State Guide

Florida is a very long state. If you don't trust me, try driving from Key West through the Panhandle in one trip and let's see how you fare. Because of the size of Florida, I've suggested some itineraries below that will break the state up and allow you to appreciate most of what it has to offer.

Doing Margaritaville to Miami -- Start out in Key West, laze about channeling your best Buffet or Hemingway, and then rent a car, explore the Florida Keys, and take the scenic -- er, the only -- route up to Miami, where you can take all that relaxation and throw it out the window as you party on South Beach like a hotel heir or heiress.

Gliding in the 'Glades -- A day trip to the River of Grass is a must for anyone visiting South Florida. Hop on an airboat and cruise through the saw grass, watch alligator wrestling, douse yourself in bug spray, and appreciate this unfettered natural ambience -- a rarity in these parts.

Digging in the Gold Coast & Shelling on the West -- Fort Lauderdale is no longer spring-break central, what with its tony shopping areas and yacht-laden Intracoastal Waterway. Explore the area, catch some rays, and take the scenic A1A oceanfront route all the way up to Palm Beach, where the Great Gatsby lives on -- only his name is now Donald Trump. After marveling at the zillion-dollar manses, go west to the equally chichi other coast's Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva, whose white-sand beaches are treasure troves of spectacular shells.

Escaping the Mousetrap & the Busch to Serene Sarasota -- If it's a must on your agenda and you have to hit Disney or Busch Gardens, wind down afterwards in the Sarasota area, perhaps in the old beach towns of Anna Maria Island, swank Longboat Key, or arty Lido Key.

Discovering fast Cars & the Fountain of Youth -- Daytona Beach is NASCAR central, so after visiting the "world's most famous beach" and checking out the Daytona International Speedway, where speeding is a way of life, head over to America's oldest city: St. Augustine, where it's rumored that you can drink from the fountain of youth. En route, see how much you'll need to drink with a visit to Cassadaga, a century-old town composed completely of psychic mediums.

Frying in the Panhandle -- Don't miss Jacksonville, home to the 2005 Super Bowl, and definitely hit a few rounds of golf on Amelia Island. Then head across the Panhandle into Pensacola, where old Victorian mansions sit amidst bars (namely the Flora-Bama Lounge, which suffered damage in the 2004 hurricanes but has survived with the best of 'em) whose main attractions are mullet tosses and beer-drinking contests. A paradox of pleasures, to say the least.

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State Guide

Florida Tourism: Suggested Itineraries

Suggested Itineraries

Florida Travel & Vacation Deals

Florida Travel Deals