Getaways to the authentic Florida
All bicyclists love traffic-free paved paths with great views. In traffic-choked South Florida, the Miami Beachwalk is as good as it gets — a recently completed paved path offering nine miles hugging the beach with views of the Atlantic Ocean and not a single intersection.
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 historic lighthouse at the tip of this charming Old Florida island has finally reopened after last year’s double-hurricane hit. Boca Grande is a favorite among the rich and famous. It’s beautiful and makes a satisfying daytrip, especially on a bike.
I loved discovering this hidden gem near St. Augustine. It has two sides along scenic A1A: A historic oak-shaded formal garden on the west side and a beach with fantastically shaped coquina rocks to the east.
If riding a horse through sand and surf is your dream, here are a half dozen places in Florida that can make that dream come true. Riding opportunities are located on both coasts as well as in northern and southern Florida.
Egmont Key is romantic, remote and historic. Located in the mouth of Tampa Bay, accessible only by boat, it is home to an intriguing fort, gopher tortoises, beautiful beaches and more.
This authentic Florida fishing village near Bradenton is the perfect place to find classic seafood shacks — open air, casual with the freshest fish.
Theare are so many things to do in Apalachicola, a charming, walkable small town full of history, good food & shops. It’s 20 minutes from the splendid beach on St. George Island.
The beach in Delray Beach is so special that it was one of only three in the US to win the Blue Flag Beach Award in April 2025. Delray makes a great beach getaway because of its charming, downtown and some unusual attractions, like an authentic Japanese garden.
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.
Folks who dream of picnicking or even camping on their own little island can do just that quite easily by kayaking the Indian River Lagoon. There are dozens of spoil islands in the lagoon that make great paddling destinations.
The kayak trail through old Bonita Springs on the Imperial River is worth discovering for its scenery. If you’re lucky, you may see manatees.