Sure it’s been a rough year, but Florida Rambler’s library of socially distant outdoor getaways was a refuge for many, resulting in more readers than any year in our 10-year history.
Readers viewed more than 2.4 million pages on FloridaRambler.com during the past year. They found stories about camping, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, parks and forests, and outdoor things to do across our fair state.
Of the 500+ informative outdoor recreation articles on FloridaRambler.com, these were our most popular articles in 2020.
No. 1 Cabin rentals in state parks
Our guide to cabin rentals in Florida’s award-winning state parks nailed the top spot for most popular articles. Bonnie Gross, our co-founder, has made it her mission to stay in state park cabins, enjoying their access to hiking, kayaking, wildlife and the seclusion they provide.
Related story: Best Florida state parks: Our 8 favorites
No. 2 Florida fairs and festivals calendar
Our readers love our calendars for Florida’s fairs and festivals, but this year was received extra attention as pandemic cancellations helped drive this calendar for the state’s top events to No. 2. Stay tuned in 2021.
Read more: The 2020/2021 Florida Seafood Festivals Calendar
No. 3 Best little beach towns
Who doesn’t love an Old Florida beach town? These getaways to the “real” Florida we remember from decades ago proved extremely popular during our endless summer of 2020.
Read more: Beaches in Florida
No. 4 Secluded beaches
There’s something magical about finding a secluded beach, especially in a pandemic, so we took you to our favorite hidden beaches during 2020, and thousands of you came along for the ride.
Read more: Beach camping in Florida: 14 sandy sojourns
No. 5 Cedar Key
There’s a little fishing village in Big Bend country that is truly off the beaten path, 50 miles from the nearest city, retaining its historic charm. You really have to want to go there, and thousands of you followed our trail.
Read more: Pack the RV and head out to Cedar Key
No. 6 Letter from the Keys
Some stories rock, we call them “readers”, and this story about quarantine in the Florida Keys by travel writer Karuna Eberl holds the single-day record for readership on Florida Rambler, clocking in at No. 6 overall for the year.
Read more: Stories by Karuna Eberl and Steve Alberts
No. 7 Key West on a budget
Key West has changed over the years, getting pricier by the day, but we found ways for you to experience the old Key West and not break the bank. These hot tips drew a lot of attention in 2020.
Read more: Key West chickens: Noisy, colorful, just like Key West
No. 8 Best snorkeling from shore
Snorkeling on Florida’s colorful coral reefs is popular sport, but you don’t need a boat to explore our underwater world. Dive into these snorkel-from-shore beaches for some natural social distancing.
Read more: Pennekamp State Park is Florida’s snorkeling mecca
No. 9 Off the beaten path
Florida is not just one big, long beach. The Sunshine State has so much more to offer, so we put together destinations that should be on your bucket list of lesser-known getaways with a wide range of outdoor-recreation opportunities nearby.
Read more: Florida’s best little beach towns.
No. 10 (tie): The Overseas Highway
We started building this guide to the Florida Keys more than 10 years ago, and it’s been one of our Top 10 stories since the beginning. Allow us to accompany you on your next drive on the scenic Overseas Highway to help you identify hidden beaches, favorite restaurants, campgrounds, kayak trails and historic points of interest.
Read more: Biking the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
No. 10 (tie): Best Florida state parks
Co-founders Bonnie Gross and Bob Rountree have individually visited most of Florida’s 175 state parks, trails and historic sites with their families and friends. This story about their favorites was a big hit with our readers.
Reader more: Hidden gems: 12 of the best Florida State Parks to discover
Veteran journalists who worked together at Fort Lauderdale’s SunSentinel newspaper, Bonnie and Bob founded FloridaRambler.com in 2010 to explore the natural, authentic Florida, writing about their natural interests in hiking, biking, paddling, RV and tent camping, wildlife, unique lodging, dining and historic places.
Art. Swanson
Thursday 31st of December 2020
Thank you for what you do. You are a wonderful resource. You have a talent for great reporting and hopefully you are having fun doing it.