No need for Tripophobia (n.) — The fear of not having any travel trips currently booked
Tampa Bay’s location in the state’s core and its proximity to a kaleidoscope of unique destinations and activities prime for weekend trips is one huge advantage of living here.
A short car drive could lead to swimming with dolphins or being face-to-face with the prehistoric alligator and endangered manatee. A taste of the quaint village life in a beloved fishing community is no further away than the grandeur of crumbling castles steeped in Colonial history and national pride.
If a day at the beach with sunbathing, surfing, parasailing and just plain relaxing sounds like a good time, the agenda is covered, with a variety of beach vacations to suit any taste.
The magic of the Happiest Place on Earth in the City Beautiful is less than two hours away with its dizzying array of theme parks, amusement rides, golfing and robust nightlife. Venture over to the east coast for a glimpse into the galactic sciences at Cape Canaveral’s space centers. Or, bring competitive spirits to The Swamp at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to witness the Gator Nation come alive.
So, grab the family or just go solo, and head out from Greater Tampa Bay to discover new worlds a short drive away.
Ocala
Known as Horse Country for its ties to Triple Crown winners and thoroughbred pedigrees, the rolling hills of lush green grass and ancient oaks have also served as the backdrop for a number of Hollywood productions.
The City of Ocala is the gateway to the woods and lakes that comprise the Ocala National Forest, which includes the largest sand pine forest in the world. Sand pines, live oaks and limestone canyon cliffs join forces at Canyons Zip Line and Canopy tours, where two to three hours can be spent gliding high up among the trees, taking in the sights from a birdseye view on more than a mile of interconnected zip lines. Adrenaline will be pumping and courage will be tested while taking to surreal heights and conquering fears.
Prefer things a little closer to sea level? How about below sea level? Silver Springs, a nature theme park residing on 350 acres with world-famous, glass-bottom boats are waiting. Guided and affordable journeys embarking every 30 minutes will bring guests face-to-face with manatees, turtles, a kaleidoscope of colorful fish and maybe even an alligator or two. This angle of both above and below the water offers unique insight into the habitat and wildlife that characterize Florida. The park also offers up swimming, kayaking, canoeing and snorkeling opportunities.
Feeling a bit hungry afterwards and want to get those hands dirty? Head on out to U-Pick Farms and give agritourism a try. Pluck fresh blueberries from the bush or oranges from a fertile tree at this organic farm. Eat it right there or take bounties home and learn a bit more about the process of farm-to-table.
Still have some energy to explore? Enjoy a horseback tour with one of these fabled steeds or simply slow things down and catch a double feature at Ocala’s Drive in Theater, one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in the country and an affordable option for a unique date night.
Naples
Naples has quickly become the pickleball capital of the world. Included in the transcendent elegance and beauty of Naples is East Naples Community Park. Its 68 courts welcomed 2,000 players from 47 states and 20 countries in 2021 for the first U.S. Open Pickleball Championship. With an average low temperature of 72 degrees, this Paradise Coast destination is a world-class wonder.
Beyond the courts are the lush, silky beaches and rolling waters flush with tropical birds and wildlife. Naples Beach, where Naples Pier is located, is a perfect place to start the day. Families love the access to playgrounds and showers available at Lowdermilk Beach Park near downtown and the serenity of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park’s undisturbed barrier island.
The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Bird Gardens of Naples, home to wild parrots, make for more memorable tropical excursions. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is filled with giraffes, primates, pythons and an historic botanical garden. End the day with magical manatees on a Manatee Sightseeing Eco-Tour by boat.
A girls’ trip calls for a journey into the world-class culture of Naples. Historic downtown boasts Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, where high-end boutique shopping, exquisite dining and gallery shopping are endless. Antiques lovers enjoy the Naples Antique district, and the classics continue with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. Both Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli have performed with them. Or, enjoy a night with Opera Naples at Wang Opera Center.
Simple works, too. Grab dinner at Celebration Park Naples, filled with food trucks serving seafood, barbecue and fusion cuisine waterfront.
Whether it is an easy weekend or extravagant vacation beyond the silky, sandy beaches, the activities, arts and environment of Naples are where visitors can suit up for both.
West Palm Beach
Punch that ticket for a three hour and 40-minute Amtrak train ride directly from Tampa Bay and relax all the way to the luxury of West Palm Beach. A vibrant community with colorful neighborhoods, celebrated beaches and upscale shopping, West Palm Beach continuously offers exciting eateries, lots of adventure and a refined sense of living.
