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Year-round sunny weather illuminates Florida's diverse culture and immense natural beauty and makes the Sunshine State prime for vacation. Bounded by the cooling Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico), Florida's over 8,000 miles of coast may bring images of sweltering beach crowds to mind, but many coastal destinations stay crowd-free for your incredible vacation. For pristine beaches, visit Naples or Honeymoon Island.

Dry Tortugas State Park is that iconic Florida postcard, while Marathon is the "key" to the best family vacation around Florida's 800-isle archipelago. The artsy vibe in St. Petersburg matches its sunny personality with downtown murals. From colorful coral reefs to little-known state parks, find a seaside slice of serenity and some of the state's most picturesque places between Jupiter and Juno Beach, or snuggle up to a manatee in Central Florida.

Blue Springs State Park, Orange City

Seeking a unique holiday retreat next winter? Under 40 minutes from Orlando, on the western outskirts of Orange City, Blue Springs State Park can be a very special gift for a nature-loving friend, a romantic escape, or a family bonding experience. The convenient access makes Blue Springs State Park an incredible retreat, even with the littlest ones, who can meet friendly manatees. Away from the bustling malls and festive preparations, feel yourself decompress and compose like the calm giants, which are incredibly cute. Hundreds like to winter here under Florida's winter sun, while the refreshing St. Johns River makes it ideal if coming during the traditional summer season for an atypical vacay.

Open from 8 am until sundown, 365 days a year, you can visit anytime on a breather from the hectic city. A $6 entry fee per vehicle grants access to the 2,600-acre park, which is incredibly beautiful, with diverse flora, crystal springs water, and walking trails. There is camping on-site and tons to explore via walking or cycling, but the showstopper is swimming with the manatees. The St. Johns River Cruise offers manatee and other Florida wildlife sightings, while rhesus macaques, vervet monkeys, and squirrel monkeys feel perfectly at home along the trails here in Central Florida.

Dry Tortugas National Park

This 64,700-acre park is known for coral reefs and turtle sightings, hence the name, named by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Le贸n in 1513. Accessible via a high-speed ferry from Key West, about two hours one way; a seaplane gets you here in some 40 minutes. Dry Tortugas National Park offers a taste of history, group camping, and snorkeling in the cooling Atlantic under Florida's sun. Rung by coral reefs, Garden Key boasts the imposing Fort Jefferson, circa 19th century, ferry dock, campground, and visitors center. Individual sites are first-come, first-serve, and you must arrive via ferry or by private boat and BYO tent. Since some 99 percent of the park is submerged, you will be exploring underwater amid massive coral heads with colorful reef life as your companions and rental gear is included in the ferry ticket.

Established in 1992, the national park protects a seven-key archipelago off Florida's southwestern coast. You can explore beyond Garden Key only on a charter or personal boat with a permit. The waters teem with parrotfish, angelfish, and moray eels, plus cultural artifacts, reef squid, and nurse sharks. Explore the fort on your own or join a 45-minute guided tour, and walking or swimming along the fort鈥檚 moat wall is allowed. Find bathrooms on the docked ferries but no other amenities, so bring food and drinks for beach picnics. After 200 bird species migrate each spring, the sea turtles make a comeback in the summer to bury eggs along sugar-white beaches. The park is open year-round, while the sandbar between Garden Key and Bush Key, a free walkway, closes during the tern nesting season, roughly March through September.

Dunedin and Honeymoon Island State Park

Located at the western end of the Dunedin Causeway, this all-consuming destination encompasses a fun-loving town and one of Florida's most enchanting state parks. The serene Honeymoon Island State Park boasts an over-4-mile pristine beach area with a pet-friendly section, great for swimming, paddling, and lounging along the soft sands. Enjoy fishing and shelling to keep the whole family active on a hunt for the most unique souvenir. The two snack bars also rent beach umbrellas and chairs, plus kayaks and bicycles. Stretch your legs on the three-mile Osprey trail, through one of the state's last remaining virgin slash pine forests, with wildlife like horned owls, osprey, and nesting eagles.

The Rotary Centennial Nature Center offers insights into the surrounding beauty, while accommodations include bike rentals so you can get out and explore. Many enjoy the 75-mile Pinellas Trail on a quick cycle north to Tarpon Springs or a longer pedal south to St. Petersburg.

The compact downtown is a treasure trove to explore in the sea breeze, with historical buildings, boutiques, and restaurants, plus great breweries in the area. The waterfront Dunedin Downtown Market offers picnic-worthy goods, right next to your dining spot, the elegant Bon App茅tit Restaurant & Bar. Don't miss the Dunedin Fine Art Center with galleries, a gift shop, and a cafe.

