Florida through the seasons

WILDLIFE

1. Go wild in the wetlands

Florida is home to an estimated 600,000 acres of critical mangrove habitat: coastal ecosystems stretching mostly along the shores of the southern peninsula and Florida Keys. Weedon Island Preserve spans more than 3,000 acres of Tampa Bay and St Petersburg, offering an opportunity to canoe or kayak thrilling wetlands and wildliferich mangrove tunnels on the South Paddling Trail, with or without a guide. Also a key spot on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, the preserve has good hiking paths and boardwalks, plus an observation tower for spotting birds. Expect to see snowy egrets and black-crowned night herons, along with dolphins and otters.

2. Camp out with the turtles

Spring is an ideal time to visit Florida’s state parks for some R&R or adventure. Grayton Beach State Park on the Florida Panhandle greets you with powder-white sand, grass-clad dunes and a trio of rare coastal dune lakes, a phenomenon found in just four countries. This is also a nesting site for loggerhead and green turtles, which come ashore to lay their eggs from May until the end of October. The park’s array of shorebirds also makes it popular with birders. And if you want to stay a while, you can camp overnight under the starriest of skies, then watch the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Know your bear necessities

The Florida black bear is one of the state’s most exciting native residents, and a sighting at a safe distance makes a thrilling addition to any trip. Before European settlement, black bears ranged across Florida’s mainland, islands and keys, but today they occupy just 49% of their historic range. Naturally wary, they may be hard to spot, but Ocala National Forest has a healthy population of them. And despite being close to Florida’s theme park capital, Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park is also a regular hangout for black bears, with the highest number of sightings occurring in May. Be sure to head to their visitor centres before you hike or camp; they will have the latest information on bear safety, the weather and the trails.

ADVENTURE

4. Snorkel Florida's coral reef

Florida’s coral reef stretches around 563 linear kilometres, with the northern tip starting at the St Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park and stretching southwest to the Dry Tortugas National Park, 113km offshore from Key West. As the largest coral reef system in the continental United States, it’s home to myriad fish and marine species, including turtles, dolphins, rays, sharks, more than 45 species of stony corals and 35 soft corals. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, near Key Largo, is one of the best places to access the reef, whether you’re up for snorkelling, diving or prefer to stay dry on a glassbottom boat tour. There are canoes, paddle boards and kayaks to rent for adventures above the waves, too. Go with a local guide to learn more about the sea creatures you will spot.

5. Hike through deer country

Spring is a fine time to hike in Florida, making the most of the bright, sunny days. The East Central Regional Trail, inland from the laidback town of New Smyrna Beach, offers a relaxed hike along a paved path through woodlands, where lucky walkers may run into wild deer and birds. Along the coast, kayakers of all levels can explore the mangroves and wetlands on the marked Mosquito Lagoon Paddling Trail, looking out for dolphins and West Indian manatees.

6. Ride the sands of Amelia Island

Nothing says ‘freedom’ like a horse ride on a long, sandy beach. Add in some rolling surf and a glorious sunrise or sunset, and the scene is picture perfect. Riding happens yearround on Amelia Island, a barrier island on Florida’s north-east coast. Spring here brings blue skies and light breezes that make for a memorable ride. And whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, guides will ensure a safe trip and help keep an eye out for dolphins swimming off the coast and osprey flying overhead.

CULTURE

7. Get in the party spirit

What could be better than a spring Saturday spent browsing the stalls and grazing your way around the food carts at one of Florida’s many outdoor markets or festivals? Open from October until May, the Downtown Bradenton Public Market has locally grown produce as well as musicians, artists and chefs from this friendly, creative community on Florida’s Gulf Coast, south of Tampa. Festival season kicks off in May, with the Hernando De Soto Seafood Festival in Bradenton, the Sarasota Seafood & Music Festival in JD Hamel Park, and the Punta Gorda Crab & Music Festival.

