12 Most Scenic Small Towns in Florida
Get ready to blossom with youthful vigor as you travel through the most scenic small towns in Florida. Go beyond the tourist-heavy theme parks like Disney World, past the Florida Everglades and Cape Canaveral, and never mind the fun-filled beaches and landscapes of Jacksonville and Miami. Along the shorelines and keys and barrier islands of Florida are some of the best places to capture fantastic moments and experiences. And while seeing for yourself why Florida is such a bountiful, tropical peninsula, savor that famous Florida citrus in a land of sweet delights.
Mount Dora
Go exploring in the adventure-promising town of Mount Dora. Only about 30 miles from Orlando, Mount Dora is a splendid, lakeside retreat that earned its name from the serene Lake Dora. The lake is a soothing spot for those who wish to see the unique attractions of Palm Island Park and the Dora Canal. Another excellent park is Grantham Point Park, where the iconic and historic Mount Dora Lighthouse can be appreciated for being one of the few navigation aids in Florida.
The well-preserved Donnelly House gives visitors a glimpse of the past, while the contemporary artworks at the Modernism Museum Mount Dora mirror the beauty of Mount Dora’s present. Because the town is aptly named “Festival City,” one can experience 30 or so festivals in Mount Dora, such as the Mount Dora Arts Festival every first week of February and the Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival also in February. If you ever get weary and worn from all the energy Florida is known for, give yourself a break at the historic Lakeside Inn.
Dunedin
The Scottish-themed town of Dunedin lounges comfortably on Florida’s Gulf Coast. As a vacationer’s idyllic destination, visitors can be enthralled and amazed by the Honeymoon Island State Park and the Caladesi Island State Park. In those two islands linked by the Dunedin Causeway—the causeway is an excellent spot for photographing the St. Joseph Sound—one can soak in the pristine beaches, journey through awesome pine trees, and gaze at fleet-winged ospreys and other unique wildlife.
For people who prefer the attractions on the mainland, Hammock Park is home to a menagerie of owls, woodpeckers, and butterflies. Travelers can engage in biking and running activities on the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, which winds and weaves all the way from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. Let the Scottish hospitality of Dunedin take you on a merry tour while staying in fine lodgings like Fenway Hotel.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine, dubbed the “Nation’s Oldest City” or Ancient City, is the oldest continuously inhabited, European-themed settlement in the US. The town was founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1565, and among the remnants of the colonial past is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a gilded fortress guarding the Matanzas River. There is also Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, an area embodying the livelihood and etiquette of the 16th-century, colonial citizens of the Spanish Empire.
Elsewhere, the site of Fort Mose endures as the first legally sanctioned, free African-American settlement in America. In addition, the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum and Freedom Trail memorializes the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. To venture more into the past, head out to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, or go straight to several other locations like the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Anastasia State Park, and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Only about 40 miles from Jacksonville, uncover more of what the Ancient City of St. Augustine has to hide after booking a room at Flagler Inn, Marion Motor Lodge, or Oceanview Lodge.
Sanibel
Sanibel is a joyous, vivacious town on Sanibel Island. Only 20 miles away from Fort Myers, people flock to this luxurious island to experience the mangrove wilderness of the JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Seagoers and marine wildlife enthusiasts also enjoy the barrier island ecosystems of Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve. Although Hurricane Ian, one of the worst natural disasters in the US, destroyed some of the historic landmarks in Sanibel, a handful remain or have been renovated and repaired.
The Sanibel Lighthouse, for example, continues to guide ships to the harbor. The Causeway Islands Park also opened its repaired attractions to a multitude of old and new visitors. If you want to see gorgeous seashells, head to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. If you want to experience the local festivities, do not miss the 50th Anniversary of Sanibel’s incorporation on November 5, 2024. To sleep easily, the Tarpon Tale Inn and Sanibel Island Beach Resort are among many establishments for you to enjoy.
