Getaways to the authentic Florida
Load your bikes on your carrier and head north to Old Florida. Along this bike trail, you can stop and hike a bit and maybe even see gators, wild horses or even bison in Paynes Prairie. This pretty paved trail also lets you use your gears on a hill or two.
Florida summers are hotter than ever, but there are advantages to travel then — lower rates, fewer people, inviting waters. We picked our 10 favorite destinations for hot weather.
Massive, record-breaking amounts of Sargassum seaweed are washing up on Florida beaches, pushed ashore by strong spring winds and the Gulf Stream. The seaweed glut is particularly acute in the Keys, South Florida and Treasure Coast.
Beaches may be rare in the Florida Keys, but they do exist. You just have to know where to go.
This year’s No. 1 beach is in the Hawaiian islands, but Nos. 2, 3 and 6 are in Florida, according to FIU professor Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as “Dr. Beach” for his annual rankings.
The snorkeling trail at the park on the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County offers a volume and variety of sea life rarely seen close to shore.
Many people miss it, sticking to Duval Street, but one of the most scenic strolls in Key West — and a top freebie — is the harbor walk along Key West Bight, also known as the Historic Key West Seaport.
Micanopy is right off I-75 near Gainesville, but it feels far away — like a small town in a Florida long gone. That’s why it was site for filming of ‘A Land Remembered,” a beloved Florida family saga.
Perhaps you think Florida only produces fruit in winter. Not so. Summer is the time to pick blueberries at Rooney’s Front Porch Farm in Live Oak and Shadrick’s in Pinetta, blackberries at Sweet Berry Farms in Williston and lemons at Camellia Groves in Winter Haven. Some farms have fields of sunflowers in May and June. Check with the individual farms in our guide.
This state park is so worth a drive to explore. It would take days to experience it all – a beautiful beach, a well-preserved Civil War fort, hiking, biking, wildlife, great camping.
Stunning beaches, historic forts and plantations, backcountry kayaking, biking and hiking, all accessible from a shady, sandy campground.
Beaches may be rare in the Florida Keys, but they do exist. You just have to know where to go.
Lake Louisa State Park is a half hour from the theme parks, but is a natural world with 20 miles of hiking trails and great cabins. Located east of the vast Green Swamp, you’ll find wildlife, hills, cypress swamps and forests. We found a hidden gem kayaking river nearby.
Like a lot of visitors, for years I had overlooked Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park on my visits to Key West because it is tucked away out of sight. But the historic fort and great beach are worth discovering.
Robbie’s Marina is a don’t-miss stop as you drive through the Florida Keys. Dozens of tarpon, some more than 6 feet long, gather at the dock and lunge for fish from visitors. The restaurant there, the Hungry Tarpon, is highly recommended , too.