8. Step back in time in Tallahassee

Originally home to the Apalachee and other Native American peoples, the fertile land between the Ochlockonee and Aucilla Rivers in northern Florida became the location for one of America’s vast cotton and corn plantations in the 1800s. Today, Tallahassee’s beautifully restored Goodwood Museum & Gardens leads visitors back in time to learn all about the impact of European settlers on America’s Indigenous peoples. You can continue your cultural journey at Tallahassee’s Railroad Square Art Park, a revamped Second World War-era industrial warehouse park that is now a bustling arts hub filled with galleries and vintage and antique shops.

9. Wander Miami's Art Deco District

All the rage in the 1920s, the Art Deco movement left its mark on over 800 buildings in Miami. An official walking tour by The Miami Design Preservation League tells the story of the city’s Art Deco District through its buildings, with tickets including admission to a dedicated museum. If you’re in South Beach and Ocean Drive, highlights include the Celino Hotel (formerly Park Central Hotel), Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s Cardozo South Beach, and the nautical-inspired Hotel Breakwater.

WILDLIFE

1. Go turtle-watching in Fort Myers

With over 100 white-sand barrier islands sparkling in the Gulf of Mexico’s turquoise seas, south-west Florida’s Fort Myers is a haven for marine life, and a dream destination for nature-lovers. Sea-turtle nesting season runs from May to October, when hundreds of turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs along Fort Myers’ 80km-long beachfront. Around 80 days later, the hatchlings emerge to make their first journey to the sea; the local ‘lights-out’ policy ensures they remain undisturbed. Visitors are also encouraged to adopt turtle-friendly behaviour, keeping a respectful distance if they see one nesting.

2. Watch dolphins in the Florida Keys

There’s nothing quite like watching wild dolphins in their natural habitat, and Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts offer countless opportunities for close-up encounters with these magical marine mammals. Bottlenose dolphins abound in the waters off the Florida Keys, and dolphin-watching trips out to the Key West National Wildlife Refuge offer a great chance to see them safely and respectfully, whether they’re swimming off the bow of the boat or following in its wake. Pods of Atlantic dolphins are also frequently seen on snorkelling tours and sunset cruises, but head to the legendary ‘dolphin playground’, off Key West, and you’re almost certain to see Florida’s most playful residents splashing around offshore.

3. Be enraptured by raptors

Just north of Orlando, in Maitland the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey runs research and rehabilitation programmes for Florida’s raptor species, including bald eagles, ospreys, falcons, owls and kites. Visitors can learn about the state’s birds of prey and take a behind-the-scenes look at the Raptor Trauma Clinic, which provides treatment for more than 800 injured, sick or orphaned birds each year. Fees, donations and raptor adoptions all help support the centre’s work.

CULTURE

4. Hang out with Hemingway

Known for its stunning tropical gardens and architecture, Key West’s most popular historical home is the mansion once owned by American author Ernest Hemingway. The iconic writer lived here in the 1930s with his then wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, penning novels such as To Have and Have Not and The Snows of Kilimanjaro in his writing studio. It has been a museum since 1964, and visitors can now wander the house and grounds. It is also famously roamed by dozens of polydactyl cats (with six toes on each paw) descended from those the author once owned. The annual Hemingway Days celebration in July marks the writer’s birthday with events, including a lookalike contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar.

5. Get arty

Florida is bursting with art with many galleries across the state, including the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg and Tampa Museum of Art. Each houses world-class collections. In Tampa, browse galleries of Greek and Roman antiquities, explore temporary exhibitions of contemporary painting and photography, or visit the riverfront sculpture garden. In Orlando, see the Art of the Ancient Americas Collection, while Miami has 20th-century and contemporary works from the Americas, Africa and Western Europe.

6. Cool down at a museum

Chill out in the sunshine state’s museums. In Tampa, don’t miss the Museum of Science and Industry where you can get hands-on with more than 100 activities such as the Mission: Moonbase exhibition which has been set up in collaboration with NASA to help people understand moon travel in a fun and interactive way. The Ringling Museum of the American Circus (now known as The Ringling) opened in 1948 in Sarasota; it became the first to showcase the exciting history of this much-loved and enduring form of entertainment. Housed in the Venetian-inspired Cà d’Zan waterfront mansion – the former home of American entrepreneur and circus owner John Ringling – its collection has expanded to include costumes, photographs, posters, props and parade wagons.