Henry Flagler’s segue into hotels and railroads originally drew those to visit West Palm Beach and sister city Palm Beach. Today, join more than 8 million visitors annually and swim the celebrated waters of Palm Beach, postcard perfect Lake Worth Beach or Peanut Park’s clear turquoise waters. Get a unique ocean view at the John D. MacArthur Beach State Park sitting on an Atlantic Ocean barrier island, or join scuba and free divers spending the day diving at Ocean Reef Park. Dog enthusiasts pick Juno Beach, and sun bathers get cozy with a rental cabana or lounge chair at Oceanfront Park on Boynton Beach.
There is plenty of family adventure, too. Shipwreck Cove and 190 species of ocean inhabitants tantalize at the South Florida Science Center & Aquarium, as does a round of mini golf at its Conservation Course. More animal interaction, rides and splashing around make for a roaring good time at Lion Country Safari. It is part drive-through safari, part adventure park. A lazy river, wave pool and more make plunging into Rapids Waterpark a very cool idea.
Add one last stop at Henry Flagler’s Beaux-Arts Whitehall grand mansion, built in 1902, and then shopping and dinner. West Palm Beach Antique Row offers quaint European eateries like Belle & Maxwell’s, and Rosemary Square offers more familiar faire as well as one-of-kind shops. West Palm Beach will always remain a favorite weekend getaway.
The Everglades
Outdoor adventure like no other awaits in the Florida Everglades. With 1 ½ million acres of wetlands, it is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.
Get out and into the untamed wilderness of the Everglades National State Park via airboat and discover thousands and thousands of American alligators — 200,000, to be exact. Other residents include Florida panthers, spotted bobcats, more than two dozen varieties of snakes, endangered leatherback turtles and the curious but cute West Indian manatee. Bird lovers, get those binoculars ready. Search for some of the 350 species of birds who make the coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwood home.
Kayak, fish or visit this floating carpet of sawgrass prairie from an airboat. Three authorized airboat tours including Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park are available along U.S. Highway 41 and Tamiami Trail in the park. Take a Shark Valley Tram Tours two-hour narrated tram ride through this slow-moving river and explore the wildlife. Learn about it all, including more 750 species of native seeded plants, 39 of which are native orchids.
After a long day out in the open air, grab a bite in Everglades City. Home to 600 residents, this fishing village is packed with authenticity and plenty of stone crab dishes during season from October through May. Alligator, frog legs and fresh fish are specialties, too.
Triad River Seafood Market & Cafe serves plenty of right-off-the-boat seafood, in-season stone crab and dishes like their seafood Reuben, blue crab fingers and conch fritters. Bring the adventures to a close with homemade key lime or peanut butter pie. Note that Everglades City is on hiatus all summer, many spots closing from mid-May through August.
Greater Gainesville
Hop on northbound Interstate 75, driving straight into Greater Gainesville in just two hours, and spend a day, a weekend or even a whole week in the Gator Nation.
Greater Gainesville so much more than just the home to the prestigious University of Florida, however. It is also Old Florida, a busy city, a quaint downtown, a natural haven and a cultural epicenter all at once.
Enjoy the excitement of college football at Ben Griffin Hill Stadium and more than 75,000 roaring fans chomping down on years of tradition. Then, get lost in big city culture or natural elements found everywhere in the area. Rock the night away, enjoy Dance Alive National Ballet or take a seat at the dozens of professional theatrical performances at the Hippodrome Theater or Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Start the excursion off at one of Greater Gainesville’s sparkling gems, The Cade Museum of Creativity & Innovation, which will excite the family while discovering fascinating inventions. Learn about the University of Florida’s famed hydration invention, Gatorade, and even talk to astronauts at the Hubble International Space Station.
Next up are the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Butterfly Rainforest. Travel through Florida’s history of flora, fauna, fossils and historic people and enjoy special exhibits that sometimes include a T-rex or two. Celebrate lepidoptera and biodiversity with more than 80 species of butterflies and moths in the Butterfly Rainforest or experience the daily release of butterflies and the world’s largest moth, the Atlas moth.
Just as charming as the athletic and arts scenes are the peaceful natural springs and habitats surrounding Greater Gainesville’s seven municipalities. Start the day with a bike ride, hike or walk along the pristine paths and extended trailways, preserves and nature parks that wind through Greater Gainesville.
The 21,000-acre Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a National Natural Landmark. This savanna ecosystem puts explorers close to bison, wild horses, tropical birds and Florida’s omni-present alligators. Other popular parks include Sweetwater Preserve, a woodland park with wetlands, where dozens of native birds visit. Find sandhill cranes, purple gallinules and great blue herons among the mix.
Botanical enthusiasts will thrill at the 68 acres filled with 24 major collections along Kanapaha Botanical Gardens 1 ½-mile walkway. It provides places for kids to play, koi to feed and giant Victoria water lilies — known to reach an 8-foot expanse — to awe over.
