trip to florida story

17 recommended reads for those traveling to Florida

For anyone planning a trip to florida or looking for some armchair travel.

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To many, Florida is a vacation destination full of salty palm tree lined beaches, busy theme parks, orange groves, humid weather, and vibrant cities. While all that is true, as a lifelong native Floridian, I know my home state is also wild, breathtakingly gorgeous, industrial, occasionally dangerous, weird, romantic, and sometimes frustrating. And I am very excited to share titles that reflect these many sides of the Sunshine State. 

I won’t lie. Life in South Florida can often feel like a real life Jimmy Buffett song, especially after going to the beach and “watchin’ the sun bake all of those tourists covered in oil.” Don’t get me started on how many times I have blown out a flip flop! And not to mention being taught at a young age how to avoid alligators and prep for hurricanes. 

With all that in mind, I wanted to make sure to showcase a real sense of place in today’s list. With a state so huge and varied (it would take over 13 hours to drive from the Southernmost point in Key West to Pensacola in the Panhandle), there is an abundance to discover. There are over 80 unique and fragile ecosystems found here including the Everglades, hardwood hammock forests, rivers, scrubs, lakes, mangroves, swamps, intercoastal waterways, and oceans. And of course, the culturally rich cities, exciting amusement parks, and island beach settings as well. 

Florida often finds itself as the punchline in jokes about its residents, weather, and activities. Just ask my husband Chad about the 2000 election recount. (I actually spent the summer of 2001 working for the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office, but that is a story for another time!) However, the recent book banning and limits by our state government officials are no laughing matter. It is an important uphill battle in a state normally known for its lack of elevation and hills. I am particularly grateful to our many booksellers, authors, librarians, teachers, and residents working tirelessly to keep books on shelves and in readers’ hands. 

Times like these make our independent bookstores true rays of literary light, like Sunshine Book Co. in Clermont, Femme Fire Books in Jacksonville, Hello Again Books in Cocoa, Midtown Reader and Common Ground Books in Tallahassee, Books & Books in various locations (including a Key West outpost co-owned by the Judy Blume), Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Sundog Books in Seaside, and soon to open The Lynx from author Lauren Groff in Gainesville. The Sunshine state even got its first romance bookstore when Mel Saavedra opened the fantastic Steamy Lit Bookstore in Deerfield Beach a few weeks ago. If you do find yourself visiting, I highly recommend stopping by these special shops and attending their fabulous events or supporting them from afar. Plus for the past few years, I have had the incredible opportunity to partner with the amazing Miami Book Fair , an annual street fair and literary festival organized by Miami Dade College and Books & Books owner Mitch Kaplan to promote their awesome events and offerings. 

If you’re interested in reading about sunshine, margaritas, mosquitos, key lime pie, late afternoon thunderstorms, sunscreen, and cheeseburgers in paradise, I have made sure to include a wide range of genres to pick from. There’s a bit of everything on this list including nonfiction, mysteries and thrillers, romances, sci-fi, and short stories, too. And of course, there are many more fabulous Floridian authors and books that are set here. I couldn’t list them all if I wanted to! Please make sure to chime in with your favorite Sunshine State reads in the comments, cause this Florida Woman can’t wait to hear all about them.

Literary Tourism: Florida

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Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades

Mango, Mambo, and Murder (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery)

A Lakeside Reunion

Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean

Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland

Snow Falling

The Thing about Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State

Gift from the Sea

The House on Biscayne Bay

Their Eyes Were Watching God

With Love, from Cold World

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Annihilation (The Southern Reach Trilogy Book 1)

Too Like the Lightning

Which books set in Florida have you read and loved? Please tell us all about them in the comments section!

P.S. 17 recommended reads for those traveling to Hawai’i , 15 recommended reads for those traveling to Michigan , and   more literary tourism . 

About the author

Brigid Misselhorn is our MMD Book Club Community Administrator. Her go-to genres are mystery, romance, and sci-fi. You can find Brigid on Instagram @brigid_emily .

82 comments

What perfect timing – we are visiting Key West and the Marathon area next week! It’s our first time. I downloaded No Words to enjoy by the pool, and will definitely be stopping by Judy Blume’s bookstore! If anyone has any other recommendations for restaurants/bars/activities let me know! We are doing a fishing trip one day but other than that no schedule.

Oh perfect timing, Sarah! If you will be driving down from the Miami area highly recommend a pit stop at Robert is Here fruit stand for local produce, milkshakes, and the unique animals. For food and drink, we love Lazy Days and Florida Keys Brewing on Islamorada, Kiki’s on Little Torch Key, and Two Friends Patio in Key West. The Hemingway House is a fun and interesting visit and our favorite souvenir getting a pair of handmade sandals from Kino’s Sandals in Key West. Y’all will have so much fun! So glad you anre planning a stop at Books &Books too. Enjoy the Conch Republic.

Thank you!!!

I haven’t read the House on Biscayne Bay yet, but LOVED The Last Train to Key West – don’t read about the event this historical fiction book is based upon, just read it!:-)

Last Train To Key West—yes!! I have become a Chanel Cleeton completist.

Hi Anne and readers! I’m leaving for my first trip to Scotland in a few weeks and would love a fantastic fictional read to get me ready. I loved the Outlander series and like Anne, I love epic family dramas. Currently reading Family Family, loved Demon Copperhead, A Frozen River and Tom Lake to give you 3 of my sort of favorite recent books.

We published a Literary Tourism post for Scotland a while back: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/literary-tourism-scotland/ Happy travels!

ESPECIALLY if you liked Outlander, I highly recommend The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. It was incredible in audio format.

My favorite Florida book is a tie between The Orchid Thief and The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton. I loved that last one because of all the history with the hurricane and Flagler’s railroad, so I’m putting your nonfiction selection about that on my TBR! Oh, it’s also more like a thriller than Cleeton’s other books, so that was really entertaining!

Courtney, love The Orchid Thief too, it is SO Florida. I think you would enjoy Gator Country above cause it has the same feels. And yes, Last Train to Paradise would be a great pairing with The Last Train to Key West!

I loved The Last Train to Key West which is a historical fiction account of the railroad and the Labor Day hurricane. It weaves together the stories of three very very different women and was one of those stories that draws you in and you can’t put it down. Now I’ll have to read the non-fiction book you recommended about Henry Flagler!

Hope you enjoy it, Jen! And if you haven’t read Banyan Moon by Thai Thao yet, I think you would enjoy its Florida setting and story of three generations of Vietnamese American women.

I used to drive to Florida from Maryland to visit my retired parents. They retired first to Zephyrhills, later they lived in Lakeland. On my last car trip to Florida, I listened to these CD audiobooks in the car: – Cosmos, Carl Sagan (updated with other authors’ introductions) – In Other Words, Jhumpa Lahiri (a memoir about learning Italian) – Unlucky 13, James Patterson – Notes From Underground, Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I didn’t know Dexter was based on a book series!

Oh Melanie, you are in for a gruesome treat if you liked the TV series! I was very impressed by the author’s audiobook narration when I read them years ago.

Love Carl Hiassen. Tourist Season and Native Tongue are my favorites.

Also, the Islamorada Fish Company is great. I would go back for the coconut crusted grouper (and, I am not a Florida person).

Thos are great ones, Abigail! I also love Hiassen’s books for younger readers like Hoot.

My husband has enjoyed the Randy Wayne White series of novels. He even has restaurants named after the Doc Ford character (in Sanibel, Fort Myers, Captiva Island and St. Pete).

Karen, my mother in law loves that Doc Ford series and we have been talking about needing to go over to one of the restaurants. And enjoy Sanibel and Captiva too!

I’ve only read one of the Doc Ford series, but I really did love his Hannah Smith series which has some crossover with Doc Ford here and there.

Whoa! Never knew the book tie-in to the restaurants–this Florida girl is intrigued! Also, a shout-out to Book and Bottle in St. Pete for the winning coffee+wine+books combination!

Megan, I have Book and Bottle on my list as a must visit for the next time we are in St. Pete! Love the sound of that combo.

Hello from Fort Myers! What a great list of book. Just added a bunch to my TBR. I would also include “Devil in the Grove” by Gilbert King. It’s narrative nonfiction that exposes the history of the orange industry and the racism deeply embedded in Florida’s past. As a transplant to Florida, it was eye-opening.

Waving hi from across the state, Jane! And thank you for that recommendation, I just saw it in the FL section of a bookstore last weekend and wondered about it.

The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor and the Murphy Shepherd Trilogy by Charles Martin are amazing Florida books!

Candice! I didn’t know Charles Martin had a Florida-based series. Thank you for sharing.

I read The Water Keeper, the first in Charles Martin’s series, a few months back and loved it! A great story, and so absolutely full of Florida atmosphere

As a native Floridian myself I love this article for so many reasons. I am so excited to read some of these. And I was really hoping you would recommend a Carl Hiassen book I hadn’t read. 🙌🏽 Also, I would add To Have and to Have Not which is one of my favorites by Ernest Hemingway.

Oh yes, we definitely need an Ernest Hemminway recommendation! Hope you love the Hiassen you haven’t read. It is wild and wacky!

I really liked Light Pirate by Lily Brooks- Dalton- a dystopian read of Florida after too many hurricanes- very good! These are great pics, Brigid and from the comments! We ive in Florida part time, so I will be sure to look some up!

Ooh I need to add that one to my TBR, Kate. Thank you!

I came here to recommend The Light Pirate too. Great book.

I loved The Light Pirate! It’s a very interesting post-apocalyptic-type book.

Thanks for these book recommendations, I grew up in Gainesville, Florida!

Cross Creek by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is a great Florida book, it’s interesting to read about her rural 1930s life, and it’s interesting to be able to visit her same house and land today.

One of my favorite Florida authors is Tim Dorsey! His books are similar to Carl Hiaasen mixed with Dexter, to reference two other Florida books listed here, haha.

He has two reoccurring main characters, Serge and Coleman, who I picture looking like the two main characters in the “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” movie.

Tim Dorsey unfortunately passed away recently. We are lucky to have so many Tim Dorsey books that remain for us!

I was just chatting about Tim Dorsey with a reader friend. So sad that he passed but agree his books are a fun mix of Hiaasen and Dexter! Dorsey grew up really close to me and his settings are so fun to read.

I would add all of John D. Macdonald’s work to the Florida list. The Travis McGee “Color” books are a great place to start.

Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen was a 2008 National Book Award winner and one of my all time favorite books. It’s not a light read, but it’s an excellent one. The time period is late 1800’s through early 1900’s and I learned so much about history and environmental impact of activities happening in FL at that time. I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed The Lola Quartet, which doesn’t exclusively take place in Florida, but I thought the Florida scenes were so well done.

The Light Pirate!! Oh my word did that book touch my heart!! I had a hangover for about a week after reading that book!

I have a love hate relationship with Florida. I graduated from The University of Tampa and lived in Tampa for 6 years. My mom and sister live in the Tampa Bay area. I’m back in my home state of WI and now my trans daughter cannot safely visit Florida, which I find to be immensely sad. I hope that one day Florida can learn to accept all humans and treat them kindly. I did very much appreciate your bookstore list. My mother and I will surely add some of these to our list. Thank you!

Totally understand your love-hate relationship, Stacie and truly hope that for Florida too. Thank you for reading and think y’all will love visiting the bookstores! There are so many more that I couldn’t list them all but did my best to highlight some great ones.

Hi Brigid, thanks so much for this great list of books. As a recent Florida resident snow bird I’ll look forward to many of them. Here are a few of my finds:Non fiction, Ringling, The Florida Years, 1911-1936. About the Ringling’ family impact on Sarasota. Fiction in the humor category is Tim Dorsey is a hoot, but may not be for everyone. He often goes over the edge a bit. John D MacDonald, mysteries, all set in Florida and then there is Randy Wayne White. His books are mysteries set with often a marine biology perspective. My husband has checked out many of the sea life info from the books & have found them to be accurate. Also a new find is a wonderful Indi book store in downtown Sarasota. Bookstore One.

Thank you, Helen! Adding Bookstore One to the list.

The Incredible Winston Browne, by Sean Dietrich — great as an audiobook! I can’t remember if the fictional town of Moab is meant to be in “LA” — Lower Alabama — or in north Florida, but the two are pretty interchangeable so it doesn’t matter too much.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank is excellent and no longer as widely read. It takes place during the Cold War and is a fictionalized portrayal of a group of survivors following a nuclear bomb. It does have a few scenes of 1950s language regarding race portrayal but overall is a classic Florida tale.

I have not heard this mentioned for decades! It’s a great one that has stayed with me!

Megan, this is another one I have a copy of sitting unread on my bookshelf. Thank you for the suggestion and reminder!

Great list and lots to add to my tbr list The Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith is so far my all time favorite about Florida. Takes place in the 1800’s and goes until the early 1960’s about a family that is driving cattle. It’s so good!

I came to suggest A Land Remembered! In my Top Ten Best Books Ever!

For a magical realism take on Florida, I love Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. Her short stories also often take place in Florida and are always weird and wonderful.

I love the southern Reach series and Their Eyes are Watching God is one of my favorite books. I recommend A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens by Raul Palma.

Oooh, I have seen this one around Sarah and think I need to add it to my TBR for the fall. Did you find it to be really scary? (Asking for my scaredy cat self!)

This is such a great list! So many titles I love and some I had never heard of but just added to my list! This perfectly captures the many sides Florida and now I want to plan a Florida bookstore road trip!

Wendy Wax’s Ten Beach Road series, especially the House on Mermaid Point. I agree wholeheartedly with Carl Hiassen an any o his books and the Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton. I love the Keys!!!

How fun, Julie! I have heard of some of Wendy Wax’s other books but did not know about her Ten Beach Road series. thank you for the rec!

A avid reader and 44 year resident of Fl. I have enjoyed quite a few books about this beautiful and fun state. I would recommend A Land Remembered by Patrick D Smith for YA and adult readers. Marias song by Eugenia Price Historical fiction. Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen Turn of the century True Crime. Tourist Season Carl Hassan and I read every Travis McGee adventure in the 80’s. Great detective stories John D Macdonald. Cheers from St. Augustine!

I would add Southernmost by Silas House, set in Key West. An excellent literary fiction read that also partially takes place in Kentucky. Also, Lee Smith’s “Silver Alert” is supposed to be excellent.

Would also add Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! A dark literary/fantastic realism book set at a fictional theme park in Florida.

