Making the most of your Florida holiday

Combine an action-packed Florida theme-park holiday with relaxing downtime on beach-framed coastlines and idyllic island chains, where street art and designer stores rub shoulders with marine sanctuaries and ancient wildernesses. Here, we share our favourite destinations so you can tailor a memorable trip that’s perfect for you.

Kissimmee

Kissimmee will tick all the boxes for anyone looking to make the most of Central Florida's legendary theme parks without the full-on 24-hour immersion. This sun-drenched lakeside city is known for its impressive selection of holiday homes, more than 30,000 at the last count, earning it the title of the Vacation Home Capital of the World®. These range from sprawling homes large enough for even the most extended families to more intimate but still spacious retreats for smaller clans.

It’s a short drive to all the rides, magic and razzmatazz you could ask for, and when you've had enough, you can come back to your villa sanctuary for a dip in your own private pool, supper how you want it and popcorn-fuelled movie nights. Mix up the pace with some more relaxing days, whether that means strolling around Kissimmee’s characterful downtown streets, touring a quaint Disney-founded small town on two wheels or exploring the area’s lakes and waterways by canoe, kayak or airboat.

St. Pete-Clearwater

An easy two-hour drive from Orlando, neighbours St. Pete and Clearwater have some of America’s best beaches and almost year-round sunshine to match. This wonderfully child-friendly destination is blessed with hotels and holiday rentals – often inches from the sea – to suit all tastes, ages and budgets, so it’s an ideal choice for some downtime after a full-on family theme park experience. Give yourself at least three days to stretch out on the sand, whether you opt for the buzz of the central beaches or the castaway quiet of Egmont Key and other islands.

For the more energetic, the sheltered waters of Tampa Bay could have been made for kayaking and paddleboarding – and you may spot a bottlenose dolphin along the way. Those who prefer to remain on dry land can take their pick from walking tours past St. Pete’s colourful murals, browsing the crafts and produce stalls on the pier and hanging out in one of Central Avenue’s waterfront eateries.

Sarasota

Crystalline sands meet cultural discoveries in Sarasota County. There’s enough here to keep a family or couple blissfully entertained for at least three or four days, with the option of dividing your stay between a hotel on one of the glorious barrier islands and one in the city for an even longer post-parks breather. Downtown Sarasota is known for its rich art scene, from Old Master paintings at flagship museum The Ringling to contemporary works in independent galleries, and there’s a similarly stylish, creative flair to its culinary offerings as well.

Six barrier islands line the 35-mile coastline, each with a distinctive personality; try Longboat Key for luxurious resorts, Lido Key for high-end shopping and Siesta Key for award-winning beaches. For a dose of nature and history, take a gentle canoe trip and canopy walk through the ancient riverine landscapes of Myakka River State Park or ride the trolley bus through Newtown, a city neighbourhood with a fascinating African American heritage.

Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades

There’s a laid-back, grown-up charm to Florida’s Paradise Coast, the furthest from Orlando of our featured areas. It’s well worth the journey though as you’ll find a heady mixture of spellbinding white sands, sophisticated retail therapy and untamed wilderness on the doorstep – so you’ll need at least four nights here to make the most of it all.

Time here is all about slowing down and enjoying the moment. Spend your days dolphin-spotting, bird-watching or chilling out at a resort on one of Marco Island’s pale sand beaches. If you like to stay active, join a tour of the mangroves, head out on a sunset cruise or hit the fairways for a round of golf. Base yourself in seaside Naples for strolls along graceful palm-shaded avenues lined with plush designer boutiques, or better yet, stay longer and enjoy the best of both Marco Island and Naples. This region is also the gateway to the Everglades, an extraordinary three-million-acre subtropical wetland teeming with wildlife, best explored either by kayak or on an exhilarating airboat ride.

The Florida Keys

Curving down towards Cuba from the mainland’s south-eastern corner, the Florida Keys gives you a hefty dose of easygoing charm. Trace your way through this string of coral islands – around 800 of them – along the 113-mile Overseas Highway, one of America’s most celebrated roads and an engineering masterpiece to boot. You could drive its entire length in under four hours, but we recommend taking at least three nights to soak up the vibe, feast on local seafood and enjoy the various sights en route.

One of our favourite stops is Key Largo’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, an underwater reserve whose colourful reefs shelter a dizzying array of marine creatures, where you can snorkel, swim in bath-warm water and laze on the beach. The highway ends in lively Key West, with its buzzing nightlife and literary connections. Escape the crowds on the protected Dry Tortugas, whose private beaches, coral gardens and historic fort are a short ferry ride away.

Best time to go

There’s a reason Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State. While blue skies are never guaranteed, there’s no ‘wrong’ time to visit, though some months are busier, hotter and more humid. There are two seasons: dry, from November to April, and wet, from June to October (though the rainfall is usually heavy but brief). If you’re able to avoid the peak summer holiday period, then March, April, September and October are quieter but still good for spending time at the beach. The coolest months are December and January, where the mild temperatures are ideal for active adventures such as exploring the Everglades.

This feature was created on 3rd September 2024. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of print.