The subtropical climate of the Sunshine State means the weather is never too hot or too cold to head outside and savor the outdoors.
During a holiday here, you’ll be able to choose between getting a good dose of fresh air while exploring scenic trails, enjoying incredible recreational activities within award-winning state parks, searching for vibrant wildlife, relaxing on one of the pristine beaches, or having an adventure of your own in wide open Florida.
State Parks
The best way to appreciate all the natural beauty Florida has to offer is to explore any of the (almost) 200 award-winning state parks from Pensacola to Key West. These beautiful landscapes are steeped in as much history as they are nature. They showcase 100 miles of Florida’s best beaches, as well as over 800,000 acres of freshwater springs, mysterious cave systems, mangroves, maritime hammocks and historic lighthouses and forts.
These natural theme parks are great settings for popular outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and equestrian trails, as well as swimming, diving and fishing in rivers or springs. However, there are some surprising things you can do too, including meeting a mermaid in the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park or becoming one with nature by enjoying a yoga class.
Beaches
From its Gulf shores to its Atlantic coastlines, Florida’s beaches shine. Here you’ll find sands of all hues and textures, state and national parks, camping, accessibility, diverse marine life, and sunny scenes – bustling and secluded – that are both party and family friendly.
Award-winning Clearwater Beach in Tampa Bay has stretches of fine white sand and blue ocean as far as the eye can see. It’s the stuff of postcards and super family-friendly to boot, with clear, shallow waters ideal for little ones to paddle in.
In the south, South Beach Miami is a colourful swirl of celebrities, art deco architecture, and notorious nightlife, set against a landscape of beautiful beaches occupied by candy-coloured lifeguard stations. To the north, Flagler Beach – located between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine – is a relaxed gem with nary a high rise in sight. The beaches are uncrowded and thick with cinnamon-coloured sand, and the waves are a playground for surfers.
Rivers and Springs
Florida has more than 300 freshwater springs (that we know of), all of which boast mesmerisingly clear water and offer cool comfort as you drift downstream. Humans and manatees alike have enjoyed these natural waterways for decades, and will continue to do so for many years to come thanks to the protection of the state’s award-winning state park system.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is famous for being the deepest naturally formed spring in the whole of North America, but also for its live underwater shows where ‘mermaids’ replicate the famous scenes in ‘The Little Mermaid’, adding a sprinkle of fantasy and magic to your family holiday. Other popular freshwater springs include Rainbow River and Springs, Ichetucknee River and Fanning Springs which feeds the legendary Suwannee River.
Forests
Florida has four impressive National Forests: Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, Ocala and Osceola. Each one offers a completely different experience, with features ranging from acres of enchanting woodland to meandering streams and mysterious underwater cave systems. There is also plenty of history, geographical and otherwise, to be explored, including civil war battlefields and ancient Native American shell mounds.
Wildlife
Get up close and personal with Florida’s resident wildlife, 760 species of which exist nowhere else in the world!
If you’re in the Miami area, head to Biscayne National Park (which is only accessible by boat) and visit Key Biscayne, where you can spy shipwrecks, glorious coral reefs and curious fish flitting all around you. Check out the snorkelling in Crystal River, too, especially if you want to see some friendly manatees up close.
Alligators are synonymous with Florida and there are opportunities galore to spot them. Visit the Everglades National Park on the state’s southern tip or try the Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures tour closer to Orlando – at the end of the trip, you might even get the chance to hold and take pictures with a small alligator.
There is a variety of dolphin and whale watching tours on offer in Florida too. Dolphins love the warm waters of the beautiful Florida Keys, Fort Myers Beach, Clearwater and Amelia Island, especially during summer, while your best chance to spot whales is between November and April – perfect if you’re visiting Florida for some winter sunshine.
Gardens
The tropical climate in Florida is perfect for a vast array of flowers, plants and trees, and where better to showcase this natural beauty than in a botanical garden. Holidaymakers can admire the beauty and enjoy the wonderful scents by taking a stroll through the different walkways, both indoors and outdoors.