As a recovering Floridian myself, I appreciate this list very much. I want to recommend a title that is no doubt under everyone’s radar. “In Troubled Waters” by Beverly Coyle was written in the early 90s. It’s a family drama centered on a man in his 90s, while the drama revolves around overcoming institutionalized racism, as well as facing other societal issues. It is well written and it hooks you. We studied it in my 1999 high school English class because our teacher knew the author, but I have purchased and reread it several times in recent years. A great Florida read!

Thanks for these segments that focus on different states, so interesting. I second Susan Orlean’s Orchid Thief, fascinating non fiction. Carl Hiassen’s irreverent books have given me hours of laughter, (Squeeze Me not so much). Carrying Albert Home has Florida as the characters’ destination & they arrive at the time of the hurricane. And, having lived in Houston & now south central Texas, when I travel I head north.

Marilyn, I have had a copy of Carrying Albert Home for years and need to read it! Thank you for the reminder.

This is a perfect and perfectly wonderful post. I love literary traveling! What a lovely range of books to read. Thank you!

Such perfect timing! We are spending the month of Feb in Florida to get away from the NJ winter. Love these options.

I’d also highly recommend Fern & Fable Books in Ormond Beach (near Daytona). Just over the bridge from the beach next to the bustling restaurants and bars of downtown. It has a wide range of fiction and non, a special “banned books” shelf, YA, as well as the most adorable kids’ room. The owner makes an effort to bring diverse authors’ books into the store.

Adding this one to my list to visit for sure. Thank you, Natalie!

Yay Florida! Also Writer’s Block in Winter Park & Winter Garden!! And for used in the Orlando area, Ocoee Book Rack, Joybird Books & Walls of Books. I looooove a good bookstore visit. Love Sunshine Books and Hello Again, but I think Tombolo is my very favorite of all that you mentioned – I’m adding the rest to my list!

Oh, thank you for mentioning Joybird and Writer’s Block, Jenny! I love those bookstores too and have added the others you recommended to my list. With such a huge state, it was hard to narrow down the list of stores to mention so I tried to get at least one from each area that I could. Have you been to Spellbound Bookstore and Maya Books & Music in Sanford or Muse Bookstore in DeLand? We went to all three recently and loved them.

As a young teen, my grandmother (a lifelong Floridian), introduced me to the wonderful books of Floridian Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. My favorite is her memoir Cross Creek. It’s about her life in the small backwater town of Cross Creek and the struggles of managing an orange grove. Her descriptions of the beauty of central Florida were spot on, and reminded me of visiting my grandparents each summer. I believe there was a movie adaptation; a very young Mary Steenburgen played the author. Definitely a book that describes the Florida of long ago.

Great list. Dave Barry’s book is a must-read! Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead, which takes place in Tallahassee, is another must read.

Thank you, David! So glad you added Nickle Boys to the recommendations.

Please, please, please add Southernmost by Silas House. Such a moving read. Also, if focusing on Key West – Lucy Burdette Mysteries. I thought I was too high brow to read one, and it was admittedly a little bit corny, but it was funny and she mentions so. many. real people and places in Key West that I spent half of my vacation there pointing and saying, “Oh my gosh. That place is described in the book I’m reading!” I even met Suzanne the owner of the used bookstore – Key West Island Books and felt like I already knew her because she is described in Lucy’s books. She went on to tell me about other friends from Key West who are featured as characters in Lucy’s books. It was very cool! Also Island Affair and Anchored Hearts are the titles of two light hearted tropey romance novels set in Key West written by Priscilla Oliveras. Both feature the same Latino family who run a popular Cuban restaurant on the island. Both books mention tons of real Key West locations and elements of Cubano Key West culture.

These are such great recommendations, Sarah! I have got to look up the Lucy Burdette mysteries, they sound right up my alley. And so glad you mentioned Priscilla Oliveras’ romances! I enjoyed Island Affair and need to pick up Anchored Hearts sometime.

Almost every summer, we vacation in St. George Island, Florida. There is a charming local bookstore nearby in Apalachicola called Downtown Books and Purl. It’s worth a visit if you’re ever in that area. Happy reading!

Thank you, Laura! It has been about 20 years since I visited beautiful St. George and Apalachicola which is far too long. Adding it to the list.

Laura, I was just in that bookstore Saturday! We rode over from SGI to eat and shop. I came to recommend the Forgotten Coast series by Dawn Lee McKenna that take place there in Eastpoint, Apalachicola and St. George Island. They are short books, but oh so good! You will fall in love with the characters, and on your next visit to Apalachicola, you’ll find yourself looking for the landmarks and trying to spot the characters…she makes them so REAL!

Being a long-time Floridian, Carl Hiaasen has been my favorite author to write about Florida. I enjoy his humor and find it spot on with his fictional characters who are not hard to picture as real.

Great list of TBRs – I LOVE Randy Wayne White and Doc Ford restaurants. I LOVE Chanel Cleeton and can’t wait for the new book. And I really liked “A Land Remembered” by Patrick D Smith – nonfiction book about old Florida (Or maybe historical fiction?) – I was told that in parts of Florida it is required reading in middle schools – great picture into old Florida! (Condo in Stuart on east coast – LOVE Florida – currently laid up with a broken hip!)

The Light Pirate depicts a dystopian future Florida where hurricanes and flooding have created a rewilded water world. I loved the characters, the eerie feels, the little hints of magic, the strong sense of place, how the words flow like the water-essentially everything. This is a beautiful coming of age story in addition to an all too imaginable cli-fi story. Totally recommend it!

Thank you for this list. I’ve lived in Palm Beach county since I was 10 and I usually avoid lists about Florida books because they never seem to capture what it is “really” like here, but your list was excellent and I added a bunch to my tbr. Make sure you add Rohi’s Readery to your list of must visit bookstores. It is the excellent Children’s social justice bookstore here in West Palm Beach. As for other Florida books, the Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead and Bright Young Women are both set in the Tallahassee area.

Here are a few more to add to the list: Float Plan by Trish Doller Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams

If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend Eugenia Price’s Florida Trilogy ( Don Juan McQueen, Maria, and Margaret’s Story) which takes place in the 1800’s. Our visit to St Augustine a few years ago was inspired by the book Maria, and you can tour the homes of some of the characters in the story.

I haven’t read the House on Biscayne Bay yet, but LOVED The Last Train to Key West – don’t read about the event this historical fiction book is based upon, just read it!:-)

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10 Great Works of Literature About Los Angeles

The w south beach: the hotel is the holiday, 6 fascinating facts about bourbon from ‘bourbon empire’.

10 Great Works of Literature about Florida

The best books about Florida tend toward what are arguably that state’s sleaziest features–its seedy backwaters (literal and other), its wayward characters, its activities of dubious legality. In other words, you won’t find a reflection of your retired grandparents’ condo anywhere in this literature (unless your grandparents are seriously exceptional examples of such).

If you’re heading to Florida, here are 10 all-time-best books about the state that will help you better appreciate the visit…  

Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard Before Quentin Tarantino adapted this book to film, moved it to LA and renamed it Jackie Brown, it took place in West Palm Beach and Miami, where Jackie is running dirty money into the U.S. from Jamaica. A lot of trouble ensues.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell Set largely in the Ten Thousands Islands just off the coast of southern Florida, this debut novel hugs the line between the fantastical and reality to mesmerizing effect, as the Bigtree Family’s alligator-based amusement park is run out of business by a newer and flashier park on the mainland.

The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean This strangely charming account of a Florida man’s attempt to smuggle more than 200 rare orchids out of the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, in hopes of cloning them, comes from one of America’s smoothest essayists.

Pioneer, Go Home! by Richard Powell Powell based this 1959 novel on real-life events surrounding the building of a bridge from mainland Florida to Pine Island in the Gulf of Mexico and the squatters who took advantage of it. Fun fact: The novel was adapted to the screen in the form of the Elvis Presley movie  Follow That Dream.

Rabbit at Rest by John Updike Here is the only book on the list that concerns itself with Florida retirees. Updike’s unforgettable Rabbit, after three previous books, has headed to Florida, and his trademark domestic troubles follow him.

Miami by Joan Didion This journey into the Cuban communities of Miami during their most harried, paranoid period is pessimistic, detached and full of the right details. In other words, it’s quintessential Didion.

Continental Drift by Russell Banks Two characters head to Florida, one an American man who’s discontented with his comfortable, if unexciting, existence; the other a Haitian woman in search of simple opportunity. Their fates meet, to riveting effect.

Miami Blues by Charles Willeford The Florida crime novel can be considered a genre unto itself, and Willeford was a recent master of it (more recent practitioners include Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry). Miami Blues is his best known work and the first one featuring Hoke Moseley, a Miami detective who in this case is investigating a quadruple homicide.

To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway A tough Key West fisherman starts running contraband materials, including humans, between Cuba and the United States during the Great Depression. Things don’t turn out great.

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Your picks are all great but the number 1 all time is “A Land Remembered”

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Our First Family Road Trip… We Did the Drive to Florida

New Year, New Travels

Necessity is the mother of invention and sadly — for us — the “father” of new experiences. The year 2012 started sadly for me with the loss of my father , and ended much the same way with the loss of my father-in-law. Thanks to him we have had many wonderful visits to see him in Florida , and his sudden passing presented us not only with grief and sadness but also with a new challenge. We had an unplanned and un-budgeted-for family road trip to Florida. Flights were out of the question. We had to drive.

I may have mentioned it here before once or a dozen times, but we are not car people. My kids complained for the ten minutes we’d have to drive to activities or the grocery store. They did amazing on our family  road trip across Alberta. But the longest leg on that trip was four hours. The drive to Florida from Toronto takes anywhere from 20-24 hours depending on where you’re going and which route you take. I reached out to my wonderful family travel community for advice and got some great road trip tips that served us well.

The general consensus was to break it up into at least two days, with at least one overnight stay. According to our various online map generators, our drive to Florida would take roughly 21 hours. And that’s not accounting for stops for gas, washroom breaks, food, etc. We needed to get to Tarpon Springs , which is just outside of Tampa. The drive to Tampa is a bit longer and not as direct as the one to Orlando, thus the additional couple of hours.

And we did it, and we survived! Here is the gist of our trip:

Our First Family Road Trip: Getting There…

For the drive down we left at 9pm after our daughter’s Christmas concert. We packed up the car while silently cursing at the size of the Christmas gifts that we had to bring with us. I modified my road trip tips for a longer drive… The car was recently tuned up and I had a cooler bag and a snack bag within reach. I also had a bag of supplies close by with wipes, a stash of grocery bags to use for garbage and/or carsickness. (We were blessedly vomit-free in both directions!) I had all of our documents and our map and directions info on my iPad — these were the (ha!) days before everyone had GPS and using data in the US for us was unthinkably expensive.

Our son (then 3.5yrs) fell asleep by 9:45pm, and my daughter was up a little later. But both of them mostly slept straight through until a rest stop around 8:30am in North Carolina . We stopped for breakfast in Statesville, NC for about an hour, where I also got the kids out of their pajamas and washed faces/brushed teeth. We continued on to Savannah and got there around 3pm. Savannah was my stop choice even though it was much further than halfway. But I always wanted to visit there and I’m glad we made the effort. We were pretty much write-offs after checking in to our hotel and getting dinner, but we had a great sleep. My husband and I were both out by 8pm which is unheard of for us grown-ups! We then had a wonderful morning exploring Savannah before continuing on to Florida.

Our First Family Road Trip: The Second Leg…

We left Savannah for Florida at 1:30pm, and got to my brother-in-law’s place in Tarpon Springs by 7:30pm. Oddly, the second leg of the drive, at 6 hours, felt a lot longer than the first, which was 18 hours altogether.

Our First Family Road Trip: A Visit to the Mouse

We delighted the kids with a surprise visit to Walt Disney World after spending Christmas with family and attending my father-in-law’s memorial. More on that later, of course, but suffice to say a visit to “The Happiest Place on Earth”, no matter how busy, is wonderful during the Holiday Season and a great place to lift your spirits and close out a challenging year.

After our magical visit we figured we’d just dawdle our way back north to Toronto after visiting Disney, but we all just wanted to get home.

Our First Family Road Trip: Getting Home…

We’d decided to spend the night in St. Augustine, for pretty much the same reason we opted to visit Savannah on the way down. I heard St. Augustine was beautiful and historic and I was hoping for a little wander.

But my husband wasn’t feeling well and we were all shattered. So instead of exploring America’s oldest town, we checked into a hotel near I95, had McDonalds for our New Year’s Eve dinner, and headed for home at around 11am on New Year’s Day. We were going to play it by ear, but ultimately decided to “Give ‘er” and go for the drive home straight. We stopped for gas and snacks in West Virginia. There I changed the kids into their jammies (troupers after being in the car all day) and we blasted into the night.

We made it home from our first family road trip shortly after 5am. We carried the sleeping kids to their beds, unloaded the car as quickly as we could, and fell into bed ourselves. Luckily, the kids slept until 9:45, so we actually managed a solid four hours of sleep. It felt awesome.

The family travel community was incredibly supportive and offered a wealth of tips, but probably the one that stuck out most came from Linda Kramer who used to run a blog called Travels with Children .

She said, “If the kids are happy, keep driving no matter how hungry YOU are or how much you need to use the bathroom. The kids will let you know when they’re restless, and that’s a good time for a break. If they’re quiet and content (or especially sleeping) do not interrupt it or you may not get the peace back again for quite some time.”

Final Thoughts on Our First Family Road Trip:

Although the reason for this trip was sad, I’m glad we did it. The drives were actually quite cathartic after our crazy year. My husband and I managed to have long conversations about important and unimportant things that we never seem to have or make time for.

Also? This trip felt empowering. We would never have attempted this drive unless we had to. And since we did it, so many places that seemed out of reach since we could not justify the cost of flights became totally doable. New York City , Chicago , Philadelphia… Eight to ten hour drives were no longer daunting. The next one we did was North Carolina !

Our only regret was not realizing the power and freedom of the family road trip much sooner.

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• Baby & Toddler Road Trip Tips
• Tips & Advice for Road Trips with Baby
• Lessons Learned from Driving to Florida
• Driving Baby: Safety Tips for the Car
• Tips & Information for Traveling with Babies & Toddlers
• The Complete Guide to Baby Travel Gear
• Legal and Safe Car Seat & Stroller Alternatives
• Printable Baby Travel Packing Lists

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drive to florida , family road trip , Preferred Family , road trip tips

13 Responses to Our First Family Road Trip… We Did the Drive to Florida

You are both troopers! Our NY-FL drive was a haul I hope never to repeat, but it did allow us to see parts of the country we’ve never seen before.

