Getaways to the authentic Florida
Indian Key is once again open to kayakers. 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 to explore jungly ruins and snorkel a rocky shoreline.
Stopping at Alabama Jack’s, a fish shack and dive bar on a remote road between Homestead and Key Largo, has been the classic way to start a Keys trip for decades. It’s shabby, atmospheric and authentic.
On their 2,000-mile fall migration, thousands of monarchs stop in Florida’s Big Bend and Panhandle in October and November. A top viewing site is St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, a half hour south of Tallahassee. There is a monarch festival at the refuge Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
Boardwalks allow everyone to explore Florida’s natural beauty, including people in wheelchairs and families with strollers. Here are 16 of our favorite boardwalks in South Florida.
The Seminoles American Indigenous Arts Celebration offers tradition like fry bread & alligator wrestling, and celebrates diverse native cultures with dancing, wildlife presentations and music.
A Fernandina Beach family festival Nov. 7-8 raises awareness of right whales and how to help them. Endangered right whales are viewed close to shore in North Florida every winter.
Folks have been fascinated with Stiltsville since the first shack went up in Biscayne Bay a mile from land in the 1930s. Biscayne National Park and a non-profit partner offer regular boat tours that tell the Stiltsville story and take you close to the houses.
The west side of the Indian River Lagoon has an Old Florida flavor — especially the scenic 20-mile drive between Stuart and Fort Pierce. The region has enough places to explore to make a great getaway.
The cemetery in Key West is a lot like the city itself: quirky, crowded, colorful and full of history. The site has a forlorn almost spooky air. Take a walking tour and discover fascinating stories of Key West and its people.
After a long wait, Miami’s favorite place for cinnamon rolls has reopened for the 2026-27 season in its new location. This institution south of Miami has generations of devoted fans.
You don’t have to go all the way to Key West for a Florida Keys experience. Islamorada, two hours from Miami, is worth the trip on its own. You can kayak to historic islands, feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina, visit two craft breweries, take a snorkeling boat tour, even visit a top-notch museum.
Where to take your Florida visitors? From gardens to boat tours to boardwalks, we have some tips on outings with specific places to consider.