Florida Destinations

0: Pine Island: Like No Other

Palm tree farms still flourish here
a niracle of sorts in a state rapidly losing
farmland to megamansions,
strip centers and sprawling subdivisions.
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1: Dirtbikes At Croom

The winding trails and sandy pits draw
thousands of dirt bike enthusiasts to the
159,000-acre Withlacoochee State Forest
— the second-largest state forest in Florida.
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2: Hernando: Lost And Found

Florida's not all flat. We discovered hilly
bridges in Hernando County's Brooksville
on a recent outing.
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3: Miami Beach: Art Deco Tours

Modern-day South Beach is still a vibrant
monument to the Art Deco designs
of the late 1920s and '30s.
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4: Inverness: Call Of The Equine

This part of Florida, perfectly named the
Nature Coast, is a part most of us never
see.
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5: St. Petersburg: Downtown Market

Downtown St. Petersburg's Saturday
Morning Market is well worth the trek from
Tampa, Brandon, Tarpon Springs or anywhere else.
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6: Stuart: You'll Be Hooked

Sailfish are to this beautiful coastal
community what cigars are to Tampa.
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7: Egmont Key: Keeper Of The Flame

Historic Egmont Key offers sandy beaches,
boundless wildlife, views of Anna Maria Island
and Fort DeSoto Park and the constant flow
of pleasure boats and the occasional
freighter passing by. And the lighthouse.
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8: Gulfport: Funky Homes, Kindred Spirits

In little more than a decade, they rebuilt
this historic waterfront city, reclaiming
and creating one of the Bay area's most
eclectic assortments of homes.
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9: Siesta Key: A Place Of Rest

Nothing's nicer than waking from a nap to
the sound of rain falling on palm fronds or
looking out the window to see graceful
birds of paradise.
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10: Fort Lauderdale: Where The Treasures Are

Fort Lauderdale's treasures — its famous
beach, Birch State Park, Las Olas
Boulevard's shops, galleries and cafes, and
the city's signature canals — thankfully
all seem the same.
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11: Cross Creek: Time Capsule In The Woods

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' readers still find
their way to this tiny place between Ocala
and Gainesville to be inspired by her muse:
Cross Creek.
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12: Dunedin: Small-Town Ambience

Nestled under ancient moss-covered oaks
and lining the sultry Intracoastal
Waterway, Dunedin's historic district is the
real deal, the exact type of town the
Disney folks tried to emulate when they
created Celebration.
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13: Kings Bay: Manatee Madness

Crystal River and nearby Homosassa
Springs maintain a thriving tourism industry
centered on the so-ugly-they're-cute manatees.
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14: Captiva: Calm After The Storm

Dead trees from Hurricane Charley still dot
the resort and the little village of Captiva,
but ospreys nest in many now,
another sign of rebirth.
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15: Cortez: It Takes A Village

A lot has changed in Cortez since gill nets
were banned in state waters in 1995. But
a lot has remained the same.
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16: Mount Dora: Quaint & Quiet

It's easy to imagine Mount Dora as the backdrop
for a movie set in small-town America.
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17: St. Pete: Haslam's Never-Ending Story

Established in 1933 near its present
location, venerable Haslam's Book Store is
likely the oldest - and largest - new and
used bookstore in Florida and
maybe in the Southeast.
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18: Webster: Only On A Monday

It's noon at the Webster flea market,
and already 50,000 shoppers mill
around this 300-acre Smithsonian of the
South, with its displays of American ingenuity,
nostalgia and indispensable tools for everyday
living (think Popeil's Pocket Fisherman).
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19: Steinhatchee: Quiet Oasis

Bordered by cabbage palms and
gargantuan oaks dripping with twisted
vines, the bourbon-colored Steinhatchee
River would make the perfect setting
for a Tarzan movie.
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20: Micanopy: Our Little Town

Home to just 653 residents, Micanopy is a
place where everyone seems to know
everyone else if they stay around long enough.
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21: Venice: Shops And Seaside

Sometimes, travels are more fun when you
don't make a lot of plans or know much
about a place before you visit.
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22: Maitland: Eagle Eye On Needy Birds

How fitting that the Audubon Center for
Birds of Prey is just a mile from where
Florida's first Audubon activists helped
halt bird hunting in the Everglades in 1901.
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23: Florida Southern College: The Dazzling Dozen

One of America's most revered architects
left a legacy in Lakeland unsurpassed in
the rest of the world. Full story

24: Bok Tower: Tower Of Tranquility

Few getaways are more relaxing. Enjoy a
peaceful stroll, a quieter night and a
delicious meal in the shadow of
Lake Wales' most famous landmark.
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25: Wakulla Springs: The Real Florida

A ride down the Wakulla River reveals
nature untouched and rarely seen by
inhabitants of the state's concrete jungles.
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26: Little Manatee: Take A Hike!

Looking to relieve the stress of work, fit in a
cardio workout and enjoy the great outdoors?
Try Little Manatee River State Park.
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27: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: Sarasota's Leisurely Legacy

A visit to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
makes a perfect complement to a stay
on Siesta Key.
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28: Nature Park Nurtures Respect For Bay

All three nature trails in Upper Tampa Bay
Park lead past the bay, and they offer
solace amid towering oaks and pines,
saw palmettos, palms, and white
and black mangroves.
Full story

29: Dade City Makes For Compelling Day Trip

Visitors to Dade City quickly see why
the town has a reputation as being
among America's best retirement towns
and most livable cities.
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30: Florida's Hidden Coast

Yellow Jacket Campground in Old Town
is a Floridian's dream getaway along the
Suwanee River.

31: Sarasota: Family Fun

32: Tallahassee: Capital Ideas For Garden Shoppers

33: Crystal Springs Preserve

34: Adventure Island

35: Big Cat Rescue

36: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

37: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Inc

38: Cracker Country

39: LEGOLAND Florida

40: Dinosaur World

41: Walt Disney World

42: Florida Aquarium

43: Gatorland

44: Great Explorations Children's Museum

45: Lowry Park Zoo

46: Museum of Science & Industry

47: National Comedy Hall Of Fame

National Comedy Hall Of Fame

48: John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

49: Science Center of Pinellas County Inc

50: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

51: Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary

52: Suncoast Primate Sanctuary

53: Sunken Gardens

54: Tampa Bay Downs

55: Tampa Museum of Art

56: Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

57: Weedon Island Preserve

58: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park