Where to Go in Florida

Best Places to Visit in Florida

Hannah and I met at the same West Palm Beach high school where we both taught history.

Less than 10 minutes after the final bell, we would be rolling up to the big beautiful beaches of southeast Florida, commonly referred to as “SoFlo”.

Once dating, we spent many weekends away on trips exploring all of the nooks and crannies of our adopted state.

Having been everywhere on the peninsula from Pensacola to the Keys, and from the Everglades to St. Augustine, here are our homespun opinions on our adopted home.

Miami – Best for Beaches & Nightlife

Having lived in SoFlo for many years, people often ask us about Miami. We often feel old when we admit how little we would frequent the coastal metropolis.

Friends from afar love to drag us down there every time they visit for a night on the town. And although I hate to admit it… it is always a fun time.

Miami is a real city, with glamorous shopping districts and rowdy nightlife.

South Beach is best for a quintessential experience, with easy transitioning from daytime sunbathing to nighttime raving.

Brickell is a tad more upscale, and therefore less obnoxious at night, while those seeking more of an artsy/cultural vibe may want to check out Wynwood.

If access to urban attractions is a necessity, Miami is for you.

If you can go without, may we recommend our higher-ranked choices for the great state of Florida.

Cocoa Beach – Our Absolute Favorite

We love Cocoa Beach, a gorgeous barrier island mid-way up the Florida Coast, and about an hour east of Orlando.

Only a 2 hour drive from our home in SoFlo, we did many weekend getaways there, which were welcome reprieves from our former workweek grinds.

It’s the ultimate beach vacation, with miles of soft sand beaches, tiki bars, and touristy surf shops.

We enjoyed the budget hotels right on the ocean, endearingly outdated in their ‘90s decor.

No matter the lodging, just be sure it is directly on the beach.

The stress-free feeling of knowing the sea is a mere 3 minute walk from your door is what makes Cocoa the ultimate “toes in the sand” vacation.

The world famous Ron Jon Surf Shop is steps from the beach.

It is a multistory wonderland of island wear and watersports gear.

Our favorite restaurant, Coconuts on the Beach, has some of the best seafood we’ve ever had.

The Poke Tuna Nachos and Mahi Reuben are particularly noteworthy.

The Brevard Zoo is also about a half hour from the main strip, and makes for a great afternoon adventure.

Visitors can rent kayaks for use in the canals that zigzag through the zoo, offering a one of a kind way to see the animal exhibits.

A zipline course also enables those brave enough to glide their way across the zoo from one treetop station to the next.

It’s a welcome change of pace from the heat of the beach.

After a few fun hours taking in the exotic animals, you can be back in your hotel before 6PM, ready to recharge for a night on the town.

Although a beach tourist haven, there is a real island community feel to Cocoa, making it a more authentic ocean getaway experience.

If we had to retire in Florida, we would seriously consider Cocoa Beach.

The beach bum’s paradise.

Key West – Best for Island Vibes

Key West is a Top 5 destination for me.

The 2 hour drive on the Over-Seas Highway will be one of the most stunning rides of your entire life.

Renting a car is a must if you are flying into SoFlo.

Multiple “keys” are connected by the 120 mile route that at one point spans 7 miles of open ocean.

Even those scared of bridges (as Hannah is) should still be able to enjoy the experience, as it is not very high at all.

Although islands such as Marathon, Islamorada, and Key Largo offer very nice resorts with relaxed island town vibes, Key West is the ultimate experience in “salt life” culture.

As with any small city, hotels are quite expensive and fill up fast in the busy season.

Once there, one can walk everywhere, with only a couple square miles composing the entire parrothead paradise.

The Hemingway House, the late writer’s beautiful estate right in the heart of town, is an excellent way to break-up the day.

Tropical drinks, fresh fried seafood, and tourist shops galore will fill up the rest of your time.

Orlando – Best Parks

One of the world’s most touristed cities, you will hopefully already know which park you’re headed to before you board a plane to one of the 2 main airports here (remember, there are 2).

If you’re still in the planning phase, those seeking the quintessential DisneyWorld experience should focus on, and budget for, exclusively that.

Staying directly in the park is absolutely advised.

My favorite resort, the French Polynesian, is conveniently on the Monorail Line that takes you directly to the park entrances.

DisneyWorld is technically 4 parks in one, and devoting one day to each is an ideal way to feel unrushed and relaxed.

If Disney is not your primary objective and you have a day or two to spare, Seaworld is our personal choice for a fun and easy park experience.

Fans of superhero movies or TV in general may enjoy the pop culture appeal of Universal Studios, bigger than Seaworld but smaller than Disney.

We once stayed outside the parks and explored the smaller attractions around Orlando, a thrifty way to kill a day when the hullabaloo of the parks was too much.

Disney Springs has cute shops and restaurants, and downtown Orlando has a picturesque lake bustling with city dwellers and visitors alike.

Rides to and from the airport can range from 5 minutes to 50 minutes, depending on traffic and your motel’s location.

Remember, there are 2 airports — double-check your bookings.

Naples – Best of Both Worlds

My folks live in Naples.

I’ve been going there for 15 years, and in many ways it’s been a second hometown for me.

An upscale, older crowd, Naples is an ideal destination if you want luxury resorts with no threat of rowdy (or younger) vacationers.

The Naples Grand, located right next door to my parent’s condo, is the quintessential 5-star accommodation with easy access to pristine white beaches and calm gulf waters.

Home to affluent retirees who are full time residents, there is no shortage of gourmet restaurants and boutique shops up and down this southwest corner of Florida.

Fort Myers Airport is an easy 40 minute drive from the greater Naples area, and the whole region is easily navigable with a rental car (or your parents).

Naples is a great jumping off point to see Everglades National Park.

Unless you wanna camp with the gators, you’ll need to drive in from either Miami or Naples.

In just under an hour, you can be in the one true town in the park, Everglades City, a place so far south on the map that it makes Miami look like the Northeast (which it is).

Airboat rides are the one main attraction, but well worth your trek.

Gators galore from shore to shore will leave you stunned at the prehistoric beauty of the towering grass blades piercing up out of intricate webs of mangroves.

It’s an easy morning adventure from Naples before heading back to the resort for some pooltime in the afternoon.

The best of both worlds.

Which Place Should You Choose?

If you want Miami, go to Miami — it is a scene worth seeing at least once in your life.

For seasoned party-goers, it’s the “big leagues”.

If you want an upscale but quieter beach experience, Naples is the best combination of luxury and laid back beach vibes.

For those wanting to enjoy the thrill of the world’s best amusement parks, Orlando is as easy as it gets.

In our opinion, Key West and Cocoa Beach top the list.

For Key West, the drive alone is worth the day trip from Miami, though be sure to leave at least an hour and a half before sunset — that would be perfect timing.

For basic beach bums like us, Cocoa is the way to go for a more “down to earth” ocean community with big beaches, kitschy shops, and seafood shacks.

Regardless of where you go, you’ll have a new appreciation and admiration for the Sunshine State in all of its sun-baked glory.