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Many things can be said about the Sunshine State, but there's no denying its pull as a year-round destination for a weekend getaway or, if you can swing it, something longer. Particularly during the winter months, when much of the country is shoveling snow and scraping ice, the best things to do in Florida incorporate clear blue skies, wide and welcoming beaches, and a steady drip of Vitamin D that packs a powerful endorphin punch.
There's more than 1,300 miles of glorious coastline to explore here, from Northwest Florida all the way south to the Florida Keys, not to mention your choice of big cities, glitzy coastal enclaves and laid-back surf towns for a base. Favorable weather, affordability, water absolutely everywhere and appeal as a multi-generational vacation spot are just a few of the factors that make the state so attractive to visit. If you’re stumped on where to start, we’ve got you covered on the best weekend getaways in Florida to take—and our favorite to-dos to cross off on each one.
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Tampa
Florida’s it city right now is Tampa, which has found a place atop nearly every superlative list of late when it comes to American cities on the make and where to move. The buzz has much to do with downtown’s new wellness district, Water Street Tampa, anchored by luxury hotels like The Tampa EDITION and the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street (with Tampa’s highest rooftop bar, Beacon) and booming with fun places to eat, among them brunch-favorite Boulon Brasserie, gastropub The Pearl, and happy hour hotspot Lona for margs and tacos al pastor.
Make time to stroll or bike along the Tampa Riverwalk to spots like Armature Works, a stylish food hall within an old streetcar warehouse, and Stones Throw to slurp oysters in the open air along the Hillsborough River. Don’t sleep on Tampa’s other fun neighborhoods for some of the best things to do in Florida, like leafy Hyde Park just south of downtown along Hillsborough Bay where Palisociety just opened the intimate little Palihouse Hyde Park Village, a boutique hotel within walking distance of boutiques, parks and scenery new restos like Ro (come for nigiri and sashimi made with fresh fish flown in from Tokyo’s market). When you’re ready to hit the beach, St. Pete, Clearwater and pretty little Pass-a-Grille, a local’s favorite for sunset and sunbathing on the southern tip of St. Pete Beach, are less than 40 minutes away.
Sebring
Florida’s beaches take the limelight, but the state’s lake-covered interior is nothing short of spectacular in its own tranquil right–particularly in the central region of the state nicknamed the “Heartland” in and around the adorable towns of Sebring and Lake Placid (less than two hours south of Orlando).
Start at Highlands Hammock State Park , with a boardwalk trail through a cypress swamp among the miles of walking trails and diverse environments home to more rare and imperiled species than even the Everglades. Airboat Wildlife Adventures takes guests on thrilling airboat tours with gators to be seen everywhere in the backwaters of massive Lake Istokpoga (if the captain asks if you want the tame or wild version, go wild every time). And you can tour pretty Lake June and try tubing with Lake June Pontoons. The best restaurants to bookmark in the area include Faded Bistro & Beer Garden, ensconced in tropical gardens, Morty & Edna’s Craft Kitchen for delicious breakfasts alongside the Saturday market in Lake Placid and Cowpoke’s Watering Hole, where real Florida countryside vibes and steakhouse eats await.
Make the quaint Inn on the Lakes, fronting Lake Jackson in Sebring, your base and wake up to sunrises that paint the sky crimson and ibises strolling the lakeshore below your balcony. Major auto races throughout the year draw crowds just outside of the pretty town to the Sebring International Raceway. And there are more natural escapes at every turn, too, in this lovely and little-discovered region.
Crystal River
Most people come to the sleepy little Gulf Coast Florida town of Crystal River, about an hour north of Tampa, to swim with the many, many manatees that descend on spectacularly beautiful and cerulean freshwater springs like Three Sisters within the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. They come, muck like human sun-seekers drawn to Florida, to stay warm and survive the cooler winter months (November to March). You can head out on pontoon or paddling tours to snorkel with the gentle giants, an absolutely unforgettable experience, with operators like Birds Underwater Dive Center or Paddles Outdoor Rentals. And while you can’t approach them, don't be surprised if they come right up to you for a nuzzle, which is perfectly acceptable and simply epic. The Plantation on Crystal River, an old-school hotel with a lagoon-style pool and rooms right on the river, also runs manatee tours right from its watery doorstep. There are a few great waterfront seafood restaurants to hit in these fascinating Florida backwaters, too, including Waterfront Social, with a tiki bar on Kings Bay, and West 82 Bar & Grill for great grouper tacos and fish sandwiches.
