Fun for all ages
Florida is tailor-made for family vacations. Around its more than 8,400 miles of waterfront, there are 570 beaches for playing, snorkeling, swimming and sunning. No fewer than 175 state parks offer the chance to unplug and witness unique bird, animal and plant life. And hundreds of trails across the Everglades, forests and beach boardwalks beckon to bikers and trekkers alike.
Interactive living history and science museums, animal sanctuaries, botanical gardens, splash pads plus 10 major theme parks ensure the list of enticing things to try is always longer than the day.
Fun for all ages | adventure | CULTURE | romance
Beyond the famously fair weather that qualifies it as "the Sunshine State," the list of reasons to plot a Florida escape this season is long.
Amid its 825 miles of sands, sun seekers will find every imaginable variation—powder-white, yellow-gold, palm tree-lined, lively, secluded and island beaches are just the beginning. Culture hounds can dive into dynamic cities where history, art and cuisine intersect. And nature-needy travelers can explore Florida's great outdoors with paddling, diving, hiking, biking and boating adventures amid unique native wildlife. Heart-pumping thrill rides, romantic escapes on windswept islands and eco-tours of the state's sprawling tropical farmlands are all on the table.
Whatever your 2024 vacation goals, Florida's got the goods to make them reality.
Lakeland in Central Florida, sometimes referred to as "Swan City" for its considerable population of the graceful birds, is also home to world-class architecture. Florida Southern College constitutes the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in the country. Then there's the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg—an otherworldly dome made of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass. It's home to an assemblage of over 2,400 Salvador Dali works, the largest outside Spain.
Blissful beaches
Many Florida beaches are fully accessible, offering free beach wheelchair rentals. Check out VISIT FLORIDA’s Accessible Travel Hub for a rundown of accessible beaches, parks, attractions and events.
Florida
Adrenaline highs
Also in North Florida, check out St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, where zip lines glide you over gators and crocodiles and put you at the canopy level alongside tropical birds. To soar even higher, head to Tavares, billed as the Seaplane Capital of the World, and take off from one of the area’s 1,400 lakes.
Dune-fringed lakes dot the coastline in North Florida's South Walton County, offering unique opportunities for paddling, fishing and birding. Visit Grayton Beach State Park or Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to see this phenomenon firsthand.
Adventure awaits
Culinary delights
From fish shacks to farm-to-table restaurants, Florida pleases the tastebuds. In May, Michelin published its latest guide to the state, giving its global stamp of approval to 144 restaurants and bestowing an impressive 19 of them with stars. For the second year in a row, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Miami’s Design District earned a rare two stars (which designates “excellent cooking, worth a detour”). The venue melds the interactive sushi counters of Japan with the tapas-style service of Spain.
Waterfront restaurants add beach views to the culinary experience. Many have sections for alfresco dining—arguably the best way to savor a piping hot plate of just-caught seafood and other Floridian specialties, alongside your icy beverage of choice.
Witness wildlife
Another option? Canoe or kayak through Ichetucknee Springs State Park, a 2,699-acre wildlife haven in North Central Florida, another manatee-favorite hangout.
Culture and cuisine
Private escapes
Dive into culture
Little Havana, Miami, Miami-Dade County
North Beach, Pinellas County
Ocala National Forest, Marion County
Crystal River, Citrus County
Miami, Miami-Dade County
Aquatic thrills
Beyond its enviably expansive coastline, tens of thousands of rivers, streams, lakes, springs and canals add to Florida's bounty of waterways. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing opps abound, and the state is one of the only places on Earth where you can experience coastal dune lakes—odd-shaped, shallow bodies of water that contain both fresh and saltwater ecosystems. Florida's varied (and invariably warm) landscapes lay the groundwork for any number of adrenaline-pumping pursuits.
With its colorful sights, salt-scented breezes, bright flavors and diverse music scenes, Florida provides a veritable feast for the senses. From sampling Michelin-starred cuisine to watching movies under the night sky, there’s no shortage of new things to try, no matter how often you visit.
Warm sands, ocean breezes and verdant landscapes make Florida a go-to destination for turning up the dial on romance. For the ultimate escape, leave the mainland behind and head to one of Florida's thousands of islands and cays.
Or, for an island trip that's impressive in an entirely different way, dive into the past, present and future of space travel at the Kennedy Space Center.
