Florida
Florida runs on water - the Atlantic on one side, the Gulf on the other, the Everglades threading through the middle, and springs bubbling up from the limestone underneath. Most people know the beaches and the theme parks, but the state has more range than that: Miami operates like a Latin American capital with a design scene and dining culture that stand on their own, the Keys feel closer to the Caribbean than the mainland, and cities like Jacksonville and St. Augustine carry histories that predate most of the eastern seaboard. The weather keeps everything moving year-round, the seafood is as fresh as it gets in the continental US, and from the art deco geometry of South Beach to the mangrove coastline of the Gulf side, Florida covers more ground than any single trip can hold.
Browse top-rated hotels in the area, chosen for their comfort, location, and overall guest experience.
Faena Miami Beach
A theatrical, art-driven property on Collins Avenue that redefined what a Miami Beach hotel could be when it opened in 2016. The lobby features a Damien Hirst woolly mammoth skeleton, the Cathedral is one of the more visually striking event spaces in the country, and the beach and pool scene operates at a level that feels more like a private club than a resort.
The Don CeSar
Known affectionately as “The Pink Palace,” The Don CeSar is an iconic beachfront resort on St. Pete Beach, Florida, blending timeless glamour with contemporary coastal luxury. The Don CeSar is more than a resort—it’s a Florida icon where history, luxury, and the beauty of the Gulf Coast come together.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
This adults only private island resort in the Florida Keys is the epitome of seclusion, tranquility and barefoot luxury. With 30 well-appointed thatched-roof bungalows, guests have an intimate experience where they can disconnect and enjoy the island vibes.
From local traditions to world-class celebrations, here’s what’s worth planning your trip around.
Art Basel Miami Beach
The Americas edition of the world’s premier contemporary art fair transforms Miami Beach every December - over 280 galleries from 38 countries exhibit at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and the satellite fairs, installations, and parties that run alongside it make the entire city a venue for a week.
December
Miami Beach Convention Center and citywide, Miami
Gasparilla Pirate Festival
Tampa’s signature annual event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators as a fully crewed pirate ship “invades” Hillsborough Bay, followed by a massive parade through the city’s Bayshore Boulevard. Running since 1904, it’s one of the largest parades in the US and a surprisingly good window into Tampa’s personality - spirited, slightly ridiculous, and fully committed.
Late January
Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa
Daytona 500
The most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar and the one that opens the season every February at Daytona International Speedway. Whether or not you follow racing, the scale of the event - 101,000 seats, the infield atmosphere, the sheer volume of the cars - makes it one of the more visceral spectator sports experiences in the country.
February
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach
Walt Disney World
Four theme parks, two water parks, and over 25,000 acres make Disney World the most visited vacation destination on the planet. The Magic Kingdom is the icon, but EPCOT’s food and wine scene and Hollywood Studios’ newer attractions have broadened its appeal well beyond families. Even travelers who think they’ve outgrown it tend to find something that pulls them back in.
Everglades National Park
The largest subtropical wilderness in the US - 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and waterways that shelter alligators, manatees, and over 360 species of birds. An airboat ride through the River of Grass is the signature experience, but the kayak trails through the mangrove tunnels offer something quieter and harder to find anywhere else in the country.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
This historic estate located on Biscayne Bay in Miami was built in the early 1900’s in a Mediterranean Revival style. The grounds itself are worth exploring, with lots of tropical plants, fountains, sculptures and winding paths with gorgeous water views nestled in between.
Walt Disney World
Four theme parks, two water parks, and over 25,000 acres make Disney World the most visited vacation destination on the planet. The Magic Kingdom is the icon, but EPCOT’s food and wine scene and Hollywood Studios’ newer attractions have broadened its appeal well beyond families. Even travelers who think they’ve outgrown it tend to find something that pulls them back in.
Everglades National Park
The largest subtropical wilderness in the US - 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and waterways that shelter alligators, manatees, and over 360 species of birds. An airboat ride through the River of Grass is the signature experience, but the kayak trails through the mangrove tunnels offer something quieter and harder to find anywhere else in the country.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
This historic estate located on Biscayne Bay in Miami was built in the early 1900’s in a Mediterranean Revival style. The grounds itself are worth exploring, with lots of tropical plants, fountains, sculptures and winding paths with gorgeous water views nestled in between.
Ariete
Chef Michael Beltran’s Coconut Grove restaurant is one of the more honest representations of what Miami cooking actually tastes like - a menu that pulls from Cuban-American roots, Southern comfort, and fine dining technique without pretending to be anything other than what it is. The croquetas are the entry point; the tasting menu is the argument for staying.
Bern's Steak House
A Tampa institution since 1956, Bern’s is unlike any other steakhouse in the country - a wine cellar holding over half a million bottles, a dessert room upstairs where each table sits in its own private booth, and dry-aged steaks cut to your specification. The experience borders on eccentric, but the steak and the wine program are dead serious.
Būccan
This lively Palm Beach favorite is known for its creative contemporary American cuisine, bold flavors, and shareable small plates. The menu changes seasonally and features crudos, inventive small plates, pastas, and larger entrées designed for sharing.
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