Hidden gems, beaches, road trips & local guides across the Sunshine State.

Crystal River slips under the radar, yet it delivers everything you crave in a breezy Florida escape without the crowds. Imagine spring-fed waters so clear you can spot manatees drifting like gentle clouds, and small town streets where seafood shacks feel like old friends. You get nature, history, and that unhurried Gulf vibe that resets…

Tucked inside a beautifully preserved 1921 home, this Mount Dora gem still feels like Old Florida with a modern, artful twist. You can linger over creative, seasonal dishes while soaking in rotating pieces from the neighboring Modernism Museum. The vibe is intimate yet lively, with warm service and a menu that keeps surprising locals and…

The sunshine state does “museum” a little differently. Sure, you can do the big-name art halls and polished history wings—but the real fun is hiding in the wonderfully specific places: a warehouse of carnival treasures, a full-on shrine to shells, a ship you can roam like you’re part of the crew. These are the stops…

Slip into water so clear it feels unreal, where sunlight paints ribbons across a sandy bottom and fish drift like silver whispers. At Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, every breath tastes like pine and river mist, and every paddle stroke reveals colors you did not know water could hold. Go early, beat…

Florida’s best seafood doesn’t come with linen napkins—it comes with salt on your sunglasses and a breeze that smells like the tide. These are the places where you show up sun-warmed, order something messy, and eat it with your feet buried in the sand, pointed toward the water. Some are perched on working docks where…

From the sand at Boynton Beach Inlet, you would never guess a dramatic underwater canyon waits just a few fin kicks offshore. A reef ledge drops nearly 20 feet into a coral trench where sea turtles, nurse sharks, and giant grouper cruise like locals on a boardwalk. Most beachgoers stroll past without realizing the ocean’s…

Florida does hot dogs the way it does everything else: loud with flavor, unapologetically casual, and weirdly specific in the best way. One minute you’re biting into a no-nonsense chili dog at a decades-old counter, the next you’re chasing a Chicago-style crunch under palm trees, or discovering that a datil pepper belongs on way more…

Craving a Florida escape that actually feels wild and free? Keewaydin Island delivers with no roads, no bridges, and no crowds, just sugar-soft sand, dolphins cruising the backwaters, and a floating taco boat that pulls up like a daydream. You reach it by boat or jet ski, then spend the day shelling, snorkeling, and drifting…

Slip your kayak into the calm shallows off Cedar Key and you can be gliding toward a ghost island in minutes. Atsena Otie Key feels like Old Florida preserved in a bottle, with whispering pines, shell-strewn paths, and haunting ruins. It is remote enough to feel wild, yet close enough for an easy morning adventure….

Florida doesn’t just do seafood well—it does “crunchy-on-the-outside, steamy-and-flaky-in-the-middle” ridiculously well. And when fish and chips is done right, it’s the ultimate no-fuss meal: hot basket, cold drink, one bite that tells you immediately if the kitchen knows what it’s doing. The best spots here nail the basics and add personality—British-pub proper chips, Irish-house tartar,…

If you think beach days in Sarasota are sweet already, wait until an ice cream boat pulls alongside your sandbar. The Tropicool Ice Cream Boat glides across the bay serving drippy cones, floats, and nostalgic treats right to your paddleboard or pontoon. It is spontaneous, colorful, and surprisingly easy to spot, turning lazy afternoons into…

If you are craving a beach day that feels like a mini adventure, Tigertail Beach delivers. You cross a tidal lagoon, step through mangroves, and emerge onto a wild, shell-strewn sandbar that feels blissfully off-grid. The walk is part of the fun, and the payoff is a quieter shoreline with clear Gulf water, shorebirds, and…

If waking up to the sound of waves and a horizon painted in sunrise colors sounds like your kind of morning, this list is your roadmap. Florida’s coastline hides some of the most unforgettable beachfront campsites, from sugar-white Gulf sands to breezy Atlantic shores. Whether you’re rolling in with an RV or pitching a tent…

There is a precise moment when a long drive transforms into vacation energy, and it happens the second you see that bright Welcome to Florida sign. At the Official Florida Welcome Center in Hamilton County, the promise becomes real with friendly staff, free citrus sips, and easy comforts. This stop is more than a photo…

Florida does “dinner with a view” like it’s a competitive sport. One night you’re watching cruise ships glide past Miami Beach like floating condos; the next you’re parked on a pier with pelicans eyeing your fries and a pink sunset doing the most. The trick is knowing which waterfront spots actually deliver the wow-factor and…

Tucked beside Florida’s vast sugarcane country, Sugar Express in Clewiston feels like stepping into a living postcard. Vintage railcars, a roaring steam locomotive, and slow-rolling views create the kind of small-town magic you cannot fake. Whether you crave holiday cheer, ice cream nostalgia, or open-air vistas, this ride delivers charm with every mile. Come curious…

Florida’s dining scene just hit the gas, and the new names are wild in the best way. Think wagyu shabu-shabu nights, tableside martinis you can customize, and omakase paired with craft beer. This list rounds up the openings food nerds keep whispering about, with quick-hit details so you can actually plan a night out. Ready…

Tucked above 7th Avenue in historic Ybor City, Dysfunctional Grace feels like stumbling into a cabinet of wonders. Every corner brims with taxidermy art, antique ephemera, bones, bugs, and beautifully bizarre decor. You can browse the shop, then duck into the tiny museum for a $5 donation and level up the goosebumps. If your taste…