Mount Dora and Lake County
To the north and west of Orlando, the great little lakeside towns of Clermont and Mount Dora in Lake County make for a different kind of sunny Florida getaway where you can spend time shopping antique treasure troves, snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the Alexander Springs Recreation Area and kayaking the mile-long Dora Canal between neighboring lakes with operators like Adventure Outdoor Paddle.
On flight-seeing seaplane tours with Jones Brothers Air & Seaplane Adventures, splash down in Lake Dora and spot for alligators as you fly over wild stretches of the Ocklawaha River. And don’t miss cocktails and a meal at The Goblin Market in Mount Dora’s historic downtown, where you can stay in style nearby at the Lakeside Inn, surrounded by oak trees draped with curtains of Spanish moss.
Pensacola and Perdido Key
You’re practically in Alabama by the time you venture this far into Northwest Florida, but it’s worth making the journey for some of the prettiest sands in the land as well as the interesting historic neighborhoods that await in Pensacola and the blizzard-white strip of blissful beaches along the barrier island of Perdido Key. For an urban stay, opt for the exquisite 15-room boutique hotel, Lily Hall, which opened in downtown Pensacola in 2023 within a historic Baptist church and is home to speakeasy and restaurant Brother Fox and Sister Hen.
Beyond Pensacola’s sublime beaches, experienced scuba divers love this stretch of Florida, too, for the chance to dive the wreck of the USS Oriskany–an 872-foot-long aircraft carrier-turned-artificial reed that’s just one of the fascinating underwater sights to explore along the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail.
The Palm Beaches
What’s great about the Palm Beaches is that you can make your stay here as fancy or buttoned down as you like. Will you bed down at one of the grand oceanfront dames, like The Breakers Palm Beach, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, or the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, and spend your time sunning or at the spa? Or base across Lake Worth in downtown West Palm Beach instead at The Ben, a boutique hotel within walking distance to Las Olas Avenue’s shops and restaurants (use the complimentary house bikes to pedal across the bridge to hot Palm Beach restaurants like Henry’s Palm Beach and Sant Ambroeus). You can go big on the greens at PGA National Resort. Or something quirkier, like a ship container Airbnb along the river in Jupiter at Headwaters Eco Retreat.
For some of Florida’s best snorkeling, no boat required, hit the Underwater Snorkeling Trail at Phil Foster Park, where you might spot oddities like octopuses, frog fish, and even eagle rays in the shallow waters near the Blue Heron Bridge in the Intracoastal Waterway.
Cocoa Beach
With an ongoing schedule of rocket launches, thanks to the commercial space industry here, Florida’s Space Coast—just east of Orlando on the Atlantic coast—is booming. For an authentic beach vacation close to nature where the focus is on the sun, surf, and sand, Cocoa Beach delivers with its pretty beaches and easy access to nature. There’s not much in the way of luxury resort life here, but Beach Place Guesthouses promise a lovely oceanfront stay with hammocks and palm trees everywhere and loaner surfboards at the ready. Make time for the short drive north to Titusville, where you can head out after sunset on bioluminescent paddling tours into the Indian River Lagoon with A Day Away Kayak Tours. Scout for alligators, manatees and roseate spoonbills while driving along the Black Point Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, popular with birders. During the summer months, ranger-led sea turtle walks depart from here for a chance to spy nesting sea turtles laying their eggs on nearby Canaveral National Seashore.
Orlando
Orlando’s theme parks are just one reason to plan a trip to the city. What many travelers don't realize is that Orlando has far more to offer than park-hopping, including one of Florida’s most exciting food scenes, especially in the Mills 50 district, home to a surprising array of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian restaurants.
Explore the pretty bricked streets of the Winter Park neighborhood (which feels, dare we say, almost European?), near downtown, from a home base at boutique an art-centric property, Alfond Inn, within walking distance of buzzy restaurants like Italian favorite, Prato, and the Saturday morning Winter Park Farmers’ Market. You can head out by boat to tour the chain of lakes nearby, too.
