Florida For Vacation Is The Best Choice
If you’ve been contemplating where to take your next getaway, allow me to suggest that going to Florida for vacation would be a great choice.
I have lived in the Sunshine State for nearly 25 years, coming from Indiana, where I grew up. I have been all over the state visiting beaches, theme parks, wildlife refuges, historic towns, and festivals.
There truly is something for everyone when you come to Florida for vacation.
Florida For Vacation Is The Best Choice
Ahhhh Florida. It’s probably the most transient state, with people coming and going for every reason and season. Let’s dive into some of the most popular reasons why coming to Florida for vacation is a great choice.
Beaches
For the most part, the entire state of Florida is lined with amazing beaches that offer the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets on the planet. I haven’t met many people that don’t enjoy a stroll along the beach, or enjoy spending the day lounging and swimming in the hot Florida sun.
I reside in the Tampa Bay area, on the west coast, so I’m a bit partial to the award-winning beaches, here. I can be on the world-famous Honeymoon Island State Park beach in less than 40 minutes, making it one of my favorite beaches.
On the East Coast, the Canaveral National Seashore is a real gem. This beach is far removed from the revelers who find a good time on Daytona Beach. For miles, the pristine shoreline offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, scenic dunes, and wildlife. If you’re looking to bare it all, a couple of sections on the Seashore are designated Nude Beaches.
If you plan it and are lucky, a great view of the Kennedy Space Center launch pad just a bit south offers great viewing of rocket launches.
Down south, in Miami, the iconic South Beach is worth a stroll and visit. Here, you will find fast cars, high fashion, and maybe a celebrity or two. South Beach is the place to see and be seen, for sure. The main drag is lined with touristy spots, hoppin’ nightclubs, classic hotels, and a sun-kissed beach.
The panhandle of Florida offers classic beaches popular for Spring Breakers from all over. Destin, Panama City Beach, and Pensacola are great places to relax by the seashore. Not only are these beach communities welcoming, but I suspect they are so popular because getting to any other Florida Beach requires several more hours of driving south into the state.
Space Junkie
When I was a kid, like in the 80s, we came to Florida for vacation and one of my favorite places to go was the Kennedy Space Center. Back then, it was free to explore the grounds and a small fee to take the shuttle out to the launch pads.
Fast forward to when my kids were in elementary school in St. Pete. Our 5th grade classes took their annual field trip over to the Kennedy Space Center and got to sleep UNDER the Saturn V rocket. Oh. My. Goodness. This was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done as a chaperone.
These days, it’s certainly not free to visit, but if you love anything about space exploration, spending a day or two at the Kennedy Space Center will delight you. With SpaceX and the space coast being so active, you won’t go too many days without an opportunity to catch a launch.
Go find a spot on the beach to watch. Pay extra for a viewing spot at the Space Center. It’s an amazing experience for all of your senses.
Theme Parks
I’ve spent my share of time in the theme parks around Florida, and now with a young grandson, it looks like revisiting some of these will be in my future. Theme parks are an important part of th millions of vacationers to Florida.
If you’re looking to visit the theme parks in Orlando, definitely check out the CityPASS Orlando for the absolute best savings on Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World Orlando, and Legoland. You won’t find a better ticket offer than this.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has always been my favorite. Not only is it practically in my backyard, my family held season passes for a few seasons and would pop over for a popcorn bucket refill, beer samples when they still had them, and a front-row ride on the Shiekra. Yes! Those were the days!
CityPASS Tampa Bay also has an amazing deal for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay admission along with other area Tampa Bay attractions you won’t want to miss!
If you’re feeling nostalgic and the huge crowded theme parks aren’t your thing, consider visiting one of Florida’s original Roadside Attractions and Theme Parks.
Silver Springs State Park offers guests a beautiful look at the natural springs that dot the state. Their crystal clear, blue hue and consistent 72 degrees of fresh water is a natural wonder that is wonderful to experience.