I’ve made the Indiana to Florida road trip many a time with my kids and I’m happy we finally settled in Tampa. Those long car trips can be daunting and then add it the prep work and clean up after the trip and it reminds me while I only attempt them once or twice a year. We produced a very fun family video on getting your car road ready for vacation. You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDzTfYyn9ms&feature=youtu.be .

I also wrote a blog about the 8 Essential Items to Pack for a vacation. I’d love to share it:

http://destinationsafety.com/8-essential-items-to-pack-for-vacation/

Neither of these contents are available Marcia at # Care to repost please?? Thanks

I have heard that Florida is a great place to stop if you’re thinking of taking a road trip with the family. They have so many different theme parks!

Hi just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the

pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.

I’ve tried it in

two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.

Weird – they’re loading ok for me. Thanks for the heads up, Willis!

I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God

Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

I came across your site and see that you have a spot for reviews and deals for your followers.

We would like to recognize your blog by giving you a $500 travel savings gift card to Travel Set Go, a private discount travel site that offers discounted hotel rates at over 200,000 locations worldwide.

Travel Set Go guarantees its hotel rates with taxes included will always be lower than Expedia, Kayak etc. or you will be refunded 110% of the difference.

Please contact me if you would like to test our site and we will get you set up right away.

Traveling from IL to FL this month end with my family in my camry car with full packed luggage .

Would like to know where I need to break my journey which area wil be a good

What measure I need to take during this trip will be there any snowfall or storms or any hurdles which you can think about.

How to break my journey which help me to take a safe journey and to avoid long driving stress.

Please suggest me ..

Hi Chinni! Safe travels to you. When we did the drive it was shortly before Christmas, and we literally traveled through four seasons. The blizzard in the Smokey Mountains (at night) was particularly scary. Best to be prepared for anything, and don’t rush. Good luck!

Hi, This is an amazing article and you explained it very well I loved it. Thank you for sharing this great post.

This was cute. And very interesting. I am sorry for hubbys loss.😪

These trips seem to be very suitable for small families.

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16 Unique Florida Experiences: Discover Unforgettable Adventures

• By Site Staff
• January 18, 2024
• In Florida Travel

Are you planning a vacation to Florida? Get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure! Beyond the theme parks and beaches, Florida offers many unique experiences you won't find anywhere else.

Get close to rare wildlife like manatees, crocodiles and panthers in the vast Everglades National Park. Travel back in time to ancient native settlements in the Florida Keys. Everywhere you turn, heart-pounding thrills and breathtaking views await.

Whether you're a nature lover, history buff, art enthusiast or thrill seeker, you'll discover activities tailored to your interests.

Swim with gentle manatees, explore mysterious caverns underground or witness a rocket launch into space - Florida truly offers one-of-a-kind adventures for everyone.

Start getting excited about the unforgettable experiences that will make your Florida vacation a trip to remember.

This guide will fuel your sense of wonder and curiosity as you uncover this diverse state's natural beauty, cultural treasures and thrilling attractions. Let the adventure begin!

Unique Florida Experiences

Let's learn more about these unique experiences that are essential to your Floridian adventure.

1. Bioluminescent Kayaking

Embark on a mesmerizing nocturnal adventure with bioluminescent kayaking in Florida's serene waters, where nature's light show unfolds beneath you.

As you paddle, the water sparkles with blue-green luminescence thanks to marine organisms called dinoflagellates. The best times to experience this surreal phenomenon are between May and October in spots like the Indian River Lagoon and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Guided tours are available, ensuring even beginners can safely engage in this spectacle.

It's a must-do for marine enthusiasts, offering an unforgettable night amidst Florida's coastal wonders.

Read more: This Florida River Near Orlando Illuminates at Night

2. Swimming with Manatees

Fulfill your dream of swimming with manatees in Crystal River.

The enchanting Crystal River invites you to share its clear, temperate waters with Florida's most lovable aquatic giants - the manatees.

These slow-moving, gentle creatures are famously friendly and often approach swimmers with curious eyes.

This unique opportunity allows you to observe these peaceful sea cows up close in their natural habitat.

But always remember, while they might seem like oversized cuddly toys, they are wild animals, so respect their space and avoid touching them.

Guided tours can provide invaluable insights into their behavior and help ensure that your experience is both enjoyable and respectful to the manatees.

If you're in for an up close and personal experience, check out this article: This Florida Park Is Where You Can Swim With Manatees On a Budget

3. Airboat Tours in the Everglades

Embark on an exciting airboat tour in the Everglades National Park .

Buckle up for an adrenaline-infused journey into the heart of the Everglades National Park on an airboat tour.

Feel the rush of air as you glide at high speeds over the marshes, winding through a labyrinth of lush vegetation.

Keep your eyes peeled for the park's diverse inhabitants, including the famed alligators and a myriad of bird species.

An airboat tour offers an unforgettable way to immerse yourself in the park's rich biodiversity and explore the vastness of this unique wilderness.

Read more: Everglades National Park: A Complete Visitor’s Guide

4. Dry Tortugas National Park

Located 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote and beautiful destination.

Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this secluded paradise is home to the monumental Fort Jefferson, a wealth of marine life, and crystal-clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling.

The park's coral reefs, vibrant with colorful tropical fish, offer unrivaled underwater exploration opportunities.

For a more immersive experience, consider camping on Garden Key. However, be sure to plan ahead as facilities are sparse on this isolated island.

The feeling of waking up in such pristine, natural beauty is an experience you will cherish forever.

5. Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring

A hidden gem in central Florida, Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring is a unique underground cave system that boasts a unique underground cave system.

A privately owned attraction, it offers guided tours, snorkeling, and scuba diving opportunities.

The spring, discovered in the 1920s, has revealed ancient fossils dating back over 10,000 years.

Certified divers can plunge into the spring's crystal-clear waters and explore its intriguing rock formations, making for a truly enchanting dive experience.

Read more: Visiting The Devil’s Den Spring: A Must-See Natural Wonder

6. Calle Ocho Walking Tour

Discover the vibrant culture of Miami's Little Havana on a Calle Ocho Walking Tour.

Stroll through colorful streets and feel the strong influence of Cuban culture.

This walking tour transports you into a lively cultural epicenter where Cuban influence is palpable in every corner.

Sample delectable Cuban cuisine from local cafés, let the rhythm of traditional Cuban music guide your steps and soak up the artistic flair in numerous galleries.

Don't miss visiting the iconic Domino Park, where locals gather for intense rounds of dominos - a quintessential Little Havana experience.

Read more: Visiting Little Havana? 5 Safety Tips You Need To Read

7. Graffiti Art at Wynwood Walls

Experience Miami's incredible street art scene at the Wynwood Walls .

This unique outdoor gallery features large-scale murals created by artists from around the world.

Take a guided tour or wander at your own pace to appreciate the variety of styles and colors that make this area a must-visit.

Stop by the neighborhood's numerous shops, bars, and restaurants to complete your experience.

Read more: Top 16 Miami Instagrammable Locations

8. Ghost Tours in St. Augustine

Take a step back in time and experience the haunted history of St. Augustine , America's oldest city.

As you wander through narrow streets and past historic buildings, expert guides will regale you with spine-chilling tales of the city's ghostly inhabitants.

Immerse yourself in legends of pirates, lost loves, and ancient curses that have left their mark on the city.

For those seeking a blend of history and mystery, these tours are an unforgettable experience.

9. Explore the Florida Caverns

Journey beneath the earth's surface at the Florida Caverns State Park .

Marvel at the stunning limestone stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological wonders that have formed over thousands of years.

As you wander through the illuminated chambers, the intricate rock formations tell a story of time, erosion, and nature's artistry.

This underground adventure offers a cool respite from the Florida heat and a glimpse into the state's hidden underground beauty.

10. Dive the USS Oriskany Wreck

For scuba enthusiasts, the artificial reef created by the sunken USS Oriskany aircraft carrier is a dream come true.

Known as the "Great Carrier Reef," this majestic underwater structure offers intricate passages and rooms to navigate.

Located off the coast of Pensacola, this underwater marvel allows divers to explore a significant piece of naval history while observing diverse marine life.

The richness of the marine ecosystem around the wreck, combined with the historical significance of the vessel, makes for a dive experience that's both thrilling and enlightening.

11. Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville

Be surrounded by thousands of fluttering butterflies at the Butterfly Rainforest in the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Wander through a lush landscape where the air is filled with the gentle fluttering of wings.

This living exhibit features beautiful cascading waterfalls, tropical plants, and a diverse collection of birds and butterflies from around the world.

Engage with interactive exhibits, watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalises, and immerse yourself in the serene ambiance of this enchanting haven.

12. The Coral Castle Museum

Discover the mystery of the Coral Castle , a unique stone structure built single-handedly by Edward Leedskalnin in Homestead, Florida.

Legend has it that Leedskalnin constructed this architectural marvel as a testament to his unrequited love.

With no witnesses to its construction and no machinery used, its creation remains a fascinating enigma.

Explore the massive coral blocks, intricately carved and positioned with such precision that they continue to baffle scientists and engineers to this day.

13. Explore the Mermaid Shows at Weeki Wachee Springs

Transport yourself to a bygone era with the mesmerizing mermaid performances at the pristine Weeki Wachee Springs .

These aquatic spectacles elegantly fuse artistry with the natural grace of the underwater world, holding the rapt attention of spectators, young and old.

Framed by the shimmering clarity of the spring, the mermaids elegantly narrate tales and perform routines that evoke wonder and nostalgia.

A cherished tradition since the 1940s, these performances are a window into the charm of vintage Florida entertainment.

14. Shell Collecting on Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is renowned for its abundance of seashells, making it a paradise for collectors and nature enthusiasts alike.

As you walk along its shores, basket in hand, you'll be mesmerized by the sheer variety of beautiful and unique shells awaiting discovery.

The island's unique east-west orientation and geographical rarity make it a prime spot for accumulating seashells from the Gulf of Mexico.

Every find is a testament to the island's natural treasures, from the delicate coquinas to the spiral-shaped whelks.

15. Experience a Rocket Launch at Kennedy Space Center

For a truly out-of-this-world experience, witness a live rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center on Florida's Space Coast.

As you approach the center, the sheer magnitude of the space industry's achievements envelops you, transporting you to a world where the boundaries of human capability are pushed daily.

Feel the ground shake and watch in awe as rockets propel toward the heavens, a testament to human ingenuity and persistence.

While there, explore the Visitor Complex, meet astronauts who've ventured into the cosmos, and immerse yourself in interactive exhibits that chronicle space exploration's past, present, and future.

16. Savor Authentic Key Lime Pie in Key West

End your tour by treating yourself to Florida's signature dessert in its very heartland.

Journey to Key West, the birthplace of Key Lime Pie, and relish the harmonious blend of tangy and sweet flavors crafted from the region's native small limes.

With numerous local bakeries and restaurants, each proclaiming their version as the best, delight in discovering your favorite.

Whether adorned with a lofty meringue or a dollop of whipped cream, this delectable pie encapsulates the essence of Florida's culinary allure.

Florida's Unique Experiences: Come for the Adventure, and Stay for the Memories!

Florida offers a range of unique experiences that will leave a lasting impression.

From the ethereal beauty of bioluminescent kayaking to the thrill of airboat tours in the Everglades, there is something for every adventurer.

Swimming with manatees, exploring underground caves, and discovering the vibrant culture of Little Havana are just a few more of the unforgettable experiences that Florida has to offer.

And for art enthusiasts, the Wynwood Walls provide a stunning showcase of street art from around the world.

So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to discover the magic of Florida's unforgettable adventures.

Want more unique Florida adventures? Try this: Visiting Caladesi Island State Park: A Quick Guide for Nature Lovers

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Home » Florida Finds » Florida News & Misc. » Florida Stories: Free Walking App Features 36 Community Tours

Florida Stories: Free Walking App Features 36 Community Tours

Last Updated on January 25, 2023

Florida Humanities created The Florida Stories audio tour app  for use on your phone or mobile device. It gives you walking tours of Florida’s most fascinating communities. All you have to do is download the info from the community you plan to visit and Voila … it’s truly like having your own private tour guide! Audio narration with synchronized photos leads you step-by-step with a bundled package of history, new and old pictures, maps, key architectural landmarks, and tales of historical characters who have contributed to the town’s heritage.

Florida Stories App

Once downloaded, you don’t need to worry about expensive roaming charges because you won’t need an internet connection for it to work.

Communities to Explore!

In Florida, there are so many communities to explore that have fascinating historical and cultural backgrounds. Consider walking through Cuban history in Tampa’s Ybor City, or learning more about the Greek community of Tarpon Springs, or discovering hidden gems in the towns of Deland or Lake Wales. The unique backgrounds of each community are described ranging from topics such as early indigenous tribes to pioneer settlers and 20th-century visionaries. You’ll discover how various forces shaped the communities – the citrus industry, sponges, seafood, history, cigars, railroads, speculation, and even tourism.

Travel through Key West, Fernandina Beach, Fort Pierce, and Bartow. Even if you can’t get there immediately, you can still download the stories and listen to or watch the show. The engaging storyteller shares stories of what makes each community so completely different from the others.

If you think history is boring, then you haven’t listened to these engaging Florida Stories .

A Story, Town by Town

To help you get an idea of what you can expect, here is an overview of some of the Florida Stories :

• Tarpon Springs

Hear Greek music in the background as the storyteller tells of the Tarpon Springs Greek settlement from the early days of the sponge industry, as you walk along the sponge docks, through the sponge exchange, and past an old sponge packinghouse. Visit Greek restaurants, coffee houses, markets, shrines, churches, and also reminders of the town’s past and present.

Stroll the Cuban district of Tampa’s Ybor City and follow the Jose Marti Trail. Marti was a political activist who promoted Cuban independence from Spain at the turn of the twentieth century. His visits to Ybor City to share his vision with Cuban cigar factory workers were a driving force in United States involvement. Enjoy the sounds of the Spanish guitar and follow the trail to historical landmarks including cigar factories, restaurants, clubs, and also theatres.

• Fernandina Beach

In Fernandina Beach, you’ll learn about Amelia Island’s early indigenous Timucuan inhabitants, and also the island’s reputation as a smuggler pirate haven. Find that this area is the birthplace of the modern shrimp industry, walk past the historic train depot, enjoy a drink at the Palace Saloon (the oldest continually operated saloon in Florida), and admire the period homes, old churches, and also the beloved Florida House Inn.