ADVENTURE

7. Scuba the reefs in Jacksonville

Florida has endless attractions beneath the waves, and summer is the perfect time to seek them out, with July water temperatures averaging 29°C (84°F). Jacksonville is the state’s most populated city, but has a host of natural wonders on its doorstep, including 35km of beautiful beaches and a subaquatic wonderland beyond. Having partnered with marine conservation organisation TISIRI (Think It, Sink It, Reef It), the city has helped to sustain vibrant, flourishing reefs by intentionally sinking boats and planes along the offshore continental shelf to create a thriving marine habitat. Extraordinary sites range in depth from 15m to 30m, allowing new and experienced divers to explore the submerged wrecks of naval tugs, yachts and more.

8. Swim in a natural spring

There are over 700 natural cold-water springs throughout Florida, with gushing giants including Wakulla, Manatee and Silver Springs discharging more than 65 million gallons of water every day. These waters bubble up from the limestone Floridan aquifer and achieve a fairly consistent temperature of 20°C to 22°C (68°F to 72°F) year-round, which makes for a perfect dip. A great way to splash in the springs is through one of the 15 states parks. Swim or snorkel at Wakulla Springs State Park, near Tallahassee, or take a dunk in north-west Florida’s Ponce de León Springs State Park.

9. Take flight over central Florida

The forests and waterways of Central Florida look pretty spectacular from the ground, so imagine the view from above? Experts at Wallaby Ranch, a hang-gliding school near Orlando, will take you up into the air on a Tandem Discovery Flight, teaching you how to control the glider before guiding you safely back down to earth. People of all ages can give it a try, and the best times to fly are early morning or late afternoon. Visitors can also enjoy the pool, climbing wall, and hiking and biking trails through the woods.

WILDLIFE

1. Harness your pedal power in Jacksonville

Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the entire country, with three national parks, seven state parks and 400 city parks within its borders. Together, they offer miles of biking and hiking trails across 80,000 acres. The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is a pristine coastal wetland on Jacksonville’s Atlantic Coast, with salt marshes, hardwood forests and wildlife including armadillos and bobcats. Don’t miss visiting some of the fascinating historic sites such as the Fort Caroline National Memorial, which marks the place where a fleeting 16th-century French colony once stood.

2. Follow the Florida panther in Fakahatchee

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, Florida’s largest state park, remains a wild and relatively undiscovered realm, helping to protect the park’s native endangered Florida panthers. In the dry season, from autumn to spring, guided hikes through the fragile swampland offer a glimpse into native Florida and plant species found nowhere else on Earth, including rare ferns, bromeliads and orchids. To the north lies the Florida Panther Reserve, a critical habitat for the estimated 200 big cats that remain within it. Big Cypress National Preserve, to the east, is a primeval land of cypress swamps, palm trees and ghost orchids.

3. Witness one of the world's great migrations

Who would have thought such delicate wings could fly so far? The monarch butterfly migration is one of the world’s most astounding natural phenomena, with hundreds of thousands of the insects flying up to 4,830km to head for warmer southern climes as temperatures drop in the northern US. The dunes and wetlands of Amelia Island State Park on Florida’s northeast coast provide a crucial stopover for the butterflies, and St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, near Tallahassee, is another popular spot, with monarchs congregating at the old lighthouse from October to mid-November.

CULTURE

4. Explore the Cuban Cigar Capital

Once a swamp on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa’s Ybor City grew to become a thriving community in the 1880s, drawing immigrants from Spain, Germany, Italy and Cuba to work in the booming cigar industry. At the time it was considered the ‘Cuban Cigar Capital of the World’, and it is also the home of Tampa’s famous ‘Cubano’, or Cuban sandwich. Today, Ybor City is a designated National Historic Landmark District with plenty of stories to tell. A walking tour with a local guide is the best way to get under the skin of this diverse neighbourhood, as they share tales of the city’s past heroes and hustlers on an autumn stroll along 7th Avenue.

