Florida Resident’s Favorite Beaches, Attractions, Resorts and More
Last Updated May 4, 2026
You can’t travel Florida for over 40 years and not have those favorite destinations you return to year after year.
We have assembled our best of Florida destinations in the way of posts we created after the trips.
Many of the locations are updated as we visit and note changes – some for the good and some not so good, but we alert our readers.
Key Takeaways in this Article
- Beaches in Florida We Love
- Florida Cities You Must Visit
- Attractions in Florida We Return to Often
- Florida Scenic Highways You Must Travel
- Favorite Resorts We Stay In Often
Our Favorite Beaches in Florida
Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
We start our favorites list with the best of the best! These beaches are ones we have revisited many times and we never regret it!
Clearwater Beach is where we live! We still enjoy the entire beach community. We visit Key West three or four times a year. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach is our favorite, but when in Key West, any beach will do.
If someone argued that St. George Island had the best beach in Florida, it would be hard to argue. It is remote and uncrowded. Marco Island beaches are pure and stunning. We go back at least annually.
St. George Island Florida Vacation Guide – Perfect Getaway!
Plan your St. George Island, Florida vacation — uncrowded Gulf beaches, a historic lighthouse, and a 9-mile state park on the Forgotten Coast.
Clearwater Beach Visitors Guide – Unwind in Paradise
Last Updated April 18, 2026 Clearwater Beach delivers powder-soft sand, calm Gulf water, a walkable marina-to-pier strip, and nightly sunset vibes. As Tampa Bay locals,
What is the Best Beach in Key West? Comparison!
Short answer: The best overall beach in Key West is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park—clearer water for snorkeling, natural reef rock, shade, and sunsets
Marco Island Vacation – Sand Sea and Serenity
Marco Island is an ideal vacation destination for those seeking a memorable getaway. With its stunning natural beauty, pristine beaches, and abundant recreational activities, Marco
Our Favorite Cities To Visit in Florida
Florida is a huge state. Deciding what to list as our best city in Florida is difficult — we like so many!
We visit Key West most frequently, but love to visit The Villages for their entertainment and as a central base to travel to other attractions in Central Florida.
St. Augustine is decidedly our favorite historical destination – so much to experience.
We can’t forget Tampa for entertainment, Riverwalk and sports.
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Booming Tampa Riverwalk – A Florida Waterfront Experience!
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Best Things To Do in the Florida Keys and Key West
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Our Favorite Attractions in Florida
From Pensacola to Key West is just a few miles short of the distance from Pensacola to Chicago, Illinois. With this kind of distance, there are hundreds of attractions to see.
Picking our 4 best attractions in Florida is daunting.
We must start with Disney World. Our children and grandchildren were raised on visits to this amazing Florida park.
Our next choice would be the Kennedy Space Center, with over 600 acres of exhibits.
Next would be the Florida Aquarium – the best in the Sunshine State.
It’s a close tie between the Naval Air Museum and the Overseas Highway Drive – but we will cover scenic highways next.
Kid-Approved Florida Aquarium in Tampa – 701 Channelside Drive
The Kid-Approved Florida Aquarium in Tampa is a non-profit aquarium located in west central Florida. The Aquarium opened in 1995 and is one of the
Orlando Travel Guide
Orlando is one of those Florida destinations that can be whatever you want it to be. It can be a full theme park vacation, a
What is Pensacola Known For? A Panhandle Gem!
We see a lot of great places to visit in Florida. Many areas have a few attractions and some fun activities. But is you ask,
Where is Space Coast Florida?
The Space Coast Florida is a region located on the east coast of Florida, known for its association with the American space program. It is
What Are Our Best Scenic Drives in Florida
We are constantly amazed at Florida’s diverse flora and fauna. From the springs in north Florida to the most unique ecosystem The Everglades in the south.
So far, our favorite scenic drives include certain long stretches of road and two designated scenic drives that Florida has named.
Florida considers Route 30A in the Panhandle a scenic drive and the Ormond Loop on the East Coast another.
Our favorites are:
Alligators, Art and the Tamiami Trail
A Day Trip to The Everglades Most Florida travelers have heard of the Tamiami Trail (State Route 41) going from Tampa to Miami, Florida. Most
Route 98 in Florida – Backroads Scenic Highway 98
There are many scenic drives in the Sunshine State, but none are more colorful and distinctive than Route 98 in Florida. From waterfront beauty to tree lined forests, it’s a reflection of Florida.
28 Miles of Spectacular Beaches – Scenic Highway 30A
If you have never seen 28 miles of spectacular beaches, you must visit scenic Route 30A in the Florida Panhandle. Unbelievable stretch of road you must see.
Where is Ormond Beach Located in Florida?
Last Updated February 19, 2026 Ormond Beach is located on the east coast of Florida, just north of Daytona Beach. It is part of Volusia
Resident’s Favorite Resorts in Florida
We can’t begin to count the resorts and hotels that we have enjoyed in Florida.
Some stand out because of location, amenities and value.
Seasonally, resorts in manareas can go from $350 per night off-season, to over $1000 per night during peak season or event nights.
Below, we link to the resort and you can choose to link to amenities and availability.
Notes About Our Florida Resort Favorites
This video shows why we love The Equestrian. Christmas time is even better!
Final Thoughts on Our Favorites in Florida
As we disconer new places, new roads, resorts and locations we haven’t visited, out lists may change. We will update our lists frequently.
One thing that won’t change is our passion for Florida travel. We believe our state offers more things to see and do than anywhere in the country.
Coupled with the Sunshine State’s weather, there is no place we would rather wander about!
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