In Central Florida’s Deland , you’ll take in southern charm and find out why this community embraces its alluring history. Learn the story of its founder, Henry Deland, who was inspired to create the “Athens of Florida.” Take in the highlights of Stetson University and walk through historic downtown past colorful murals, the courthouse, and also the theatre.

Everyone loves Key West . But do you know Key West’s historical past? The Key West Florida story begins with the Customs House, once the center of the ship-wrecking and salvage business. Then travel to Ernest Hemingway’s iconic watering hole, the legendary Sloppy Joes. Follow the Florida walking tour to the Key West homes, mansions, schoolhouses, and churches and also learn about the town’s colorful and multicultural past.

Bartow and Lake Wales

And don’t miss Polk County’s Bartow and Lake Wales – two Central Florida historic gems. Bartow prides its preservation efforts as it refurbishes rather than creates new construction. Nearby is Lake Wales, famous for Bok Tower Gardens and also a town where Pioneer Day is celebrated annually by thousands. Both communities also take pride in their pioneer settlements. Admire Bartow’s gracious historic homes, bungalows, and churches also including a relatively unchanged downtown. In Lake Wales visit an old railroad depot, historic downtown Park Avenue, the 1927 Dixie Walesbilt Hotel, and also the B.K. Bullard Building, a one-stop architectural shopping gem.

Fort Pierce

Walkthrough the historic downtown of Fort Pierce, known as the Sunrise City on Florida’s east coast, where the Atlantic Ocean inspired many local artists including author and folklorist Zora Neal Hurston. Long ago, Fort Pierce was an untamed frontier of cattle drives, timber harvesting, and pineapple farms, and where Indian River citrus is still prized. The Flagler railroad took goods to the market and also promoted the town’s growth. Visit the home of artist A.E. Backus who inspired a group of African-American artists now known as the Florida Highwaymen. These artists were known for painting mostly landscapes that documented the area’s beauty and also selling their works along roadsides from their cars, the only “gallery” available to them in the racially segregated South. Visit key historical landmarks including the 1923 Sunrise Theatre and also walk along the quaint award-winning Main Street.

Remember, this is just a glimpse. Florida Humanities currently has 36 Florida walking tours in the Florida Stories project. So, be sure to keep the app updated.

Florida Walking Tours is currently available for download on the Florida Stories App:

• Apalachicola – The Hill
• Boca Grande
• Bradenton (Old Manatee)
• DeFuniak Springs
• Flagler College
• Fort Lauderdale
• Fort Myers – Dunbar Community
• Fort Pierce – Lincoln Park
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Miami (Downtown)
• Miami (Little Haiti)
• New Smyrna Beach
• Ormond Beach
• Phillippi Estate Park
• Safety Harbor
• St. Andrews
• St. Augustine – Colonial Florida
• St. Augustine – Flagler College
• St. Augustine – Gilded Age
• St. Augustine – Lincolnville
• St. Augustine – South of the Plaza
• St. Petersburg
• Tallahassee
• Virginia Key Beach

Downloading Florida Stories App

Not sure how to download an app? Follow these steps:

For iPhones:

• Tap the App Store icon on your device to open the store.
• Search for Florida Stories and click the install button.
• Once installed click the Discover Tab to find the Walk: for example, the Tarpon Springs tour.
• Tap the FREE button to download and install the Walk: for example, the Tarpon Spring tour.

For Androids:

• Tap the Play Store icon on your device to open the store.
• Search for the Florida Stories app and click the install button.
• Once installed click the Discover Tab to find the Walk: for example, Tarpon Springs tour.
• Tap the FREE button to download and install the Walk: for example, Tarpon Springs tour.

Questions? Contact Lisa Lennox at Florida Humanities at  [email protected]

Want to check out even more apps perfect for a Florida road trip? See our favorites here !

We’re also covered many of the destinations featured in these walks. Check out:

• Tarpon Springs, the Sponge Capital of the World
• Adventures in Awesome, Authentic Miami
• Authentic Florida Keys Road Trip (Upper Keys)
• Enjoy a Fun-Filled Weekend In Authentic Key West
• Step Back in Time in Charming St. Augustine
• A Getaway to Culturally Savvy St. Pete
• Ten Authentic Things to do in Tallahassee

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13 of the best things to do in Florida

Apr 3, 2024 • 10 min read

From floating in crystal-clear springs to photographing Miami icons, here are the best experiences in Florida © Erin Westgate / Getty Images

There's much more to Florida than world-class amusement parks (though it boasts some of the best ).

With an incredible blend of experiences that combine a rich, multi-cultural history, diverse cities and natural wonderlands, your must-see list will quickly become a mile long.

Whether savoring Haitian cuisine within the borders of Little Haiti in Miami or submerging yourself into the waters of a crystal-clear spring, Florida  will have you planning your next trip before you even leave. Here are 14 of our favorite things to do when you get there.

Local Flavor: These are the best places to eat and drink in Miami

1. Spend a day at one of the many amusement parks

We figured we'd kick off this article with one of the best things Florida is known for – world-class amusement parks that promise endless excitement and unforgettable memories for people of all ages.

Everyone's heard of Disney , but with dozens of theme parks scattered around the state from Tampa to the theme park hub Orlando , there are lots to choose from, and you can't come to Florida without experiencing at least one!

Here's how to plan the ultimate weekend in Tampa

Immerse yourself in the magic of Hollywood as you embark on movie-themed, thrill-seeking rides at Universal Studios . The park is set to open its DreamWorks-themed area this summer, where guests will be able to explore attractions from the animation studio's most famous franchises like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.

Inspire your little builder at Legoland , with its martial arts-themed area called Ninjago, plus a set of painstakingly recreated American cities in Miniland USA and a space to build your own block masterpiece. If you're traveling with little ones who are avid Peppa Pig fans, they'll squeal at the chance to run through the newly opened Peppa Pig Theme Park .

Planning tip: Check out the "Offers" page on the websites of the theme parks you visit instead of purchasing your tickets at face value. There are often promotions and discounted rates available if you extend your days at the park, which could work in your favor and help save some cash.

Add these theme parks to your Florida itinerary

2. Get a taste of Japanese culture at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Keen on experiencing a taste of Japan without the 10+ hour flight from Florida? The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach makes it possible by bringing Japan to South Florida.

Built to preserve Japanese culture in Florida and build cultural understanding between Japan and the US, the site contains a museum and garden that vividly showcases aspects of Japan's culture. Stroll through 16 acres of land outdoors, including a series of Japanese-inspired gardens, a bonsai collection and lakes filled with koi fish and other structures.

The museum houses over 7000 Japanese art objects and artifacts, each telling a unique story of the country's rich culture. Hungry? Swing by the on-site cafe – the Pan-Asian menu allows visitors to indulge in tasty Japanese treats.

Planning tip: On select Saturdays, Morikami demonstrates a traditional Japanese tea ceremony inside the on-site Seishin-an tea house. Consider planning your visit around one of the days when a cultural demonstration will happen.

3. Skim through the waters of the Everglades on an airboat

When many people think of Florida, the Everglades are one of the first things that come to mind. A vast expanse of shimmering wetlands and lush marshes, the Everglades is a source of unique wildlife and natural preservation.

As the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, the national park is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, providing habitat for various threatened and endangered species.

One of the best ways to explore the Everglades is onboard an airboat. Companies like Everglades Safari Park make it possible to easily spot alligators, turtles, birds, and many other animals that call the area home.

Looking for more great experiences? Here are our top picks in Everglades National Park

4. Embark on a safari from the comfort of your car

Your vehicle becomes a vessel of exploration at the Lion Country Safari , where you can enjoy wildlife sightings as you journey through their naturalistic habitats.

Located in West Palm Beach , Lion Country Safari allows you to drive through a 4-mile safari inhabited by herds of animals. Giraffes, alpacas, lions, zebras, and ostriches are just a few of the many animals you can expect to see roaming the land.

Beyond the drive-through adventure, the park's walking areas provide up-close encounters with animals like goats in the petting zoo area. You can even opt for a complimentary pontoon boat ride for closer views of birds and primates.

5. Have dinner on a gondola in Fort Lauderdale

Unique dining experiences are scattered throughout Florida, and now you can create more memories with a gondola dinner in the state's southern region. Run by Riverfront Gondola Tours , for 90 minutes, you and up to five guests will travel through the canals of Fort Lauderdale while enjoying your company and the views of the city.

With the option of ordering from Casa Sensei , a nearby waterfront restaurant, you can enjoy a fusion of Japanese and Latin cuisine on your ride until you return to the dock.

6. Explore popular cultural neighborhoods in Miami

Home to a plethora of unique cultures, each neighborhood in Miami pulsates with its unique rhythm, offering an immersive experience into the heart of different cultures.

In Little Havana, the air is infused with soulful melodies of salsa music, while the historic landmarks tell tales of Cuban heritage. The markets, dance studios, spiritual businesses, and statues of prominent leaders like Touissant Louverture in Little Haiti form a community that proudly highlights Haitian culture.

Stop by the Historic Overtown, one of Miami's oldest neighborhoods that served as a cultural hub for Black artists during segregation. Learn more about each neighborhood and what you can do there in our insider's guide – your next trip will be an enriching journey where you'll leave with a broadened perspective and celebrate the global cultures woven into the city's identity.

Planning tip: For a more knowledgeable tour with personal insight and the opportunity to ask questions about some of the businesses and infrastructure of the different neighborhoods, we recommend booking a tour with reputable companies like Tap Tap Tours , who can explain the history and significance of each community.

Staying for the weekend?  Save this ultimate weekend itinerary for Miami's South Beach

7. Cruise on Biscayne Beach at high speeds with Thriller Miami

Miami is known for being a city with high energy, and there is perhaps no better experience to match that intensity than the Thriller Miami Speedboat . Setting sail from the docks at the Bayside Marketplace , the speedboat takes riders on a 45-minute sightseeing tour at speeds up to 40 mph.

Take in the Biscayne Bay, the City of Miami Beach, Fisher Island and finish with a tour of the Mansions on Star Island, where you'll see the homes of celebrities like Will Smith. You'll experience lots of drops, twists, and turns in between on this ride and may even get a little wet.

Planning tip : Aim to get a seat toward the front or middle of the boat to avoid getting completely soaked. The last few rows on the boat are known to leave riders more drenched than they probably planned to be.

Put in some towel time at these Florida beache s

8. Spot manatees through a clear kayak in Crystal River

Manatee season in Florida runs from November to April and is the perfect time to see these majestic animals as they migrate to Florida's warm waters in the winter. While you could see manatees from an observation deck at facilities like the Manatee Lagoon , Get Up and Go Kayaking brings you straight to the water for an up-close yet respectful and ethical encounter.

On a two-hour nature tour inside a transparent kayak, you'll get to paddle your way to see manatees from a different perspective.

9. Stay in a colorful tiny home in Matlacha

Matlacha is a quaint, artsy town in Florida with a strong fishing community whose bright colorful shops can't be missed. Within Matlacha, a tiny 5-home village awaits you for a unique stay in Florida.

For about $150 a night, the homes include a full kitchenette and access to community amenities like a BBQ grill, dock, deck, and kayak launch. A stay in one of the tiny homes also gives you the chance to explore the town and visit one of the local art galleries or even go on a fishing tour .

10. Learn about Florida's Black History

Florida's Black history encompasses stories of triumph over adversity, resilience, and remarkable contributions. Thankfully, many historical sites in Florida are still in place or have been established to visit. The Mary McLeod Bethune Home in Daytona Beach is a testament to the life and legacy of educator, activist, and founder of Bethune­-Cookman University, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.

In New Smyrna Beach, the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum houses and displays exhibits that reflect the history of race relations in Florida throughout the twentieth century. As you trace sites like these, you gain insights into various Black communities in the state and their invaluable contributions to modern-day Florida.

11. Immerse yourself in space exploration at the Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island is a space lover's dream. As you step onto the facility's grounds, you'll find yourself engulfed in the world of innovative technology and exploration.

Organized into Mission Zones, where the attractions and tours are run by chronological era, the center truly takes you through a journey of the work that has been done in the industry and what is to come. If you're lucky, you may visit during a live rocket launch and get to sit front row as yet another spacecraft launches into the air.

12. Recharge in the waters of Ginnie Springs

Nestled in the natural splendor of High Springs, Ginnie Springs emerges as a destination whose crystal-clear waters provide the perfect day trip or weekend escape. Whether you're in the mood to go tubing in the calming waters, snorkeling in the river where catfish and other critters lie, or exploring underwater caves, Ginnie Springs is truly a Florida gem.

Planning tip: As you can imagine, many people aim to experience these clear waters, so crowding is often an issue at Ginnie. To combat this, consider visiting on a weekday and avoid holidays.

13. Paint the walls at Miami's outdoor street art museum

Composed of walls elaborately painted by worldwide artists, Wynwood Walls has become a "must-see" stop when in Miami. Held primarily outdoors, the museum is an artistic oasis, with every corner unveiling creative, colorful pieces of large murals that tell their own unique story.

One of the most exciting parts of visiting Wynwood Walls is the "Street Art Experience," where you're given bottles of spray paint to contribute a piece of your artistry to the walls. The vibrancy of this museum encapsulates Miami's artistic soul, extending the spirit of creativity with you as you continue your journey through Florida.

Planning tip: If you are a student, don't forget to bring your student ID card to receive 50% off the admission fee!

Keep planning your trip to Florida

• Find out the 11 things you need to know before you visit
• Don't know where to start? These are our 9 favorite places in the Sunshine State
• Keep the kids entertained with our guide to visiting with tiny travelers in tow
• Stretch those cents and find out how to visit on a budget

This article was first published Sep 25, 2021 and updated Apr 3, 2024.

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Road Trip in Fort Myers, Sanibel and St Petersburg in Florida

Table of Contents

FORT MYERS and SANIBEL – December 12 to 14

Fort Meyers is certainly not known in the same light as its close neighbors, like Sarasota or Naples – it’s not a trendy, upmarket beach town and it doesn’t have the urban cool of St Petersburg, but it is home to the winter home and laboratory of Thomas Edison. The home, now a museum, is tucked alongside the Caloosahatchee River. It’s also en-route to Sanibel Island. A much more tranquil location than many of Florida ’s other beach destinations, Sanibel Island is a small beach town, free from the high rises and chain restaurants found elsewhere. A favourite activity for visitors and Sanibel locals alike is shelling, collecting all kinds of different shells from the beach, where they are constantly replenished by the waves. Here’s the  Roadtrip in Florida Itinerary.

Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Florida .

Where did we stay?

