Summer is officially here and now is the perfect time to get out and explore. Whether it's a day trip or an extended weekend, these picks will show you a side of Florida that may surprise you. So check out our list below and see which of these summer outings would be perfect for you and your family:
Explore a Gulf Beach: At press time, most Florida Gulf beaches are alive and well. They’re among the prettiest in the country; let’s give ’em a boost. For updates: floridatravellife.com/beaches.
Rock the Beach: The American Music Festival takes center stage in Daytona Beach. Usher, Carrie Underwood and more perform at the Daytona Beach Bandshell, mysummerkickoff.com.
Get Your Harry Potter Fix: Visit Hogwarts Castle & Professor Dumbledore’s digs at the fantastic new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, universalorlando.com/harrypotter.
Go to the Movies: Cool down in the new Paragon 13 theater in Coconut Grove. It features the only all high-definition digital projection in Miami, 3-D screens and valet parking, paragontheaters.com.
Visit Wakulla Springs: Take a riverboat cruise through this classic state park near Tallahassee, cool off in the springs and dine at the vintage Lodge, floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings.
Hang at Hollywood Beach: Stroll the nostalgic Broadwalk, hop on a bike built for two or rent a cabana (with Wi-Fi) on the sand across from the Marriott Hollywood Beach, visithollywoodfl.org.
Dock and Dine: Try the Old Key Lime House in Lantana, near Lake Worth, for casual eats and tunes, like Chad and Heather’s country-rock duo on Sunday afternoons, oldkeylimehouse.com.
Thank Goodness It's Friday: Freebie Friday-night concerts kick off weekends around the state. For more details, see the monthly events guide at floridatravellife.com/calendar.
Catch the Sunset: The ultimate place remains Key West’s Mallory Square. Street performers and pink Key West shrimp included, sunsetcelebration.org.
It's Happy Hour Somewhere: Join locals on Neptune Beach at the Seahorse Oceanfront Inn’s Lemon Drop, a classic beachfront watering hole, seahorseoceanfrontinn.com.
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