Early 2024 will see the opening of Conrad Orlando in the sprawling Evermore Orlando Resort, with its sparkling man made lagoon and lavish vacation homes for rent. And near the airport, the neighborhood of Lake Nona and the Lake Nona Wave Hotel are ideally situated for strolling out to markets, dining and entertainment at places like Boxi Park and just getting some exercise in fresh air on pathways lining the area’s many lakes. In downtown Orlando, AC Hotel Orlando Downtown is within walking distance of the city’s green lung, Lake Eola Park, that hosts another excellent weekly farmers market on Sundays, complete with a beer garden under a canopy of live oak trees.
St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach
Two wings of the same bird, St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach, just west of downtown Tampa, deliver some of Florida’s most enviable white sand beaches, each with a distinct beach town ambience. Edgier St. Petersburg is known for its vast collection of street murals scattered throughout downtown, the Dalí Museum (with a great onsite cafe serving Spanish tortilla and crema Catalana) and grand hotels like the cotton candy-hued Don CeSar (on the beach), or The Vinoy, which recently emerged from a comprehensive renovation in 2023.
The spectacularly modern and intuitive St. Pete Pier—with its bikeable perimeter, rooftop tiki bar, beach on the bayfront, playground, and art installations—has completely upgraded the downtown St. Pete experience for pedestrians and is a joy to stroll.
Clearwater Beach gets crowded during peak vacation times but skews extra family friendly, with sands that are particularly powdery, shallow waters for swimming, nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60, and stylish beach resorts fronting the Gulf of Mexico that include the Sandpearl Resort, Opal Sands Resort, and the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach.
Panama City
Spring breakers make for Panama City Beach. But neighboring Panama City proper is a Panhandle revelation home to an Oyster Trail with a dozen restaurants proffering the fruits of the local Gulf and a burgeoning Mural Trail, too. Less than a five-hour drive from cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Jacksonville, Panama City—with its historic downtown and easy access to the nearby sugar sand beaches of Panama City Beach—might surprise you. Right downtown, the History Class Brewing Company is a brand new gastropub that nods to the city’s history with old time artifacts in its design, and mango and guava infused wheat beer on tap. Don’t miss a visit to nearby Historic St. Andrews, ten minutes away, a funky fishing village with streets lined with oyster shells, a few decent waterfront restaurants for a seafood meal, and pretty Oaks by the Bay Park, with its highly Instagrammable and ancient oak tree, "Old Sentry," estimated to be more than 250 years old. Stay nearby at The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, where a boardwalk over the dunes leads to the most beautiful beach.
Jacksonville Beaches
The first major beach resort area you hit heading south along Interstate-95 into Florida, the Jacksonville Beaches are a string of several laid-back and surf-centric communities. Atlantic Beach—home to the oceanfront One Ocean resort, retro boutique hideaway The Hotel Palms and miles of dunes backed with stately oceanfront homes—and the friendly little surf community of Neptune Beach are our favorites for their untrammeled-by-the-masses appeal. If you’re here on the third Thursday of the month, the monthly Art Walk in Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach is a perfect outdoor outing before grabbing dinner at one of the nearby restaurants, like the open-air Sliders Oyster Bar or Flying Iguana, with excellent margs and guacamole prepped tableside.You can mingle with the locals during a beach cleanup event organized by Beaches Go Green.
St. Augustine
It’s an easy 33-mile road trip south from Jacksonville to visit St. Augustine, which claims to be the oldest city in the U.S. and is home to historic sites and preserved buildings, such as the 17th century Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (check the website for closures), a Spanish fortress with a commanding waterfront location. If you’re a surfer, catch some waves at Vilano Beach before sunset cocktails just back from the breakers at The Reef.
