7 Florida Towns That Locals Love
There are many reasons why people gravitate towards small towns, like a relaxed pace and a more traditional lifestyle relative to urban centers. Add Florida's southern charm and seaside allure, and you get one of the most livable, top-visited states in the nation. Much like locals, visitors can embrace the simple pleasures of sampling fresh seafood and sifting through galleries, plus really unplug along the trails and gardens, alongside diverse wildlife on land and in the water. From Carrabelle to Winter Park, these are some of the Sunshine State's most beloved hometowns.
Carrabelle
This small seaside town occupies a beautiful stretch of Florida’s Panhandle, an hour from Tallahassee. An abundance of fresh seafood and boating adventures await with charters, cruises, and guided paddling tours. Start the day on a high note at Carrabelle Junction, serving fresh coffee and homemade soups. The Carrabelle Riverfront Festival is a major annual event on the 4th Saturday in April along the riverfront, with live music and performances, arts and crafts vendors, local seafood, and traditional fair foods. Bring your whole family for kids' activities, a pet parade, and a "fishy fashion show" costume parade.
Known for its pristine, palm-fringed white-sand beaches and plenty of fish in the sea, you can mingle, play, and relax along Carrabelle Beach and take a dip in the crystal-clear waters. To the west, the imposing 200,000-acre Tate’s Hell State Forest offers legendary camping, hiking, and trails for off-road vehicles. Whether you opt for the coastal High Bluff Loop or a stroll along the shoreline, enjoy views of the 1895 Crooked River Lighthouse, or climb to the top of the unique 103-foot tower situated on scenic grounds with a museum and gift shop. When you come hungry, the riverfront Fisherman’s Wife Restaurant serves local specialties straight from the Gulf.
Cedar Key
This rustic fishing village lives on island time off the Gulf Coast. Stretch your legs along the leisurely Railroad Trestle Nature Trail, then head to Cedar Key Museum State Park in the northwest corner of the key for a bit of local history, a 1920s home, and its own nature trail. Downtown complements every off-the-beaten-path getaway itinerary with a scene of quaint shops, art galleries, fishing shacks, and seafood restaurants. From Dock Street, Cedar Key Fishing Pier lures anglers and casual observers for a leisurely stroll. Relax in the peaceful views of the boats or rent a kayak before dinner, pedaling through marshes and mangroves. To celebrate like and with the locals, book your trip around Halloween for the annual Pirate Invasion, a family-friendly festival and charity fundraiser.
Gulfport
As a seaside hub of artists and musicians, Gulfport celebrates all the things that make it unique. The bi-annual Gulfport Art in the Yard event turns the city into an open-air art museum, with local creations decorating lawns for view and for sale. Blueberry Patch is another expansive art exhibit and friendly venue for chilling and people-watching, with great energy, live music, and decor. In addition to a funky beach scene, waterfront views make for quiet afternoons at Clam Bayou National Park, with looping trails and a kayak launch. The splendid city marina offers a range of slips and amenities for boaters, while sunsets draw visitors to the pier for fishing. When it's time to refuel, indulge in Italian at Pia's Trattoria.
St. Augustine
It is impossible not to fall in love with the European atmosphere of the nation's longest inhabited city. Founded in 1565, this coastal town with beaches, colonial architecture, and romantic vibes feels like flipping through the pages of a history book. Pedestrian St. George Street is a great place to start exploring the town's boutiques, cafés, galleries, and historic homes.
Perhaps the best time to visit St. Augustine is between November and January, when the Night of Lights sets the entire historic downtown aglow with millions of white lights. No matter the season, the Lightner Museum displays Gilded Age artifacts in a grand historic hotel. Take in the sweeping bay views at Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century fortress built by the Spanish that remains the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Across the bridge, the 1874 black-and-white striped lighthouse and museum offer climbing tours and a shipyard playground, a stone's throw from Anastasia Island's shaded campsites and beautiful beaches.
Tarpon Springs
Once settled by Greek sponge divers, this hospitable seaside town boasts a strong cultural identity, which extends from its significant heritage. You can start your visit along the iconic Sponge Docks to watch boats unload their catch of the day or hop aboard a dolphin cruise or sunset sail. The Tarpon Springs Seafood Festival celebrates the town's maritime traditions each November at the Sponge Docks, with vendors, a chef's competition, live music, and, of course, lots of seafood.
Can't picture Florida without a beach? Fred Howard Park lines the Gulf Coast with a sandy stretch perfect for swimming and sunbathing beneath the palms. Meanwhile, Craig Park offers a saltwater boat launch into the bayou, as well as sports courts and amenities. You can't miss the stately steeple of Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, a nod to the town's heritage and an architectural marvel unto itself. Furthermore, the charming Saint Michael Shrine looks as if it were plucked from a town in Greece, and Greek bakeries and restaurants abound, serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine.
Venice
Known as the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World," this Gulf Coast town exudes a laid-back atmosphere with 14 miles of stunning beaches and an iconic pier. Start with a stroll along Venice Beach, a certified Blue Wave Beach. The beach is a stone's throw from downtown, which boasts many cool shops and dining spots in a distinctly European atmosphere, and the cultural scene is anchored by the Venice Institute for Performing Arts and the Venice Theatre.
Meanwhile, Venetian Waterway Park offers five miles of paved trails lining the Intracoastal Waterway, and you can check out the Train Depot, built in 1927, for a free public tour. In addition to combing the beaches for shark teeth and a slew of outdoor activities, the annual Venice Sharks Tooth Festival is a weekend full of family fun at Centennial Park in April, with food, live music, vendors, and a kids' corner.
Winter Park
Orlando's suburb in Central Florida is lush, walkable, and affluent, with art museums and boutique shopping districts. Locals and visitors alike enjoy access to big city lights in small doses and iconic theme parks just around the corner. The town itself is tourist-friendly, offering several lakes for recreation and sweet spots to explore, including intimate gardens and events like the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, which debuted in March 1960. One of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious outdoor art affairs today lures over 250,000 visitors annually in Winter Park's historic downtown.
No matter the season, the lakeside Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens occupies a historic estate with sculptures and other works by the celebrated Czech sculptor, while iconic indoor attractions include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, housing the world's most extensive Tiffany collection. Don't miss the whitewashed brickface Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, a restored Spanish farmhouse with rustic details and manicured grounds.
Rimmed by the Gulf and the Atlantic, the beachiest state is like a reset button from the concrete jungle, with access to natural landscapes beyond the shoreline, including coastal waterways, state parks, and forests. Winter Park offers lush gardens, boutique shopping, and art museums next to Orlando's iconic attractions, or you can escape the ordinary in the throwback Cedar Key or Tarpon Springs, and step back in time in the state's first town, an hour from the capital. In addition to history and art venues, the unique mix of cultural events, distinct architecture, and activities is sure to delight.
