Last Updated on November 18, 2022
Many of us are craving a chance to travel again! If you are fortunate enough to live in Florida (or be within driving distance of the Sunshine State), we wanted to recommend a few of our favorite Authentic Florida escapes or as we like to refer to them: Florida Staycations!
A “staycation” is simply a trip where you get away but remain close to home. Florida is a state where you can take advantage of all the glorious natural resources and varieties of adventures any time of the year. Florida’s State and National Parks are go-to destinations for fun and relaxation … the ultimate Florida escapes. Most of Florida’s parks remain undiscovered and underutilized, yet filled with tremendous beauty, adventures, and new discoveries.
If you are looking for serenity and relaxation, you definitely will find it. You just have to know what you want to do and how far you are willing to travel.
Florida escapes come in many flavors. If you’re feeling the need for a Caribbean vacation, head to the turquoise waters, blue skies, and colorful coral reefs of the Florida Keys for the underwater marine sanctuaries and tropical parks. If you need to cool down and pack in some family fun, head to any of Florida’s natural water parks – refreshing springs and rivers. If you want a romantic beach vacation, look for lesser-known island hideaways. If you want a more vigorous natural getaway, look for the parks that offer adventurous hiking, biking, and kayaking fun – and anything in between. If you are feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start, we hope we can offer some inspirational travel suggestions.
What’s the best part of a Florida staycation? The price! Entrance to most Florida State and national parks will cost you less than $10 – and that’s usually per carload, not an individual ticket price. How many places can you go for that price? This is one of the many reasons Florida escapes are so popular.
For accommodations, you can choose to stay in a park or find lodging nearby or outside the park. It’s amazing how many offerings are within the parks. You’ll find everything from campsites to ultra-deluxe cabins and even a few lodges.
When planning your Florida escape, keep in mind there are approximately 11 National Parks and 160 State Parks in Florida, plus a number of preservation and recreation areas, so you might want to do a little advance planning. The State of Florida has divided its parks into five Districts – there are the northwest, northeast, central, southwest, and southeast regions – and they all feature a unique Florida experience.
Northwest Florida
Beginning with northwest Florida, we are huge fans of the parks south of Tallahassee. If you haven’t been to Wakulla Springs State Park, don’t miss its translucent blue spring and the wild Wakulla River with its Tarzan-like riverboat cruise. Further south, try the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, with spectacular views from the crystal white sand dunes. Add to that the pristine St. George Island State Park near Apalachicola. Plus two of our all-time favorite destinations are St. Vincent and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuges, both of which are on Authentic Florida’s “bucket” list.
North Central & Northeast Florida
Some northeast favorites are the Suwannee River State Park or the Ichetucknee Springs State Park, a legendary tubing river and University of Florida “rite of passage.” One of the sweetest and best state parks is Marjorie Kinnan Rawling’s historical home where the famed author wrote The Yearling. If you haven’t been to Florida’s Nature Coast, don’t miss the Crystal River Preserve and the Homosassa Springs State Park.
Central Florida
The Central Florida region is one of our personal favorites for family fun and Florida staycations. The Ocala National Forest is hard to beat and there is no better kayak trip than a ride down the Juniper Springs Run. On the eastern edge of the forest, is the scenic Blue Spring State Park. (It’s always worth a stop but if you’re there during the winter, you’ll see a huge concentration of manatees.) Going south from there, stop at the Wekiva Springs, the Lower Wekiva River, and Rock Springs River Preserve State Parks, and you’ll have covered some of our state’s finest. Head toward the east coast and you will find another authentic Florida reader favorite, Tomoka State Park at Ormond Beach.
West Central & Southwest Florida
Crossing back to the Gulf side and heading south, there are plenty of parks from which to choose. If you want authentic beaches, head to the Caladesi State Park, north of Clearwater, or Don Pedro and Stump Pass Beach State Parks south of Sarasota. For one of our all-time favorites, head to Cayo Costa State Park near Sanibel Island – accessible only by boat, it is a real Florida island with a pristine beach. If you are ready to get cool on a river, try unplugging on the scenic Hillsborough River near Tampa (Sargeant Memorial Park is a good starting point), or the Estero River (while taking in the Koreshan State Park) near Fort Myers. The aptly named Peace River flows through four counties as it meanders to Charlotte Harbor. Arcadia is a good place to gain access to the Peace River.
Be sure that Everglades National Park is on your Florida staycation list, but plan a fall or winter trip for maximum wildlife viewing, not to mention more comfortable temperatures. Nearby, check out the Fakahatchee Strand State Park (keep an eye out for Florida panthers in the wild), and take in a swamp walk at the Big Cypress Preserve with famed photographer Clyde Butcher who has a unique gallery near Ochopee.
Summer Bonus
Summer is the best time to visit Florida’s east coast to see the nesting turtles between New Smyrna Beach and Boca Raton. Book a Florida Sea Turtle Walk at the Archie Carr National Wildlife Preserve, Canaveral National Seashore, Sebastian Inlet State Park, or John Lloyd and John D. MacArthur State Parks. Or if you need tropical island time, head to the Florida Keys and take in the John Pennekamp State Park to explore the underwater reef, or enjoy the outstanding island parks of Indian, Lignumvitae, and Long Keys, or one of the best, Bahia Honda State Park.
Authentic Florida staycations are both easy and affordable. No airport travel, no lines, and no fuss. You don’t need a lot of planning, just a desire to seek authentic Florida at its best. Isn’t it time to get away?