Take a time out and enjoy the view from one of the classic Southern rocking chairs on the visitor’s center porch before cooling off in one of the area’s many alluring natural springs. Float, kayak or canoe in the cool, crisp waters of Alexander, Blue, Ginnie, Ichetucknee, Juniper, Otter, Poe, Salt and Silver Glen Springs or popular local favorite, the K.P. Hole. Picnicking and camping available, too.
Healthy eating options abound in Gainesville. Ranking site Niche named it one of the “2021 Healthiest Places to Live in Florida” by the abundance of farm-to-table options. Farm fresh is not a cliché, with family farms providing fresh fruits — watermelons grow in abundance here — vegetables and more to many of the area’s restaurants.
Mark’s Prime Steakhouse, Alpin Beer Wine’s casual French Bistro, the Floribbean cafe tastes of Cintrón, homemade Southern-style breakfasts at Flying Biscuit, Italian eats at Antonio’s in Micanopy or a full diner menu for any time of the day at the Pink Flamingo in High Springs all prove that healthy, tasty comfort food and delicacies are everywhere in Greater Gainesville.
After an indulgent dinner, it is time to end the day with some incredible live music in this city where history runs deep. Home to Bo Diddley and Tom Petty, Greater Gainesville does not disappoint, with talented acts across genres. Options from grassroots to the 55-member Gainesville Orchestra are endless.
Bo Diddley’s Plaza on a Friday night is full of free concertgoers and a fun vibe. Rock out at the Heartwood Soundstage, where nationally recognized bands often play. Enjoy the classics, orchestral, symphonic, quartets, trios and more at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for Performing Arts. The first-rate fine arts venue offers international ballet, Broadway and theater. It is positioned next to the 40,400-square-foot Harn Museum of Art, home to the works of Claude Monet and presidential portraitist Kehinde Wiley, pottery collections and so much more.
Only two hours up the road, taking the drive to explore Greater Gainesville’s Gator Nation, nature, fine art, museums, Old Florida history, gastronomic and musical pleasures is well worth the drive.
St. Augustine
With more than 42 miles of sandy beaches and enough historical attractions to marvel visitors for days on end, it is no wonder the oldest city in North America is consistently voted a top travel destination.
Its rich Spanish history and architecture are showcased in the Colonial Quarter and towering Castillo de San Marcos, all of which can be explored via the Old Town Trolley or Ripley’s Sightseeing Train. Not only does a ticket provide access to the Old Jail and world famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, but the conveyance offers 20 convenient stops to attractions, restaurants, shopping and galleries to explore at any pace.
Golfers are in luck in the Ancient City. Boasting a myriad of courses for all skill levels and budgets, including the Players Championship course at Sawgrass, the area is sure to satisfy all golfing desires. If coming face to face with prehistoric reptiles or swashbucklers sounds better, enjoy an excursion to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm or Pirate and Treasure Museum. Delve further into history at the Fountain of Youth and drink from the same springs that inspired explorers of all creeds to traverse the high seas in hopes of eternal life.
Round out a fun-filled trip with a majestic sunset cruise or haunted ghost tour. Not just for history lovers but rather full of adventure for all kinds of interests, simply pick the path to fun in St. Augustine.
Space Coast
Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island showcase America’s ambition and determination to get to the moon and beyond.
The place where the nation launches and builds satellites and constructed the infrastructure that has made the International Space Station a celestial reality is open for exploration. At the hub of the human Space Program, visitors can enjoy launch and training simulators, the Hubble Space Telescope theater, the U.S. astronauts Hall of Fame and the revered Rocket Garden that pays homage through relics and tours to the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs that put America on the galactic map.
Do not forget to pay respects at the Space Mirror Memorial, the towering national monument honoring the fallen astronauts who reached for the stars in hopes of giving those down below dreams of the heavens.
After a day in space, get grounded again at the Manatee Sanctuary Park and encounter this endangered species in its natural habitat. Keener to test luck and take a risk? Victory Casino Cruises offer five- to six-hour sails twice a day, seven days a week, where cruisers can enjoy a Las Vegas-style casino experience, replete with slots, table games, the state’s only sports book, five fully stocked bars, ample food and an ocean backdrop.
Sarasota
Sarasota is a beach destination with 35 miles of white sand along the Gulf of Mexico, cultural attractions, nightlife and a district personality. Considered part of Southwest Florida, it is a short, hour drive from St. Petersburg.
