Story includes today’s tropical outlook and long-range forecast, hurricane preparation checklists and tips.
Recent Articles
Venice Sharks Tooth Festival set for April 11-12, 2026
You don’t have to dig deep or look very hard to find a shark’s tooth on the beaches of Venice, so every year this Florida city celebrates its unique place in the world with the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival.
Cedar Key Art Festival celebrates Old Florida, April 11-12, 2026
Like Cedar Key itself, the Cedar Key Art Festival is a slice of authentic Old Florida. This historic small town is located on an island on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Camping with the Corps: Waterfront sites at locks along the Okeechobee Waterway
Campers get a front-row seat to the passage of yachts, sailboats and trawlers crossing Florida through locks at three Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds.
Best Southwest Florida camping is in public parks, forest preserves and remote islands
The best Southwest Florida camping can be found in public parks, beaches and forests where the costs are low and experience is wild.
The best little beach town
Travel and Leisure magazine calls New Smyrna Beach “Florida’s most underrated seaside city”. We think it is “Florida’s best little beach town.”
Is camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness a magical experience?
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground is more of a natural experience than you might expect in a land of fantasy and magic. But it’s not cheap.
5 things to discover in Venice, Florida
Explore the old world charm of this Mediterranean-influenced city on the Gulf Coast.
Free things to do in Key West: Fun without breaking your budget
No doubt about it: Key West is expensive. But despite its small size, Key West is packed with things to do and see — and some are even free. Here are 10 places to go where you’ll soak up Key West culture without opening your wallet.
Withlacoochee State Trail: This might be Florida’s best bike trail
This 46-mile paved Central Florida rail trail is a smooth, safe ride. But what makes it special is the scenery, parks & towns to explore along the way.
Tampa Bay Getaways
Dunedin: Delightful biking, breweries, beaches and historic downtown
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. Plus it’s a great place to catch a Spring Training game.
Best Beaches
After damage from 3 hurricanes, Sanibel/Captiva near normal as Mucky Duck reopens
Sanibel has bounced back from a series of hurricanes in 2022-24. The latest reopening: the beachfront bar and restaurant, the Mucky Duck on Captiva.
Best Camping
30 awesome county parks with affordable camping
County park campgrounds are increasingly on our radar as campers get shut out of crowded state parks or face skyrocketing rates at private campgrounds.
Road Trips
Epic drive through Florida’s Keys: Our Overseas Highway guide, milepost by milepost
Our Florida Keys Overseas Highway Mile-Marker Guide is your travel companion across these islands with notes on things to do, historic points of interest, tiki bars, restaurants and places to launch a kayak or take a hike.
Florida Gardens
Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka: Azaleas are at peak bloom
Ravine Gardens State Park in spring is a spectacular sight as azaleas and other flowers bloom. The park has a fascinating history & beautiful trails.
Central Florida
Firefly nights at Blue Spring State Park 2026: March 13 – April 12
Fireflies in Florida? It’s a thing! Blue Spring State Park offers special viewing in spring ‘firefly season.’
Northeast Florida
The best little beach town
Travel and Leisure magazine calls New Smyrna Beach “Florida’s most underrated seaside city”. We think it is “Florida’s best little beach town.”
Northwest Florida
Cedar Key Art Festival celebrates Old Florida, April 11-12, 2026
Like Cedar Key itself, the Cedar Key Art Festival is a slice of authentic Old Florida. This historic small town is located on an island on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
