Hidden Getaways In Florida For A Blissful Winter Vacation
The tropically-infused atmospheres innate to these small Floridian towns can satisfy every varying perspective of a blissful wintertime getaway. This hand-picked list of destinations accentuating the beach scene, the beautiful nature, or the vibrant townscape will prepare one for the next winter's dive into a blissful sea-scape.
Key Biscayne
Just a short way from Miami, Key Biscayne is a true South Floridian delight, as a small island that comes with a big appeal in its incredible beaches and relaxing parks. Nature enthusiasts will rejoice in the sun-lit hidden-away atmosphere with unspoiled scenery around, and endless water vistas beyond. Moreover, its coastal barrier reef is among the best places to snorkel in Florida, as the only underwater archaeological trail in the US that is federally recognized. The Cape Florida lighthouse is the oldest structure of Miami-Dade, calling to be admired at sunsets. Un-crowded and with plenty to see and experience, this small town will allow one to relax in-between an itinerary-full of adventures.
Crystal River
Known for the amplitude of outdoor activities and West Indian manatee sightings, this coastal gem in western Florida comprises the winter destination for nature lovers. One can watch from the surrounding boardwalk or actually swim with the gentle giants at the Three Sisters Springs in the blissfully warm waters. The Springs Park offers cozy beaches, natural springs, snorkeling, and various boating opportunities. The Crystal River Archaeological State Park comes with an intriguing pre-Columbian site showcasing the remnants of the country's earliest human settlement, including burial mounds and ritual sites, a plaza area, and a significant midden. The purest and clearest spring-fed Crystal River is great for swimming, while the quieter Homosassa River and the Rainbow River are full of fish, turtles, and aquatic plants.
Alligator Point
The narrow beach peninsula harboring the town is set between the Gulf of Mexico and the Alligator Harbor in an area reminiscent of the old coastal Florida. This remote, charming, and sparsely populated rural beach community is known for the unspoiled environment of the pristine beaches spread over the cozy 8-mile coastline with raw nature at its door. Famed for clam harvesting and the "untouched by civilization" feel, Alligator Point offers unsurpassed fishing opportunities. Bird-watching and wildlife viewing have never been so satisfying as in this rugged enclave. Comprising an ideal winter getaway into the sunshine state, those who seek tranquility will be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the waves on the soft sands, while the active can get their fill of hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking for a guilt-free vacation.
Carrabelle
This year-round summer destination comprises a perfect winter getaway into the beach scene with bountiful boating and prolific offshore fishing opportunities. The sun-drenched, un-crowded streets with an unassuming feel allow one to soak in the hidden destination and experience it at their own pace to the fullest. The vibrant full-fledged marina offers sightings of dolphins frolicking in the Gulf, the endless vistas of the turquoise depths, and the sugar-white sands. There is the famous Crooked River Lighthouse, while the history fans will revel to see the training procedures for that fateful day in June 1944 on the Normandy beaches by visiting the Camp Gordon Johnston WWII museum. The charming Carrabelle will leave lasting impressions and an incurable withdrawal and small-town nostalgia upon returning home.
Hernando Beach
The picturesque oasis of Hernando Beach is the dream-come-true destination off the path and out of sight, as the best-kept secret of the state. Set along the Weeki Wachee River and Springs, it is a shrimping mecca for food fanatics to enjoy the freshest seafood feast during winter. With a direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and Gilligan's Island, one can boat-out into the deep waters for a different outlook of the beach town, while trekking the Hernando Flats, will make one think they've landed in the Caribbean. It is little-known that the existence of this piece of paradise with scenically-lined houses along the canal has been disputed. Developed by Charlie Sasser in 1970, the next-year restrictions on wetland development prompted him to build a dike around the 144 acres in separation from the Gulf. Today, the shallow sand bars glisten mischievously from the clear turquoise waters with many scallop patches that induce a blissful vacation feel.
Homosassa
The "Florida Cracker Riverside Resort" Homosassa is a great winter destination for scenery-seekers and outdoors-lovers, known for its several state parks. The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park comes with manatee viewings through an underwater observatory, the Yulee Sugar Mill State Park has a sugar mill that served troops during the Civil War, and the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park houses wild animals such as alligators, black bears, red wolf, key deer, flamingos, and whooping cranes. Long-known as one of the most beautiful spots in Florida, people would debunk the train in Homosassa just to swim and fish, while today, it is known for the great scalloping opportunities, the quintessential springs, and being a "throwback to simpler times".
