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Top 10 Summer Escapes

See our picks for the best weekend fun in the sun around the state
by Ana Connery

With warmer temperatures heading our way, it's time to get out and explore. Whether it's a day trip or an extended weekend, our 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:

1. Go “yoloing.” Water-sports enthusiasts have a new craze called yoloboarding (aka stand-up paddle boarding). Head to North Florida’s Santa Rosa Beach, where this recreational activity has made its mark. yoloboard.com

2. Build a sand castle. North Florida’s glorious town of Seaside offers a series of free sand-sculpting classes right on the beach. seasidefl.com

3. Fish. Summer anglers have their choice of tarpon & dolphin tourneys in the lower Florida Keys. fla-keys.com/calendarofevents

4. Be one with the turtles. From July to August, visit the Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood for a naturalist-led program that might include a turtle-hatchling release. 954.926.2380

5. Act like a kid (again). Miami’s Jungle Island has animals and birds galore, a private beach with an inflatable water slide, plus frozen cocktails and fab bay views. jungleisland.com

6. See Disney after dark. Starting June 6, check out “Summer Nightastic!” when Walt Disney World in Orlando brings back the Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Electrical Parade. disney.com

7. Get jazzed. Enjoy a cocktail at the Sunset Beach Bar before the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s Summer Jazz on the Gulf of Mexico free concert series. June 26, July 24 and Aug. 28. naplesbeachhotel.com

8. Head to the Bandshell. Oceanside at Hollywood’s Broadwalk, there’s Friday Fest every Friday night at the Hollywood Beach Theatre, where jazz, blues and pop fill the air. 954.924.2980

9. Tour a new museum. On the banks of Tampa’s Hillsborough River, the Tampa Museum of Art is an architectural gem with great exhibitions. tampamuseum.org

10. Stroll. Live entertainment lines the sidewalks of downtown Naples for Evening on Fifth. June 10, July 8 and Aug. 12. downtownnaplesassociation.com

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