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.
Bonnie Gross
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?
Many lights go on this weekend! There are three Florida destinations we love for their quaint Old Florida settings and over-the-top holiday lights and decorations. We’ve added several more spots for viewing holidays lights too.
In a densely urban era, these parks in South Florida are a good way to enjoy the plants and animals that make this region special. These daytrips are my go-to spots for visiting house guests.
Flamingo is a long way from the entrance to Everglades National Park, but we love it for the wildlife — manatees, crocodiles and an osprey nest right in the marina. In 2024, with the addition of an excellent visitor center and a new lodge, there are more reasons to go to Flamingo.
This Gainesville area state park is a vast playground for hikers and bikers, but also for bison and wild horses. There are miles of trails, great campsites and wildlife galore.
Fort Myers Beach was a charming Old Florida town, but Hurricane Ian blasted it. More than a year later, much damage remains and you see it everywhere. But a big Margaritaville resort is opening in December, which can help turn things around.
There are a lot of things I love about winter in Florida, but high on the list is spotting the wonderful variety of wildlife here. You might not get lucky and view all these animals, but you’ll visit wild and beautiful sites on your quest.
The winter holidays are different in balmy Florida, but you might be surprised that you CAN hike into the woods and cut down a Christmas tree. In fact, it’s only $10 and you can also explore beautiful Ocala National Forest.
The magic of manatees draws thousands to the Crystal River on the Gulf Coast each winter. Here’s a practical guide to manatee experiences in Three Sisters Springs and Kings Bay — kayaking with manatees, swimming with manatees or admiring them from a boardwalk.
With the addition of a new brewery on Stock Island, the Florida Keys are up to 5 craft breweries. They’re great places to experience Keys style and ambiance. The beer’s good, too!
For more than 60 years, a non-profit devoted to historic preservation has convinced the owners of some of the most interesting homes in Key West to open them to visitors for a good cause. For four winter weekends, you can tour historic homes and support historic preservation in Key West.
The historic Nike missile site in Everglades National Park is a well-preserved relic of the 1960s Cold War. See a restored Nike Hercules missile during the winter season.
Next time you travel Florida’s Gulf Coast on I-75, take a five minutes detour in Fort Myers to discover a magnificent slice of old Florida – a 1.2 mile boardwalk through an unspoiled cypress swamp called Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. It’s free!
National parks in Florida go beyond the Everglades. From the gorgeous Gulf to a remote island, there are national parks you’ve probably never heard of. Here’s a guide to them, from the famous to the obscure.
If you love kayaking and are planning a getaway, we recommend these six places as the best towns for kayaking in Florida. These small towns will deliver exceptional and authentic experiences.
The Elliott Museum has an extensive collection of antique cars, but the museum also has everything from wedding dresses to baseball cards. On Saturday, Nov. 18, it will host a free event to celebrate the opening of its modern ebikes exhibit. Visitors can test-ride ebikes and get free admission.