Mingle at special events, volleyball tournaments and spring break festivities at Siesta Beach or picnic at family-friendly Lido Beach Park in mid-Lido Key. Caspersen Beach is prime for wildlife sightings, shelling and shark teeth finds, while Brohard Paw Park is perfect for a day with the dogs.
Host to opera, symphony, classical ballet, film festivals, comedians and circus clowns, find cultural respite at the Sarasota Opera House. Spend hours in the world of circus czar John Ringling and his wife, Mable, at Ca d’Zan and The Ringling. This Italianate estate brims with Renaissance-era paintings, the world’s largest circus in miniature, a unique sculpture garden, a circus museum and a historic theatre.
Upscale shopping, eclectic galleries and restaurants are nearby at St. Armands Circle, and the bayfront sanctuary, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, is not far away. Kids can climb through caves here and jump around the jungle while parents enjoy a trek through a lush, tropical oasis.
The diversity of Sarasota does not stop at the dog beach or the opera. Downtown has great places to eat and an active nightlife with cabarets, comedy and local music. “Old” Florida adventures at Myakka River State Park journey through the same wetlands that Native Americans walked over a century ago. Get a new perspective on an airboat ride through Lake Myakka’s alligator-laden waters. Whatever the getaway calls for, Sarasota has it all.
Fort Myers
Submerge into rich historical moments of America before leaning into the grand sandy beaches of this shimmering shoreline city in Southwest Florida.
Fort Myers flaunts history and beauty with a 25,000-square-foot museum, botanical laboratory and giant banyan studded gardens at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates atop the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. The city has roots as home to Calusa Native Americans and a destination of explorer Ponce de Leon.
Today’s adventure-driven visitors reap the riches of Fort Myers Beach, running from north Bowditch Point Park to Lovers Key State Park. The Pier at Fort Myers Beach and Times Square, directly behind the pier, are dotted with surf shops, unique shopping, outdoor dining and a length of sunbathing-worthy waterfront offering volleyball and all the watersports. It is a perfect spot for all family members to relax.
Mound House, a Calusa resting place, showcases the history of 2,000 years ago. Tour the 30-feet high shell burial mound at Mound Key Archeological State Park. Historic downtown Fort Myers brings a different decade to enjoy. The 1920s art deco design, buzzing European curbside dining and the iconic Ford’s Garage restaurant make having dinner a destination event in this city center.
More teaching moments in mind? Plenty of hands-on activities at the IMAG History & Science Center bring guests closer to the Calusa. Tour the IMAG aquarium and wind through weather and nanotechnology, too. Planetary probing, meteorite collections and seven-days-a-week of planetarium shows venture to the stars at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, only nine minutes from the IMAG.
The Manatee Park, butterfly exploration and MLB Spring Training, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, will surely make for some memories in Fort Myers — this gorgeous Gulf of Mexico beachside city.
Orlando
Orlando is on almost everyone’s bucket list. The Theme Park Capital of the World has it all. The thrills of visiting the Wonderful World of Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove are real.
The wondrous world of Orlando, beyond the amusement parks, is unmistakably alive too. More than 100 lakes, nearly 150 beautiful parks, gardens and recreation areas, hundreds of natural and manmade attractions, a thriving downtown, major league sports, international shopping and outlet malls all contribute to Orlando’s other official moniker, The City Beautiful.
See it all from above. Breeze across the skyline in an Orlando Ballon Rides hot air balloon or glide with Aerostat Adventures over tropical landscapes. After touchdown, get moving with rentals from West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades and cruise Florida’s popular 22-acre West Orange Trail on rollerblades or bicycles.
Zip through the Everglades’ headwaters on a Boggy Creek Airboat Adventure and embrace Florida’s original inhabitants. See alligators from land at the 110-acre wildlife preserve, Gator Spot, and seek out the rare leucistic white alligator. Go-karts and arcade games are next door at Fun Spot America’s multi-level go-kart tracks.
Time to check out the unique parks and lakes of Orlando and feed the swans at downtown’s Lake Eola Park. Swan paddleboat rides are available there as well. Get the bait ready — the fish are biting at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, one of Florida’s top fishing spots. Next, grab a book and blanket and refresh under lush trees at Loch Haven Park and then check out the nearby Orlando Museum of Art and Orlando Science Center. The day ends with the best sunset spectating perch at Lake Underhill Park.
Rather go for a walk? Stroll through the charming Thornton Park. It is known for boho boutiques, organic juice bars and stylish eateries.
Amusements and interesting exhibits are everywhere in Orlando. One not to miss is the CITY Unseen, where murals come alive with augmented technology seen with a free phone app. The City Beautiful — it has so much to awe and amaze at.
By Rose Derkay
Want to stay close by and check out the local beaches? Head here for our guide to the Gulf Coast.
