These Are The Best Towns Worth A Vacation In Florida
Florida is a great place to live and visit any time of the year, with great weather and many towns for a real respite from the city feel. These 11 coastal and inland towns with unique and cozy atmospheres boast big attractions within pristine and scenic nature for a wholesome vacation.
Cape Canaveral
The town of just under 10,000 residents packs big guns with the legendary Kennedy Space Center. The space center is a beloved destination for interstellar fanatics, families, and everyone in between for the unobtrusive view of NASA, SpaceX, and other space mission workers going about their daily shifts of shuttle construction and launch correlations. The pristine coastline offers panoramic vistas of the future-defining townscape to one side and the immense blueness with the most scenic sunset spectacles to the other.
The Canaveral National Seashore will satisfy the most venture-hungry vacationers, featuring 24 miles of undeveloped beaches for endless strolls, relaxation, water fun, and a cruise ship port. The nearby Cocoa Beach scene is adorned with more attractions and water-bound activities for a two-in-one vacation.
Destin
The town, set along the less-visited Florida Panhandle, is known for Southern hospitality and white sandy beaches sans crowds. Its larger perimeter boasts big-city amenities, great year-round weather, and easy inland access. There are many fair-priced brand-name hotels and renowned restaurants serving both traditional and seafood cuisine. The Louisiana Lagniappe masterfully combines southern tastes with treasures of the sea in grits dishes and shrimp jambalaya. There is also a concentrated scene of boutique shops and restaurants at the Destin Harbor, while the nearby Baytowne Wharf is beloved for nightlife.
The coastal town boasts a beautiful boardwalk for strolls and sightseeing, with cute shops and great fishing spots on the way. For more vacationing pastimes, there are golf courses, the Big Kahuna’s Waterpark, and the wonderful Destin History & Fishing Museum for a cultural fill on the town's past. The Henderson Beach State Park is great for atmospheric strolls, while the popular Crab Island is accessible via a short boat ride for more adventures and panoramic views back to the scenic townscape.
Dunedin
Another larger beach town with small-town vibes is well-hidden along the coastline, while only 25 miles from Tampa. It offers an easygoing vibe that feels like another world and streets full of restaurants for delicious bites throughout the day. There are many local shops and renowned brewing culture, with seven breweries in a five-minute walking radius. The Honeymoon Island State Park boasts four miles of pristine white-sanded beaches, back-dropped by the last remaining virgin slash pine forests. There is also easy access to the Caladesi Island State Park for the best Caribbean vibes.
Dunedin's picturesque waterfront features a myriad of attractions for all tastes during the day and remarkable sunsets in the evening. The beach is great for relaxing and spot islands along the horizon any time of year, while the prevalence of wildlife and unspoiled nature call the venturous. The highly-cultural town is known for a variety of Scottish-style celebrations, as well as the huge Mardi Gras festival, streets-full of live jazz, and the state's oldest Dunedin Brewery serving microbrews. The charming downtown accommodations will suit any style and budget.
Grayton Beach
The town, founded over a century ago in Northwest Florida, is known for a funky vibe and a postcard-worthy appeal that is the chosen spot for vacationing "free-spirits." Its paved streets with crushed oyster shells are lined by Hemingway-style wooden homes and historic cottages for the most-scenic townscape and lovely atmosphere. The hidden gem along the gorgeous shoreline also boasts some of the top-rated, less-crowded beaches in the United States. Grayton Beach's big character comes through the local, quirky motto of “Nice dogs, strange people.”
The laid-back Grayton Beach State Park is a great place to achieve a peaceful state of mind that is a highly-regarded art by the locals. Aside from the beach fun and relaxation, the tiny village is a delight on a stroll, with white-picket fences and artsy streets lined by eclectic shops, cozy cafes, and eateries. There are also many cute B&Bs to call home, such as the centrally-located highlight of the Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse.
Key West
The southernmost coastal town in the U.S. offers a real respite from the daily being. One can enjoy the truly quintessential atmosphere through endless sights and activities, such as exploring the history, nightlife, and world-class restaurants in town. The last of the keys is accessed via an incredibly-scenic drive from inland with renowned stops on the way, or flying-in directly out of state. One can explore the historic town on foot, rent a scooter, or a whiz on a bike along the beachside roads lined by landmarks and interesting shops. One must visit Ernest Hemingway's former home, as well as the Southernmost Point landmark.
The palm trees and brightly-colored buildings lining the beaches give Key West an island vibe for a real tropical vacation without leaving the country or mainland. The vibrant streets are filled with live music and quaint terraced establishments serving Caribbean-inspired cuisine and drinks. The vibrant Duval Street is meant for mingling, people-watching, and visiting hot spots such as the state’s oldest bar. The town is bounded by a crystal blue seascape with the best snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, and sailing for the active.
Micanopy
Micanopy is Florida's little darling set in the heart of the state. It is a favorite pit stop for road-trippers, while some 700 lucky locals might as well call themselves "full-time vacationers." The quaint ambiance and deep history are perfectly balanced by vibrant streets lined with eclectic storefronts and antiques. The beautiful nature of towering oaks embraces Micanopy. The nearby Prairie Paynes Preserve houses a 50-foot-high observation tower to spot wild horses and bison roaming their natural habitat.