3 Nights at Sanibel Inn (courtesy of  the management) “Where nature meets the sea.” We arrived at this peaceful ocean-side retreat after a short drive from Fort Meyers. The cottage-style reception building at the main gate was welcoming and looked like something out of a British seaside town.  Our first-floor suite has big and bright, with a balcony overlooking the pool, then further out to the beach and Gulf of Mexico. The room had everything we needed and more, with a simple beachside feel, allowing the natural surroundings and sea breeze to take care of everything else. The pool was long, wide and deep with the full force of the sun all day long and only a matter of steps to the beach to go hunting for shells, cool off in the warm gulf waters, or to stroll down the beach at sunset. We also had access to the Dunes Golf and Tennis Club, although we were too busy exploring the area to play tennis, the club also offers live entertainment and fun! Full Sanibel Inn story coming soon.

You can check details and latest rates on  Agoda or Expedia or visit their website directly at The Inns of Sanibel .  Don’t just take our word for it though, check out their reviews on  TripAdvisor

What we did:

• Edison Ford Estate –  We stopped at this historic estate on route to Sanibel Island to wander around the 14-acre riverfront estate which once served as Thomas Edison’s winter home and laboratory as far back as 1886. Henry Ford was good friends with Edison and also has his winter home here, where several Ford cars are on display. The expansive gardens are full of plants, tree, and flowers from all over the world.

• Sunset on Sanibel Beach –  It was close to sunset when we arrived at Sanibel Inn , so we had just enough time to relax on the beach, walk along the water’s edge and watch the sun drop down into the waves. The elaborate and intricate sand castle sculpture was a nice touch as well!
• Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge –  We drove to the Ding Darling Wildlife refuge in the morning for a guided wildlife tram tour. Created in the 1940’s, the meeting of the sea and freshwater, combined with the long grasses, mangroves and colliding tropical and temperate climates, have all merged to form a thriving habitat for thousands of birds and animals. On our guided tram tour around Wildlife Drive, we spotted hundreds of birds, crabs and alligators. There is so many birds here that the refuge is rated as one of the top birding destinations in the whole country. We saw, great egrets, snowy egrets, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, great and little blue herons, white and brown pelicans, cormorants, blue-winged teal, ospreys and probably a lot more!

• Lunch at Doc Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar and Grille –  After our tour around the refuge, we drove just a few minutes to Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille, where an amazing lunch was waiting for us. Themed around the best-selling novels of a local resident and named after the lead character, Doc Ford’s is a multitude of eating and drinking concepts fused together, with a few other unique flavours, into a one-of-a-kind dining and social experience. The inside of the restaurant looks like a giant took a sports bar in one hand, an old fishing shop in the other, crushed them together and added some old world Jules Verne ceiling fans. And it works! We chose to eat lunch outside on the open deck, sheltered by giant fan palms and other greenery. We asked the manager, Elizabeth, to choose our food for us which was the best decision we could have made – Tropical Salad, seasonal Stone Crab claws, BBQ baby back ribs, rare Tuna with an Asian peanut butter sauce, steamed shrimp in Doc’s special Yucatan sauce. This meal has made into our top 5 meals ever. We’ll tell you more later in our full Doc Ford’s food story, but for now, let the pictures do the talking!

• Captiva Island Dolphin Watch and Wildlife Cruise –  After such an incredible meal, we weren’t feeling like doing anything strenuous, so a late afternoon cruise to watch dolphins jumping around in the sea was perfect for us! We drove 25 minutes down the road to the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island and collected our cruise tickets from Captiva Cruises, next to the harbour where the boat was waiting for us. From the harbour, we sailed out into the bay, through a narrow channel of deep water in the Pine Island Sound, a sheltered haven of tranquil water, protected from the open sea by Sanibel Island, Captiva Islands and Cayo Costa. The calm waters attract dolphins, manatees and other sea and bird life. We were told that we had a 95 per cent chance of seeing dolphins on the cruise and we saw plenty. Small pods of 2 to 4 Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins chased alongside the boat, playing in the bow waves, jumping and diving and even spinning on their sides! More in our articles to come.

ST PETE and CLEARWATER – December 14 to 17

We woke up late and chilled out by the Sanilbel Inn swimming pool, then headed north to our next destination – St Petersburg and Clearwater. Situated on Florida’s gulf coast, St. Petersburg is famous for a lot of things, but one of the best is its climate, because although the whole of Florida is known as the Sunshine State, St Pete’s just seems to suck out every last drop of sunshine and beautiful weather, holding the title for “most consecutive days with sunshine” with 768 sunny days, earning the title, ‘Sunshine City’! St Pete’s in much more than a sunshine beach destination, it’s a regional centre for culture and the arts – Dali Museum; the Museum of Fine Arts and home of the Florida Orchestra. Of course, it’s also an expert at the South Florida staples of sandy beaches, sport fishing, pure nature like Fort De Soto Park and amazing food!

Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in Saint Petersburg , Clearwater and Museum of Fine Arts .

Clearwater is only a short drive north of St Pete’s and is a favourite point of rest and relaxation for families who need a ‘holiday from their holiday’ in the Disney World Orlando theme parks! It’s known for offering something for everyone, with its award-winning, white sand beaches, lively night time entertainment scene, dining for every taste and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

3 nights in Hotel Zamora boutique hotel (courtesy of the management) Driving through the gates of the Hotel Zamora, with its elegant arched windows and wrought iron balconies, was like crossing an imaginary border from Florida into northern Spain, where the Spanish-style, white-washed building could easily look perfectly at home nestled in amongst the vineyards which carpet the rolling countryside of Toro, Zamora, the region for which the hotel is named. Aspects of the hotel’s design, like the high arches, repetitive shapes and decoration, are a respectful reference to elements of the Mudéjar architectural style found in Iberia – the direct result of an amalgamation between ancient Moorish and Christian cultures. The reception and rooms all have high ceilings and balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or the inter coastal waterway behind. The indoor outdoor swimming pool, lounge area and outdoor whirlpool spa look out onto the private seven slip mooring and the rooftop bar is a work of art, boasting panoramic views along the whole St Pete’s Beach, perfect for sipping cocktails as the sun sets over into the sea, casting a hundred shades of pink across the sky. More about this boutique Mediterranean escape in our full Hotel Zamora story, coming soon!

You can check details and latest rates on  Agoda or Expedia or visit their website directly at The Hotel Zamora .  Don’t just take our word for it though, check out their reviews on  TripAdvisor

What did we do?

• Rooftop Cocktails – On our first night in St Pete’s, we headed straight to the rooftop bar of Hotel Zamora, sipping cocktails and looking out at the sunset view over the Gulf of Mexico.
• Fort De Soto – The next day we drove out to Fort De Soto, 1,136 acres of beachside parkland consisting of five interconnected islands, or keys, which are home to home to plants, wetlands, mangroves, hundreds of native plants and more than 328 species of birds. We pulled up at the kayaking station, climbed out of the car and into our little boat and paddled around the mangrove wilderness, watching fish jump out of the water and vast-winged grey pelicans swoop down to pluck the out of the water, tipping their head back to shake their dinner from their throat pouch and down into their stomachs. Pelicans were by far the bird we saw the most, but we also spotted Ospreys, cormorants and a lot of other things we didn’t know the names of. Best of all, this place is quiet and serene, floating along the calm waters amongst the mangroves and wildlife.

• Dali Museum – From Fort De Soto, we drove back into St Pete’s to the Dali Museum, which houses the largest collection of surrealist Salvador Dali’s paintings outside of his home in Spain. The building itself is an intriguing combination of brutalism and modernist architectural styles, as the geometric glazing appears to overflow from the angular concrete block body and flow down its side like crisp lava, with the form of Zaha Hadid and the organic nature Antoni Gaudi. The helical staircase which spirals through the centre of the building and continues to a curved tail overhead is a visual masterpiece, particularly mesmerising when viewed against the backdrop of the convex glazed wall, which forms a canopy of light as it rises up and folds back over under its own weight. You could find it hard to tear yourself away from the architecture to join the free guided tour of the Dali collection itself, which was led by an expert in Dali’s work and provided deep insight in to the man, the artist, his life and the meanings and motivations behind the work of Dali and other surrealist artists.

• Segway Tour – After a couple of hours of cultural immersion, we were ready for something a bit more active and headed to Hubbard’s Marina for a sunset Segway Tour around the John’s Pass Marina. We visited the lost sailors’ memorial and the site of the old bridge, then crossed the Gulf Blvd bridge over Johns Pass and down to Treasure Island Beach, where a dozen immensely complex sand sculptures were still standing from the Sanding Ovations sand sculpting competition some weeks earlier. On the way back we stopped at the middle of the bridge for a cloud spattered sunset view over the pass as it opens out into the Gulf of Mexico. It was our first time on Segways and a truly original way to explore.

• The Original Crabby Bills – That evening we had dinner at a local legend – the original Crabby Bill’s at Indian Rocks Beach, only about a 20 minute drive from St Pete’s Beach. Originally opened in 1983, The Original Crabby Bill’s focuses on providing incredible fresh seafood from the local area, with delicacies like oysters, grouper, smoked or fried mullet, Florida clams, Florida stone crab claws and Alaskan King Crab. We were served by Karen and her sister Sandy, two local sisters who have both been working there for years, serving up amazing food. They told us everything we could possibly know about the food we were eating, including the oysters, stone crab claws, Alaskan king crab, gator tail, octopus, pan-fried shrimp, and their famous in-house key lime pie!

• Honeymoon Island & Caledesi Island State Park – Our final full day in St Pete’s and Clearwater was a very relaxing one. We drove from Hotel Zamora on St Pete’s beach to Honeymoon Island, in Dunedin near Clearwater, a four mile island of pristine sandy beaches, nature walks and wildlife. We explored the main beach front of Honeymoon Island, before taking the passenger ferry across the neighbouring, a completely natural island, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, line fishing, short nature walks and kayaking around the three mile kayak trail through the mangroves and bay. For us though, it was the perfect place to just lie on the beach in the sun, relaxing and absorbing all the experiences of the past ten days in Florida .

• Sunset – When woke up on the beach in the late afternoon, the sun was already on its way down, so we caught the ferry back and drove over to Causeway Boulevard to watch the sunset behind the islands, as the local kayakers and line fishermen packed up for the day.
• Beachside Dinner – For our final St Pete’s and Clearwater dinner, we met up with John, the Director of Public Relations for Paradise, who had helped to organise our amazing stay. We met for dinner in Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, with fresh-caught grouper and coconut shrimp.
• A Five-Star Breakfast – On our final morning in St Pete’s Beach we had breakfast in Florida’s ‘Pink Palace,’ the affectionate nickname given to the Loews Don CeSar Hotel facing the ocean on the shores of St Pete’s. The Sea Porch Café to the beachside of the Mediterranean-style castle turned hotel sits on the outdoor patio by the pool, with the beach in the background. We met with Jeff, the Director of Public Relations for the Loews Don CeSar Hotel, who told us all about how this impressive building came to be and how it had been saved from near destruction on more than one occasion. Breakfast was excellent, with fresh, invigorating juices and smoothies, an overflowing plate of fresh fruit, bacon and banana bread and the famous Don’s Benedict – their own special spin on a breakfast classic, incorporating fresh crab cakes! More about our Don CeSar – Sea Porch Café experience, coming soon.

You can check details and latest rates for Loews Don Cesar Hotel on Agoda or Expedia or visit their website directly at Loews Don CeSar. Don’t just take our word for it though, check out their reviews on  TripAdvisor

This is Part 2 of 3 – Jump to Part 3  (Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami) or Jump to Part 1   (Miami, Delray, Naples, Everglades)

Note: This trip wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Lee County for our itinerary in Fort Myers and Sanibel, Visit St Pete/Clearwater  for our itinerary in St Petersburg and Clearwater and to  Visit Florida , the official tourism office of Florida in Tallahassee. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone we met along the way who all helped to make this such a special experience. It was an incredible first visit to the USA and I will never forget it!

Many more detailed articles about our Florida experiences coming very soon!

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31 thoughts on “ Road Trip in Fort Myers, Sanibel and St Petersburg in Florida ”

Five days full of adventures. Want to try this as well.

The sunset must have been amazing! Have to check the other parts of this trip.

Road trips are always good. So much freedom here in Florida.

Oh wow this looks like an incredible, once in a lifetime trip that I’d love to go on! Xxx

I love Florida, I go every other year. The hotels here look lovely. Looks like a great trip x

Your photos look really great! sounds like you had a lovely time. Like the looks of that yummy key lime pie!

I love Clearwater, it’s so pretty there and the people and food were great when we went.

The wildlife retreat looks amazing. It’s so wonderful to see wildlife in a realistic and natural setting 🙂

The blue water is just amazing and the food, wow, one thing I love about America, is the food x

I would love to visit Florida one day. Looks amazing.

Just look at those lovely blue waters! I’d never imagined going to Florida for any other reason than Disneyland but it looks like there’s so much more to do and EAT!

An action packed three weeks by the looks of it! Florida is one of the places on my travel bucket list. It looks just wonderful x

I have never travelled in the US extensively or properly for that matter, and this makes me REALLY want to. It just sounds so blissful with so much to do!

I wish we had of done this when we were in Florida. We have 3 weeks, but stuck to around orlando.

What an incredible time. I really like Fort Myers. Sanibel is such an awesome little spot too!

As a kid it was always my dream to visit Florida and that dream has not changed one bit, time to get planning.

Oh my goodness that Segway Tour sounds amazing what a lovely way to see some of the sights and at sunset! x

This sounds incredible! I’ve only just gotten my driving licence, but I definitely want to do something similar when I feel a bit more confident behind the wheel.

Sounds like a fantastic trip. I would love to visit Florida!

Sounds like a brilliant trip! I did 3 weeks in the US earlier this year, though we only stopped in Florida for 1 night, right on the edge in Pensacola. So lovely there though!

You guys are really selling Florida as more than simply the theme parks of Orlando! Cocktails at sunset, where do I sign up?!

So amazing how much you guys had so much fun during your USA road trip! Woot, love it!

Sounds like an epic trip so far! Sanibel is one of my favorite areas of Florida though as a Pensacolian, I’m a big fan of the panhandle beaches – Florida’s best kept secret!

How serene! Love your photos… almost makes me miss the good ol USA… but not quite! Haha! Hope you had an amazing time!

This part of Florida is really nice. Fantastic beaches and a bit quiet while still having lots to do. Love your sunset shots.

Glad you had such a great first visit to the USA!

Roadtrip is my way of traveling and thus i really enjoyed your trip. Every aspect of this trip is encouraging. Some shots are awesome specially golden hour shot.

