Getaways to the authentic Florida
De Leon Springs, about an hour north of Orlando, is a state park with swimming, kayaking and fantastic history. It’s best known for — of all things — its pancakes. Our advice: spend the day and take in the adjacent Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.
Clam Pass Park in Naples is a beach hidden behind a posh resort. There’s a pretty kayaking trail plus the beach is special: Tides in the little pass float you in and out of a lagoon like a lazy river ride.
Hillsborough River State Park has been closed since October after getting slammed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park has superb white sand, clear water and is ranked #8 in the US. It just reopened after damage from fall 2024 hurricanes.
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.
People and birds alike enjoy the beautiful beaches and sandbars plus the pristine mangrove creeks at Bunche Beach. There are several routes for kayakers or it’s a great place for just combing the beach and enjoying the wildlife.
Hutchinson Island boasts some of the nicest beaches in Florida with easy public access on sandy paths through the dunes, the way Atlantic beaches used to be.
The snorkeling trail at the park on the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County offers a volume and variety of sea life rarely seen close to shore.
Tigertail Beach is for adventurers who love unspoiled beaches where you can walk for miles. You reach this beach by wading across a shallow lagoon. The New York Times recently suggested it as a shelling alternative to Sanibel.
Floridians survive the heat and humidity of our brutal summers by turning to the state’s wealth of cool, clear, refreshing springs. These are our picks for the best springs in Florida.