15 Best Vacation Destinations in Florida

https://content.nomadsoup.com/uploads/thumbnail_img_7080_f8999ebe19.jpg
Sviat Oleksiv
March 26, 2022

When one thinks about Florida, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, at least a dozen pictures come to mind. Many people think of Orlando's world-famous theme parks, such as Disney World and Universal Studios. In contrast, others may think of the seemingly infinite number of championship golf courses strewn around the Sunshine State.

Waterbugs and sunbathers will find hundreds of beaches to enjoy, while shopping lovers will find plenty of luxury stores and eccentric boutiques in each city. If your trip is centered on a beach vacation or a certain activity, you should consider the temperature and ideal time of year to visit Florida.

Aside from entertainment and relaxation, Florida has a rich historical and cultural background that includes peaceful indigenous, Spanish conquistadors, swashbuckling pirates, and decades of Caribbean influences, making it a very intriguing and diverse area to visit.

Florida also has some of the most distinctive and unusual natural areas, such as Everglades National Park and a slew of barrier islands with valuable ocean ecosystems.

With this list of the greatest locations to visit in Florida, you can plan your travels in the Sunshine State.

1. Miami

Miami is a significant American city and seaport located on the Atlantic coast near the southeastern tip of Florida. Visitors will enjoy the pastel-hued art deco architecture of the Art Deco area, the Latin energy and music of Little Havana, the expensive luxury hotels and wonderful beaches of Miami Beach, a feeling of history at Coral Gables, and distinctive shopping at Coconut Grove.

Miami has some of the top country golf courses and some of the best baseball, basketball, football, and hockey teams. And there's the water all around you, with wonderful deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, boating, sailing, diving, and observing dolphins and other marine life.

You also can be interested in: 8 Best Places to Visit in Miami

2. Orlando

Orlando is a vibrant city in central Florida that is renowned as the World Theme Park Capital since it has over a dozen theme parks. There's Walt Disney World, which includes the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, Universal Orlando, which includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, and other attractions.

If you want to enjoy the opposite side of Orlando, take a boat ride across the enormous Everglades or visit the Kennedy Space Center. Orlando is home to a variety of excellent museums, including Ripley's Believe It or Not and the Orlando Science Center.

Nature enthusiasts would also like the adjacent Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs, which have crystal clear waters.

You also can be interested in:

3. Naples

Naples, Florida's southernmost city along the Gulf Coast, is an upmarket neighborhood with a charming city center and a gorgeous stretch of beach. The ocean is lined by a mix of exquisite homes, a few luxury resorts, and condo complexes, but the city has retained a small-town character.

Naples' trendiest restaurants, art galleries, and shops may be found on Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South.

Naples and its surrounding areas have some of the nicest beaches in the state. The shallow, warm waters here are normally tranquil with modest waves, making them perfect for swimming and playing. The fine white sand is ideal for lounging down on your towel and soaking up some of that wonderful Florida sunshine while gazing out over the Gulf of Mexico.

The city's most cherished historical monument, Naples Pier, is a must-see for tourists and the ideal location for watching dolphins without going on a boat. Naples, despite its image as a high-end golf resort town, contains a number of historical sites as well as distinct ecological areas.

The ancient Smallwood Store trading station is now a museum commemorating the days of fur trafficking, while the Museum of the Everglades delves into the region's history dating back to the Calusa Indians. Both buildings are historical places.

Visitors may take a boat tour or rent a canoe or kayak to explore the mangrove estuaries and experience the region's magnificent wildlife at the Gulf Coast Everglades Visitor Site, which is the park's sole admission-free center.

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, noted for its ancient cypress forest, and Fakahatchee Strand State Park, which is home to the ghost orchid and other rare and endangered flora and animals, is also close.

4. Naples Beach

There are no rocks or seaweed on the beaches in Naples, which makes them the sort of place that beach lovers dream about: fluffy white sand that is smooth to the touch and perfectly fitting to the body, devoid of waste and pebbles. The sand is warm but not burning, and it is surrounded by breathtaking landscape and the most magnificent blue-green sea...

5. St. Augustine

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States and is located on Florida's northeast coast. Its lovely downtown area is filled with well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings.

The Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century Spanish stronghold constructed of stone that gives stunning views of the ocean and the St. Augustine Inlet, is another reminder of the city's Spanish heritage.

The beaches of St. Augustine are spectacular, with fine white sand, and the most popular are St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach.

Hike through beautiful Anastasia State Park, a protected wildlife refuge with 4 miles of pristine coastline and a nature walk that winds through ancient dunes, estuary tidal marsh, and maritime hammocks.

6. Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a significant seaport city in northeastern Florida, located at the confluence of the St. John's River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is a huge, modern metropolis and a regional commercial center. The surrounding barrier island and its beautiful beaches are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing, with Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach being the most popular.

TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach is a well-known championship golf course that also serves as the PGA Tour's headquarters.

Visit the Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island to learn about the lives of slaves and slave owners. Bring the kids to the beautiful, tropical Jacksonville Zoo to view elephants. Visit the Forth Caroline National Memorial in the 16th century to learn about the days when the French were in control.

Don't miss the trendy Five Points neighborhood. You'll like browsing the antique stores, experiencing new foods at the gastropubs, and drinking local brews at the bars.

7. Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park, 1.5-million-acre marshes on Florida's southern tip, is the largest subtropical natural region in the United States. It is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.

The Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, pine flatwoods, and sawgrass marshes that are home to hundreds of animal species. Some of the animals are uncommon and endangered, such as the manatee, American crocodile, Florida panther, and leatherback turtle.