Keep at it.

I’m trying to visit the Thomas Edison National Historic Park in New Jersey, but it looks like I should visit his Florida estate too. Glad your first US visit was enjoyable!

I went to the US for the first time few weeks ago and I loved it! Can’t wait to go to Florida!

I always thought that Florida was pretty boring (besides the theme parks of course), but you guys are convincing me that it has a lot more to offer besides pretty beaches and delicious seafood. I’d love to do the dolphin watching tour!

Haven’t been to Florida yet, this post is truly awesome and would make readers wanna explore the way u did.

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Written by Kach Umandap

Founder of Two Monkeys Travel Group. Since 2013, Kach has visited all the 7 continents (including Antarctica) and 151 countries using her Philippines Passport. In 2016, she bought a sailboat and went on sailing adventures with her two cats - Captain Ahab & Little Zissou in the Caribbean for 2 years. She now lives in Herceg Novi, Montenegro where she's enjoying her expat life and living on a gorgeous Stonehouse. She writes about her experiences traveling as a Filipina traveler with a PHL Passport. Also tips on backpacking trips, luxury hotel experiences, product reviews, sailing & adventure travel.

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Charming Stroll Off the Beaten Path

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What to Read Before Your Florida Trip

By Concepción De León

• May 23, 2017

Florida seems to have developed something of a monopoly on the bizarre. Take a 2015 news story about a traffic accident in which the only casualty was a shark. Or the ubiquitous “Florida man” headlines that have inspired parodic Twitter accounts and trivia games. (“Which of these absurd headlines is fake?”) Yet to some, Florida is either just home or an entertaining destination for travelers. The following books will guide you through the state’s swamplands, retirement communities and cultural enclaves, offering outright or de facto defenses of Florida.

BEST. STATE. EVER. A Florida Man Defends His Homeland By Dave Barry

When did Florida became “The Joke State”? The author argues that the demise of the state’s reputation dates back to the 2000 election. “On election night almost all of the states were able to figure out pretty quickly who they voted for. But not Florida,” Mr. Barry writes. The country has never forgotten that gaffe. Rather than reject the oddball perception of the Sunshine State, Mr. Barry embraces the “Weirdness Factor” and guides the reader in a kooky, humorous road trip to places like Cassadaga, the Psychic Capital of the World, to have his dog’s aura read, and a retirement community with a thriving black market for Viagra. In the process, he recasts the absurd as endearing.

MAKE YOUR HOME AMONG STRANGERS By Jennine Capó Crucet

A few pages into “Make Your Home Among Strangers,” Ms. Crucet’s heroine, Lizet, recounts the time her father and his friends, as preteenagers, saw a body floating in the canals of Miami. It is a story Lizet knows not to tell her colleagues at the parasitology lab where she works, and reveals fairly quickly that hers will not be a story about Miami Beach’s high-end clubs and celebrity D.J.s. Instead, the author takes us into Hialeah and Little Havana, alternating between Lizet’s world at a prestigious college and her home life in Miami, where her parents have separated, her sister has become a single mother, and a Cuban boy awash on Miami’s shores has ignited a passionate movement to keep him in America. The author investigates themes like family, immigration and race, while demonstrating the Cuban influence on Miami.

SUNSHINE STATE: Essays By Sarah Gerard

The author blurs the line between memoir and journalism in this stunning book of essays. She opens with “BFF,” the story of her profound friendship with another woman that dissolved, in part, because Ms. Gerard had the means to leave town and her friend, who would become a stripper and spend time in shelters for battered women, did not. In another essay, “Going Diamond,” she writes an account of her family’s foray into Amway, describing their Bayou Club “functions” and including reporting on the company’s founder, Richard DeVos — the father-in-law of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos — and its history. Ms. Gerard’s Florida is frenzied, evocative, and optimistic.

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Florida Tales

Updated March 7, 2021

Florida tales are stories submitted to our website by visitors or written by us.   Most are written by the website author, but some are from people who yearned to tell us stories from their lives in Florida.

Enjoy these stories about life in Florida.

Florida Snakes Are Usually Harmless. Usually.

If you are going to travel or live in Florida it is useful to know which snakes are okay and which ones to be afraid of.

Florida Birds:  Important Part of Natural Florida  

The state is a birdwatchers paradise.  This guide will help you know what you are looking at.

Hitler's Yacht

Built in 1938 as Ostwind, she ended up in a Jacksonville boat yard and was scrapped in a watery grave off Miami Beach.

Before Jaws There Was Gatorland

Grey May's memories of his visits to Gatorland.

Jackie Gleason's Grave The great entertainer and actor rests peacefully in Doral, Florida.  His epitaph demonstrates his sense of humor.

Jayne Mansfield:  Florida or Bust! Greg May's story of Jayne's connections to Florida in her tragically short life.

Lewis Plantation and Turpentine Still This old tourist attraction did okay for a while. It was not in good taste for the changing times, and finally had to close its doors.

The Mount Dora Unity Archway

The children of Mount Dora got together and created a monument to a beloved woman citizen of the city.

Frances Langford's Outrigger Resort The famous actress and singer and husband Ralph Evinrude owned the resort in Jensen Beach.

The Galvanized Yankee From Florida The story of a captured Confederate soldier who was released and served with the Union fighting Indians.

Gator Was His Only Name An old black man was ready to retire but couldn't prove to social security that he was old enough.

GO TO FLORIDA NOSTALGIA FOR MANY MORE STORIES

Our Facebook page has more than 130,000  followers who love off the beaten path Florida: towns, tourist attractions, maps, lodging, food, festivals, scenic road trips, day trips, history, culture, nostalgia, and more.   We post articles every day.  Please check it out and if you like it, we would appreciate a "like" from you.

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Recent Articles

HavAnnA Cafe of the Everglades | Chokoloskee, Florida

May 18, 24 07:19 PM

Twitter Is Freaking Out Over This Woman’s Story About Her Insane Trip to Florida

I f you were checking Twitter on Wednesday morning, you probably saw a lot of people freaking about a woman who identifies herself as Zola and described—in an insane 148-part tweet storm—a weekend trip to Florida that went terribly, terribly wrong. (It has since been Storified for your reading convenience.)

As it turns out, their enthusiasm is absolutely justified. Zola’s adventure, which begins with her a befriending a stripper and sugar daddy in Hooters and only gets more bizarre and twisted from there, is such an engrossing read that plenty of people on Twitter are calling for a screen adaptation. Half-jokingly, probably, but only half.

Read for yourself and see. At the risk of spoiling the many twists and turns of this future classic work of American storytelling, it’s worth noting that it has all the makings of a hit screenplay: friendship, love, betrayal, revenge, suspenseful action sequences, a hilarious protagonist, etc. There aren’t any NSFW pictures, but if frank discussion of strippers and prostitutes is the sort of thing your employer wouldn’t want you reading about during the work day, it’s probably best to save this for later.

Empire gonna borrow that Zola story — Desus MF Nice💯 (@desusnice) October 28, 2015

look even if this story isn't real zola is clearly a great screenwriter — vampire workday (@imbobswaget) October 28, 2015

I hope Zola's tweets are the first tweetstorm to get optioned for a Lifetime movie — J(enna) Wortham (@jennydeluxe) October 28, 2015

TELL ZOLA TO HOLLA AT ME LETS GET THIS SCREENPLAY POPPIN — THE KID MERO 🇩🇴 (@THEKIDMERO) October 28, 2015

So y'all just said we gonna make this Zola story a movie one way or another? I'm impressed. This is BET quality work https://t.co/qzM9U95YUS — jarrod. (@createdbyjarrod) October 28, 2015

Zola’s story had: -character development -plot twists -atmosphere/tone -racially diverse cast -passed the bechdel test — my man is locked up in Dubai (@isaac_pdf) October 28, 2015

If you're seeing "Zola" all over your timeline, read this: https://t.co/yvfdcQNJtf It's pretty much a Quentin Tarantino film. — Ronald Isley (@yoyotrav) October 28, 2015

Zola's twitter story was the best movie of 2015. — kenny g (@DaRealKhefner) October 28, 2015

Nostalgic Photographs of Vacations Past

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Take a Day Trip to the Dreamiest Places in Florida

Dig beyond the beaches and you’ll find Florida has plenty of pretty places to enjoy, from mysterious cenotes (or as we call them, “sinkholes”) to rough limestone formations spewing water along the coast. We’ve also got highways covered in canopies of oak trees, and other roads running right over the ocean. As well as charming small towns and one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. So come along and discover the part of the Sunshine State that hasn’t yet been turned to condos, as the most beautiful places in Florida might give you a new perspective on America’s vacationland.

Morikami Museum and Gardens

Big cypress national preserve, naples botanical garden, grayton beach state park, boneyard beach, biscayne national park, overseas highway, falling waters state park, dry tortugas national park, guana river state park beach, devil’s den, bahia honda state park.

If you’re into dripping Spanish moss, grand old manors, and a downtown that could double as the set of a deep south horror movie, look no further than Micanopy. The streets winding through this antiquer’s paradise are lined with massive live oak canopies, where moss drips down to the street like a lime-green veil over the city. That’s probably why anyone in North Central Florida doing an engagement shoot has their pictures taken here, and mini-mooners are commonplace at the B&Bs housed in Micanopy’s historic homes.

Anna Maria Island

Martin highway, everglades national park, blowing rocks preserve.

Matt Meltzer  is a contributing writer for Thrillist. Follow him on Instagram  @meltrez1 .

I took a $30 ferry ride to Shell Island, an unspoiled 7-mile beach in Florida. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

• On a recent visit to Panama City Beach, Florida, I took a ferry ride to Shell Island.
• The $30 fare included tram transport to the boat dock and a ferry ride to and from the island.
• Shell Island was one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Florida, and I'd ferry there again.

Sometimes, there's nothing better than being a tourist for the day in your own state. As a Florida resident, I'm always looking for new places to visit without traveling far from home.

On a recent trip to Panama City Beach (PCB), Florida, I decided to visit Shell Island — known for its pristine beaches without souvenir shops, hotels, or restaurants — for the first time.

Like the millions of people who visit Florida for its beaches, I was excited to admire the water and enjoy the area's natural beauty.

To get there, I took the Shell Island Ferry, which shuttles visitors from St. Andrews State Park to the seven-mile-long island. The 15-minute ferry ride, which cost just under $30, transported me to a world completely different from PCB's typical tourism scene.

Here's what the ferry ride was like and why I can't wait to visit Shell Island's scenic beaches again.

A ride on the Shell Island Ferry cost me less than $30.

The ticket to ride the Shell Island Ferry cost me about $28 after taxes and fees. When buying my ticket online, I was prompted to choose an hourly departure time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To board the ferry, I entered St. Andrews State Park and paid a $4 admission fee as a solo driver.

I took a tram from the park to the dock, where the ferry was waiting.

Upon entering the park, a staff member instructed me to check in at the park's Pier Store. I waited there until a tram arrived to take passengers to the St. Andrews State Park marina, where the ferry would depart.

After a bumpy, 10-minute tram ride, we arrived at the docks and followed signs to board our boat .

We boarded the ferry and prepared for the short ride to Shell Island.

A few crew members, including a boat captain, greeted us as we boarded the ferry for the 15-minute ride to Shell Island.

Before taking off, staff members reminded us of the ferry's operating hours. We were told that ferries back to the state park would leave Shell Island at the bottom of the hour throughout the day.

I chose a seat on the ferry's top deck.

The ferry's lower tier had plenty of shade, but I rode on the top deck to enjoy the views. Though it wasn't very crowded when I went, I'd estimate about 50 people could ride the ferry at once.

The guides warned us that the last few daily return trips tend to fill up quickly, so we might have to wait for a ferry when it was time to head back to St. Andrews State Park.

The ferry ride was peaceful, and the views were beautiful.

During the peaceful 15-minute ferry ride, I took in all the sights, from offshore fishermen on the beaches to high-rise hotels along the PCB shoreline.

As a frequent traveler, I always love seeing the area I'm visiting from the water, and this affordable ferry ride was a great way to do so.

Shell Island was so beautiful that I felt like I was in another world.

After the ferry dropped us off at a jetty on one side of the island, it took about three minutes to walk along the wooden, boardwalk-style path to the beach.

I was amazed at Shell Island's pristine and untouched beauty, with white-sand beaches and coastal scrubland. There are no restrooms, stores, or shaded areas on the island, but after spending a few days in the thriving tourist town of PCB, it was nice to walk on quiet beaches where no hotels lined the shores.

In addition to strolling along the beach, guests can explore the walking trails or go snorkeling with their own equipment. Gear is also available to rent at the Pier Store.

It was easy to see how Shell Island got its name.

I've lived in Florida for almost eight years, and Shell Island's beach was one of the prettiest spots I've seen in the state.

I spent most of my time enjoying the beautiful beaches, where the number of seashells blew me away. I also noticed sand dollars and washed-up driftwood along the shoreline.

This area was truly a beachcomber's paradise, with lots to explore and find.

I spent the afternoon walking the beach and reading on a blanket.

I spent about two hours walking the beach and taking photos of the beautiful views.

Then, I sat on a blanket, quietly reading and soaking up the sun. There weren't many other people around, so it felt like an afternoon of true solitude.

Catching a ferry back to St. Andrews State Park was easy.

It was incredibly easy to get back to the ferry when I was ready to leave, which I appreciated since I was traveling alone.

When we first arrived at Shell Island, our captain gave us thorough instructions on how to return to the boat. There were also clear pathways between the dock and the beach.

I'd definitely take the Shell Island Ferry again.

Taking the Shell Island Ferry allowed me to see the island and most of the PCB area by boat. In addition to stunning views along St. Andrews Bay, I admired the island's beauty as I collected shells and took a few much-needed deep breaths in a pristine setting.

Shell Island was a beautiful spot I'd visit again, and the $30 ferry ticket felt like a worthwhile expense to see a unique part of the area.

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‘Thanks for visiting Florida’: one Black family’s road trip to a ‘hostile’ tourist trap

The NAACP has issued a warning about the state. But being Black in America was a long-odds game well before DeSantis showed up

T he sugary sand on Santa Rosa Beach is cool below the surface, sweet relief after a 10-minute hot-step from the parking lot with an armload of bulky chairs and a hangry toddler dragging me down. But by the third day of our family vacation, my young boys have settled in with their plastic shovels and left me cracking open a Michelob Ultra before noon. Drinking in the brew and the whooshing azure surf, I’m gobsmacked that this is what passes for adventure travel nowadays.

