springs, quick trip: Florida vacations , Sunflower fields in Florida , Best Cedar Key, FL Beaches , Spring Break Florida , Lewiston Today, the Ringling Museum of Art hosts numerous events, concerts, and plays and showcases work from the Old Masters as well as modern art.

After spending some time on the fine sands of Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach, go see sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and other marine animals at the Mote Marine Laboratory.

Catch a fascinating Sarasota Ski-A-Rees waterskiing show or rent a kayak or paddleboard and go see dolphins close up in the bay. Things to Do in Sarasota.