From a submerged auditorium, watch the mermaid show at Weekie Wachie Springs State Park. For a mere $13.00 per adult, you can step back in time as you watch the iconic mermaid show just like generations before us. Quite the bargain for some good entertainment!
Camping
If you love the outdoors, heat, humidity, bugs, and the wilderness, you may choose to go camping in Florida for vacation. It’s crazy popular, especially during “snowbird season”. Load up your RV, reserve your site, and come on down!
My mom was once a camp host at Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine. I loved going over there for a long weekend and riding the eBikes around. The nation’s oldest city is a very special place and I know you’ll enjoy camping here.
In the Tampa Bay Area, we’ve spent a bit of time at Fort Desoto Campground. This amazing camping area offers waterfront sites in a tropical paradise. Reservations are tough to get, but if you’ve scored one, you’re going to enjoy it!
Lee and I have only officially camped just one time in our dozen years together. We spent a few nights at Boyd’s Campground in Key West. Well, it’s actually Stock Island. It was a tiny primitive site for our (borrowed) tent, but right on the sea wall! It was so much fun!
Hiking
Florida is full of amazing hiking trails. Our wonderful park systems have great urban hiking trails that make you feel like you’re miles away. We live near the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, a massive 18,000-acre property that has tons of hiking trails and a paved, multi-use, biking trail that connects to the Suncoast Trail.
The Everglades National Park is also an expansive property with ranger-led programs, hiking trails, birding, and wildlife viewing. Visiting this park could be a vacation in itself, there’s so much to see.
SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling
There are some great spots to check out life under the water’s surface. Recently, I was able to blow bubbles at Looe Key Reef in The Keys. My friends and family came along to go snorkeling, while I dove on the reef. It was a partly cloudy day, so the reef was not as vibrant without the sun, but it was still an amazing experience.
Tampa Bay is not known as a great diving destination, however, many other dives near the area are worth checking out.
Snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the springs will also yield some great wildlife sightings. From fish, turtles, otters, snakes, and possibly alligators, floating along with a mask and snorkel in the springs is great fun and refreshing on a hot day.
Bicycling
A few years ago, Lee bought us two beautiful beach cruiser bicycles for Christmas. A couple of weeks later, we saw the eBike craze so we bought 2 eBikes! We now have enough bicycles in our garage for a group ride! I love them both, but the eBike is our go-to. It folds in half so we can put it in our SUV and makes no trouble going on the overpasses!
We love riding on the Pinellas Trail, in the Tampa Bay area, but my absolute favorite bike ride is up and down Duvall Street in Key West. It is so much fun just to fall into the traffic and ride up and down the bustling street especially when looking for the best Key West Happy Hour.
There are countless trails around the state and plenty of bicycle rental facilities if you’re flying in for your visit. Whether you’re looking to cover miles and miles, or just an afternoon scenic ride, hopping on a bike in Florida is a great time.
Fishing
I’m sure there are other “world-class fishing” areas in the world, but there are none quite like the “world-class fishing” areas in Florida. Our waterways produce some amazing seafood that is as much fun to eat as it is to catch!
Plan ahead and book an experienced fishing guide to take you on an adventure of a lifetime during your vacation. You will be the envy of all of your friends back home! You can choose off-shore, deep-sea, or in-shore fishing. There are also lots of fishing piers around the state if you like to DIY.
Have you ever gone Scalloping? My family loves this activity and we clean and eat scallops for dinner after our day on the water. They are tasty little nuggets and can be caught by the whole family! Scallop season is during the summer and only in certain areas along the Gulf Coast and Panhandle.
Museums
Well, gosh, there are museums galore in Florida. Right here, in St. Petersburg, we have the Salvador Dali Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, The Florida Holocaust Museum, the Museum of the Arts & Crafts Movement, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, the Imagine Museum, and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. That’s 8 amazing museums all in downtown St. Petersburg!