The “Little Town That Time Forgot” boasts a historic downtown, tale-telling Micanopy's existence as the state's oldest inland town. It was named after the Indigenous Seminole chief and settled in 1821. Micanopy is the proclaimed "antique capital of the world," with countless rustic shops for souvenir-hunting galore. The atmosphere is complete with narrow dirt roads and ancient oaks dripping in Spanish moss, as well as the annual Fall Festival which showcases the town's culture through music and crafts.
Naples
The vibrantly beautiful town is the state's sand and sea vacation destination that is huge on water pursuits. The incredible white-sanded beaches call for endless days of sun-soaking and taking-in townscape views via boat tours, along with dolphin-spotting. Naples offers a vacation with a luxurious feel without crowds, including plenty of boutique shopping and myriad fine-dining establishments that have been called the best in Southern Florida.
The wild side of Naples includes the atmospheric Collier-Seminole State Park for fresh-air strolls and explorations of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. One can stay in style with different budgets at renowned hotels and resorts, including the Naples Bay Resort, the Inn on Fifth, the Inn at Pelican Bay, and the Bellasera Resort, all offering atmosphere and views.
Pensacola Beach
The beach town in the northwest corner of the state boasts an old-Florida vibe for a retro-style vacation. It is a beloved destination for the beautiful white-sanded beaches strewn with rustically-eclectic yet modern hotels such as the Margaritaville Beach Hotel with surfboards and Jimmy Buffett lyrics decor. One can rent a thematic vintage beach cruiser for a beachside ride, with many beach-bound bars awaiting one for a fruity-rum concoction. Good ol' Southern charm and hospitality seep in from Alabama across the border in the most-delicious seafood scene with traditional twists.
A filling meal calls for a walk along the Island National Seashore with sights from 360 degrees around. The classic Florida getaway boasts a picturesque Pensacola Lighthouse, the National Naval Aviation Museum, and the Historic Pensacola Village, as well as a downtown full of food trucks, restaurants, quaint shops, and tons of lodging options. Vacationing families thoroughly enjoy mini-golf, zip-lines, trampoline parks, and go-karting, as well as sighting dolphins for a memorable vacation.
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is the ultimate vacation destination with au naturel souvenirs strewn along the shores. It is set uniquely perpendicular to the ocean's surf, receiving unique seashells, especially in winter. The sea treasures also include sand dollars, coquinas, and whelks strewing the white-sanded beaches in a hunt that never gets old. The atmospheric Periwinkle Way is home to great restaurants, shops, and galleries, while the Point Ybel Lighthouse is the most photographed landmark around that loves receiving longing looks and posing as a backdrop for a selfie.
Sanibel Island retains a low-key vibe as an affordable beach destination that is perfect for any group or choice of pursuits during vacation. It is known for being un-crowded, casual, and relaxed, with easy access from Fort Myers. An imminent visit will reward the nature fans with sights of nesting native sea turtles until late October. Winters are mild for the best relaxation and strolls along the tranquil beaches, with day temperatures holding between the 70s and 80s.
Sarasota
Sarasota is a tranquil beach town thoroughly enjoyed by nature fans. It is home to grand attractions and pursuits in the fresh air, like the Myakka River State Park, for walks, hikes, and endless lounges on the banks. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a real eye-feast and pleasure for all senses. One can stroll through or cozy up with a book while absorbing the atmosphere within natural wonders.
There are many arts and cultural experiences in Sarasota, including concerts, plays, and art exhibits throughout the year, making it difficult not to stumble upon one around each corner. The nearby Lido Beach is galore of water fun during summer that turns into a perfect place sans crowds to visit for an atmospheric get-together in the pleasant sun with views the rest of the year. The lovely weather calls for an imminent visit from October through November, as well as February to mid-May, for an ultimate respite in tranquility.
Saint Petersburg
The sunny St. Petersburg is a great year-round destination, with something unique to offer each season. It brims with attractions that rank among the state's best, such as great golf courses, fishing, and beaches. There's the beloved St. Pete Beach and the waterfront parks for the hot months, while many excellent local museums are full of discoveries for some culture on a chance-rainy day.
St. Petersburg is best to handle via a bike ride, where each corner offers a unique sight and perspective of the vibrant town, along with a diverse array of shops and eateries for a worthy stop. The mesmerizing Museum of Fine Arts includes intricate glasswork from the Chihuly Collection. The legendary Salvador Dali Museum is a must-visit for the world-renowned collection of unique works by the great artist that is the largest outside of Spain. There are also regular concerts to catch, along with St. Pete Pier for scenic fishing, reminiscent lounging, and sunset strolls.
Discovering any of these 11 towns will imprint in one's mind as a lifetime getaway. Each one boasts a big character and streets full of diversity, guaranteeing to satisfy any definition of the "best vacation."