Jacksonville
This "The River City by the Sea,'" is the ideal quaint coastal town with nothing but personality, known for being culturally diverse. Comprising a place where one can relax in a luxurious setting, it comes complete with the famed Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville for the cultured, while the rich nightlife makes it an attested gem for the true holiday-goers. Its largest urban park system in the nation comprises ten state and national parks around to explore, while the Tree Hill Nature Center's many paths call out to the active. The 20 miles of coastline offer outstanding beaches, for the traditional Floridian, blissful winter vacationing.
Jupiter
A truly distinct town, there is no other like Jupiter's picturesque inlet for an alluring winter destination with plenty to do. The Juno Beach offers a beautiful shoreline along with its pet-friendly Juno Beach Park, for natural landscapes to explore and scenic sights all around. The unique limestone shelf at Blowing Rocks Preserve is a favourite place among the photographers and Instagrammers for a one-of-a-kind shot. The active and the water enthusiasts can paddle through John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, and to the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. There, one can explore the beach littered with seashells in search of a favourite to take home as a souvenir.
Mexico Beach
The coastal gem "Mayberry on the Water," hidden along the Florida panhandle, features 5 miles of white sandy shores and only one stoplight in town, as a truly tranquil and relaxing wintertime destination. Having been hit the hardest by Hurricane Michael, the town bounced back stronger than ever, with the new local hot spots "hotter" than before and more popping up. The tropically-infused, serene townscape comes with many local boutiques, art galleries, and the theme-complementing casual eateries, including the Killer Seafood, the Caribbean Coffee, and the Mango Marley's known for its Watermelon Margarita specialty. The surrounding townscape's beautiful scenery of rivers, canals, lakes, and bays offers one to kayak or explore the local wildlife on foot.
Micanopy
The oldest island town in Florida, known as "the town that time forgot," Micanopy actually means "head chief" in Seminole. The island destination is great for those seeking a concentration of history, sights, and nature in a secluded warm-weathered environment bounded by waters. The Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve that protects a Native American mound teaches all about the earliest residents on the island, the Alachua Seminoles. The Paynes Prairie Preserve State, with a massive natural basin in the "great Alachua Savannah," acts as a sanctuary for bison and wild horses roaming free over the 22,000 acres of grasslands. The town's narrow, ancient oak-adorned streets are lined with numerous historic homes that have been used in the film industry for movies and TV shows as a locale reminiscent of the past.
Navarre
Located along Florida's Panhandle, the small town of Navarre has one of the most beautiful beaches in the state, exciting attractions in-town, and mesmerizing nature for outdoor activities. The beautiful beaches are great for visiting year-round, even just to stroll in the crisp air under the clear blue skies. The Navarre Beach Fishing Pier is great for sights, sea-breeze, and bringing home a catch. There is also the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center and the Gulf Breeze Zoo, which are beloved by the families, while the scenic hiking trails include the Blackwater River State Forest, just a short drive away from the historic Milton.
Seaside
Comprised of pastel-colored houses with white-picketed fences, the picture-perfect small town of Seaside also comes with wonderful family-friendly beaches for a wholesome winter getaway. The sun-drenched white-sand beaches offer natural canopies of magnolias, hickories, and oaks to enjoy some shade along with the sound of the surf. The tranquil beach environment in-town is enriched with cool vintage record stores, historic bookstores, local markets, and boutiques. As the birthplace of the New Urbanism architectural design movement, the intricate architecture of the coastal homes will put even the weathered historians in awe. Easy to explore by bike or foot, the colorful architecture against the blue water is so stunning that the town was featured in Jim Carrey's film, The Truman Show, as an idyllic place to live.
Vilano Beach
An artist's dream come true, just north of St. Augustine's vibrantly historical downtown, Vilano Beach is famed for its intricately tiled fountains and Art Deco décor, the only one-of-their-kind back-dropped by endless waters. A quiet Florida beach town, it comprises a perfect winter holiday destination for those seeking to feel completely rejuvenated, leaving all the worries behind along with the snow at home. The beach near the inlet offers all the seclusion one needs to breathe out, relax and recompose. It also comprises a perfect couples' getaway, void of crowds, with the most romantic Casa Monica Resort waiting nearby. Aside from the usual water activities, one can learn something new during their winter holiday on the beach, such as surfing or skimboarding, with rentals available throughout the city.
These Floridian small towns will help one feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and recharged, to tackle the daily being back in the city. Any town from this comprehensive list offering a blissful winter vacation to suit any taste, will be imprinted in one's memory as the best time spent away from the city.