A calm walk along one of the many boardwalks, a boat-guided tour of the Ten Thousand Islands or Florida Bay, or a tram ride through interesting Shark Valley are the greatest ways to enjoy the Everglades' charm. If you're lucky and patient, you could get a glimpse of an alligator sunning itself.

8. Bahia Honda State Park

In the early 1900s, Henry Flagler's daring attempt to build a railroad to Key West transformed the lonely island of Bahia Honda Key into a tropical getaway.

Along with its distinctive Florida landscape — palm-lined beaches, gin-clear oceans, and spectacular sunsets — the park is famed for its year-round mild sea breezes that caress the shoreline. Kayaks and snorkeling equipment are available for hire, as are boat cruises to the reef for snorkeling excursions.

The park is a great spot to see wading birds and shorebirds, and it also educates visitors to the island's vegetation and fauna.

Kayaks and snorkeling equipment may be rented, as well as snorkeling tours, at our concession.

9. Honeymoon Island State Park

In the early 1900s, Henry Flagler's daring endeavor to build a railroad to Key West transformed the lonely island of Bahia Honda Key into a tropical resort.

Along with its distinctive Florida landscape — palm-lined beaches, gin-clear oceans, and breathtaking sunsets — the park is famed for its year-round mild sea breezes that caress the shoreline. Kayaks and snorkeling equipment may be hired, and boat cruises to the reef for snorkeling excursions are offered.

The park is a good area to see wading birds and shorebirds, and it also teaches visitors about the island's vegetation and fauna.

Kayaks and snorkeling equipment can be rented, and snorkeling excursions are available at our concession.

10. Caladesi Island State Park

Whatever you choose to do on your vacation to Caladesi Island, whether it's a stroll along the island's gorgeous beaches or a kayak tour through the bayside mangrove forest, it will be a wonderful experience.

Traveling into the interior of the island, on a nature route to the historic Scharrer Homestead, you'll hear the ocean air whispering through old-growth slash pines and feel the embrace of enormous live oaks.

Discover why Myrtle Scharrer Betz, a homesteader who wrote about her experiences here, referred to it as "Paradise."

11. Grayton Beach State Park

It's true that resting on beautiful Grayton Beach while enjoying warm gulf breezes is one of the park's primary attractions, but it's only one component of this stunning park.

Grayton Beach has continuously been rated as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the United States of America. Fishing and canoeing are available at Western Lake, and those who wish to explore on foot may take advantage of the 4 miles of paths that snake through a coastal forest where scrub oaks and magnolias have been bent and twisted by the salt air.

With a stay in one of the well-equipped cabins or a more rustic lodging at one of Grayton's quaint campsites, an overnight excursion offers its own distinct experience.

Grayton Beach State Park, with its roughly 2,000 acres of land, provides more than just a picturesque background for golden sunrises and silver moonlight afternoons.

12. Fort De Soto Park

Enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of Florida without the crowds of tourists at Fort De Soto Park, where shelling, swimming, and strolling along the white powdered sand beaches are all top priorities. Colorful seashell gems may be found throughout the beach's lengthy stretch of sand, making for a one-of-a-kind memento. Sand dollar shells, lightning whelk shells, and jingle shells are among the many seashells that wash up on the shores.

While relaxing on the beach or kayaking close to the calm water's edge at Fort De Soto, you will find yourself completely engaged in the profusion of natural beauty that extends as far as the eye can see in every direction. Although the intricacy of the environment is not immediately evident, the park contains the largest diversity of ecological systems found anyplace in the world. Fort De Soto is a magnificent tapestry that emerges from the abundance of birdlife, marine life, animal life, and plant life that surrounds it.

13. Henderson Beach State Park

It's a beautiful beach with 30 feet of snow-white sand dunes. You can relax in the sun or swim in the warm Gulf of Mexico waters every day.

Henderson Beach makes this a real thing, so there's no need to dream. There aren't just a lot of things to do on this part of the Emerald Coast. Fishing, a nature trail, and 60 campsites that are connected to the beach by a boardwalk are some of the things this park has to offer.

This special place was set up to protect and preserve the area's natural features and allow people to enjoy it. It is the last stretch of coastal scrub in Destin.

A lot of people like to come to the park for things like weddings and family reunions. There are also beautiful campsites in the park.

14. St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is known as "The Sunshine City" because it holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine. The city offers a unique blend of classic beach retreat and metropolitan character to guests.

The white, sandy beaches provide breathtaking sunset views, and the 7 miles of waterfront parks invite visitors to participate in a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking.

A thriving creative renaissance also provides a diverse cultural experience, whether at the world-renowned Dal Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts.

Every year, the city hosts over 1,000 events, ranging from the St. Anthony's Triathlon to Ribfest, a festival featuring barbecued ribs and touring musicians. These events are frequently staged in downtown areas, which are densely packed with stores, restaurants, and craft brew pubs that come alive when the sun sets.

With so much to offer, the sunny city is a popular destination for guests of all ages: families will enjoy the calm outdoors and abounding animals, while the younger set will enjoy the busy nightlife downtown.

15. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

On St. George Island, Florida, St. George Island State Park boasts nine miles of natural white sand beach that is free of development. It is easy to spend the entire day in the park doing anything from sunbathing to swimming to shell hunting to canoeing to kayaking to boating to fishing to hiking to nature research. Guests can stay in one of 60 contemporary family campsites that are equipped with water, power, restrooms, and shower facilities. There is also a rustic camping site as well as a youth camping site accessible for groups that want to camp together. Kayaks may be rented for a little fee.