National Parks in Florida
Florida is a massive state and surprisingly only has 11 National Park sites. However, 3 of those are major National Parks. I have visited the parks that are listed in red, but I only linked the parks I’ve reviewed.
- Big Cypress National Preserve
- Biscayne National Park
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
- De Soto National Monument
- Dry Tortugas National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Fort Caroline National Memorial
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
- Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL & AL)
- Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Florida State Parks
I have only been to Wekiwa Springs State Park, but had researched Blue Springs State Park in hopes of visiting it. Unfortunately, I never got the chance but hope to one day (my brother lives in Orlando so going to Florida is constantly on my radar).
Wekiwa Springs (25 minutes North of Orlando) – camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, paddling, horseback riding
Blue Springs (1 hour NE of Orlando) – manatee viewing, camping, hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming, tubing
Silver Springs – (North Central FL) – camping, hiking, paddling, glass bottom boat tours
John Pennekamp Coral Reef (Key Largo) – camping, fishing, swimming, boating, paddling, snorkeling
Bahia Honda State Park (Big Pine Key) – camping, hiking, fishing swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving
Weekend trip ideas in Florida
Florida is huge and with so many tourist attractions and beaches, it is impossible to list all the vacation ideas and locations. In reality, you could make a whole vacation around one beach, one town, or one theme park. I’m only going to mention a few of my favorite places, but this isn’t even all I’ve done.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine is the oldest city in America and there is so much Spanish charm and history to be experienced. It is very walk-able and there are so many amazing places to eat and get coffee. My family and I had an AirBnB on Butler Beach (just 10 minutes south of St. Augustine), so I can’t actually say I’ve been to the beach at St. Augustine. However, we did go in to downtown and explore both days. St. Augustine is an absolute must see city. Of all the places I’ve been it ranks near the top.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is near to my heart for many reasons. One being the beautiful blue water, and the other being the Cocoa Beach Pier. I suggest stopping at Coconuts on the Beach for a bite to eat, it’s right on the water. However, there are many other places to eat as well. I love this little beach town and can’t wait to go back.
Orlando
I had to include Orlando for obvious reasons. If you are a Disney fanatic or theme park lover, Orlando is for you. If you find yourself in Orlando but spending hundreds of dollars on park tickets isn’t in the budget, I highly recommend visiting Disney Springs and Universal’s City Walk. You can still enjoy the idea of the parks but it’s free entry and there are tons of great places to eat or get drinks and snacks. I also recommend checking out the Pulse Memorial and Wekiwa Springs State Park.
Homestead
Homestead is a great place to stay if you want to visit Biscayne or Everglades National Park. It’s also only 45 minutes from Miami, 30 minutes from Key Largo, and 60 minutes from Islamorada. And don’t forget the famous Robert is Here Fruit Stand is in Homestead! It’s really a great option if you want to visit South Florida but don’t want the insane traffic in Miami.
Key West
Key West is a good place to spend a long weekend, but unless you have access to a boat, it might not be worth staying for an extended period of time. Also, it’s a little expensive. It’s definitely walk-able, but only if you pay for parking or try and find street parking. The free parking is scattered and hard to find near the popular Duvall Street, so plan on putting in a few miles by the end of your day.
Despite being expensive and the parking being difficult, it’s cute and fun to experience. The Keys are home to a few famous places like the Ernst Hemmingway house, the Butterfly Conservatory, and the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. Be sure to take a snorkel trip or sunset cruise!
There are resorts and good food to be found in the other Keys. Each Key has something they are famous for like John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo, Robbie’s Marina (Tarpon feeding) in Islamorada, and the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. I drove through the Keys and spent one night in Key West before heading to Dry Tortugas and that was enough for me!
Other cities and beaches of interest
Other popular cities to visit: Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona, Pensacola, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Fort Myers, Panama City
Popular Beaches I recommend, in order: Dry Tortugas, Butler Beach, Cocoa Beach, Canaveral NS, Clearwater
Last updated: April 7, 2023
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