Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is known for its iconic mermaid show and water park. The gorgeous spring-fed river is also a great place for kayak and SUP rentals, although the route from the park has been shortened.
Bonnie Gross
With their big eyes and tiny size, this endangered species is easy to love. Visitors to the Keys often want to know where to see Key deer. Best place to start is a free nature center in Big Pine Key in the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge.
The Peace River in Arcadia has been a beloved paddling destination for decades. It’s an easy, tranquil paddle and it’s also outright gorgeous. It’s a great river for groups, families and beginners.
This beach occupies one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida’s southwest coast, and its a place for finding shells, sand dollars, gopher tortoises and, best of all, unadorned natural beauty. It reopened 14 months after severe damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Presently, it operates with limited facilities including portable restrooms.
A trip to Hillsboro lighthouse, a historic and romantic landmark in Broward County, is a fun day trip that starts with the boat ride to the lighthouse.
Animal lovers and particularly families will enjoy this free wildlife sanctuary. Located in a green and shaded setting, it showcases native critters from panthers and black bears to bald eagles and otters.
Lake Louisa State Park is a half hour from theme parks, but is a natural world with 20 miles of hiking trails and great cabins. Located on the east end of the vast Green Swamp, you’ll find wildlife, old citrus groves, hills, cypress swamps and forests.
Black History Month: A story of slaves and slave holders that may surprise you.
In Dunedin, we love bicycling the Pinellas Trail, but this charming Tampa Bay area town has more to offer, with eight breweries plus great restaurants and coffee shops in its walkable historic downtown. Twenty minutes away are two excellent state parks with award-winning beaches.
Make Valentines Day plans now. From a unique historic hotel to horseback riding on a perfect beach, here are five natural, wild and thoroughly romantic things to do in Florida.
The paved, traffic-free Lake Trail along the water on this exclusive island provides gorgeous harbor views and sneak peeks into backyards of the rich and famous.
Manatee festivals celebrate Florida’s beloved manatee in January in Crystal River and Orange City. The family events include good spots to view manatees.
The Miami Beach Architectural District preserves the biggest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. It’s full of history, beauty & fascinating stories. We offer tips to help you plan a great outing to appreciate the Art Deco district.
Florida has a surprisingly rich history of rodeos in its small towns, and the one is Homestead is special. It’s the first rodeo of the year where professional cowboys can earn points.
Endangered right whales are viewed close to shore from Daytona Beach to Amelia Island every winter. Sightings aren’t predictable, but here’s how to get a chance to see Florida’s largest endangered species.
A review: Flamingo Lodge has opened, and lives up to its magnificent location on Florida Bay in Everglades National Park. Many visitors will now explore this end-of-the-road spot.
Updated for 2024: If you have one day or its your first visit to the Everglades, this guide will help you see wildlife and experience the essence of Everglades National Park. We offer tips, too, for more in-depth Everglades experiences.
Like all beaches, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is popular when it’s hot, but it is also a great winter destination because it offers scenic kayaking and rentals. We like kayaking to Munyon Island, a wild mangrove island that 120 years ago was the site of a health resort serving an elixer that “restored vitality.”
Cap’s Place is Broward’s oldest restaurant, where rum-runners and gamblers reigned, and presidents and celebrities visited. It’s a rustic old wooden shack now surrounded by mansions and yachts. History and atmosphere make it worth a visit.
The damage from Hurricane Ian is still visible on Sanibel Island, but some hotels and restaurants have reopened. The beaches, shells and wildlife are as beautiful as ever. A year later, what’s it like to visit and is it time to go back?