11 Overlooked Towns In Florida Worth Visiting
There are bound to be many overlooked places, especially in a state with some of America’s most beloved cities. This is the case of Florida, a state unique for bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. With destinations like Orlando and Miami Beach, many small towns in Florida take a back seat, waiting to be discovered by off-the-beaten-path travelers. From Sanibel to Crystal River, these overlooked towns in Florida are worth visiting, if only to spend time away from the crowds of Florida’s hot spots. Moreso, these towns boast some of the country’s top natural and historic attractions, which are single-handedly worth visiting Florida to explore. Visit these towns today and enjoy the unspoiled and less touristy side of Florida that’s often missed by the majority.
Naples
Naples is a small town on Florida’s Gulf Coast that may be overlooked, but it is a worthy alternative to some of the best coastal destinations in the world. For starters, this town is home to the Lowdermilk Park, a waterfront gem featuring a beautiful white sand beach, alongside amenities such as picnic tables, a children’s playground, tiki huts, and beach umbrellas. Similarly, the Clam Pass Park is just nearby, offering more beach enjoyment, with its soft sand beach, gentle waves, picnic area, and boardwalk winding through a mangrove forest teeming with coastal birds and butterflies. Besides the beaches, this town is home to the Naples Botanical Garden, a 170-acre tropical attraction, full of plants from around the world. Visitors are invited to connect with nature by touring the different gardens here, including the Kapnick Brazilian Garden, which features plants from Brazil, and the LaGrippe Orchid Garden, where thousands of orchids are on display. In the meantime, Naples is a paradise for shopping and dining, and Fifth Avenue South is one of the best places to enjoy this experience, alongside beautiful views of fountains, flowers, trees, and historic cottages.
Islamorada
Islamorada is an island gem in the Florida Keys, with so much to offer. A true tropical paradise, this town boasts exciting coastal attractions, including the 45-acre Founders Park, which has a shallow water beach with tiki huts, picnic tables, and grills, alongside sports facilities, and a marina providing access to the water for boating. Notably, Islamorada is home to the Theater of the Sea, one of the coolest places in Florida to swim with dolphins, other marine mammals like sea lions, and sea turtles. Meanwhile, Islamorada is a hot spot for diving and snorkeling, and the Alligator Reef Light House is among the best places in the area to enjoy this experience. Located around four nautical miles from town, this reef is set around a lighthouse and the wreck of a US Navy ship that once protected merchant vessels in the Caribbean from pirates. The reef has high water clarity and is teeming with fish, plus it is shallow, making it ideal for beginner divers and snorkelers. Also near Islamorada is the Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, where one can hike through a former quarry, learn about its operations, see fossilized corals, and catch sight of birds. Back in town, the History of Diving Museum is always open to offer an immersion into the history of underwater diving.
Punta Gorda
This small town in Southwest Florida is one of the most underrated destinations in Florida, despite its long list of attractions, most of which will delight nature and wildlife lovers. Punta Gorda is the gateway to the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, a massive area featuring over 100 miles of shoreline, wetlands, and pine flatwoods, teeming with birds and other wildlife. This 45,000-acre park alone is worth visiting Punta Gorda, as it offers opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, paddling, boating, and wildlife observation. The town also has a couple of animal sanctuaries, including the Peace River Wildlife Center, which cares for sick, injured, and orphaned animals. Moreover, Punta Gorda’s Iguanaland is considered the largest reptile zoo in the world, featuring hundreds of animals representing over 200 species of reptiles, iguanas, snakes, and turtles. The zoo also hosts amphibians, and is just a great place to visit, if only to learn more about the cold-blooded animals or perhaps overcome herpetophobia. Furthermore, Punta Gorda has a few waterfront parks to delight adventurers, including the Ponce De Leon Park, which has a boat ramp, fishing piers, a boardwalk winding through a mangrove forest, and a secluded sandy beach.