On 20 May the NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida, noting a flagrant streak of contempt for and hostility toward Black, ethnic and queer communities; in a news release, the group quoted the state-sanctioned “war on woke” the Republican governor championed in a craven bid for his party’s presidential nomination. The NAACP board chair, Leon Russell, cited Ron DeSantis for “political grandstanding” and courting “a dangerous, extremist minority” – only to have conservatives mock Russell himself for living in Tampa.

The advisory came weeks after we had plunked down a sizable non-refundable deposit for a trip to Florida’s Emerald coast – the resort paradise formerly known as the Redneck Riviera . My brother-in-law, a 28-year-old ad man, was flying down from New York. My two boys, aged three and 19 months, were so excited, my oldest racking his brain to understand what it meant to be “on vacation”. My wife, an ex-navy psychologist, had grand designs on a week of idle fun in the sun. We should have known that being Black in America could deprive us of something so innocent.

Still: the idea of avoiding an entire state based on the fanatical policies of one man, even if he’s the top man, seemed a bit extreme – like avoiding computers just to stick it to Bill Gates. Let’s be clear here: even though the NAACP advisory never called for people to boycott Florida, that’s how the edict is being interpreted. The Republican senator Rick Scott’s own travel advisory last week, warning “socialists” and “communists” to stay away, has only made it easier for progressives to claim the moral high ground.

While it’s true that Florida’s willfully ignorant conservative lawmakers have made the state more unsafe for anyone who dares to disagree with them, it’s also true that many more states have an equally shameful legacy of systemic racism and discrimination. In the last few months alone, we’ve seen another California school board ban critical race theory, an unarmed Michael Jackson impersonator choked to death on the New York City subway and affirmative action in higher education struck down by an activist supreme court that’s declared open season on reproductive rights protections. But no one is calling for a travel advisory against the whole of America, much less its plainly progressive states.

There’s no doubt Florida’s latest political heel-turn has sunk its mass appeal to a low not seen since the 2000 presidential election. But it’s still home to the third-largest Black population among US states; that’s a lot of family, friends and hardworking folks left by the wayside. The more my wife and I thought about it, the more the reward of enjoying ourselves in Florida despite DeSantis outweighed the risk of offending the white parents at my kid’s school who considered the state a no-go.

Over a recent weekend we loaded up the minivan and headed south from Atlanta to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. At no point before setting off did I consider the five-hour drive might take us through Alabama. Had that state come with its own NAACP travel advisory , I might have called for one more pit stop in Georgia before testing my three-year-old’s potty training.

Halfway through our journey, the GPS led us into Eufaula, Alabama, another resort town where great live oaks drape over pristine antebellum-era homes. But the southern gothic motif set off our inner klaxons. A web search confirmed our suspicions. The town played host to what may well have been the last civil war battle in 1865. Despite the promise of Reconstruction, white residents maintained control of Eufaula’s municipal offices five years after Alabama was forced back into the Union, even as Black residents held a two-to-one popular majority. My wife looked up from her phone, circumspect. I glanced down at the three-quarters full gas gauge, then over to my son squirming in his second-row car seat. “Hang with me for a few more miles, OK?”

When a slew of ballot referenda on civil rights threatened a white power loss, a mob went guns blazing into a Black crowd at a downtown polling place, killing six, injuring 70 and deterring scores more from voting. A historical placard recognizes the tragedy as the election riot of 1874. But it’s a good 15 miles north-east from our traffic jam at the intersection of Eufaula Avenue and Broad Street, where a 35ft Confederate-soldier-topped obelisk stands proudly on the very spot the massacre took place. All we could do was shake our heads with resigned disbelief.

The NAACP has only issued one other travel advisory in its 114-year history, in the summer of 2017, after Missouri lawmakers passed a bill rolling back state protections against discrimination. The local chapter of the NAACP was first to caution visitors over the civil rights violations that they risked by entering the Show-Me State . This was a year after a report from Josh Hawley’s state attorney general’s office found Black motorists had been stopped 75% more often than white drivers. The ACLU had issued a similar advisory for Texas that same year in response to a law that allowed traffic officers to interrogate the immigration status of people stopped for traffic violations.

Still: it’s one thing to warn holiday-goers about predatory policing that could materially affect their travel plans, quite another to roadblock a borderline inescapable tourist trap. According to a 2020 analysis from the market research firm MMGY Travel Intelligence, Florida is the top destination for Black overnight travelers within the continental United States. What’s more, the state was nearly run by Andrew Gillum; in 2018, the Democratic Tallahassee mayor emerged as the first Black gubernatorial candidate in Florida history and came within a hair’s breadth of pipping DeSantis at the polls.

Staying Black in America was a long-odds game well before DeSantis and Scott rolled up the red carpet. My family isn’t any less under siege in Atlanta – the American Wakanda hellbent on building the West Point of police academies – than on the Emerald coast, where 600 enslaved people joined forces with the Union army and fought their way across the panhandle to freedom near the civil war’s end.

Immediately upon arriving in Santa Rosa Beach, we were struck by the conspicuous lack of Black faces. According to recent census data, Black people officially account for none of the town’s 5,700 residents. This is despite Santa Rosa Beach sitting on the same 20-mile stretch of state route that threads through Pensacola, Panama City and Destin; between the military air stations, MTV’s Spring Break and the nationally renowned jazz festival, this region – nicknamed 30A, for the state route, attracts all kinds. But after wrangling the kids all day, my wife and I couldn’t imagine exploring that scene, much less staying awake past 9pm. That didn’t stop my brother-in-law from bellying up to the Irish pub one block over.

In his 2016 book This Land Was Ours, the University of Virginia professor Andrew Kahrl explains how Black southerners were redlined off the beaches to make way for a government-spurred tourism industry designed to enrich and serve whites.

It’s a heartbreaking story that draws from a slew of oral histories with Black people who lived through that phase of Jim Crow – not least Lodie Marie Robinson-Cyrille, who recalled her experience working at a Florida resort. “They wouldn’t allow Black[s] to swim in the Gulf or be seen on the beaches,” she said. “The families could go and work in the hotels as cooks, as domestics, as maids, but they could not lounge or enjoy some of the same activities as, say, a tourist would enjoy.” Leisure time, at least in this country, has been a white privilege from the very beginning. But my three-year-old is none the wiser. One day while sipping a juice box while sitting by the pool in his swim vest, he asked: “Are we on vacation yet?”

My wife and I, it seems, are always working hard when we’re supposed to be off. Too often when we were young, childless and still living in New York, we were the lone Black people in a restaurant, at Broadway shows or otherwise spending money to enjoy our hard-won downtime hours. We moved to the South Carolina Lowcountry expecting to fraternize with the region’s proud Gullah Geechee descendants (my wife is one, too), only to wind up surrounded by white pleasure-seekers who referred to enslaved people as “workers”, rushed to put up stakes in “plantation” communities and thought nothing of exploiting the tax code to further decouple foundational Blacks from coastal land they legally owned.

The scenes are even more stark when we go on holiday; it doesn’t matter if we’re lazing around a spa in Scottsdale or biking around Belle-Île-en-Mer. We anticipate the wary smiles, the nervous laughter, and forward questions about what we do for a living. No matter how many times we’re forced, however politely, to justify our presence, the takeaway never changes : “Good for you,” they say.

But the people of 30A didn’t interrogate our presence unless we were pitching our beach tent, which could get complicated depending on the size and the invisible lines in the sand that separate public access from resort seaside. And seeing the white parents hounding their kids about their manners, their sunscreen, the fact that “we didn’t spend all this money on a nice vacation for you to stare at a screen!” was another reminder that they’re not that different. We all come from the same country, where the sight of a C-130 cargo plane, roaring low enough over the coast that airmen’s faces are visible as they wave, isn’t cause for alarm. It’s an invitation to wave right back.

Twice while schlepping the kids to the beach on bikes, we crossed a man in a “Let’s Go Brandon” shirt; he just smiled and kept moving. There was a thought that things might get political when we saw a young man standing outside the beach parking lot waving a giant Trump 2024 flag. But the boy, bless his heart, didn’t seem like he was from around there, given the Slavic accent that inflected his timid “hello”.

The only time it seemed as if the vibe might shift on us was after sundown, while I hoofed around seeking a dinner spot with my wife and brother-in-law. Ultimately, we were drawn into a bustling Italian place. With white faces at every place setting and spilling out the door, we were fully prepared to be turned away by the two white schoolgirls behind the host stand. All the while, an older Black woman was stuck on the phone. But then she hung up.

Before I could backtrack out of her way, she was snatching three menus, seating us at an open table and leaving us in the care of “our best waiter”, also Black. We were looked after, doted on; when our orders were up, the plates arrived via three different servers – all of them Black. It was as if every Black person in the joint was on a mission to go above and beyond to make us feel at home. Later, our waiter let slip that we were his first Black table in “weeks”. No, he wasn’t thrilled about the NAACP advisory scaring Black folk away, but he agreed with its intent because, well, Florida has become a hard place to be Black.

By this point, the dinner rush had eased, the place had emptied out and we were in our own little world, just talking. But the kicker was when he learned my wife and I had come down from Atlanta. “I just moved away,” he said with a laugh. “It’s like Grand Theft Auto up there!” Here at least, he felt he could rely on the kindness of empathetic whites – but also, “they need us,” he said. “No one wants to work.”

On the last evening of our trip, we took a self-guided tour through Alys Beach, a breathtaking sight. One woman who looked to be on a shift break greeted us with an eagerness that suggested we had already met – an assumption that’s easy enough to make in yet another Emerald coast town where Black people don’t live. Alys Beach isn’t just awash with white people; the town is quite literally made up of ivory towers meant to mirror the architecture of the old world.

After a slack-jawed walk past the Grecian trellises, the Moorish arches and Dutch gables, we pulled over for a beer at a cafe across the street from a $20m beachside mansion. The idea that this cloister was just a car ride away from home, let alone part of the same highway system as Queens or Compton, simply beggared belief. It left me wondering about what other idylls conservatives were desperately trying to keep hidden. It made me want to push deeper down the Gulf coast, into Alabama and Mississippi. It convinced me that the NAACP’s travel advisory should have made the opposite statement: “Lookie what we have here!”

Before my brother-in-law gave the boys one last squeeze and ducked into a cab, he told me about his long goodbye to the white regulars and staff at the pub – friends forever, apparently. “Thanks for coming to visit us,” one said, “despite … you know. Hopefully you felt welcome.”

There is no question that venturing out to Florida was a risk in this fraught climate, but there’s also never been a better time to see the country while Black. The farther we wander out of our comfort zones, the more potential they have to expand – and that, son, is when the vacation really begins. Issuing a travel advisory against one state for its extreme politics doesn’t just play into the zealots’ hands, it gives the rest of the country a break it doesn’t deserve.

• Ron DeSantis
• US politics

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Good to know

Faqs - booking florida flights, i’m flying to florida to visit disney world in orlando. what is the best airport.

The best airport for those visiting Disney World is the Orlando International Airport, from which you can take the complimentary bus "Disney’s Magical Express" straight to the hotels at the Disney World Resort. The bus must be booked in advance.

I’m traveling to Miami. Which airport should I fly into?

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the closest to Miami’s city center and is where most major airlines fly into. If your goal is to have a short commute from the airport to the city center, then this airport is the best option, but keep in mind that it’s also one of the busiest airports. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, on the other hand, is smaller and not as crowded, but it has fewer options of airlines that fly there, and it’s a 40m drive to Miami’s city center.

I’m taking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Which airport should I fly into?

Passengers for cruises departing from Port Everglades should fly into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Not only is it the closest airport to the cruise ship port and the city center, but the airport partners with the cruise lines to aid passengers in transit from the flight to the cruise. Those services include a cruise line employee who will meet you at baggage claim, as well as transportation to and from the cruise.

What’s the closest airport in Florida to the Everglades National Park?

The closest airport in Florida to the Everglades National Park is the Miami International Airport 30m away. After arriving at the airport, you can rent a car or book a shuttle service to travel to one of the entrances of the park. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is the entrance to the park closest to the airport (45m).

How long is the flight to Florida?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Florida takes 2h 56m, covering a distance of 1102 miles. The most popular route is Newark - Fort Lauderdale with an average flight time of 2h 58m.

What is the cheapest flight to Florida?

The cheapest ticket to Florida from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $17 one-way, and $34 round-trip. The most popular route is Newark to Fort Lauderdale and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $50.

Which airlines fly to Florida?

American Airlines, Delta & JetBlue fly the most frequently from the United States to Florida.

What are the most popular destinations in Florida?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Orlando (23% of total searches to Florida). The next most popular destinations are Fort Lauderdale (22%) and Miami (22%). Searches for flights to Tampa (11%), to West Palm Beach (5%) and to Fort Myers (4%) are also popular.

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KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Florida

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Florida flight deals.
• If you’re planning a beach vacation to the Sunshine State, keep in mind when searching for flights to Florida that some airports are closer to the beach than others. Key West International Airport (EYW) is one mile away from the nearest beach. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is 3.5 mi from the coast, and Miami International Airport is 12 mi from the famous Miami Beach.
• If budget is on your mind when planning your trip but you'd like to book your ticket with a major airline, search for flights to Florida that land in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport (TPA), or Palm Beach International Airport.
• Orlando is famous for Disney World, but if you're not traveling to Orlando for the resort, you should consider one of the other two main airports in the city. Those are Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Orlando Melbourne International Airport (MLB). Keep in mind that both airports serve fewer airlines, most of them operating budget flights.
• Travelers flying into Florida for Daytona racing events should look for flights to Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), which will be the closest airport. Alternative airports include Orlando International Airport (MCO) (1h), Orlando Sanford International Airport (1h), and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) (2h).
• If you’re planning to travel with your dog to Florida, be aware that dogs are only allowed on specific dog beaches. Top-rated dog beaches include Causeway Islands in Sanibel, Peanut Island in Riviera Beach, and Crescent Beach in Saint Augustine. The closest airports to each one of these beaches are Fort Myers Airport (RSW), Palm Beach International Airport, and Jacksonville International Airport, respectively.

Top 5 airlines flying to Florida

Terrible. Flight was cancelled due to the weather in the east and sout east(florida). Did not get any compesation of any kind. According to them, it was not under their control so I lost all the money paid for the 2 fairs from Raleigh, NC to Orlando, Fl.

There were multiple delays but JetBlue tried to make the boarding and departure process as quick and efficient as possible. The crew was as detached from reality as could be, meaning: not very friendly and just doing things by the numbers.

