Florida is actually value a visit, and two to 3 weeks is an effective period of time to get a style of this sunny state within the southern US. In case you’re trying to discover the most effective Florida journey highlights, you’ve come to the fitting place.
From exploring the theme parks in Orlando to swimming with manatees, seashore hopping and trying out the most effective that Miami has to supply, hold studying for a abstract of my favourite Florida highlights.
Right here is an summary:
Florida highlights: Which locations so as to add to your Florida itinerary
Able to discover the Sunshine State? Try our submit on airports in Florida for one of the best ways to get there.
Additionally try 10 Greatest Household Resorts in Florida and Greatest Spa Motels & Wellness Retreats in Florida.
Orlando
Let’s begin in Orlando.
It is best to know: It’s the stronghold of consumption, commerce and artificiality.
All the large theme parks are positioned right here. In Orlando, the Individuals actually let it rip. Each by way of value and the well-known night fireworks across the royal fortress within the Magic Kingdom.
Theme Parks
Sadly, the doorway charges to Disney Parks and Common Studios are fully overpriced, the queues on the sights are exorbitantly lengthy, usually greater than 120 minutes, and the usual of the sights is much behind the extent we all know from European theme parks.
In case you nonetheless wish to go to a number of the parks, Disney’s Magic Kingdom with its spectacular fireworks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom with actual safari feeling and Sea World with cool rides, much less ready time, nice reveals and particular sea animals are essentially the most really helpful.
You may go to these parks, however you don’t must.
What it is best to positively put in your expertise checklist, however, are the Kennedy House Heart and the Titanic exhibition. Each have actual foundations, are primarily based on actual historic occasions and thus generate robust feelings.
My goosebumps weren’t solely from the air conditioners there 😉
Associated learn: Ideas When Visiting Common Studios Orlando, Florida
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Space Shuttle Atlantis in the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Space-Shuttle-Atlantis-in-the-Kennedy-Space-Center.webp?resize=1880%2C1285&ssl=1)
Impressions on the subject of sustainability and the surroundings
Individuals are open and extremely communicative individuals.
Nevertheless, I, a European traveler, was very stunned by what I noticed: How little thought is given to the problem of sustainability in lots of locations. Plastic cups, pointless packaging, straws, and fruit wrapped in plastic are in every single place.
It might even be energy-saving to not flip down the air-conditioning to freezer stage for a change. 😉
There’s quite a lot of room for enchancment by way of our surroundings.
Associated learn: Eco-Pleasant Items Concepts for Eco-Aware Vacationers
Chrystal River
Swimming with manatees
For many who wish to expertise the individuals, panorama and wildlife of Florida up shut after arriving in Orlando, I heartily suggest Christal River within the northwest. It’s the dwelling of the manatees or extra exactly the “Caribbean manatee“, whose closest relative is the elephant.
Isn’t he cute?
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Underwater with a Manatee or Caribbean Manati in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Manatee-or-Caribbean-Manati.webp?resize=1920%2C1278&ssl=1)
In November, manatees swim out of the ocean to the hotter freshwater springs in Christal River to spend the winter. Beginning in April, they migrate again out to the Gulf of Mexico.
However vacationers nonetheless have an opportunity to come across just a few of the light sea giants afterward, lingering a bit longer within the waters round Christal River with their kids.
There are various suppliers of the well-known Manatee snorkeling journeys. We have been out early within the morning with Tom and Brandon from Captain Mike`s (swimmingwiththemanatees.com).
It was extremely nice!
I all the time go for a non-public tour as a result of I can really feel moments extra intensely once I don’t must share them with vacationers. As a result of not everybody who travels today is an actual traveler who will get concerned with pores and skin and hair and quite a lot of respect in every little thing they’ll expertise there. I didn’t wish to get out of the water in any respect and saved entering into at totally different locations once we encountered extra manatees.
It was magical with snorkel tools and carried by a swimming noodle, to drift nearly immobile subsequent to those fantastic creatures within the water. I used to be in a position to expertise how they sleep, eat and swirl with their cute faces vacuum cleaner-like over the ocean grass on the underside, chew contentedly, all the time come up snorting to catch my breath and proceed to “graze”.
Time stands nonetheless as a child Manatee swims alongside its mama, fortunately finishing just a few turns after which being suckled by her.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights A Manatee baby drinks with its mother in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/A-Manatee-baby-drinks-with-its-mother.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
Christal River – Meals and Drink
Christal River, though these manatee excursions are an actual spotlight, isn’t very touristy.
