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Visiting Florida? Do These First
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items I'm a Florida girl, so I get asked all the time what visitors should actually do here. This is my honest Florida travel guide — my go-to list of things to do in Florida that I'd send my own family to, from theme parks to the prettiest beaches. Whethe...
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My Florida Must-Dos
Even More Florida Favorites
Old Florida & Slow Afternoons
My Florida Must-Dos
Theme parks, beaches, and only-in-Florida experiences — the spots I'd send family and friends to first.
An airboat ride through the Everglades is the most Florida thing you can do, honestly. Go early in the morning when the gators are out and it's not blazing hot — you'll see more wildlife and the crowds are smaller.
Everglades national Park Tours
Yes, it's pricey, but if you're coming all the way to Florida, this is the big one. Go on a weekday if you can, rope-drop the rides you care about most, and bring your own snacks and water to save a ton.
Walt Disney World® Resort
The water really is that clear turquoise color from the photos. Go on a weekday morning for easier parking and fewer crowds, and take the walk down Ocean Drive — the Art Deco buildings are half the experience.
South Beach
The drive down the Overseas Highway to get here is half the magic — stop at the little bridges and look at that water. Once you're here, Duval Street is all key lime everything and live music. Stay for sunset at Mallory Square.
Duval St
You don't have to be a space nerd to love this — standing next to a real Saturn V rocket is unreal. Check the launch schedule before you go; if a rocket goes up while you're there, it's a core memory.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the country, and it lives up to it — powdery white sand and calm, shallow water. Pier 60 has a nightly sunset festival with local vendors that's free to wander.
Clearwater Beach
The oldest city in the U.S. and it feels like it in the best way — cobblestone streets, the old fort, and St. George Street is perfect for wandering. It's the one Florida spot that doesn't feel like Florida, and I mean that as a compliment.
St. Augustine
Even More Florida Favorites
The second wave — Gulf-coast beaches, the big Tampa and Orlando parks, Miami's mural district, and a couple of wild detours that are worth the drive.
The sand here is like nothing else — it's almost pure quartz, so it stays cool under your feet even at noon and squeaks when you walk on it. Siesta Key is my pick for a classic, no-fuss beach day: lifeguards on duty, great people-watching, and sunset...
Siesta Beach
If you're a shell collector, Sanibel is basically heaven — the beaches here are famous for it, and you'll see people doing the "Sanibel stoop" all along the shore. It's quieter and more low-key than the big resort beaches, with gorgeous sunrises and ...
Sanibel Island
This is the theme park for thrill seekers — some of the best roller coasters in the country, and the whole park is wrapped around a gorgeous African-themed animal habitat. Ride the coasters in the morning, then wander through the savanna areas in the...
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
If Disney is the classic, Universal is the cool older sibling — edgier rides, the Wizarding World that still gives me chills, and CityWalk for dinner after. Do the park-to-park ticket if you can swing it so you can ride the Hogwarts Express between p...
Universal Studios Florida
An entire neighborhood turned into an outdoor art gallery — the murals here are unreal and they change regularly, so there's always something new. Go in the late afternoon when the light is golden, and wander the side streets too. Perfect for art lov...
Wynwood Walls
This one takes effort — a ferry or seaplane ride out past Key West — but that's exactly why it's so special. A 19th-century fort rising out of the clearest turquoise water, plus some of the best snorkeling in Florida right off the beach. Perfect for ...
Dry Tortugas National Park
Swimming inside an underground cave lit by a single beam of sunlight is one of the most surreal things you can do in Florida. The water stays a perfect 72 degrees year-round, so it's a magical escape on a hot day. Perfect for snorkelers, divers, and ...
Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring and Campground
Old Florida & Slow Afternoons
The laid-back side of the state — manatee springs, a singing tower, a 100-year-old garden, old-school gator country, and the Gulf's quietest beaches.
Old Florida charm at its best — no high-rises, just cottages, beach shacks, and the prettiest stretch of Gulf coastline. Rent a bike, hop between the little beach towns, and stay for the sunset at Bean Point. Perfect for a laid-back beach getaway, co...
Anna Maria Island
Save this one for winter — hundreds of manatees crowd into the spring run when the river gets cold, and the boardwalk puts you right over them. In summer it's one of the best swimming holes in the state. Arrive early; the park closes the gates when i...
Blue Spring State Park
Old-school Florida at its best — thousands of gators, the famous jumping show, and none of the theme-park lines or prices. It's the spot I point people to when they want real Florida wildlife up close without driving to the Everglades.
Gatorland
The peaceful one on the list — a 205-foot singing tower over reflecting pools and gardens on one of the highest points in Florida. Come at 1 or 3 p.m. for the carillon concert, and bring a picnic; it's the perfect slow afternoon between theme-park da...
Bok Tower Gardens
My pick for the best beach day near St. Pete — five connected islands with soft white sand, a historic fort to wander, and a dog beach for four-legged visitors. North Beach is the quiet end; go there for sunset and you'll understand the hype.
Fort De Soto Park
A 100-year-old living museum hidden in the middle of St. Pete — century-old palms, flamingos, and waterfalls packed into four shady acres. It's small enough for one unhurried hour and feels like stepping into old Florida.
Sunken Gardens