Lets face it, Orlando is magical. I mean it is the home of Disney. My family and I frequently visit Orlando and its always a great time. However, we found other parts of Florida that we love just as much if not even more. Check out this list to see 5 other must visits in the sunny state.
1. Seaside. This beach town is filled with character and charm. We rented a house that came with a gulf cart and loved driving it to the beach, ice cream shop, dinner, etc each day. Their beaches are amazing. I am still dreaming of the white sand and pierce blue water. You can find more details about this beautiful gem in my blog post here!
2. Indian Rocks Beach. This place really holds a piece of my heart. This was one of my favorite vacations with my family. This beach town is more laid back than other beach towns in Florida. The house we rented was just a block away from the beach and I loved how every one came out each evening to walk, scooter and ride bikes to the beach and catch the sunset. You can spend the day at Splash Harbour Water Park, rent a boat, make a visit to the Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve or the Indian Rocks Historical Museum. There are several parks and great food (no need to worry about the same ole chain restaurants). Our favorite place we ate from was actually in Largo, about 10-15 minutes away. It was a seafood spot called Grant’s Crabs and Seafood, a must try! You are close enough to other places like Dunedin, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, which I loved. We were able to go to the Aquarium in Clearwater and spend the evening there and be back to our rental in 30 minutes.
3. Sarasota. This place was never on my list. I came across an article that was naming Siesta Keys Beach, Sarasota one of America’s best beaches and it immediately became a must visit. It’s #2 for the US and #9 in the world. I loveeeeee visiting beach towns and great beaches so I was excited to check it out. It did not disappoint. The water and sand will make you feel like you were in middle of the tropics. Their sand is 99% quartz, most of which comes from the Appalachian Mountains!!! I mean seriously how cool. Outside of their amazing beach, there is plenty to do and sites to see. Check out the Ringling Museum, do some shopping and eating at St. Armands Circle (then walk to Lido beach and catch the sunset), make a stop to the botanical gardens, or hang out with the flamingos at Sarasota Jungle Gardens. They also have an awesome farmers market on Saturdays that will amaze you.
4. Tampa. We love vacationing in Tampa. Not only is there always something to do, it’s close to so many other great areas. You can beat the heat at Adventure Island or catch a vibe at Sparkman Wharf. Make sure to take a stroll or ride through BayShore Blvd. You will see so many beautiful houses and a gorgeous waterfront. You also would want to check out the St. Petersburg beaches and do some shopping downtown while you are there. There is also the infamous Don Caesar Hotel to check out. Don’t forget to exlore Ybor City without the kids one evening.
5. St. Augustine. Is there any place more beautiful than the historic St. Augustine? I really don’t think so. Taking a tour with Old Town Trolley tours should be your first stop. This way you can see all of the beautiful landmarks and make stops along the way. You definitely want to make a stop to St. George’s street for shopping, food and entertainment. The beautiful St. Augustine Beach might be my favorite!! It was so quiet, peaceful and clean. We grabbed a delicious late dinner from Mango Mangos right on the beach. I really love this city and can’t wait to go back!!
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