2026 Travel Guide to Florida

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:10 AM ET, Mon January 5, 2026

Florida remains a popular destination for travelers as it stacks a lot of crowd-pleasers in one easy, year-round summer-like package.

With over 1,300 miles of coastline that includes sugary white sands on the Gulf side with waves and surfing on the Atlantic, exciting theme parks, Latin and Caribbean influences, fascinating historic towns, laid back island vibes and a myriad of nature offerings, Florida offers visitors so many options for a memorable vacation experience.

Best Destinations in Florida

Florida Keys remains a popular destination as this tropical paradise offers a one-of-a-kind-mix you don’t get anywhere else. Florida Keys Airport built a new concourse, and Allegiant Air and Breeze Airways added nonstop service to the destination.

Just north of the Keys, the Magic City of Miami will offer sport fans a World Cup match in 2026, an opportunity to see soccer legend Lionel Messi, and the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix. Picturesque, laid-back Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast continues to make substantial progress after Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic damage in 2022, and “Theme Capital of the World,” Orlando, remains a draw for entertainment lovers and thrill seekers.

Best Attractions in Florida

Universal Orlando took the entertainment spotlight in 2025 with the opening of Epic Universe, its newest park with five themed lands and a dedicated entrance to Epic Universe from its newest venue, Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Walt Disney World in Orlando remains a flagship destination for Disney fans, with four unique theme parks and two water parks, celebrating the new re-opening of Test Track at EPCOT.

Expedition Odyssey opened at SeaWorld Orlando on May 1, 2025, as the world’s first fully immersive Arctic-themed flying theater.

Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral is NASA's primary launch center for human spaceflight that includes the Apollo Moon missions. Key attractions include the Apollo Saturn V rocket that landed astronauts on the moon and the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit.

Must See 2026 Florida Events

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host multiple FIFA World Cup matches from June 11-June 19, a once-in-a-generation global event that draws crowds from all over the world. Racing fans can always rely on the thrilling excitement of the Daytona 500 — NASCAR’s most iconic race scheduled for February 15 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach.

One of the country’s biggest culinary events is returning in 2026. The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) is a four-day celebration of food, wine, spirits and pop-up events (February 19-22) with appearances by Food Network talent, celebrity chefs, sommeliers and culinary personalities.

As one of the most influential and internationally celebrated contemporary art fairs in the world, Art Basel Miami Beach will host the U.S. edition of the Switzerland event from December 2-6, focusing on modern and contemporary art and bringing together galleries, artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers from around the globe.

Best Places for Families in Florida

Home to four major theme parks, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND Florida, Orlando remains at the top of the list for family visits.

Located on the Gulf Coast, Clearwater Beach is known for its soft white sand, family-friendly atmosphere and home of the Clearwater Marine Museum. Families can enjoy time together on one of the best beaches in the U.S. with gentle, warm waters ideal for swimming.

Educational opportunities include the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral and St. Augustine with its Spanish fort, historic re-enactments, impressive, interactive Pirate Museum, and Eco Tour Adventures led by interpretative naturalists.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, Autism center, accessibility, space tourism

Best Places for Couples in Florida

Few Florida destinations are as serene and laid-back as Sanibel Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The island continues to make a remarkable recovery after sustaining major damages from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Known for its secluded shell-covered beaches and wildlife, the island’s sunset views are spectacular, making for a classic romantic experience.

Couples looking for tropical vibes and vibrant nightlife should head to Key West, the southernmost city in the U.S. with a laid-back tropical vibe, glorious beaches and crystal-clear tourmaline waters. Miami Beach offers trendy nightlife, art and culture for those looking for more action.

Located on the Florida Panhandle in the Gulf of Mexico, Seaside is a small and charming, picturesque town, part of the ‘Emerald Coast’ and known for its quaint cottages, sugar-white beaches and turquoise waters, a perfect place for a romantic getaway. Amelia Island on the eastern coast offers a Hallmark feel with its Victorian easily walkable town and offers unspoiled beaches and nature exploration.

Best Places for Group Travel in Florida

Iconic theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld make Orlando a classic group destination. With plenty of accommodation types to choose from, group hotel blocks available, easy coordination of tickets and dining and a myriad of activities outside the theme parks, this Central Florida town remains one of the favorites for group travel.

Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg offer a great balance of theme parks, waterfront dining, museums and beaches. Miami and South Beach with their dynamic mix of beaches and vibrant nightlife and Little Havana for food and music make this area popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties and fun group getaways. Large vacation rentals in Florida’s Emerald Coast (such as Destin and Panama City Beach) offer places where groups can vacation together on100 miles of coastline with soft-sugar white sands, clear shallow waters, dunes and coastal wetlands.

Couple scuba diving in a reef in Florida Keys and Key West

Best Places for Solo Travel in Florida

Whether solo travelers are looking for history, outdoor adventure or art and cultural experiences, Florida offers plenty of options.

A charming lakeside town with artistic soul in Central Florida, Mount Dora is ideal for those looking for safe, relaxed, walkable small places with charm, culture and nature to explore. St. Augustine is perfect for history buffs as the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the U.S. with small-town friendliness, pedestrian-only streets, an easily walkable waterfront, stunning architecture and nature exploration.

While Key West may be a draw to those looking for eclectic, quirky and festive, the other Florida Keys feature peaceful islands, perfect for perfection, water adventures and nature activities galore, including snorkeling and diving in stunning John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. So, whatever the solo traveler is looking for, they’ll find it here in Florida.

Best Foodie Destinations in Florida

Florida is a foodie paradise thanks to its mix of Latin, Caribbean, Southern, and seafood influences.

Miami is always a standout with its vibrant international flavors, especially Cuban, Haitian, Colombian, and Caribbean cuisine. Key West is renowned for its fresh seafood, island-style cuisine, conch fritters, Key Lime pie, fresh fish tacos and local rum cocktails.

Tampa/Ybor City, known for Cuban sandwiches and Spanish cuisine and historic foodie scene is a fun place to explore. If you’re looking for authentic waterfront seafood shacks and venues right on the water, Fort Myers Beach offers many choices for seafood, island-style drinks, bay views and Gulf breezes.

And beyond its theme parks, we have to give a nod to Orlando, highly touted for its diverse international cuisine, high-end dining, farm-to-table spots and artisanal food markets.

Best Places for Adventure in Florida

Those totally into wildlife will love Crystal River. Just 45 minutes from Ocala, the ‘horse capital of the world,’ Crystal River is part of Florida’s Nature Coast, a protected wildlife preserve and one of the best places to see West Indian manatees in the wild. The area has natural springs where the water stays a constant 72°F and the best place to experience them is by kayaking or paddleboarding the crystalline waters of the river.

The Florida Keys, of no surprise offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling on its colorful reefs teeming with a myriad of sea life. Other outdoor fun includes jet skiing, sailing, parasailing and fishing.

Best Places for Sports Enthusiasts in Florida

Florida is a treasure trove for sports enthusiasts, offering a myriad of venues and events to explore.

The state boasts an impressive number of professional sports teams that include the NFL Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars, NBA Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, MLB Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, NHL Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning and MLS Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC.

Fort Lauderdale, the “Yachting Capital of the World” hosts the International Boat Show, one of the world’s largest, along with offering numerous sailing, boating and yachting opportunities. If you’re into golf, Naples, often called the “Golf Capital of the World” boasts over 80 impressive courses and sports some of the best saltwater fishing in the state. The city also hosts one of the world’s most prestigious pickleball tournaments, the US Open Pickleball Championships, attracting top pros, international players and large spectator crowds.

Daytona International Speedway is home to the world-famous Daytona 500 and other major NASCAR races, and Miami, with its already strong sports influence will host multiple World Cup matches in 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park

Unique to Florida

Florida is almost as famous for its alligators as it is for its beaches and theme parks and one of the best places to see these crocodilians is in Everglades National Park. Spread across 1.5 million acres, the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. is the world’s only place where alligators and crocodiles coexist.

Tarpon Springs is one of Florida’s hidden treasures. The sponge capital of the world was named in the late 1800s when Greek immigrants brought deep-sea sponge diving to the area. Greek influence remains strong with its wooden docks, sponge boats, laid-back coastal vibe, historic homes and amazing, authentic Greek cuisine.

Other notable Florida natural wonders include Weeki Wachee Springs, crystal-clear underground outlet and Devil’s Den, a prehistoric underground spring located inside a cave. On cold mornings, the steam, appearing like smoke, rises from the cave’s chimney- the reason it was named such by early settlers.

Shipwrecks off Florida’s coast (especially the Treasure Coast) fed stories of pirates, gold and lost booty, and one of the world’s most authentic collection of pirate artifacts and stories is housed at St. Augustine’s Pirate & Treasure Museum with 48 impressive exhibits.

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