To search out lodging, I like to recommend Airbnb.
The meals at Cody’s could be very authentically American. There’s every little thing your coronary heart wishes, and for those who select salad as a facet dish, the massive silver salad bowl is positioned in entrance of you, from which you’ll scoop endlessly.
Very idyllic and genuine can be the Waterfront Social within the night, particularly within the entrance space immediately on the water.
Solely women touring alone ought to watch out for the native gents, who might have had one drink too many. Aside from them, it is rather chill and the picture of the boats on the calm waters of the river, the view of Banana Island, behind which the solar is slowly setting, is extremely idyllic.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights](https://i0.wp.com/www.weltreisetipps.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_8448-2-1-1626x1285.jpg?resize=1626%2C1285&ssl=1)
St. Pete Seaside
One other spotlight on our tour by Florida and on reflection one of the lovely seashores is St. Pete Seaside. White, tender sand makes each sea lover’s coronary heart beat sooner.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Dunes and white sand with the famous Hotel Don Cesar in the background in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Dunes-and-white-sand-with-the-famous-Hotel-Don-Cesar-in-the-background.webp?resize=1780%2C1285&ssl=1)
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights St. Pete Beach in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/St.-Pete-Beach-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
St. Petersburg is a really cultural metropolis with many galleries, museums, theater performances and a extremely really helpful glass artwork exhibition.
Lodge Don Cesar
A clock rock amongst resorts is the well-known Don Cesar. A easy look at this stately pink Mediterranean-Moorish fashion resort tells entire tales.
Inbuilt 1928, it was well-liked with presidents and film stars and was a hospital convalescent place for troopers throughout World Conflict II.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights The famous Don Cesar in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-famous-Don-Cesar-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1749%2C1285&ssl=1)
Strolling on the seashore, apart from this imposing constructing in the midst of small homes on the seashore, the number of shells is fascinating. I’ve by no means seen so many and so various wanting shells on a seashore in my life.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Colorful shells on the beach at St Pete Beach, Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Colorful-shells-on-the-beach-at-St-Pete-Beach-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1714%2C1285&ssl=1)
Marco Island and Naples
There are actually just a few cities on the west coast which can be value a cease.
We have been taken on to Marco Island, an offshore island south of Naples with the ocean working by it. Right here you may select a resort on the seashore or a home in the midst of the canals.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Marco Island jetty in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Marco-Island-jetty-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
My private spotlight was the bike experience to the seashore, as a result of for those who grew up with the Nintendo video games of the late 80s like I did, you certainly know “Paperboy.”
So that you drive like Paperboy previous the mailboxes in entrance, the meticulously mowed grassy areas and entrance yards of the colourful American homes, and there’s one thing very idyllic about that.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Houses in Naples, Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Houses-in-Naples-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1170%2C824&ssl=1)
It’s a very well-kept island. So well-kept that it looks like you’re woken up each morning by one of many lawnmowers. 😉
Tigertail Seaside
By bike or automotive, you may go on to Tigertail Seaside, one of the lovely seashores in Marco Island. To get there, you may both wade by the lagoon that lies past or stroll round it to this pristine stretch of seashore lined with grasses.
Particularly within the early night and till sundown it’s a paradise spot.
The seashore is so infinitely vast and fantastic that it’s pure pleasure to stroll alongside it and have a look at the ocean.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Sunset at Tigertail Beach on Marco Island in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sunset-at-Tigertail-Beach-on-Marco-Island-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1714%2C1285&ssl=1)
Everglades Journey
Probably the greatest issues to do from Marco Island is certainly a visit to the Everglades.
You are able to do these excursions from Miami or from Everglades Metropolis.
We selected a vendor in Everglades Metropolis and booked the non-public mangrove tour right here as nicely.
For friendliness, the crew of Jungle Erv will definitely not obtain a prize, however Marcus, who “flew” with us by the mangroves, was fantastic. He grew up there and knew felt each tree, so we sped by the mangroves with such confidence that it was a pure pleasure.
The play of lights from the solar on the water was breathtakingly lovely. And seeing the alligators there of their pure habitat is solely spectacular.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Mangrove tour around Everglades City in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Mangrove-tour-around-Everglades-City-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
After all, with all the standard “vacationer” sights, it’s essential to mirror on whether or not it feels applicable.
As an alternative choice to the airboat excursions, there are additionally kayak eco-tours by the Everglades. Right here everybody can see for themselves what is true for him.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Alligator in the Everglades in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Alligator-in-the-Everglades-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
The alligator reveals with hug-an-alligator possibility, which might usually be booked as well as, are in fact mega-touristically exploited.