5. Switch onto art

The annual Shine St Petersburg Mural Festival lights up the city’s streets in October, showcasing a world-class outdoor gallery of murals from contemporary local, national and international artists. An accessible audio tour connects viewers to online content as they walk through Downtown and the surrounding arts districts. While you’re there, don’t miss the five-storey Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM), which opened in St Pete/ Clearwater in 2021; it showcases over 2,000 examples of fine and decorative art from 1890 to 1930.

6. Celebrate Día de los Muertos

The Florida Day of the Dead Celebration in Fort Lauderdale is one of the largest Día de los Muertos events in the US. Held at the start of November, the Consulate General of Mexico joins the Atlantic Coast city in honouring this day in the Latin American calendar with a Skeleton Processional, a Mexican craft bazaar, workshops and music from mariachi bands. South American folklore groups perform dances, while the Boneyard Bandstand showcases Mexican music with a more modern twist. In the traditional spirit of the day, an Ofrendas Exhibition – altars covered in tributes to the deceased – is also displayed for the communal remembrance of family and friends.

ADVENTURE

7. Cycle around Sanibel

Joined to the mainland and Fort Myers by a 5km causeway across the San Carlos Bay, the subtropical isle of Sanibel feels like a world away. Almost 70% of the island is protected from development, with over half dedicated to the wonderful JN ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Cycling is a great way discover the island’s laidback coastal communities and shellscattered beaches. At Tarpon Bay, visitors can also take to the water on nature and sea-life cruises to search for manatees, dolphins and birds.

8. Zip across a canyon in Ocala

Florida isn’t known for its cliffs and canyons, so it’s a delightful surprise to discover and zipline over one at The Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park in Ocala. The soaring landscapes whiz by as you fly across canyons and sparkling lakes at heights of nearly 50m. You won’t find landscapes like this anywhere else in the state, as the two canyons are the result of an abandoned lime rock quarry that has now been reclaimed by nature. As you fly over, you’ll see just how much the wild has taken over, with trees clinging to craggy cliffs and vast woods sprawled beneath you. Learn more about the history of the land on horseriding and kayaking tours.

9. Go with the flow at Shingle Creek

Explore the headwaters of the Florida Everglades with a leisurely kayak, canoe or paddleboard trip down Shingle Creek, a protected stream that flows gently into Lake Tohopekaliga, near Kissimmee. Ecotours also venture to the Makinson Island Conservation Area on the lake, where you can wild-camp overnight and see alligators, river otters and myriad birds, including tricoloured herons and bald eagles. Cyclists and hikers should look out for the Shingle Creek Regional Trail, which will stretch for 51km when it is completed.

WILDLIFE

1. Go birding on a barrier island

Just as travellers flock to Florida each year in search of some winter sun, birds also arrive on its shores to enjoy the warmer weather. The JN ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is one of the best locations to see migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, wading birds and raptors. With critical wetland, estuarine and mangrove habitats attracting over 245 bird species (including the roseate spoonbill), plus a 6.5km wildlife drive, walking trails, an observation tower and an excellent visitor centre that explores Sanibel’s unique barrier island ecology, the refuge is one of the state’s most precious sanctuaries.

2. Snorkel with a manatee

Nothing can quite prepare you for snorkelling beside a 500kg sea cow, but things can get even more surreal when a baby West Indian manatee decides to stray away from Mum to snuggle up and say “hello”. Look, but don’t touch. Visitors must follow a code of behaviour to safeguard this endangered species. Amazing close-up encounters like this happen daily in the freshwater springs of Kings Bay at Crystal River on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This is the only place in North America where it’s legal to swim with manatees, and Kings Bay is home to the largest congregation on Earth during the winter months. Responsible, naturalist-lead tours leave from the Plantation on Crystal River resort, and if you’re lucky, these gentle giants will maybe even swim over to you, an experience you’ll likely remember for a lifetime.

