Egmont Key is a wild island off Tampa Bay that has figured in two centuries of Florida history. A stunning wildlife refuge with evocative ruins, it is reached by ferry from Fort DeSoto Park. The best time to visit is Discover the Island weekend, Nov. 9-10, 2019, when programs and amenities help you appreciate this special spot.
Few places offer both so much history and such beauty as Florida’s 30 lighthouses. No traveler will see them all on one trip, but even one lighthouse visit can give you a memorable experience. About 10 Florida lighthouses are open to visitors on a regular basis. We offer ideas for a lighthouse roadtrip and information on endangered lighthouses that are up for grabs.
If you’ve ever dreamed about exploring a deserted tropical island, here’s your chance: Take your kayak down to the Florida Keys and paddle out to Indian Key State Park. Here, you explore jungly ruins and snorkel along a rocky shoreline.
Florida loves a good festival. Here are 75 hand-picked festivals around the state that range from funky local bashes to huge nationally known cultural events.
The true sign of fall in South Florida: Lines start forming at Knaus Berry Farms. This 50-year-old institution south of Miami has generations of devoted fans. It’s a good stop for an Everglades trip or a day exploring the Redland.
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.
These havens for injured birds and wildlife are free to visit as you explore Florida. Animal lovers and children will especially enjoy these quick stops.
Every fall, the skies over the Florida Keys fill with thousands of birds from hundreds of species heading south for the winter. A remarkable citizen science project, Hawkwatch, based in Curry Hammock State Park, keeps a tally. The star of the show here is the peregrine falcon, seen here in numbers unmatched by any other US location.
