2025's 10 Best Small Towns To Visit In Florida
While many people associate these upcoming months with pumpkin patches and a chill breeze, Florida is the perfect escape if you’re not ready to let go of the sunshine and sand. For many other states, summer is already in our rearview, but Florida is still buzzing with activity for the remainder of 2025. With no end in sight to their gorgeous weather, these Sunshine State towns still have plenty to offer, from seafood festivals and craft fairs to beach days and boat cruises. If you want to make the most out of the rest of your 2025, these are the ten best small towns to visit in Florida.
Panama City Beach
As October approaches in Florida, towns like Panama City Beach come to life with exciting Oktoberfest traditions and festivities. On October 3rd to 5th, 2025, this charming coastal town will spotlight outdoor beer gardens and traditional German food pairings like brats and sauerkraut. Coupled with stein-hoisting competitions, artisan vendors, and live entertainment from bands like The Bräts, this Aaron Bessant Park celebration has something for everyone.
Outside the festivities, Panama City Beach is a Gulf Coast paradise. The town has nearly 27 miles of sugar-sand shores, including those at Camp Helen State Park and St. Andrews State Park. At the latter, guests can also board a Shell Island Ferry to the beautiful Shell Island barrier island for even more beachy fun. Home to seven miles of undeveloped oceanfront, beachgoers can snorkel, dolphin watch, and enjoy unobstructed views of the Gulf and St. Andrew Bay.
Vero Beach
On October 18th to 19th, 2025, Vero Beach will also celebrate Oktoberfest with “The Biggest Party on the Treasure & Space Coast.” Located at the Indian River County Fairgrounds, the festival will feature a 15,000-square-foot beer garden and a 125-booth Vendor Village, offering something for the whole family. Much like Panama City Beach, guests can also enjoy a range of live music and delicious German bites scattered throughout the fairgrounds.
For fun in the sun and sand, Vero Beach boasts a treasure trove of Atlantic-facing barrier island beaches. Among its 26-mile oceanfront, Golden Sands Park is a preferred spot for families, with lifeguards on duty from around 9 am to 5 pm. Alternatively, Treasure Shores Park is unguarded and less crowded, offering a more laid-back atmosphere. Afterward, back on the mainland, outdoor bliss extends to the McKee Botanical Garden. The lush and stunning junglescape features over 10,000 plants, including rare botanical collections and a magical Children’s Garden.
Micanopy
Although most don’t usually associate the Sunshine State with traditional autumn festivities, cute and cozy towns like Micanopy bring the season to life all the same. On November 1st and 2nd, 2025, the 50th Micanopy Fall Festival will celebrate the season with live musicians, 200 arts and crafts vendors, and “an old-time auction.” Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy’s historic main street, will be completely blocked off from traffic, allowing pedestrians to peruse and shop the charming stretch in peace.
Whether visiting Micanopy during or outside the festival dates, Cholokka Boulevard is worth exploring in its own right. Lined with moss-cloaked oaks and 19th-century storefronts, the frozen-in-time main street is rich with Old Florida charms. Sample spots like the Old Florida Cafe before hunting for treasures at the countless antique shops, from Delectable Collectibles to the Micanopy Trading Outpost.
Mount Dora
Art lovers and antique hunters can also consider a trip to Mount Dora, a spirited “Festival City” celebrating both in 2025. From October 25th to 26th, the 40th Annual Mount Dora Craft Fair will fill downtown with over 350 crafters and vendors. Later, on November 15th to 17th, antique lovers can also visit Mount Dora for the Renninger's Antique Extravaganza, which hosts over 800 dealers and vendors at the Renninger's Vintage Antique Center.
When you need a break from the downtown crowds and shopping throngs, Lake Dora is an inviting escape. The namesake lake can be enjoyed at Grantham Park or explored on a Narrated Eco-Tour with guides like Premier Boat Tours. Alternatively, tour operators like the Rusty Anchor offer a gorgeous Mount Dora Sunset Cruise, showcasing the waterway below watercolor skies.
Fernandina Beach
Back on the Atlantic Coast, Fernandina Beach is a seaside escape with tons of maritime festivals and attractions left to enjoy in 2025. On November 1st and 2nd, the town of Amelia Island will host the Right Whale Festival at Main Beach Park. Free for all ages, the event celebrates the seasonal return of right whales to northeast Florida, shining light on the endangered species. Along with the traditional festivities like food trucks and live music, the festival will feature interactive and educational ocean-themed exhibits and activities.
For offshore fun, Amelia River Cruises offers countless ways to explore the breathtaking waters and islands around Fernandina Beach. Cumberland Island Tours are available year-round, while the Shrimping Eco Tour is a unique excursion offered only from October through April. Given Fernandina’s legacy as the “Birthplace of the Modern Shrimping Industry,” this hands-on encounter is an excellent way to learn about the town’s history and heritage.
