1. 30A

• Best For: Living the coastal dream. This newly minted 17-mile scenic byway along the Gulf of Mexico connects a prestigious string of upscale coastal communities. From the nostalgic feel of Main Street USA amidst Seaside's cottages to the crisp, designer look of the Pensione Inn in Rosemary Beach, you'll need at least a week to explore this idyllic slice of North Florida.
• Best Eats: Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club may be a private venue, but its waterfront restaurant welcomes all with a buttefly-garden view framed by sand and sea. New Orleans chef George Thorning serves a fried green tomato salad with minced crawfish as well as traditional steaks.
• Don't Miss: The peaceful Western Lake, one of several coastal dune lakes surrounding this part of the state, is an icon here, as is the Gulf-front Red Bar in Grayton Beach, full of movie posters and quirky chandeliers. Sheryl Crow's mom lives in town and when the singer is visiting, she is rumored to hop on the Red Bar stage and sing a few songs with the local band. 30A.com

2. Alys Beach

• Best For: Panhandle chic. You'll think you're in Bermuda when you see this seaside village; on sunny days, a halo-like effect surrounds the whitewashed buildings. Villas and rowhouses are nestled near a nature preserve, which can be reached via myriad walking and biking paths. The courtyard at Fonville Press, the on-site coffeehouse and bookshop, is an idyllic perch from which to start your day.
• Best Eats: George's on Alys Beach serves two eclectic menus: one for diners who want to "behave" and another for those willing to "misbehave."
• Don't Miss: A peek at the many courtyards that front the homes here ? each takes outdoor living to new heights. alysbeach.com

3. Florida Seafood Festival

• Best For: Oyster lovers. A small-town-America gem, historic Apalachicola throws a great party, where sweet plump oysters tonged in the Apalachicola Bay and plenty of Florida seafood blanket the fall-time festivities.
• Sleep: The Gibson Inn, where a wraparound porch and Victorian touches make this charming and historic Bed & Breakfast a comfy weekend getaway.
• Don't Miss: The annual oyster-shucking and eating contests before sampling the bivalves ? simply raw or Rockefeller style ? for yourself. floridaseafoodfestival.com

4. Lee House

• Best For: History lovers. This city landmark in historic Seville Square became an upscale B&B unlike any other. Owner Norma Fleming Murray of the city's wildly popular Norma's on the Run Southern-style cafes will offer cooking classes and a little sweet tea to go with the afternoon bridge games.
• Don't Miss: The waterfront Fish House across the street is home to the delicious Grits a Ya Ya made with Gouda, Gulf shrimp and smoked bacon. Bands play on a moonlit dock on weekend nights. leehousepensacola.com

5. Pensacola Beach

• Best For: Letting loose. There are no rules on Pensacola Beach, just miles and miles of undeveloped seashore as serene as it can possibly get (no passport required) ? not to mention a great value when compared to other North Florida beach communities. From deep-sea fishing to exploring historic Fort Pickens, where Geronimo once lived, the island offers a diverse crop of activities.
• Don't Miss: Dive into a fresh grouper sandwich on one of many picnic tables at Paradise Bar & Grill, where your toes can nestle into the sand as you listen to live bands just about every night.
• Sleep: The towers of the Portofino Island Resort & Spa provide amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico. A free water taxi during summer months whisks guests along the bay to a bevy of restaurants and shops.
• Insider Tip: The fully stocked beach homes from Paradise Beach Rentals will inspire you to give up your day job and become a bona fide beach bum. visitpensacolabeach.com

6. Tallahassee

• Best For: Southern charm. Tallahassee is more characteristic of the South than the palm-tree-studded Florida peninsula. The foothills of the Appalachian Mountains give it a hilly terrain graced with moss-covered oaks, and antebellum mansions complement Florida State University's red-brick buildings and the state-capitol complex.
• Best Stroll: A self-guided walk through Gov. Crist's working arena includes the historic capitol, a restored 1902 structure that's now a museum where the original governor's office is preserved, and the 22-story new capitol, with its observation deck.
• Sleep: At the three-room Little English Guesthouse ? just for fun ? book the Essex Room, where Sir Lancelot, a knight in shining armor, stands guard. visittallahassee.com

7. North Florida Food and Wine Weekend

• Best For: Foodie couples. Taste of the Beach is a four-day celebration (held in Nov.) along the Gulf of Mexico and a chance to explore the world's best wines while sharing a two-story beach house on northwest Florida's Gulf coast.
• Don't Miss: Saturday's Seeing Red Wine Festival in Seaside. Plant your lounge chairs on the green where a jazz band entertains; then sample wines at the surrounding booths. With almost 400 choices, priced from $8 to $141, you can compare options before taking home a bottle.
• Best Eats: Saturday night's Winemaker & Shaker dinner lets you indulge in wines from Louis Latour and Stag's Leap alongside delicious dishes from local restaurants.
• Sleep: An emerald sea and quartz-like sand are reasons enough to stay at a WaterColor Inn beach house. Add a sophisticated nautical décor and a porch where you can enjoy fresh croissants from neighboring Fabrice patisserie, and you've got a dream vacation. waltoncountychamber.com

8. Vera Bradley Inn by the Sea

• Best For: Ladies who love the famous patterns. If you like her bags, you'll love the Inn by the Sea. For years, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of Vera Bradley, vacationed in Seaside. Now she's redecorated the town's only B&B, a classic Southern mansion, with her trademark flair for pattern and whimsy. Each unit in the carriage house is animated with designs from soft-blue toile to cheerful red checks. A country breakfast made with recipes from Vera Bradley's cookbook is served in the old-fashioned parlor and dining room.
• Bar None: Bud & Alley's Tarpon Club delivers the finest salt-rimmed margaritas and mint-laced mojitos, not to mention the best sunsets in the area.
• Don't Miss: The new Ogden Museum of Southern Art at WaterColor ? an offshoot of the famed original in New Orleans ? hosts changing exhibitions of mostly Southern artists.
• Insider Tip: A signature tote comes with the room, but if the pattern isn't a perfect fit, Molly Caroline's boutique carries more as well as linens, rugs and furniture. cottagerentalagency.com

9. WindMark Beach

• Best For: Those who like being immersed in nature. East of Panama City in North Florida, you'll find the ecologically sound WindMark Beach (a part-residential, part-resort community). Pedal a beach cruiser through paths that skirt sand dunes landscaped with native plants and gardens. In the fall migrating monarchs en route to Mexico pause here.
• Sleep: We love WindMark's sleek suites in the Turtle Glass building. They have everything ? living space, kitchen and two baths ? so you can stay for a week or two. Book the corner unit for sweeping sunset views.
• Best Eats: A second- story, open-air lounge at WindMark's School of Fish offers stunning vistas of Cape San Blas State Park and the town center. Downstairs, a raw bar will serve Apalachicola oysters. windmarkbeach.com