3. Watch wildlife from a canoe

If you’re after a peaceful yet wildlife-filled escape into nature, then look no further than the Hillsborough River in Tampa. The 16,000 acre wildlife preserve plays home to creatures big and small, and a canoe is a great place to spot them. Choose from a two-hour tour or a full day experience, explore with a guide or on your own. Whatever you do, you’ll be in with a chance of spotting alligators, turtles, deer and wild hog. The river is also a great place for birdwatching with sightings including turkeys, herons and warblers.

CULTURE

4. Make like a pirate

Listen up, me hearties! Each year in late January, Tampa Bay is invaded by a gang of raucous buccaneers led by legendary pirate José Gaspar, who sail in on the 50m-long José Gasparilla – accompanied by a flotilla – and demand the keys to the city. The ‘invasion’ kicks off the joyous Gasparilla Pirate Festival and eight weeks of swashbuckling fun. The celebrations, which first took place in 1904, have grown to include a children’s festival and parade, an international film festival, a music festival and a festival of arts, drawing over 300,000 spectators who party long into March.

5. Watch a civil war battle

The Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park near Lake City is the oldest state park in Florida and preserves the battlefield and artefacts from one of the state’s largest Civil War conflicts. The Battle of Olustee took place on 20 February 1864, and each winter it is recreated by thousands of participants who gather at the park. More than 10,000 troops fought for five hours in the battle, resulting in 1,861 Union and 946 Confederate casualties before the Union forces retreated to Jacksonville, where they stayed until the end of the war. A 1.5km trail with interpretive signs follows the line of the battle. You can also watch a documentary about the reenactment which is shown daily in the interpretive centre.

6. Flick the holiday switch

Florida’s oldest city, St Augustine, becomes a twinkling tinseltown during the Night of Lights festival, when 20 blocks of the historic district are illuminated with sparkly white lights heralding the holidays. From late November until the end of January, landmarks including the Bridge of Lions and the Lighthouse and Maritime Museum are aglow. Old Town Trolley’s Famous Night of Lights Tour departs daily during this period for evening spins around the city, while Old City Helicopters offers dazzling views from the air and boat cruises give sailors the chance to admire the lights (and reflections) from the sea. The region also hosts annual holiday boat parades in Palm Valley and Matanzas Bay.

ADVENTURE

7. Catch a wave

Florida’s East Coast has some of the best surfing spots in the US, with waves to excite everyone from beginners to pros. Located on the Space Coast, near Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach is home to 11-time World Champion – and arguably the world’s best surfer – Kelly Slater. An hour north lies New Smyrna Beach, which is known as a ‘wave magnet’. It has the state’s most consistent surf break, and it’s a good spot for beginners, while Ponce Inlet is the place to go for larger swells.

8. Explore the Everglades

The Everglades, a national park since 1947, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. The largest subtropical wilderness reserve in North America supports an incredible array of life. Alligators, crocodiles and Florida panthers roam its forests and swamps, while turtles, manatees and dolphins are found in the waters surrounding the Ten Thousand Islands. Celebrating its 75th anniversary as a national park in December 2022, the Everglades’ winter season is a great time to visit, with low humidity and fewer mosquitoes. Zoom across ‘the river of grass’ by airboat, join a kayak eco-trip with Everglades Area Tours, or go off-road with Captain Steve’s Swamp Buggy Adventures.

9. Set sail in Pensacola

Selected as the winter training ground for the American Magic 2024 America’s Cup team, Pensacola is one of the best sailing regions in the USA. Located near the Alabama border in north-west Florida, its white sand-bordered bay sees yachts zipping along on emerald-green sees. The nearby Gulf Islands National Shore has myriad keys, dunes, lagoons, barrier islands and inlets that offer protected year-round boating. Perdido Key Beach frequently makes ‘Florida’s Best Beaches’ lists, and this region is a dream destination to learn to sail, or to charter a yacht and crew. Private or group boat trips are available, too, and whichever ship you sail, make sure to look out for dolphins.