Naples and Marco Island
Continuing south from Fort Myers, the areas of Naples and nearby Marco Island make up Florida’s Paradise Coast, which has a tropical feel thanks to the mangroves (and mangoes, when in season, from late May to October) everywhere. You’re also close to one of the most renowned wilderness areas in the U.S., Everglades National Park. The Gulf Coast Visitors Center entrance is in Everglades City—an easy road trip of less than an hour southeast of Naples—where you can head out on pontoon boat cruises into the Ten Thousand Islands then feast on stone crab claws for lunch at the dockside Camellia Street Grill as air boats and fishing boats cruise by. For a beautiful beach stay that will facilitate all those nature outings and plenty of strolls past the outdoor cafes along Naples' Fifth Avenue, make your base LaPlaya Beach Resort or Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples. Another beachfront beauty, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples is better than ever after emerging from comprehensive renovations in 2023, with a brand new tower and Champagne lobby bar among the many upgrades.
Just south, on Marco Island, the JW Marriott Marco Island is known for its excellent rum bar on the beach, world-class spa and dedicated adults-only wing, Paradise by Sirene, with Balinese-inspired rooms and a private rooftop pool and sundeck.
Vero Beach
Less than two hours south of Orlando, Vero Beach is the spot along Florida’s Atlantic Coast where things start to take a turn toward the truly sub-tropical, South Florida vibe—you’ll notice it in the emerald tangles of palms and sea grapes, and the that-much-bluer-than-justp-north hues of the water lapping the coast here. Lanai suites at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa—a boutique oceanfront spot that's just a quick stroll to all the shops and cafes downtown—make for a comfortable and convenient stay. And nearby Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa, also oceanfront, is particularly appealing for a couples escape, with stroll-out suites on the ground floor that are just steps from the beachfront hot tub and sand.
Make time to check out nearby Sebastian Inlet, popular with surfers and anglers, and plan to kayak into the Indian River Lagoon with a rental from the Environmental Learning Center, where you’ll also find boardwalks and marine life exhibits to explore. For something fun with kids in tow (or if you're feeling lucky), rent a metal detector from the Mel Fisher Treasure Museum and try your hand at treasure hunting at Wabasso Beach—after all, this is the Treasure Coast, and people still regularly find loot (coins, jewelry and the like) from the 1715 fleet of Spanish treasure ships that wrecked in a hurricane just offshore.
Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce, and Jensen Beach
Often overlooked by people beelining it between Vero Beach and Fort Lauderdale on Florida’s East Coast, Fort Pierce and Hutchinson Island just, in St. Lucie and Martin counties, are the spots to channel a slice of forgotten Florida on miles of uncrowded beaches (you can even go horseback riding on the sand here). Base yourself beachfront at Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa in Jensen Beach where you can get around easily by bike to explore. The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, on Hutchinson Island, fronts the Intracoastal Waterway and rehabilitates sea turtles, rays and nurse sharks, which swim in pretty lagoons fed by Indian River. Fort Pierce has a cute downtown area anchored by Sailfish Brewing Company and is the place to head out on a charter fishing trip into the Gulf Stream to troll for mahi.
Beaches of South Walton
For the kind of water you thought only lived on screen savers and sand so fine you’ll want to pop it into an hourglass, the beaches of South Walton in Florida’s Panhandle rise to the top. Vacation rentals where you can sip your morning coffee as dolphins pass by just offshore are plenty in spots like Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, and Seaside. In Sandestin, Hotel Effie, has a swanky rooftop pool and lounge. And iconic gulf coast properties like the WaterColor Inn, fronting the Gulf of Mexico, put you right along Scenic 30A, where you can drive with coastal views, stop to paddle in freshwater dune lakes (a rare phenomenon that happens only here and a few other places in the world, including Madagascar) or make a stop for some beer-tasting at the Grayton Brew Company. Ecotourism opportunities get you out enjoying Florida’s nature at every turn along this stretch of coastline, whether by ebike along the sandy backroads or from the seat of a kayak, exploring Northwest Florida’s best watery trails.
Anna Maria Island
Often overlooked by visitors drawn to the big name beaches of St. Pete and Clearwater, this largely residential island just south on the gulf coast, less than an hour from Tampa and about 30 minutes north of Sarasota, is a slice of old Florida many don’t realize exists. Anna Maria Island is a great place to score a vacation rental on a canal or fronting the Gulf of Mexico. (Pineapplefish has the prettiest of the bunch), or you can stay in nearby Holmes Beach at the Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, with slips for travelers with boats in tow.
