8 Quirkiest Florida Towns You Didn't Know Existed
Many of us have a similar image of Florida in our heads: palm trees, boardwalks, theme park rides, and white-sand beaches. But what about the towns not often graced on the sides of billboards and travel magazines? For free-spirited travelers who love exploring locales off the beaten path, the Sunshine State boasts some of the most unique destinations in the country.
From a coastal community with under 10 locals to a pastel town that starred in a Jim Carrey film, Florida is the place to be if you love all things offbeat and unconventional. While many offer the traditional beauty Florida is known for, the fact remains: these are the 8 quirkiest Florida towns you didn’t know existed, and arguably the most underrated.
Flagler Beach
While we generally associate Florida with its sugar-white shores, the sands in Flagler Beach wear a different hue. Rust, cinnamon, and peach have all been used to describe the six-mile stretch of oceanfront in Flagler Beach, a result of eroded coquina bedrock. Otherwise, beachgoers can enjoy all the same coastal fun: sandcastle building, seashell hunting, and swimming in the mighty Atlantic.
Beyond its main shore, Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is another great place for fun in the sand. Situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterway, the 145-acre park boasts a half-mile beach, several boardwalks, and countless boat launches. Further inland, the Joe Kenner Nature Trail leads through an enchanting coastal hammock forest, shading hikers from the sun while showcasing Florida’s wild side.
Steinhatchee
Steinhatchee, the “Best Kept Secret in Florida,” is a historic fishing village with a rare feature: the widest waterfall in the state. Due to Florida’s relatively flat landscape and lack of abundant rock formations, waterfalls are an infrequent charm here. That said, Steinhatchee is home to one of the state’s few cascades, and arguably one of the most unique. Steinhatchee Falls may be short and shallow, but its record-breaking width sets it apart. Whether kayaking the River River at Steinhatchee Falls Park or enjoying views from the 3-mile Steinhatchee Trail, this small-but-mighty cascade is well worth a visit.
With waterfronts and marinas galore, anglers and seafood lovers are also drawn to Steinhatchee’s coastal charms. Each February, the small town comes to life with its annual Fiddler Crab Festival, but fresh seafood can be enjoyed year-round at locales like Kathi's Krab Shack. For the ultimate fresh catch, fishing excursions are also popular with local companies like OTF Inshore Charters.
Indialantic
Indialantic, officially known as Indialantic-By-The-Sea, gets its quirky name from its unique setting. Located on a barrier island between the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, this coastal town is the perfect escape for introverted beachgoers and families. Compared to larger resort cities like Fort Lauderdale, Indialantic is home to around just 3,000 locals. Its small size allows visitors to experience a rare side of Florida: beautiful beaches without the crowds.
Whether visiting Indialantic Ocean Beach Park or Melbourne Beach, beachgoers can relish in a laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of space to stretch their legs. When you need a break from the sand, the Indialantic Boardwalk is another great way to enjoy ocean views and get some steps in. Nearby, James H. Nance Park is a wonderful spot for families, featuring a clean beach, kids' playground, and picnic pavilions.
Carrabelle
Smaller crowds and solitude are also hallmarks of Carrabelle, a shining gem on Florida's Forgotten Coast. Much like Indialantic, just a few thousand people call Carrabelle home. The town is partly known for quirky attractions like the World's Smallest Police Station, housed in a telephone booth. However, Carrabelle’s “forgotten” setting is its stand-out feature, allowing visitors to experience Florida’s natural side.
Despite its foreboding name, Tate’s Hell State Forest is a haven for nature lovers, welcoming hikers, paddlers, picnickers, and campers to explore its 200,000 acres. Elsewhere, Old Carrabelle Beach transports beachgoers back in time to Old Florida. With no high-rise buildings, boardwalk carnivals, or tourist traps in sight, the shore is completely unspoiled, surrounded by acres of coastal grass. Alternatively, Carrabelle Beach offers a more traditional atmosphere with grills, bathroom facilities, and picnic tables. While its calm surf makes it a hit with families, the shore still rarely sees overwhelming crowds.