The Florida Keys—a collection of subtropical islands off the southern tip of the state—are an ideal base for couples. Consider Little Palm Island Resort and Spa, an adults-only getaway accessible only by seaplane, for the ultimate in luxury and seclusion.
It’s an easy trip on the Yankee Freedom, a plush catamaran docked in the Florida Keys, to one of the country’s most remote and idyllic national parks, the Dry Tortugas. Cuddle on the island’s dreamy white-sand beaches and snorkel the living reef just off shore.
Dry Tortugas National Park, Monroe County
Keys to happiness
NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island (off Central Florida's east coast) isn’t just for children (though kids will love all the hands-on elements). Visitors can tour historic launch sites, walk into simulated deep space habitat, and take their choice of four thrilling space journey rides (to Mars or uncharted worlds, for example)—and that's just the beginning.
There’s a busy lineup of events at the center, so you can plan your visit around an astronaut appearance or even a rocket launch.
Stay starry-eyed
Kennedy Space Center, Brevard County
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has everything under the sun
Hollywood Beach, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, is a top choice for families, not least for the children's water playground located at its Charnow Park. A 2.5-mile boardwalk, a beach theater, outdoor art displays and walkable shops and restaurants round out the reasons to plan a beach day—or several—on its soft, spacious sands.
It's not hard to meet your match among Florida's wealth of beaches. Clearwater Beach is a family favorite, with calm, shallow waters. East of Orlando, Cocoa Beach is ideal for those looking to hang ten for the first time, thanks to its consistent waves and sandy bottoms. Ron Jon Surf Shop's flagship store offers gear and lessons—plus pails and shovels to help elevate your sandcastle-making game.
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This is the only place in North America where you may legally take a guided snorkel alongside "sea cows" (which are actually related to elephants) in their natural habitat. Provided one touches you first, you're allowed to reciprocate the gesture.
From November to April, manatees flee the cooling Gulf of Mexico waters to winter in Central Florida's warm springs. Crystal River—deemed the Manatee Capital of the World—is home to more than 300 manatees, and having the gentle giants surface beside you is a once-in-a-lifetime delight.
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Kayaking in Islamorada
Winter is also peak season for catching sailfish—some of the fastest fish in the ocean. To cast a line for these elegant, high-spirited fish, head to Stuart, the official Sailfish Capital of the World, north of West Palm Beach. It's a catch and release fish, so have your camera ready if you win the fight.
November to April, winds are ideal for kitesurfing—a sport that gets skilled riders skating across and flying above the waves. Take a lesson from a certified instructor around St. Petersburg, where the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge and nature-rich Fort de Soto Park are some of the most popular kiteboarding spots.
Get a bird’s-eye view of the Sunshine State’s most picturesque landscapes—including winding rivers, lush forests and awesome canyons—on a high-flying adventure. Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park in Ocala takes you 160 feet off the ground, whizzing past green-blue lakes, old-growth oak trees and steep ravines. Glide across nine zip lines in total, brave two rope bridges and rappel down a canyon for an outing that's anything but ordinary.
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Fort Lauderdale
Florida's cities have gained fame for their vibrant communities and thriving arts scenes. In Miami Beach, family-friendly movies and concerts are projected on a 7,000-square-foot wall as part of New World Symphony's WALLCAST events series. Latin and Caribbean influences make Miami a living museum of culture. Along Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) in Little Havana, locals play dominos at Máximo Gómez Park, the sound of salsa music fills the air and the aroma of potent Cuban coffee wafts from every corner.
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Dunedin
La Siesta Resort, Isla Morada
Sunset Key Cottages Resort, Key West
Miami Beach
Clearwater Beach, Pinellas County
Islamorada
Fun for all ages | adventure | CULTURE | romance
Fun for all ages | adventure | CULTURE | romance
Fun for all ages | adventure | CULTURE | romance
Florida is tailor-made for family vacations. Around its more than 8,400 miles of waterfront, there are 570 beaches for playing, snorkeling, swimming and sunning. No fewer than 175 state parks offer the chance to unplug and witness unique bird, animal and plant life. And hundreds of trails across the Everglades, forests and beach boardwalks beckon to bikers and trekkers alike.
Interactive living history and science museums, animal sanctuaries, botanical gardens, splash pads plus 10 major theme parks ensure the list of enticing things to try is always longer than the day.