Key West
Key West is one of America’s most unique cities that deserves more attention. This town, on the southernmost point of the US mainland, is enough reason to visit Florida, due to its long list of exciting attractions. For starters, its location right in the middle of the ocean leaves it with a couple of coastal attractions, one of which is Smathers Beach, a half-mile-long stretch with palm-lined shores, soft white sand, and calm, turquoise waters ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and boating. Also, Key West has some rare attractions, including the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, where one can walk amidst lush plants and colorful flowers teeming with hundreds of flying butterflies, birds, and flamingos. A must-visit for families with children, this natural attraction also has a learning center where one can get up close to caterpillars.
As for history buffs, Key West boasts some notable attractions, including the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, which was built in 1851 and served as the residence of the Nobel Prize-winning Ernest Hemingway. Visitors are welcome to tour this house museum, which still has some original furnishings from the days of Ernest Hemingway, alongside his typewriter, photos, and many other memorabilia, including dozens of six-toed cats believed to have been descended from a special cat once owned by Hemingway.
Venice
Venice is one of the exciting, but often overlooked, alternatives to hot spots like Miami Beach. Located in Southwest Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, this town boasts interesting waterfront attractions, like Caspersen Beach, which is known for its black sand and fossilized shark teeth. The beach is a great place to relax, swim, watch birds, kayak, and hike, plus there’s always some prehistoric shark tooth and seashells to find. For angling enthusiasts, the Venice Fishing Pier is one of the best places to fish and watch the sunset in Florida, stretching 700 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. This pier does not require a fishing license and is located in Brohard Park, which also has a sandy beach, ideal for swimming and picnicking. Away from the waterfront, the Venice Theatre is one of the largest and most active community theaters in the US, offering a variety of productions for all ages and interests year-round. Additionally, the town is home to the Venice Area Audubon Rookery, an amazing place to watch and learn about birds, including several species of wading birds that use the area for breeding and foraging.
Crystal River
Crystal River is among Florida’s smallest towns, populated by just 3,300 people. However, this town punches above its weight and is best known for being one of the only places in the world where one can swim with manatees. This experience can be enjoyed at Three Sisters Spring, whose warm waters attract lots of manatees, especially during the winter from November to March. The springs can be reached by paddling from the Hunter Springs Park or Kings Bay Park, both of which also have picnic areas and BBQ grills, while the former also has a small beach for swimming.
The town is also near the Crystal River Preserve State Park, a 27,000-acre pristine area where one can hike, bike, and kayak through a variety of habitats, including pine flatwoods and tidal marsh, teeming with birds and wildlife. Additionally, the park hosts the Crystal River Archaeological State Park, where a six-mound complex highlights the area’s significance as one of the longest continually occupied sites in Florida. There’s also a museum in the archaeological park featuring artifacts excavated from the site, and more information about the tribes that once inhabited the area. On top of all that, Crystal River has Fort Island Gulf Beach to delight beach lovers with its beautiful white powdery sand and calm waters ideal for swimming.
St. Augustine
Even with its reputation as the oldest continuously inhabited town in the US, founded in 1565, St. Augustine remains overlooked by many. Regardless, this town continues to flaunt its long list of historic and natural attractions, including the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, which preserves the oldest masonry fort in the US, completed in 1695. Visitors are invited to tour this historic structure, witness live weaponry demonstrations on weekends, and soak in the views of the Matanzas Bay. For even more history, a walk through St. George Street is recommended, as it is filled with ancient structures, including the Oldest Wooden School House, which represents exactly what its name implies. On this street, one can also catch live music and shows at the Colonial Oak Music Park and enjoy excellent Spanish and Cuban cuisine at the Columbia Restaurant. Just around two miles from downtown, Anastasia State Park invites beach lovers to enjoy four miles of beachfront, fish, kayak, camp, watch birds, or catch some of the country’s best sunsets.
Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is an adorable little town on Amelia Island, often overshadowed by the popularity of the nearby Jacksonville, Florida’s largest city. However, the town remains an exciting destination, where travelers will be met with the Main Beach Park, a wide oceanfront park featuring soft sands and excellent surf conditions, alongside playgrounds, sports facilities, picnic shelters, and outdoor showers. Additionally, the town hosts the Peters Point Beachfront Park, another great waterfront attraction with a beautiful beach, gentle waves, indoor and outdoor showers, and picnic tables. Meanwhile, just outside town, travelers will be met with the Fort Clinch State Park, which combines history and nature to offer an unforgettable experience. This park near the northernmost point of Amelia Island hosts a well-preserved Civil War era fort open for tours, a beach, dozens of riverfront and beach campsites, and multi-use trails winding through oak trees.
Sanibel
Sanibel is a tiny town on the Gulf of Mexico, ideal for a relaxing vacation away from the crowds of other Florida destinations. Besides the peace and quiet, travelers here will have several oceanfront attractions to enjoy, including Bowman’s Beach, a pristine stretch of fine white sand with picnic tables, abundant shells, and a playground. More similar attractions in town include the Gulfside City Beach Park and Lighthouse Beach Park, both of which feature soft sand, seashells, and frequent bird sightings, while the latter has a historic lighthouse built in 1884. Those who appreciate wildlife will find the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 5,000-acre area featuring dozens of mammalian, amphibian, and reptile species. The park is also renowned for its bird watching opportunities, as it is home to over 245 species of birds, plus it has walking trails, observation towers, a four-mile wildlife drive, and canoe routes. Away from the natural attractions, Sanibel has a considerable number of cultural and historic attractions to delight travelers, including the Bailey-Mathews National Seashore & Aquarium, where one can delve into the world of shells and mollusks.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach sits pretty on the Atlantic Ocean, where it is often overlooked for the nearby Daytona Beach and other popular Florida destinations. But this town is worth visiting, especially for beach lovers, as it has 17 miles of soft sandy beaches with excellent surf conditions. The Flagler Avenue Park, one of the town’s top beach spots, is located right in the downtown area and is a great spot to surf, splash, catch the sunset, picnic, and shop. The Canaveral National Seashore, just nearby, is another amazing spot featuring 24 miles of pristine beaches, including Apollo Beach, one of the few nude beaches in the country. This barrier island also has nature trails and offers opportunities for birdwatching, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing. Additionally, New Smyrna Beach has a couple of incredible food establishments, including the River Deck Tiki Bar & Restaurant, where one can savor delicious seafood and steaks in a setting with impressive views of the Indian River.
Dunedin
This overlooked town on the Gulf Coast is one of the coolest places to vacation in Florida. This is particularly because the town has some of the world’s most beautiful beach attractions, one of which is the Honeymoon Island State Park. This park has over four miles of white powdery sand beaches and a 2.5-mile trail winding through a virgin slash pine forest. The park is also a hot spot for birdwatching, plus it includes two cafes, picnic facilities, a nature center, and a ferry to another incredible, albeit less crowded, beach attraction, Caladesi Island State Park. This boat-access-only island is a paradise for relaxation and adventures, featuring pristine beaches, trails winding through coastal habitats, and opportunities for kayaking, fishing, swimming, and birdwatching. Back in town, travelers can catch a baseball game at the TD Ballpark or enjoy delicious seafood with spectacular waterfront scenery at Bon Appétit Restaurant & Marine Bar.
Sometimes, the most unique attributes of a destination are hidden in its less-visited spots, and Florida is a prime example. While its most exciting attractions are in its foremost cities like Orlando, this state’s rarest features sit peacefully in its overlooked towns like St. Augustine, which is notable for the oldest masonry fort in the continental US that has stood since 1695. Keep in mind that Florida is one of the most populated states in the country, and with world-famous attractions, its largest cities can get uncomfortably crowded. So a visit to these towns is an escape from all of that discomfort, and a journey into the state’s less disturbed spots where nature thrives and history endures.