The primary time I used to be in Florida, I used to be 13 years outdated and might nonetheless keep in mind the sensation of holding a child alligator in my palms. I used to be particularly fascinated by the tender pores and skin below the chin, so I simply wished to repeat it. However even that’s not a should.
Alligators are plentiful there, so in fact they’re hunted.
Island Cafe
In case you go to the Island Café in Everglades Metropolis, you may even pattern alligator burgers and alligator wraps.
I can’t consider how scrumptious it tastes – like a mixture of rooster and seafood and extremely really helpful for meat lovers.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Alligator wrap at Island Café in Everglades City in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Alligator-wrap-at-Island-Cafe-in-Everglades-City-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
Welcome in Miami
It’s a wild, vast, colourful, hip, vibrant, barely harmful and multi-layered metropolis. There are various individuals who keep away from Miami, however I like this metropolis.
That is the place life pulsates. Right here, the younger, trendy individuals present themselves and current their steeled and formed our bodies in all kinds of skimpy outfits.
While you stroll alongside the promenade of Miami Seaside, it’s as for those who’ve landed in the midst of a film set from one second to the subsequent. The cool man rides by on his chrome bicycle, glittering in every single place and taking part in music, the women of their stylish bikinis with solely a bit fishnet costume over them vie for the lads’s consideration, they usually look again diligently behind their thick sun shades.
Wynwood Partitions
My private spotlight is the Wynwood Partitions.
The entire neighborhood actually involves life, particularly on Saturday night time.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Wynwood Walls in Miami in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wynwood-Walls-in-Miami-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
It’s a place of artwork, creativity, inspiration, tradition and neighborhood.
In giant wall graffiti work totally different artists specific themselves and it seems to be like a colourful kaleidoscope of colours and shapes. Spectacular artworks are additionally exhibited within the rooms – the doorway is certainly value it.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Inside the Wynwood Walls exhibit in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Inside-the-Wynwood-Walls-exhibit-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1783%2C1285&ssl=1)
On weekends, the Smorgasburg open air meals market takes place proper subsequent door. On Saturdays and Sundays between 12 and 19 o’clock there are delicacies from everywhere in the world, scrumptious drinks, music and a relaxed ambiance.
In case you drive again to Miami Seaside from right here, you’ll cross by the Design District with its quite a few designer shops. Driving by is kind of sufficient.
Bayside
A ship tour previous the mansions of the celebrities, with imposing backdrop of downtown Miami with its skyscrapers is stress-free and delightful.
Many boats depart right here in the course of the day immediately from the Bayside. There are additionally shops and eating places right here, in addition to tour firm cubicles the place you may guide a experience proper on the spot.
The best way to the Bayside could be very busy, so you may find yourself fairly in a site visitors jam on the best way there. You probably have booked a ship journey by way of web at a sure time and wish to be on time, it is best to plan some further time for the arrival.
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights Boat tour around Miami in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Boat-tour-around-Miami-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1708%2C1285&ssl=1)
Little Havana
Little Havana, the neighborhood of the Cubans is an actual seize bag.
Right here you are feeling as for those who had landed immediately on the island. The eating places and bars are already nicely attended within the afternoon and dwell music resounds from all corners.
Right here you may expertise the Cuban lifestyle in the midst of an American metropolis.
Associated tour: Little Havana Strolling Meals Tour with Lunch
![Florida Travel Highlights - Exploring the Sunshine State: Florida Travel Highlights The famous Little Havana neighborhood in Florida, USA.](https://i0.wp.com/traveldudes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-famous-Little-Havana-neighborhood-in-Florida-USA.webp?resize=1713%2C1285&ssl=1)
Miami Seaside
If you wish to expertise Miami Seaside within the night, it is best to stroll alongside Ocean Drive or Washington Avenue. Particularly between sixteenth Avenue and Lincoln Street there’s a lot occurring.
What a multicultural metropolis!
Along with individuals from everywhere in the world, one meets an infinite variety of South Individuals right here. Due to this fact, as in Orlando, it is usually beneficial right here to have the ability to talk in Spanish.
Miami has a lot extra in retailer and you’ll simply spend greater than 2 days right here. Subsequent time. 😉
Regardless of how a lot you will have found, one thing nonetheless stays open. And that’s good. As a result of touring with the sensation of wanting to return again reveals that you’ve loved it – what may very well be higher.
I say goodbye with my most heard phrase of your complete journey:
„Have a very good one.“