Jupiter and Juno Beach Area

Jupiter, a small beachside town on Florida's East Coast, boasts gorgeous beaches, golf courses, and nature reserves. Five miles south is Juno Beach. The whole area, which is lined by oceanfront parks, feels like a vacationland with some of the state's most picturesque places. Blowing Rock Preserve is a beachfront outcrop of Anastasia limestone, while the sandy Jupiter Inlet is great for a swim, a walk, or lounging. Enjoy a cookout at the park and stop by the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Inc. for live entertainment. Juno Beach Park is equipped with amenities and picnic tables. Stretch your legs along the spectacular 990-foot Juno Beach Pier into the ocean, great for saltwater fishing and romantic strolls. Guanabanas Restaurant serves seafood with a tiki bar over the Loxahatchee River.

To the other side of the Intracoastal Waterway, the rust-colored Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse from 1860 features an illustrative museum. The serene 12-acre Pelican Lake draws picnickers. Exploring south, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park offers soft sands and phenomenal ocean vistas, while the 576-acre Juno Dunes Natural Area boasts the highest natural point in Palm Beach County. Get the views via miles of trails, floating docks, and an observation platform for a memorable photoshoot of your vacation. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center delights families with an up-close look at these wise yet tad awkward creatures, plus guided turtle walks in the summer and hatchling releases.

Marathon

Marathon, at "the heart of the Florida Keys," gets you in on the wonders of the keys. It offers some of the best activities and attractions, with accommodations, packages, and discounts for families. So bring the young, old, and four-legged, or escape with your significant other. If you are an adventurous couple that enjoys snorkeling and diving, find pockets of intimacy replete in the sprawling region. You can explore the town on a bike with a rental and kayak around the rugged Keys shores in the crystal-clear waters. Sombrero Beach offers swimming, picnics, and volleyball, plus loggerhead turtle nesting from April to October. Make vibrant memories via see-through bottom kayaking on a tour with your little ones.

Foregoing hotels and resorts, you can explore and camp on a budget east of town at Curry Hammock State Park, where you can fish and kayak amid wetlands, seagrass beds, and hiking trails. Stop by the Dolphin Research Center for a swim with the dolphins. The kids enjoy touring the Turtle Hospital, where the injured sea turtles are rehabilitated and released back into the sea, plus feeding the resident ones. Dine old-school at Castaway Waterfront Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The annual Marathon Seafood Festival is a great reason to visit around March 8th and 9th. Celebrating the local fishing industry with live music and family-friendly activities, grab themed decor at Port Nautical Gifts.

Naples

Naples exudes romanticism and relaxation in a veil of luxury. This larger town of just under 20,000 is exemplary of Old Florida charm. A real gem on the state's western coast called the Paradise Coast, for its white-sanded beaches, Naples is ideal for foodies, beach lovers, and shopaholics. From sightseeing flora and fauna through all kinds of nature-focused attractions to sprawling golf courses, upscale shopping, and dining, Naples may not be on everyone's budget. For an indulgent long weekend or a weeklong vacation, you can browse or window shop along Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.

This elegant and romantic city is sure to make a statement or a memorable mini-vacay for a close group, with no other ambiance quite like it in the state. Families enjoy the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, while Artis encompasses the Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic. Bring your special someone to the sensual Naples Botanical Garden, and take in the sunset from the serene Clam Pass Park, with a beach boardwalk. It doesn't feel so shabby lounging at the public Lowdermilk Park with a beach, outdoor showers, a concession stand, volleyball courts, and a gazebo.

St. Petersburg

Holding the Guinness 麻豆AV Record for most consecutive sunny days, making your way over the Pinellas Peninsula on Tampa Bay is vacation-worthy for many reasons. Many come for the renowned international dining, while the Dal铆 Museum fazes art fans with over 2,400 pieces by surrealist Salvador Dal铆. The Sunshine City boasts one of the state's biggest art scenes, including the Monet Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts. More than just ritzy, it is a perfect vacation regardless of your group's composition, with walkable neighborhoods featuring eye-catching murals. Families enjoy the Sunken Gardens, the city's oldest living museum, while the local nooks offer a more intimate feel, which is one of the best ways to get the beat of the city anyway.

You can spend days lounging along the beach at St. Pete Beach, a small town south with a bridge connection to the barrier island. Stretch your legs along the seven miles of waterfront parks, and choose activities that speak to you, like a memorable snorkeling trip, the Island Ferry Eco Tour, or Maximo Park, which attracts families with a playground, boat ramps, and Indian midden site. The infamous Fort De Soto Park is just 17 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg, spread over multiple connected islands, with dog-friendly beaches, camping, trails, and a historic fort. Home to around 260,000 and a large LGBTQ+ community, the family-friendly city hosts one of the largest Pride events in the nation during the summer, so there is truly something for everyone.

So what makes these hidden gems incredible vacation spots? Well, it must be the Florida sun that shines equally on big cities, small towns, and nature corners alike. Whether you are lounging downtown in Naples or snorkeling with colorful sea life around Dry Tortugas, it lights up mural-strewn downtowns and warms up islands stranded amidst the Atlantic.

The Sunshine State captivates year-round. While there is no definitive guide to the best of the state's endless treasures, these seven reveal a unique slice of Florida. Escape with your loved one, kids, or on a solo trip to a sunny destination with unforgettable adventures and lifetime memories.