Apalachicola
Apalachicola, a historic port along Apalachicola Bay, celebrates its maritime heritage with the oldest seafood festival in Florida. The 62nd Annual Florida Seafood Festival will take place on October 31st and November 1st, 2025, at Battery Park along the Apalachicola River. Art exhibits, musical entertainment, and fresh seafood will accompany quirky seafood-themed activities, including a parade, Blue Crab Races, and Oyster Shucking and Eating competitions.
If you’re not in town for the festival, Apalachicola is still a great place to sample fresh coastal cuisine. Popular seafood spots include Up The Creek Raw Bar and Half Shell Dockside, each overlooking the Apalachicola River. Alternatively, anglers can board a fishing cruise with local guides like Apalachicola Charters or cast a line from Apalachicola’s bayfront fishing piers, like the one at Lafayette Park.
Key West
October 2025 is an exciting time to visit Key West, a subtropical paradise known for its high-energy festivals and postcard beaches. From October 17th to 26th, Key West Fantasy Fest will bring the island town to life with costume contests, parades, and parties centered around this year’s theme: “Bedtime Stories and Magical Monsters.” Alternatively, the Bahama Village Goombay Festival on October 18th is a more family-friendly event. Held from noon to midnight in the Bahama Village Neighborhood, the free-entry festival will feature live music, great food, and island arts and crafts.
As part of the Florida Keys, Key West flaunts the breathtaking beaches the archipelago is famous for. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Beach is a gorgeous place to paddle, picnic, snorkel, and swim, blending views of the Gulf and Atlantic. Afterward, Duval Street is a fun follow-up, whether stopping for a sweet treat at Wicked Lick Ice Cream or grabbing dinner and drinks at Margaritaville.
Fort Myers Beach
Beach bliss is also a hallmark of Fort Myers Beach, an Estero Island town off Florida’s Southwest Coast. While the beaches here are beautiful year-round, once a year, the town celebrates its sand with a creative twist. From November 20th to 24th, 2025, Fort Myers Beach will host the 35th Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship, welcoming observers to the DiamondHead Beach Resort. Here, visitors can marvel at jaw-dropping sand sculptures and even build their own sand masterpieces in a dedicated area.
For the remainder of 2025, the sandy shores in Fort Myers Beach will be a lot less crowded, with summer crowds and festival throngs at bay. Beaches like Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Bowditch Point Park feature soft sugar sands and Caribbean blue waters. Alternatively, for a more natural shore, Fort Myers Beach is also a gateway to Lovers Key State Park. The park’s remote 2.5-mile beach is a tranquil place to relax and hunt for seashells, while paddling Estero Bay and its estuaries offers the chance to spot manatees and dolphins.
Inverness
For artsy fun without sand in your shoes, Inverness invites visitors inland for its renowned Inverness Festival of the Arts. Established in 1971, the event is a love letter to artists, welcoming creative souls and art lovers from all over the country. Taking place on November 15th and 16th in downtown Inverness, the 2025 festival will showcase a range of student and veteran art exhibits, along with live music and creative activities for all ages.
Downtown Inverness, designed with a unique diamond-shaped layout, is itself worth exploring. Surrounding the courthouse square, visitors can find an eclectic range of cute shops and restaurants to explore on foot, from Olde Inverness Antiques to Salty Dogs Steamer and Bar. From there, a short walk will bring you to the edge of Cooter Lake, whose waterfront views are best enjoyed from the boardwalk at Cooter Pond Park.
Yankeetown
Tucked away in North Florida along the Withlacoochee River and Gulf Coast, Yankeetown is proof that incredible things often come in the smallest packages. While fewer than 1,000 people call it home, the remote coastal town has hosted its annual Yankeetown Seafood Festival for over 40 years. These days, the event is also an arts festival, offering a unique mix of seafood cuisine, games, entertainment, and craft booths. Dated for November 22nd and 23rd, 2025, the fun will take place on Riverside Drive, the town’s oak-lined main strip.
After sampling seafood, browsing booths, and mingling with locals, Yankeetown invites its visitors to explore Florida’s serene outdoors. Thanks to the town’s remote setting, parks like the Winding River Garden and Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve offer laid-back and uncrowded views and recreation along the Withlacoochee River. For tranquil Gulf scenes, Bird Creek Beach is another scenic place to embrace solitude on Florida's coast, whether using the boat ramp, kayak launches, or picnic tables.
Explore These Florida Towns In 2025
Are you looking to avoid Florida’s summer crowds or escape cold temperatures back home? No matter your reason for visiting the Sunshine State in the final months of 2025, your visit will be just what you need to end your year with a bang. Whether celebrating Oktoberfest in Vero Beach, antique hunting in Micanopy, or lounging on the palm-lined shores of Key West, these Florida towns guarantee a memorable visit with breathtaking sights and scenes every step of the way.