The best beachfront hotel to open of late is Mello on the Beach, an adorable low-rise property just steps from the sand that channels a Palm Springs vibe with mid century-inspired furniture, pastel color pops everywhere and a boomerang-shaped pool stocked with fun floaties.
Anna Maria Island is blissfully bereft of chain stores and golf carts are the preferred mode of transport. You can pedal around by bike everywhere, too, with a Surrey (or regular) bike rental from Beach Bums.
Sarasota and Longboat Key
To mix an artsy town with some of Florida’s most gorgeous gulf beaches, spend your vacation exploring downtown Sarasota and the neighboring beaches of Longboat Key, less than 90 minutes south of Tampa. Make a gulf front room at Zota Beach Resort or a beachfront condo with several bedrooms just back from the dunes (and a lovely beachfront barbecue area for grilling) at Sand Cay Beach Resort your base on this sublime stretch of coastline. For more luxury on the beach, level up with a stay at The Resort at Longboat Key Club, located at the pristine southernmost tip of Longboat Key. The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is also slated to up the accommodation ante here in 2024 with a magnificent beachfront setting, 166 rooms and luxury condos.
When you need a break from the sand and sun, cross the bridge to downtown Sarasota, home to the magnificent Ringling Museum of Art, named for the circus baron and housing an incredible collection of European Old Masters paintings within bayfront grounds landscaped with tropical flowers and trees. For contemporary art, the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College , inside the town's gothic style former high school, is worth a visit. And when it’s time for slurping more oysters with river views, Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar is just a short drive south.
Miami Beach
Miami is booming with vacationers who wouldn’t have Florida any other way—that is, with its warm-as-the-Caribbean waters and intoxicating multicultural vibe. Miami Beach always beckons for a stay fronting the Atlantic Ocean at ultra-luxe spots like The Setai or The Faena, and Art Deco icons like adults-only property The National Hotel. But downtown Miami and neighborhoods like Brickell, Wynwood ,and the latest creative hub Little River are worth toweling off for to explore. Off the sand, book a room overlooking Biscayne Bay at the Mandarin Oriental Miami or the Kimpton EPIC Hotel, with one of the city’s most swoon-worthy rooftop pools. Make time to venture away from the sand and city and onto the water itself with a boat tour into Biscayne National Park that departs from Coconut Grove with the Biscayne National Park Institute and visits spots like Stiltsville (where wooden houses over above the clear water) and Boca Chita Key.
Surfside
Not to be lumped in with Miami Beach, just south, pedestrian-friendly Surfside sprawls across a short half-square mile and beckons with tangible family-friendly appeal. The Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club (a Gold List winner for 2024) is a favorite thanks to its Art Deco style, incredible bar program with a seasonal retro-chic cocktails, complimentary kids club, adults-only pool, and gorgeous beachfront setting. Surfside’s compact downtown district, along Harding Avenue, just a few blocks from the beach, brims with boutiques and restaurants (beeline it for the crunchy spicy tuna latkes at Josh’s Deli). From May to November—during walks along the beach in the mornings, in particular—keep your eyes open for sea turtle hatchlings making a break for the ocean.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys and Key West might be one of the best weekend getaways in Florida that connects you with what a true vacation in this state is all about. Made mostly of coral, the islands that make up the Keys aren’t known for their beaches at all, although there are a few of those (the stretch at Bahia Honda State Park, good for snorkeling right from the beach in grassy flats just offshore, is one of the finest). Your best bet for watery fun in the Florida Keys, however, is to get out onto—and, preferably, into—the turquoise waters via boat trips, snorkeling excursions, or on a kayak or stand up paddle board. You’ll want to be back on land in time for the ritual of sunset spectating, of course, to toast with something tropical and frosty. Key West has the bulk of the resorts and hotels, as well as endless restaurants and bars to explore. But low-key, world class resorts abound throughout the Florida Keys, and include two noteworthy adults-only havens: Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, on its own private island, and Bungalows Key Largo. To feel like you're in Santorini, with white washed buildings and water views at every turn, Isla Bella Beach Resort on Marathon is truly transporting, too.
