05/30/2021
BEST PLACE TO VISIT
IN FLORIDA
Year-round sunshine, one thousand miles of beaches, and almost as many palm trees as people: what’s not to love? Florida is where the world goes on vacation.
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BEST PLACES TO VISIT
IN FLORIDA
For the perfect marriage of history and a cozy breed of luxury, book a stay at the adults-only The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens, where you can tour the grounds with the property historian and gather for expertly crafted cocktails at The Well Bar.
Travel + Leisure, BY SKYE SHERMAN JANUARY 20, 2020
Year-round sunshine, one thousand miles of beaches, and almost as many palm trees as people: what’s not to love? Florida is where the world goes on vacation.
While the state eats, sleeps, and breathes tourism, deciding exactly where to visit in Florida can prove to be the hardest part. Any kind of traveler can enjoy a trip to Florida because the state has it all: theme parks for the family, nature adventures for the outdoorsy, historical significance for the curious, and tons of activities for thrill-seekers.
To the question of the best places to visit in Florida, there’s really no wrong answer, but as a fourth-generation Floridian — yes, we exist! — here’s my take.
THE PALM BEACHES
Best Places to Visit in Florida
Think of the Palm Beaches as a fast pass to the best of Florida. An umbrella term for the cities of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beaches includes spots like West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach, Jupiter, and Boca Raton.
The sheer diversity of activities available in the Palm Beaches is the region’s strength. You can shop, surf, scuba dive, brunch with your pup, watch an international polo match, relax on 47 miles of shoreline, meet rehabilitating sea turtles, take a quick two-night cruise to the Bahamas for $150 or less, enjoy a Broadway musical at the Kravis Center, and catch a foul ball at a spring training baseball game. Out west, you can book airboat tours of the Everglades or get up close and personal with rhinos, giraffes, and zebras at Lion Country Safari, a drive-through cageless zoo spread over 600 acres.
If you’re after a ritzy resort stay, Palm Beach and Boca Raton have you covered. Nothing beats The Breakers in terms of luxe — you’ll be treated like royalty — but The Colony Hotel and Eau Palm Beach are harbingers of a modern era in Palm Beach.
Across the bridge, West Palm Beach has a big-city feel without the big-city headaches of traffic and congestion. Take the free trolley between Clematis Street, Rosemary Square, and the waterfront, or head out to Grandview Public Market and Elizabeth Ave Station in the up-and-coming Warehouse District, where hipsters and cool kids gather to dine and shop.
Hilton West Palm Beach is the top hotel in West Palm Beach and houses Galley, a restaurant with tableside cocktails, fresh seafood, and gourmet pizzas fired to order, but two newcomers set to debut this year — The Ben and a Canopy by Hilton — will provide even more options.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Best Places to Visit in Florida
As the oldest city in America, St. Augustine has had a lot of time to get it right. Settlers arrived in the mid-1500s and some still-standing spots, like the Fountain of Youth and Castillo de San Marcos, date back almost that far. It’s a walkable town, imbued with intrigue; whispers of the past swirl through every cobblestoned alley.
In St. Augustine, learning about the area’s history (preferably via ghost tour once darkness envelops the city) is a given. But there’s also newer arrivals built to please the modern explorer, such as Ice Plant for cocktails and the Alligator Farm for a perfectly Floridian animal encounter. Visit during St. Augustine’s annual Nights of Lights around Christmastime to see the city sparkle in the glow of 3 million lights.
For the perfect marriage of history and a cozy breed of luxury, book a stay at the adults-only Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens, where you can tour the grounds with the property historian and gather for expertly crafted cocktails at The Well Bar. For a taste of old-world elegance, St. Francis Inn — built in 1791 — is a bed and breakfast that perfectly captures the spirit of the city and all there is to love about homey accommodations. It’s located right on St. George Street, St. Augustine’s main drag.
Once you’ve walked up an appetite, head to dinner at Michael’s Tasting Room, The Floridian, or O.C. White’s, a historic restaurant in the heart of the action. Or, for something a bit more casual, stop into A1A Ale Works for perhaps the best root beer of your life, served alongside a killer view of the Bridge of Lions.
THE FLORIDA KEYS
Best Places to Visit in Florida
Stretching 113 miles, from Key Largo all the way to the southernmost point of the continental United States in funky Key West, the Florida Keys is a veritable paradise; pick any key along the way and you’re guaranteed a tropical getaway with no need for a passport.
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