Reasons Florida Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List

Reasons Florida Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List

Florida is known as The Sunshine State for a reason: the year round good weather makes it the perfect spot for a vacation if you’re looking for sun, sea, sand, and relaxation. Florida is one of the most popular vacation spots for winter sunshine too. Why not add it to your travel bucket list?

Florida has so many beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, palm trees and more. People enjoy surfing, running and rollerblading down the seafront. It truly is everything that you could wish for! Florida attracts over 60 million visitors each and every year. Florida is clearly popular with people all over the world!

Here are just a few things that the state has to offer!

Theme Parks

I love the theme parks in Florida! Walt Disney World is the most-visited theme park in Florida, and it’s my favorite. This theme park is home to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, and Typhoon Lagoon. As much as I love Walt Disney World, Florida has so much more to do!

It’s got lots of other parks including Universal, LEGOLAND Florida, Wet n Wild Orlando, SeaWorld and Dinosaur World. You really have a lot to pick from. 

Beaches

I think Florida’s beaches are a must for your travel bucket list. Florida has more than 600 miles of beaches and more than 1,000 miles of coastline. Get to the beach, enjoy the palm trees, and experience nature the way only Florida can provide it. 

Miami

If you’re heading to Florida for its beaches, you may want to head to Miami. Miami is in the southeastern tip of Florida, is heavily influenced by Cuban culture (Little Havana is a fun dose of culture and great food) and has many cafes and shops that line the stunning white sand beaches and stunning blue water.

You also don’t want to miss the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an estate constructed 100 years ago that has since been turned into a museum. For traveling families, the Miami Seaquarium is a destination everyone will enjoy.

The most popular beach is 21st-45th Street Beach, where you can stroll down the Miami Beach boardwalk. If you’re staying in Miami, make sure to get great accommodations where you’ll be comfortable. 

When you book your accommodation, you can use lot of different methods, but searching online is a great way to explore different dates and decide the best time to go.

Hotels in Miami range from low-key and affordable to swanky and luxurious. Get great rates inland when you book at La Quinta Inn Miami Airport North.

If money isn’t an option (lucky you!) you can treat yourself to one of these luxury hotels: The Ritz-Carlton in South Beach or The Four Seasons.

Daytona Beach

The races and spring break are what draw people to Daytona Beach every year, but you’ll have fun no matter when you visit. If you don’t feel like getting sandy, visit the Daytona Lagoon instead. This water park has go-karts, mini golf, laser tag and more. The Museum of Arts and Sciences is perfect for a rainy day.

One of the best things about Daytona Beach? Most Daytona Beach hotels sit on the ocean, and you can walk from the hotel straight to the sand. Some affordable seaside options are the Lexington Inn or La Quinta Inn & Suites. If you really want to save, stay near the airport at the Quality Inn Daytona Speedway I-95. Splurge a little on either the Nautilus Inn or Bahama House, both of which are on the water.

Clearwater Beach

You’ve got to make it to Clearwater Beach at least once. I’m telling myself that too! My sister and her family have been there and loved it! The white sand and turquoise water is beautiful, and the Gulf of Mexico is always warmer to swim in than the Atlantic. The Clearwater Aquarium is also worth a visit. They saw Winter the dolphin there!

Treat yourself to a beach stay by choosing the Clearwater Grand Hotel and Suites, which will put you a short distance away from Clearwater Beach. Many Clearwater hotels are extremely affordable, so check out the Clarion Inn or Comfort Inn in Clearwater.

Animal Encounters

If having an animal encounter is on your travel bucket list, you want to swim with the manatees. Manatees are beautiful marine mammals. These gentle giants, or sea cows, inhabit Florida’s waters, and you can almost guarantee a real life encounter with them if you visit the Crystal River.

While manatees are a protected species and close interaction with them is prohibited in many parts of the state, “passive observation” is permitted in Kings Bay, Crystal River.

You’ll need to book with a specialist tour group in order to get a pretour briefing and education that will teach you how to best respect these wild animals. You’ll get the most out of your experience with them at the same time. You will also be provided with high-quality wet-suits and snorkeling or diving gear to ensure a comfortable swim!

Florida really has so much to offer. So whether you’re visiting for a week or a month, there are so many activities to keep you occupied for your entire trip! It’s got to be on your travel bucket list!