Marineland
Although Florida’s Marineland Dolphin Adventure draws upwards of 500,000 guests each year, not nearly as many know about the town it resides in. A barrier island community on Florida's First Coast, Marineland is home to just 9 locals as of the most recent census. But despite its small size, Marineland’s star attraction has been a tourist favorite since 1938. Today, Marineland Dolphin Adventure visitors can learn about local marine life, view loggerhead sea turtles, and even swim with dolphins.
For wildlife spotting and fun outdoors, the town of Marineland is also home to the River to Sea Preserve. The 90-acre coastal park is free to enter, showcasing a maritime scrub environment. Visitors can enjoy countless nature trails, a public beach, kayak launches, and a coastal boardwalk. While December through March is the best time to see manatees swimming here in the Matanzas River, dolphin spotting is easiest in warmer months like June and July.
Juno Beach
Animal lovers will also love Juno Beach, a coastal town whose sandy shores incubate hundreds of thousands of sea turtle eggs every year. Loggerhead Park, its prominent nesting beach, is home to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Between May and October, the Center protects and preserves tens of thousands of turtle nests. Although Hatchling Release demonstrations are difficult to predict and time, visitors can also attend interactive exhibits, aquariums, and educational programs at the Center’s sea turtle hospital.
Afterward, Juno Beach Park is the perfect follow-up. A family-friendly and dog-friendly shore with soft sands and refreshing waves, the beach is laid-back with something for everyone. Visitors can lounge, swim, surf, beachcomb, or cast a line from the park’s expansive pier. Stretching almost 1,000 feet into the Atlantic, the Juno Beach Pier offers world-class saltwater fishing and even greater ocean views.
Micanopy
Founded in 1821, the historic town of Micanopy is nothing like the Florida we see on postcards. In place of palm-tree bordered beaches, “Florida's Oldest Inland Town” is dotted with old oaks laced in Spanish moss. Instead of high-rise condos and upscale boutiques, Micanopy’s main street is lined with storefronts frozen in the 19th century and frayed by time. But for travelers who love towns with character and charm, there is nowhere quite like Micanopy.
Cholokka Boulevard, its unofficial main street, is home to the town’s best shops, cafes, and museums. After grabbing a bite at the Mosswood Bakehouse, the Micanopy Historical Society Museum is right next door. Further south, Gallery Under the Oaks and the Old Florida Cafe also invite a relaxed pace. Nearby, antique shops like Micanopy Trading Outpost welcome treasure hunters to browse for hours, adding to Micanopy’s Old Florida charm.
Seaside
We end our journey in Seaside, a town so pastel and perfect, it once earned the role in a film for that very reason. The Truman Show, a 1998 movie starring Jim Carrey, needed an idyllic town to represent the movie’s picture-perfect setting. Enter Seaside: “the birthplace of the New Urbanism design movement.” The town’s pastel buildings, walkable layout, and white picket fences made it the perfect place for the job.
Today, Seaside’s walkability remains one of its greatest charms, allowing visitors to explore it all on foot. After browsing local shops like Sundog Books or grabbing a drink at cute coffee shops like the Great Southern Cafe, the Truman Show Seaside Pavilion is just a few steps away. Restaurants in Airstream Row are also nearby, adding to the town’s unique aesthetic. In place of traditional food trucks, ice cream shops like Frost Bites and barbecue joints like Barefoot BBQ are housed in retro Airstream trailers.
Discover The Charms Of Florida’s Quirkiest Towns
Although Florida’s popular cities attract visitors for good reason, the state’s quirkier towns are just as deserving of visitors. Despite often being overshadowed, these towns remind travelers of the joys of finding an underrated spot to tell friends about. And while traveling off the beaten path can feel like a higher risk, the payoff can also be incredibly rewarding
Instead of parroted stories and run-of-the-mill snapshots, your scrapbooks and memories can be filled with Florida’s more unique attractions and experiences. Whether paddling near Steinhatchee Falls, enjoying a quiet beach day in Indialantic, or exploring Micanopy’s historic main street, these quirky towns will leave you with a different image of the Sunshine State and truly one-of-a-kind memories.