If you’re heading down south, be sure to check out the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. This beautiful 20-acre property was where Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s families spent time away from the cold winters. It’s truly like stepping back in time.
If you’ll be transversing the infamous “Aligator Alley”, break up your drive with a stop at the Miccosukee Village Museum where you can see a glimpse into the tribe’s lifestyle and how they adapted to living in the Everglades. Be sure to take an airboat ride while you’re there! Thrilling!
History
If you’re a history buff, plenty will keep you engaged during your vacation to Florida. The oldest building in Florida is in St. Augustine. The ground was broken in 1672, making The Castillo de San Marcos the oldest fortified fortress in the United States. The fort and surrounding Old Town are just beautiful and a must-see.
In Palm Beach, you will find the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum or Whitehall, which Flagler built for his wife. It’s 100,000 square feet of grand opulence and also houses Flagler’s railcar No. 91. This railcar was used by Flagler to celebrate the completion of the railway from St. Augustine to Key West.
On the Fun Coast, you will find the charming little town of Ponce Inlet. This tiny residential community is full of rich history, a beautiful lighthouse, and wonderful places to dine and relax on the beach. It’s just south of Daytona Beach and it’s easy to spend a full day exploring.
If you’re a SCUBA diver, you may enjoy the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada. Visitors will enjoy diving memorabilia, equipment, gear, and photographs, from more than 30 countries. Interactive and immersive exhibits keep the history of diving and exploration alive.
For the ultimate collection and Museum of Florida History, you will need to visit Tallahassee, the state’s capital. This remarkable museum explores more than 12,000 years of history in Florida. It’s certainly worth a day to visit!
Spring Break
Spring Break. A 10-week, roughly, time of year when families of all ages converge on our state to find warmth, sunshine, and fun after a long hard winter. Can you blame them? Being in the travel industry for all of my adult life, I cherish this time of year when tourism dollars are fueling our economy and people are living their best lives.
It doesn’t matter if you choose to Spring Break in Clearwater Beach, Orlando, or the Panhandle, you are sure to find the best hospitality and experiences for a memorable week away from the cold winter.
Christmas
It took some time for me to get used to the holidays in Florida. It was just hard to believe that we could be at the beach, in shorts and T-shirts most times, on Christmas Day.
Most of the communities put out tropical holiday decor. It’s not hard to find outdoor festivals and markets. And it’s certainly not hard to find a boat ride to enjoy during the holidays.
Come down and experience Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Diwali, or whatever it is you like to celebrate. They will be lifelong memories.
To Drive or Fly?
Since my career has been in the airline industry, I say FLY! But, I’ve also made many trips up and down I75 for my Florida Vacations. Driving is a great way to pack and bring all the necessary gear; beach chairs, umbrellas, bicycles, the dog, a kayak, etc. The downside is you spend at least 2 of your vacation days driving instead of soaking up the sun.
On the other hand, by flying and getting here as soon as possible, you are limited to the gear you can pack unless you enjoy airline baggage fees. Most folks don’t!
There are dozens of airports in the state to get you close to your destination, so it’s possible to fly, catch a rideshare, and spend the entire time walking, riding bikes, and using public trolleys and busses to get around. Choose your own adventure!
My #1 Warning!
Lather up with sunscreen. Everyday. All day. Trust me, I’ve seen the poor vacationer whose once pale skin is now ablaze with a severe sunburn. Nothing will ruin your vacation more than this.
I’ve done it, dare I admit, several times, but I’ve wisened up and schmear the SPF to protect my delicate epidermis. It’s also important to wear a hat and sunglasses, drink lots of water, and avoid being outside during the peak day hours to help avoid getting sunburn.
Breakin’ It Down: Florida for Vacation is the best choice
I hope I’ve given a great argument on why coming to Florida for vacation is the best choice. From the beach to the Everglades, hiking, boating, theme parks, and everything in between, there is never a shortage of things to do, here. Come and enjoy!