Before I came a fully-fledged Washingtonian, I was a Floridian. So for all you snowbirds (which I am now, though the Florida license plate of my parents’ cars would never betray that in peak-season traffic), I’ve got a few tips for a Florida vacation. Given that my travel companion for my upcoming tropical trip can’t leave the country (visa renewals are an unfortunate process), we decided on Florida, and I’ve been doing a bit of thinking and research with the lens of a visitor and the expertise of a resident.
Here are some ideas for planning a trip to sunny Florida:
Beaches & Boating
Obviously, the main reason to vacation in Florida is going to the beach. Here’s my short list for Florida beaches:
- South Beach
- Delray Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- Naples Beach
- Sanibel Island
- Siesta Key
- Palm Beach
- Captiva Island
- Key West
- Islamorada
- Anna Maria Island
An honorable mention goes to Fort Myers Beach, as it was (and still is) my go-to beach for years and years. It can be quite nice, though the list above contains more sophisticated or aesthetically pleasing beaches and beach areas.
Golf
I am not a golf player, but most people I know personally who visit Florida are huge golfers. I do not have tips to offer in the golf category except that it is very easy to find good golfing in Florida. Especially with a little help from Yelp. Don’t forget your sunscreen, hat/visor, and lots of water.
I know slightly more about mini golf than regular golf, but not much. Mini golf is a fairly popular activity throughout Florida, but I can only speak from personal experience about one place. If you happen to end up in Fort Myers Beach, Smuggler’s Cove (located just before the island) has a pretty great setup. The pirate-themed mini golf park includes live alligators that you can feed, fun holes, and a varied range with shade and sun.
Theme Parks
I personally do not understand the appeal of theme parks (crowded, lines, junk food, central Florida, fulfillment of many American stereotypes, etc.) Florida is a mecca for them. Personally, I’ve been to most of Disney (due to class trips in lower, middle, and high school), and I’ve heard great things about Harry Potter World. If I were to be interested in theme parks, here is where I would go:
- Animal Kingdom – the lodge and the park’s safari are certainly not parts of your average theme park experience
- Epcot – if you’re headed to a theme park, why not get some global culture out of it?
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter – caution, the sly park planners at Universal divided Harry Potter world between two Universal parks, so you have to buy tickets for both (and the Hogwarts Express in between) to get the full experience
- Busch Gardens – it’s uniquely located in Tampa so you can stay on the Florida coast instead of heading into the inland jungle that is Orlando
Destinations
Much of Florida is quite similar (except the middle-of-nowhere parts of central and northern Florida), and typical destinations include Orlando, Tampa, Naples, Miami, and the Keys. Of the major destinations in Florida, I recommend South Beach and the Keys (Islamorada or Key West, for example) on the Atlantic side and Naples (with excursions to Fort Myers for Sanibel Island, etc.) on the Gulf side.
Can you guess where I’m headed? My main beef with Florida is how insular it can be. So where does this international traveler go in Florida? Miami, of course. See you on South Beach!
anchored & adrift 