A spring break vacation or a winter warmup trip in Florida is always a good idea! I grew up in Michigan where winters are very cold, and I always craved another vacation to the sunshine state where I could be basking in the sun with palm trees all around me. News flash… now I moved here to Florida and am avoiding a couple years of winter. I visited Florida numerous times during my childhood and teen years and now get to travel around and visit different cities whenever I want to. From my personal experiences, here are the places that I have loved the most as vacation spots in Florida!
Anna Maria Island, Florida
Anna Maria Island is the perfect spot for a vacation! A lot of other people agree though, so it can be busy during common spring break dates. The island is so cute and friendly with incredible beach house rentals. The beaches are clean and relaxing, and there are countless delicious restaurants to visit. Some of my favorite restaurants here are The Sand Bar, The Ugly Grouper, and Rod & Reel Pier. Besides relaxing on the beach, you can play mini-golf, go shopping, get out on the water with kayak or boat rentals, and ride the trolley that takes you around the island. When kayaking in the ocean during my trip, my husband and I were greeted by a sea turtle who swam alongside for a bit. It was a very exciting surprise! We also rode around in a bright green motorized tricycle which was quite funny and memorable.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach is a touristy spot that has plenty of activities that can keep a family entertained. PCB is a popular vacation spot during spring break, so maybe you have been here or maybe you would rather avoid the crowds if you are specifically going at the end of March or beginning of April. Panama City Beach is a popular party spot during spring break, so depending on what you want your trip to be like, this may or may not be the spot for you. If you are ready to party though, you will have plenty of people joining you at the beaches and bars. Pier Park is a fun place to spend some time walking through shops, grabbing an incredible and unique milkshake from The Yard, or grabbing some dinner near the beach. While I visited PCB, fighter jets were flying around and putting on an impressive show, so be sure to check what events are taking place during your trip!
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Not far from Panama City Beach, is Rosemary Beach. This spot is where you get all the Instagram-worthy photos. The town is chic and upscale. There are communities where the architecture makes you feel like you’re in Greece. For these perfect pictures, head to Alys Beach. Fonville Press is a cute coffee shop in the center of this area, and it’s always a good idea to go on a walk with an iced latte in your hand! Rosemary Beach would be the perfect spot to rent bikes and ride around the cute town. One spot where you can rent bikes is called Peddler’s Pavilion. Don’t forget to walk Main Street while you are here. Boutiques and restaurants line this street. Cowgirl Kitchen is a popular and fun restaurant here. If you are looking for a fancier dining experience with water views, consider Pescado Seafood Rooftop Bar & Grill or Havana Beach Bar & Grill Rooftop. This vacation spot sticks out from other cities!
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is said to be the oldest city in the United States. The charm of the Spanish colonial architecture and the fun touristy activities that St. Augustine has to offer makes this city a wonderful vacation spot. I vacationed here for a week when I was younger and have many lovely memories. St. Augustine was the place where I went surfing for the first time. Consider renting surfboards during your vacation and spending a day at the beach. Now, I live near St. Augustine and plan day trips often.
The downtown area in St. Augustine is so special and unique. The cobblestone roads, traditional architecture, fun boutiques, and delicious restaurants make it so you can spend hours here. The downtown area is right next to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument if you want to tour the fort. My favorite restaurant downtown is called River and Fort. I recommend getting a drink here and taking it up to the gorgeous rooftop that overlooks the fort and the water. Their sangria is delicious!
Another fun restaurant in St. Augustine is called The Conch House. I have gone back to this restaurant several times. The food is fresh and amazing! They have a bar that is down the deck on the water too where you can enjoy live music. You will be sure to see many pelicans here, and you may end up sitting under a fun palapa!
Other activities to consider include playing mini-golf at Fiesta Falls Miniature Golf, enjoying a wine tasting experience at San Sebastian Winery, or going on a popular ghost trolley tour. If you find yourself in St. Augustine around December and January, the town hosts Nights of Lights where they have Christmas light displays all over the downtown area. This place is definitely a memorable vacation spot in Florida!
Destin, Florida
Destin, Florida has the clearest and bluest water. It is so beautiful! And the white sand beaches are quite special. This is a great vacation spot where you spend hours and hours at the beach or on the water. Parasailing is a popular activity here to make your vacation iconic! If you need a break from the beach though, you can walk the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, head to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, or find the Destin History and Fishing Museum. My favorite restaurant while visiting Destin was The Back Porch which is right on the beach.
Conclusion
Florida will always be the perfect vacation spot. Not just because of the sunny weather, but because the state has so much to offer! What is your favorite spot in Florida? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by! To find my other blog posts, check out the destinations tab on my website. Cheers to spending time in the sunshine state and making connections around the world.