40 minute delay before take off after boarding flight. Bright lights throughout night flight due Issues with light panels. In flight Entertainment nonfunctional

Another horrible Jet Blue experience. This airline has suffered the biggest decline of all from best to worst. TVs didn’t work (again). internet was temperamental. Boarded late and couldn’t get organized to serve snacks.

I hate their constant delays! It’s as if I cannot confidently make plans for timing when I'm traveling with them. I slept through it, so all I can say is it was good.

Did not wait long for wheelchair and attendant to arrive after checking in. Wheeled down to plane Was greeted with a smile when entering the plane Choice of snacks was very limited to 2 items. Seats are uncomfortable. My butt was sore after the 1st hour of flying. Needs better cushioning at seats.

Did not wait long for wheelchair and attendant to arrive after checking in. Wheeled down to plane Was greeted with a smile when entering the plane Choice of snacks was very limited to 2 items.

One hour delayed departure resulted in problems with planned ground transportation at my destination.

No WiFi No TV Bag of chips I guess it could be worse.

I really liked the way snacks and drinks were available throughout the flight!!! The flight attendants were also all fantastic!

No lounge access with “United First” ticket. False alarm about late flight, jeopardizing connection. Wrong meal. Loose power socket would not hold plug, could not charge device. In-flight access to text messaging did not work. Toilet seat on plane would not stay up.

We ended up with seats in the very back. So they did not recline. Have no idea why, we reserved and checked in very early. The isles were very narrow and the seats had very little leg room. But they did give us water, and a snack.

Check in etc was very good. As for on the plane, it was like flying in a freezer. It was so cold, i have flown for years and never been so cold on a plane. Staff on board said its always cold when flying which is a load of rubbish. They wouldnt put any heating on and now i have the flu because of this .

I’ve had a couple flights this week on United that were delayed by an hour or more

Surprisingly easy! I was hesitant to try this, but the cost swayed me. I actually felt like I had less stress than all the taxiing and possible delays that occur with short regional flights where you spend less time in the air than getting to and from the plane..

This flight was delayed multiple times and eventually canceled around 2-3ish. Original take off time was around 10:30am. By 3, there were no other options out of Houston, so stuck in Houston for from 3pm - 11am the next day.

Should have video screens Plane audio was poor and without wired connection hard to understand crew. Should serve more than just cups of water and pretzels on six hour flight. Did not see crew rest of flight. Fix charging sockets to retain charging blocks.

I paid $380 for my one-way ticket from California to Minnesota. The fair did not include online check-in. I received instructions from their app to check in at a kiosk. At the kiosk, the boarding pass would not print until an actual person came to verify that I had a personal item and not a carry-on item, On the plane, the person next to me was drunk and allowed to continue to order alcohol. United is garbage I’d rather fly spirit.

The plane was dirty and the in seat air wasn't blowing as planes usually do.

Generally good but there wasn’t any staff available when my luggage didn’t appear at baggage claim in Fresno. It took about half an hour to locate a staff member to open up the locked room where it was being kept.

Use planes with TVs on flights over 4 hours. The free entertainment was a cheap in between solution for a very long flight that you don't even bother providing meals or decent snacks.

Flight was cancelled had to move to another gate late again no internet paid for the month and never can use it waste of money

Flight delayed over an over all day until it cancelled at 1:30am. Would not repeatedly delay that late. Offer hotel rooms and rebook early. Very difficult for families with small children

It was a good flight. Of course it was full, but it went well.

We sat on the plane for 1 hour because the airline was short handed could not be unloading.

We are gluten free, there were not any available complimentary gluten free options.

Flight delayed 3 times. We were directed to go to a gate across from our gate. The plane wasn't there yet so we had to wait for it to arrive, then deplane everyone and then wait again for the plane to be cleaned. After 45 minuites we were allowed on the plane. The first plane had mechanical issues. The 2nd plane must have had bathroom issues because we did not have any food service whatsoever. No snack or beverage. That made for a long time not to have anything considering that we had just made it to the original gate and we had no time to stop to get food or a drink. Then we didn't want to leave the gate to get food because we wouldn't know how much longer the delay would be. Then the next gate change. Had we been told that the total time would have been aprox 45 min later we would have left to get food and a beverage. We had to wait again for the okay to the pilot to take off so we were on the runway for another 20 min. Overall, we were delayed over 2 hours which felt like 4 hours.

Lots of weather delays that were poorly communicated and managed. I get there are weather delays but they didn’t make it clear what was happening or comfortable on the plane

Me and my husband experienced very bad in American Airlines. We missed our flight going to Doha. The American Airlines was delayed we arrived already 10:27pm. Supposed to be 9:40 pm. So what they did they rebooked our flight and they gave us a hotel. When we arrived at the hotel the front desk said it was fully booked already. Oh my gosh! I said why did you accept the booking if it's fully booked. The guy said that's American Airlines they just book even it's already full. That's 2am already, we have nothing to do so, we decided to go another hotel. We pay the room, food and taxi. Pls give an action on this matter. Refund our expenses and give us more compensation. Not only our room, food, taxi but also our efforts, tiredness looking for a room that can accommodate us.

Horrible. Flight was delayed and very bumpy. I was super unhappy

Terrible… missed our flight due to ridiculously long time to go thru baggage check-in!

Everything was really good but the seats are not very comfortable.

Spirit canceled the flight in March and never notified me!

Pretty good. Would’ve been excellent if we would have left on time and the crew wasn’t late.

Spirit airline tries to screw you at every opportunity. Spirit wanted 65$ for an extra pound in the suitcase Made me open the suitcase at the counter to remove 1 pound. Staff very cold and rude Will never fly spirit again and will recommend same to family and friends

The weight limit per bag was really low - 40 lbs - so we had to pay extra. Then, they said their carry on size was 14x18x8, and we measured our bag very carefully. It was within the limit, yet they said it was too big, so we ended up paying an extra $100 for that too!! So it wasn’t the cheap flight we thought it would be. Then, they moved up our initial flight to depart 3 hours earlier which meant we had to be out on the road by 7 am and then have a 6 hour layover and we got home at 2am. It was a grueling day. I won’t be flying with them again.

Overall it was a good experience. Stewards were very kind and professional. The departure and arrival times were as promised. Plane was clean.

Terrible as usual!!!! Very unprofessional and rude flight attendants! You get what you pay for! HORRIBLE

My experience was above excellent!!!! First the lady that pushed me in the wheelchair to the gate was outstanding!!! Then the ladies at the gate went over and beyond, by helping me fill out the immigration form! I would not have been able to get to Guatemala without their help!!! God bless them all! They were amazing 🙏❤️🙏

First....my trip was from Ft. Myers to Philly (not the other way around). Plane was clean, staff was friendly and flight was efficient with boarding and flight time. Thumbs up all around.

I fly Frontier because it’s affordable. I understand that the seats are tight and not the most comfortable…but that’s part of it. The problem with this flight was that there was a group of travelers directly behind me at the back of the plane who were ridiculously loud and obnoxious the entire flight. I’m pretty sure they were drunk and I could periodically smell an odd odor that I believe was one of them using a smokeless vape pen. The stewards had to remind them to keep quiet during the pre-flight instruction, but that was it. They never said another thing to them for the rest of the flight. It was a miserable.

Six hour delay. Poor customer service. No voucher. Bad communication. Missed important appointments.

I purchased a carry on bag online…was supposed to cost $72 but after a whole slew of bs charges, the total was over $175.00. Because of these hidden charges, I will not even consider flying Frontier ever again. It’s just not worth the hassle. I’m scratching this company off my list forever.

Flight delayed 3 times, resulting in late arrival, rental car place gave car away resulting in increased BS charges because I was late. Frontier blows.

It was impossible to change a carry-on for a checked bag after the initial selection. The flight was delayed 14 hours "to allow for a late arriving aircraft." The seats were shockingly uncomfortable. This was only the second time I've seen seats that didn't recline in an airline. The first was in an East Bloc airline before the fall if the Iron Curtain.

First time flying Frontier, I am not sure the Ala Carte menu of options is for me.

I liked getting off the plane. Everything else was well below standards. Not even offering a bag of peanuts for free for a 4 hours flight is ridiculous.

There was no wifi, there was no usb charger on the planes Frontier lowered the weight limit on suitcases from 50 to 40 pounds Frontier now charges for a seat...really? If i don't pay for a basic seat, do i stand the whole flight? Frontier now charges for the carry on, just like for the checked suitcase The bundle pricing is way over priced.

Bought seats on the flight and they were supposed to be 2 and a jumpseat. Plane clearly changed and it was a regular 3 seat row. Asked for a refund and was denied. If I wanted to sit next to someone else I wouldn't have bought the seats..

Flying frontier reminded me of flying with my family in the 80’s in all of the worst ways possible. From poor customer service to little to no technology. The plane was dirty old and also stuck in the 80’s. From their seatbelts to not having anywhere to charge our phones the seats and the equipment I wasn’t sure if I was being punked or thrown back in time. Needless to say I don’t see myself flying frontier ever again.

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Memorial Day road trip ahead. Here are the best and worst times to go in Florida, the Southeast

Memorial Day is rapidly approaching, which means millions will be hitting the roadways or skies for a quick weekend getaway.

AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period. This is a 4% increase over last year, with experts noting this comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers. 

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, said. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”  

When is Memorial Day 2024? When is Memorial Day weekend 2024?

Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May, with this year's being on Monday, May 27. Memorial Day weekend starts on Friday, May 24, and lasts through the holiday until Monday.

Why we celebrate: What to know about federal holiday, what’s open in Florida

Which will be more congested for Memorial Day travel — roadways or airports?

According to AAA, road trips are expected to set a record with 38.4 million people projected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. Drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57.

Renting a car for your road trip? Florida-based rental company  Hertz  says Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand, with the busiest pick-up days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24. 

But airports are also bracing for a large surge of travelers next weekend.

Is Memorial Day a busy airport day?

AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019.

"This will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11," AAA said in its press release.

As for other modes of transportation, AAA predicts nearly two million people are expected to travel by buses, cruises, and train.

“This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic with fewer people taking public transportation or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we’re back to 2019 numbers. Travel demand has been soaring, and long holiday weekends create the perfect windows for getaways.” 

When are the best and worst times to travel on Memorial Day?

For those planning a road trip for the holiday weekend, transportation data and insights provider INRIX offers the best times to get on the road.

Experts advise drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.  

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal. Travelers should stay up to date on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said.

What are the busiest travel days around Memorial Day?

Thursday, may 23.

• Best times: Before 11 a.m., After 7 p.m.
• Worst Times: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday, May 24

• Best times: Before 11 a.m., After 8 p.m.
• Worst Times: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 25

• Best times: Before 11 a.m., After 6 p.m.
• Worst Times: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 26

• Best times: Before 1 p.m.
• Worst Times: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday, May 27

• Best times: After 7 p.m.

Floridians beware: Other states are heading to Florida to vacation

Whether Florida residents plan on traveling or relaxing at home all weekend, they might want to be aware of the thousands of others joining them.

AAA compiled a list of the top domestic travel destinations for Memorial Day weekend, with three Florida cities making the list:

• Orlando, Florida
• Seattle, Washington
• New York City, New York
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Anchorage, Alaska
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Miami, Florida
• Boston, Massachusetts

"This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed," AAA writes.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for St Lucie County until1:45 p.m.

Florida sets tourism record with over 140 million visitors

by Sophie Pendrill

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida's tourism has reached record levels, Gov. Ron DeSantis revealed Monday, confirming Florida as a top destination for travelers worldwide.

"Once again, Florida leads the nation as an unrivaled destination for tourists," DeSantis said. “These record-breaking numbers show that our work has made the free state of Florida even more attractive to visitors.”

The first quarter of this year Florida saw 40.6 million visitors, the highest ever for a single quarter.

In the first quarter of this year, domestic visitation reached a new high of 37.2 million. Overseas visitation was 2.1 million, and Canadian visitation rose to 1.3 million.

See also: Vero Beach City Council approves Downtown master plan draft

“Florida continues to welcome visitors with open arms,” Dana Young, President and CEO of Visit Florida, said. “The record-breaking visitation seen in 2023 and continued through the first quarter of 2024 reaffirms Florida's status as a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.”

Last year, Florida welcomed over 140.6 million visitors, breaking previous records and domestic visitation reached an all-time high, with 129.1 million domestic visitors, along with 8.3 million overseas visitors and 3.2 million Canadian visitors.

The total visitation for the first quarter of this year was a 1.2% increase from the previous year and the highest number of visitors ever received in a single quarter.

Husband of Florida woman who went missing in Spain arrested in her disappearance

The husband of the Florida woman who went missing during a trip to Spain has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, the FBI confirmed on Monday.

Ana Maria Knezevic Henao, 40, was last seen on Feb. 2 in Madrid, Spain, according to the  National Center for the Disappeared in Spain . Loved ones of the businesswoman said she was traveling amidst a difficult divorce, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY.

The Diplomatic Security Service and the FBI arrested her husband, 36-year-old David Knezevich, at the Miami International Airport on Saturday in connection with her disappearance, according to CNN and NBC . He has not yet appeared for his initial court appearance at Miami Federal Court.

Knezevic Henao's brother Juan Felipe Henao said she never showed up to the Madrid train station where she planned to go to Barcelona with a friend, CNN reported.

David Knezevich’s attorney, Ken Padowitz, declined USA TODAY's request for comment.

Man spray-painted the security cameras Ana Maria's apartments

Officials considered David Knezevich a suspect in the case after a man who resembled him spray painted the security camera in her Madrid apartment building, NBC reported. Additionally, suspicious text messages sent from Knezevic Henao's phone were traced to him and a car he rented in Serbia was tracked to her street.

Knezevic Henao traveled from Miami to Madrid on Dec. 26, 2023, a criminal complaint filed by the FBI showed. No one has been unable to communicate with her since Feb 2 including her friend Sanna Rameau, who is happy about David Knezevich's arrest, according to CNN.

"I’m hoping we are going to get some answers," Rameau told CNN.

Knezevic going through 'nasty' divorce: Report

Henao told police that Knezevic and her husband are "going through a nasty divorce and there is a substantial amount of money on the line to be split up between the two and David is not happy about it," the incident report states.

The two have been married for 13 years and own computer support company EOX Technology Solutions Inc., together, USA TODAY previously reported.

Henao told police David Knezevich traveled to Serbia in January, but he didn't know for how long. Henao also told police he reached out to David Knezevich about his sister and he responded that he knew his wife is missing.