Venice
Though not as watery as Venice in Italy, the bubbly town of Venice in Florida is sure to make a splash in your trip. With its location on the Gulf Coast and 80-mile proximity to Dunedin, Venice is renowned for its offshore coral reefs at Venice Beach, a certified Blue Wave Beach (meaning it is both environmentally unpolluted and protected). There are a number of fossilized, prehistoric shark teeth at Caspersen Beach that visitors can still chance upon, while Oscar Scherer State Park shelters the famous Florida scrub jays.
Although fishing is prohibited in certain locations, the Venice Fishing Pier allows fishers to conduct fun fishing activities. The Intracoastal Waterway in the Venetian Waterway Park is riddled with multi-use trails and biking routes. Other local attractions include Centennial Park, which boasts an interactive fountain, and the Monty Andrews Arboretum at West Blalock Park, which is a local habitat for Florida’s flora. Seek out comfort and relaxation at the Inn at the Beach or Island Sun Inn & Suites.
Vero Beach
At about the midway point between the city of Miami and St. Augustine, Vero Beach is the perfect destination for beachgoers. The Indian River Lagoon allows travelers to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean’s sceneries, and South Beach Park has wide, sandy beaches perfect for volleyball and other sand sports. Vero Beach has been a fitting spot for sports training and exercises. Historic Dodgertown embodies that by being the former spring training location of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Other historical landmarks include the McLarty Treasure Museum, situated on the site of a 1715 Spanish shipwreck.
There is also the Vero Beach Museum of Art, which showcases the beauty of both the town and its neighbors, Fellsmere and Sebastian. Elsewhere the Riverside Theater is Florida’s largest professional non-profit theater, and it hosts many dramatic performances. At the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, one can admire the local pelicans swooping around. And in fine lodgings like the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel, The Historic Driftwood Resort, and Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, you will not feel stressed out in Vero Beach.
Islamorada
There are many doors of opportunity in Florida, and Islamorada happens to give people access to the six beautiful islands of the Florida Keys (Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, and the offshore islands of Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key). Each key opens up to numerous locations and sites for snorkeling opportunities, beaches, and other vibrant spots. Islamorada, specifically, sits between Everglades National Park and the Florida Strait. As the sportfishing capital of the world, Islamorada gives people a chance to reel in the most hardy and exciting fish in the sea.
Nearby, the Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park protects a tropical forest bountiful in biodiversity. Visitors can enjoy memorable encounters with dolphins at the Theater of the Sea. Historic ruins from the 1800s abound at the Indian Key Historic State Park, while a 16th-century treasure chest lies open in the History of Diving Museum. Because Islamorada is a premier resort village in Florida, the Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Hadley House Resort, and Islander Resort promote impeccable services to one and all.
DeFuniak Springs
Travelers across Florida can find quietude and simplicity in the town of DeFuniak Springs, a town only two hours away from Tallahassee. DeFuniak Springs earned its name from the splendid and opulent Lake DeFuniak, a spring-fed body of water creating scenic and panoramic landscapes in its surroundings. As the name also implies, a number of relaxing springs can be savored at Morrison Springs County Park.
Even though DeFuniak Springs appears ordinary and unassuming initially, it is a town of stellar delights and even a handful of grand historic landmarks. For example, the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood is a popular Victorian campus/resort. The grand building beckons visitors with the annual Florida Chautauqua Assembly since its development from 1885 to 1927. To appreciate the town’s past, one can be fascinated by the cultural artifacts of the region at the Walton County Heritage. For those wishing to spend a longer time in Defuniak Springs, remember to first find accommodations at the Hotel DeFuniak or Sunbright Inn.
Micanopy
Stand beneath the cool, beautiful canopies of Micanopy, a sublime town vivacious with nature’s beauty. Only 12 miles from Gainesville, the town was named after the legendary Seminole Native American chieftain, Micanopy. Every year, the town celebrates the Fall Harvest Festival with traditional crafts and local music to honor the townsfolks’ ancestors. Wherever you go, you are bound to stumble upon one of the many lakes in Micanopy, such as Lake Levy, Lake Tuscawilla, Lake Ledwith, Lake Lochloosa, or Lake Orange.
