Florida

Florida Vacations | Start Planning Your Trip for an Escape to the Sunshine State

This is the definitive guide for your Florida vacation with the best hotels, resorts, and tips on things to do whether you're heading to an amusement park, the city, or hitting the beach.

“Florida” is at the tip of almost any traveler’s tongue when it comes to planning a vacation. Summer, fall, winter, springs–it doesn’t matter.

But where to begin? A family-friendly, roller-coaster adventure at the theme parks in Orlando? A city escape to Tampa? Or the beach? Even if you settle on the beach, you’ve got Fort Lauderdale, South Beach, and the entire Gulf Coast to choose from and then you need to pick a hotel or resort on top of it all.

Fortunately for you, this isn’t our first time talking about Florida. Have a look below at some of our top stories covering the Sunshine State to help you plan your next Florida vacation.

Family Fun at Miami Beach

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Miami Beach is more than a party hub. Families are just as likely to flock to here are singles looking to mingle.

At Miami Beach Edition, you’ll find families heading to the Sandbox, a tropical corner near the pool with a ping-pong table, hammocks, and an outdoor movie screen. After spending the day in the sun, satiate that appetite over at Market at Edition, a kid-friendly hall-style eatery from Michelin star chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

The Miami Beach EDITION

Top rated
Miami Beach
9.2 Excellent (1961 reviews)

Florida Beach Resorts

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Going to the beach is a long-time Florida favorite. Whether you’re looking for an adults-only escape or for a reliable Florida beach resort, there’s no shortage of options here.

One hotel that seems to pop up often in our Florida coverage is Breakers Resort in Palm Beach. The Roman Villa Medici-inspired property is historic and epitomizes the glitterati lifestyle in the Floridian Riviera. It’s an obvious romantic getaway in Florida with all kinds of activities for you and your significant other. Sign up for golf, tennis, scuba diving, reef diving, or even ocean kayaking. When you want to take a load off, head over to your private beach bungalow with concierge service.

The Breakers Palm Beach

Palm Beach
8.0 Very good (283 reviews)

Urban Florida

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Florida is much more than just the sand that happens to surround it. There are cities that are experiencing just as much of an urban renaissance as Seattle, Kansas City, and Detroit.

For a hotel stay as special as the destination itself, check out Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota. This property rises up like a contemporary vision just across the street from the Sarasota Opera House. Love it? You can look into their artist-in-residence program.

Head out poolside where you’ll find the rooftop bar Perspective. Try a box of their crispy cauliflower Manchurian, loaded with fried paneer cheese and spicy masala. Wash it all down with a craft cocktail, like their Flowers on the Wall concoction with St. Petersburg Banyan vodka, Small Hands Orgeat, caramelized pineapple, and Crème de Violette.

Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection

Top rated
Sarasota
9.4 Excellent (2010 reviews)

Visit the Most Magical Place on Earth

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We can’t talk about Florida without talking about Walt Disney World®. The most magical place on Earth has been a tourism powerhouse for decades and is showing no sign of slowing down.

Travelers have shown their love time and time again for the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World with, as of this writing, an average guest rating of 9.6 out of 10. This five-diamond property is located behind the private gates of Golden Oak millionaires row, covering approximately 26 acres of manicured forest including a mix of palms, oak trees, and wetlands.

Adults will have a blast here, too, thanks to the on-site golf course and two infinity pools. Come dinnertime, you’ll have no problem filling up at one of the four restaurants, one of which is a 17th-floor rooftop steakhouse where you can catch the nightly Disney fireworks show.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando At Walt Disney World Resort

Top rated
Lake Buena Vista
9.7 Excellent (4064 reviews)

Play Ball!

Ariele Goldman Hecht

If you’re a baseball fanatic, chances are you’ve been thinking about doing a trip to Florida for Spring Training baseball. Whether you’re heading down for the Tigers, Red Sox, or another Grapefruit team, we’ve got you covered.

The Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel is one of the more highly-rated properties near Spring Training baseball. The Tampa-based hotel is a great option for traveling Yankees fans looking to catch a game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel

Top rated
Tampa
9.2 Excellent (2220 reviews)

Feature photo by Alex Shutin on Unsplash