Discover the parts of the Sunshine State that are lesser known but offer all the delights you’d expect – and plenty more
With its sun-drenched beaches, high-octane theme parks and the chance to spot its famed wildlife, Florida flies high on many a holiday wishlist. But look beyond the rollercoasters, resorts and reptile-rich wetlands and you'll find a very different Sunshine State.
It's one with pastel-hued surf towns oozing Old Florida vibes, glitzy palm-fringed barrier islands with Gilded Age histories, and quirky beach enclaves where surreal art and gastronomy thrive around every corner. Whether it's kayaking through mangrove tunnels, watching a rocket launch from your sun lounger or finding your zen in a secret Japanese garden, Florida's quieter corners offer the chance to get a true sense of America's sunniest state.
There’s also the Historic Cocoa Village, a quaint community on the banks of the Indian River with a distinct Old Florida vibe. Shaded by century-old oak trees, Main Street is lined with Victorian shopfronts and cute clapboard cottages now housing art galleries, antiques emporiums and vinyl shops. It’s also home to the historic Cocoa Beach Playhouse, which hosts Broadway-style musicals.
For a quieter beach stay, head to Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore near Titusville – its pristine beaches banked by natural dunes are great for dolphin spotting. It’s also a prime viewing spot for rocket launches from Cape Canaveral.
To experience the wilder side of Florida, you’ll need to venture inland. Spanning more than 140,000 acres, the protected wetlands in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are home to thousands of species, including loggerhead and green turtles, spotted eagle rays and ruby-throated hummingbirds. Don’t miss Black Point Wildlife Drive, a seven-mile driving route through marshes where you’ll find basking alligators and roseate spoonbills wading in the shallows.
Visit between June and August and see the wetlands shimmering with bioluminescence, a naturally occurring phenomenon when tiny organisms similar to plankton glow when disturbed in the water. You can even hop on an evening kayak tour down the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon to witness these luminous green-blue streaks as you glide through the water.
Alongside its brilliant beaches, St Pete-Clearwater has acres of leafy mangroves attracting a cast of feathered, scaled and finned residents. South of Downtown St Pete is Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, where you can meet Florida’s snappier residents on an Awesome Alligator guided walk. A short hop from Pass-a-Grille Beach and Shell Key is Fort De Soto Park, a chain of five islands where older kids and teens can go kayaking and paddleboarding through mangrove tunnels to spot manatees, bottlenose dolphins and pink roseate spoonbills.
Beyond its beaches, St Pete-Clearwater has a vibrant art scene to dive into, making this a cultured break too. As the Gulf Coast’s creative capital, it comes with a side of surrealism. Opened on the waterfront in 1982, the Dalí Museum, housed in a geodesic glass dome, has the largest collection of Dalí’s work outside of Spain. Floridarama is another big draw. An immersive art-and-tech playground with futuristic neon-lit rooms and interactive installations, it’s like seeing life through a giant kaleidoscope.
And the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Sunsets at Pier 60 is St Pete-Clearwater's nightly fiesta, when street performers, artists and musicians gather on the pier for a sundowner.
Foodie Florida
FAMILY FEASTS
Shrimp and grits, baskets of crab claws and grouper po’boys – no one goes hungry in St Pete-Clearwater. Check out friendly beach joints like Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on St Pete Pier, the legendary Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill on Clearwater Beach, or Mullet’s Fish Camp & Market in South St Pete.
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Shopping at this level can work up an appetite. Luckily, fine dining is an art form in Palm Beach, whether it’s an alfresco lunch at Sant Ambroeus or a supper of French classics at Café Boulud.
For those looking for a pampering spa day, head to The Boca Raton, another sprawling Gilded Age resort in the south of the county. It has the eclectic Sponder Art Gallery, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a mall of designer boutiques. However, the jewel in its crown is Spa Palmera, a vast and opulent wellness sanctuary inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada.
Attracting year-round sunshine and a luxe clientele, it's no surprise that The Palm Beaches is called Florida’s Golf Capital. It features more than 145 courses, including The Breakers' legendary Ocean Course, the oldest 18-hole course still operating on its original site. If golf is not your game, find a different zen at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. Spread across 16 acres, it has six gardens from Japan’s history, including a 12th-century Shinden Garden and the Bonsai Collection, plus koi-filled lakes.
Polo at the Palm Beaches
Winter is polo season in The Palm Beaches, and nearby Wellington styles itself as America’s equestrian capital. Visit the National Polo Center, where you can watch chukkas over a champagne brunch from the grandstand. For serious polo fans, the Grand Champions Polo Club hosts all the major tournaments and draws the sport’s biggest stars and their horses. And don’t miss the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Wellington International. If you want to swing a mallet yourself, local polo schools like Palm Beach Polo School will show you the ropes for the day.
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