When planning a warm winter getaway, Florida is often top of people’s minds. Hot sun, pristine beaches, soft sand… what’s not to love? But how do you choose the best places to visit in Florida?
Different Florida destinations provide very different experiences. After visiting Florida at least 13 times over the years (with kids and without) we’ve found some favorite spots for sun, sand, and surf, great food and nightlife, wild adventure, family-friendly fun, and a whole lot more. If you need help deciding where to vacation in Florida, read on for detailed recommendations based on some of our favorite Florida vacation getaways.
Traveling with young kids? Visit St. Pete Beach.
The relaxed and laid-back atmosphere in St. Pete Beach makes traveling there with young kids a dream. It also doesn’t hurt that in 2021 St. Pete Beach was named the best beach in the nation according to Tripadvisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice rankings.
What impressed us most about this family-friendly destination was the variety of waterfront accommodations with convenient beach access. We could walk out the door and within a few feet sink our toes in the soft, white sandy beaches perfect for building sandcastles. The clear water was great for splashing in, and the Gulf provided the perfect backdrop for a picturesque sunset every evening.
We purposely chose a room with a Gulf view so we could hang out on the balcony while our kids were napping. Plus, the ocean waves were a welcome sound to fall asleep to. After dinner at one of the many family-friendly restaurants in town, our toddlers loved playing in local parks and playgrounds.
All in all, St. Pete Beach provided everything we were looking for in a warm winter getaway and is one of the best places to visit in Florida with young kids.
Find wild adventure in the Everglades.
Everglades National Park provides a crazy amount of adventure within its 1.5-million acres. There are three completely separate entrances to the park. Depending on where you venture in, you can kayak, hike, camp, fish and take an air boat tour. You can even bike with alligators at your feet – that’s the adventure we embarked on!
The Shark Valley entrance to the Everglades, located on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), provides a very unique biking experience. Pedaling on a nicely paved loop trail next to tall grass and a stream, we passed close to 90 alligators. (Yes 90, we counted!) To read all about it, including our encounter with a gator that parked itself right on our path and wouldn’t budge, click here.
Visiting the Everglades is unlike anything else in the country. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Florida for wild adventure.
Fort Myers hits a home run for baseball families.
Scheduling a Spring Training-themed vacation is a blast for the whole family. Being a Minnesota Twins fan, I took my family to a spring training game during our vacation to Fort Myers. Major League Baseball spring training runs from February through March making it an ideal warm winter getaway.
Fort Myers is home to two MLB spring training teams and stadiums. The Minnesota Twins play in Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. The Boston Red Sox play at Jet Blue Park, one of Florida’s largest spring training facilities.
In some ways these preseason games are even better than regular season games. Besides the fact that you’re in a fun, tropical locale, the stadiums are more intimate. They still offer modern amenities, but they’re more casual, not as crowded, and the players are sometimes approachable so you can snag an autograph. With games being played almost daily, it’s easy to get tickets, too.
Happy hour all day? Head to Key West.
If you prefer live music and libations over swimming and sandy beaches, then Key West is calling your name. Key West’s lively, but laid-back vibe is perfect for adults wanting to kick back with some cocktails.
Duval Street is the center of the party. The north end of Duval includes most of the action and it gets quieter as you head south. We liked a bit of both. The live music, food, and party atmosphere is fun on the north end. But at night, we enjoyed escaping the noise heading back to our hotel on the south end.
Quick tip: While in Key West, be sure to try the yellowtail snapper at Blue Heaven and brunch at Louie’s Backyard. You won’t be disappointed.
Unwind on the uncrowded beaches of Amelia Island.
Amelia Island is a beautiful barrier island off Florida’s Atlantic coast northeast of Jacksonville. With 13 miles of uncrowded sandy shoreline, Amelia Island is the perfect getaway for relaxing on the beach.
There’s more to Amelia Island than just sand and surf, though. History and nature meet up in this alluring island along with a charming downtown, great food and stunning sunrises and sunsets. Click to read our complete list of 10 reasons why you should make Amelia Island your next beach getaway.
Is upscale your style? Experience luxury in Naples.
The city of Naples, located in southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, is home to high-end experiences. You can indulge in luxury shopping along Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South. Enjoy a world class art scene with performing arts and art galleries. And with more than 700 restaurants, you’ll have an overwhelming choice of sophisticated and international cuisine.
Stroll down Naples’ beautiful palm tree-lined streets in the historic downtown area or walk along the beachfront homes on Millionaire’s Row. Take a cruise on a catamaran or watch the sunset on Naples Pier. There is no shortage of high-end happenings in Naples, making it one of the best places to visit in Florida if you’re looking for luxury.
For theme park thrills make magical memories in Tallahassee.
(Just kidding… Orlando, of course!)
Everyone knows you can’t beat Orlando for theme park excitement. You obviously don’t need us to tell you that. Our family has fun memories of Disney, but there are some things to keep in mind when planning a Disney vacation:
- Avoid the intense heat of summer. Insanely hot summertime temperatures can put a damper on your Disney experience. Long lines are often inevitable but waiting in extreme humidity while the sun beats down on you can put everyone in a grumpy mood – especially if you have young children.
- Crowds during peak tourist times can hinder your magical time in Disney, too. Besides the busy summertime, the weeks of Spring Break, Thanksgiving and Christmas are exceptionally crowded at the theme parks. Opt for off-peak times to visit – even if it means taking the kids out of school! That is my biggest piece of advice.
- You definitely need to plan ahead when visiting Disney, but the amount of details can be overwhelming. Seek out advice and information from someone who has been there recently. There are important things to know about dining plans and reservations, changes to the fast pass system, and other changes due to Covid. Don’t get frustrated by all the things you need to know before your trip – trust the experts. There are people who live and breathe Disney. Seek them out. Here are some helpful links:
- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com
- https://allears.net
- https://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwplan.htm
Great suggestions. We are taking Red Coach buses around and they are hitting a lot of these recommendations (seen here: https://www.redcoachusa.com/florida/). Thanks for steering our choices!
You’re welcome, David. Have a great time!