You might also spot herds of bison roaming freely and wildly at the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and you can get a better chance to see wild horses from atop a 50-foot-high observation tower. Should you wish to refresh and recharge, the town’s oldest inn, the Herlong Mansion, continues to accommodate outsiders and locals alike.
Crystal River
Let your weariness and worries flow down the shining Crystal River, a town sparkling with coastal majesty and some of Florida’s most elegant parks. King’s Bay spews with mineral-rich spring water, especially at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, where herds of manatees gather and play. The nearby Three Sisters Springs Wildlife Refuge is riddled with boardwalks that allow wonderful views of the marine mammals and healthy springs of Crystal River. In addition, visitors can boat along the many tributaries and lagoons of the Crystal River Preserve State Park.
You might be interested in biking at the Withlacoochee State Trial or fishing at the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes in Inverness. For those desiring the images of history, the Crystal River Archaeological State Park contains abandoned settlements and ceremonial mounds of pre-Columbian Native American cultures. For those who wish to rest up, the Retreat at Crystal Manatee, Paddletail Lodge, and Kings Bay Lodge are some of the many establishments you can refresh in Crystal River.
Cedar Key
The spirited town of Cedar Key is another means to experience new and intriguing adventures in Florida. Like the Florida Keys, Cedar Key has many barrier islands and smaller keys in the Gulf of Mexico perfect for beachside fun. The town got its name from a 1542 Spanish map labeling the cedar-filled area “Las Islas Sabines” or “The Cedar Islands.” The Cedar Key Museum State Park exhibits the many Spanish artifacts from the 1920s, while also sporting a few excellent nature trails for hikers to enjoy. The Cedar Key Historical Museum, on the other hand, showcases American Civil War memorabilia when Cedar Key was a vital port of commerce.
Today, Cedar Key is one of the highest producers of farm-raised clams and Florida oysters in the entire US. Most people come to Cedar Key to experience several festivals, such as the “Old Florida Celebration of the Arts” in April, the October Seafood Festival, a Pirate Festival, and the Stargazing Party in February. If you need a place to stay, the Faraway Inn, Cedar Key Inn, and Pirate Cove Coastal Cottages have the appropriate accommodations for you.
Anna Maria Island
Like a spear shaft aimed and slicing the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island is a scenic sliver of land parallel to St. Petersburg across Tampa Bay. Not many recognize the cinematic significance of Anna Maria Island, but in 1948, the barrier island was the site of On an Island with You. Long before Anna Maria Island was famous for its cinematic setting, it was also where renowned pirate Jean LaFitte was shipwrecked in 1821, and where the skeletal remains of Civil War Navy soldiers were uncovered between 1893 to 1940.
Hundreds of years later leading to the present, Anna Maria Island beckons with the splendid shorelines of Manatee Beach Park, Bean Point Beach, Coquina Baywalk, and Cortez Beach. Furthermore, Leffis Key, so named after the pirate Jean LaFitte, contains numerous photo-worthy sceneries for you to capture. Even the Robinson Preserve maintains a number of flora and fauna for your interest. No matter the exploration or location, you ought to rest up at the Bali Hai Beach Resort or Anna Maria Beach Resort.
In a state stemming from the Spanish word Pascua Florida, meaning “Flowery Easter,” you will blossom with energy and life while enjoying the unique attractions and cultures of Florida’s most scenic small towns. In coastal towns like Sanibel, St. Augustine, and Islamorada, you will feel the bracing winds and waters of either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. In cultural festive locations like Anna Maria Island and Dunedin, you will get a chance to experience the party-like atmosphere and energy Florida is renowned for. More wondrous locations and attractions abound in the alligator-friendly state where Gatorade was made. Venture into the most scenic small towns in Florida for the subtropical feel.
