#Florida scenery full#
It’s also full of trails (both sandy and watery) that can be explored via bike or kayak to maneuver through the native mangroves.
And if that seclusion isn’t enough for you, hitch a ride on the ferry to Cayo Costa, a preserved, 2,500-acre state park known for its idyllic solitude and wealth of sandbars to snorkel through. In short, this is the place to go to if you want to avoid the riffraff. Even the public beach access is a crapshoot with only limited places to park (done intentionally to prevent overcrowding). You won't find condo buildings or souvenir shops or any abundance commercial properties, for that matter. In other words, this is not your typical tourist spot. That goes for the development of its infrastructure as well: almost the entire northern half of the island is protected within the JN 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This is Florida's ultimate leave-your-worries-at-home destination, a southwest-coast island where the only dollars anyone seems to care about are sand dollars. The term “barefoot and happy” could have very well been invented in Sanibel. The “no shoes, no shirt, no dice” rule certainly does not apply in Anna Maria, as almost all of its fare (like the signature grouper sandwiches) are devoured from the docks of Rod & Reel Pier or in the actual sand at Sandbar. Back on land, you can explore the historic Spanish-American-era fort and by sea, swim through abandoned shipwrecks and get up close and personal with stingrays, manatees, and dolphins.
#Florida scenery plus#
And despite being a truly sleepy town, outdoor adventure-seekers can take advantage of the slew of paddleboarding and kayaking tours, plus snorkeling excursions to nearby spots like historic Egmont Key. First and foremost, the sunsets are unparalleled. The old Florida charm abounds in the form of sun-faded architecture and beachside seafood shacks, but the best part about this place is that all you really need is a lounge chair and a smile, because its simple beauty takes care of everything else. Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group/GettyĪs soon as you hit the city limits of this cozy beach town-the northernmost of a trio that sits on a seven-mile-long island just south of St. Your best bet is to stay at one of the many antique-filled, multi-century-old bed and breakfasts, and don’t skip the Lightner Museum or one of the renowned restaurants like Collage (there’s a solid food scene here!), along with one of the tucked-away jazz bar you’ll likely stumble upon on one of the many storybook-like corners of this town. And sure, for every original 1700s schoolhouse there may be a tourist trap or two, but the fact remains the 144-block National Historic Landmark District is stuck out of time. The city is also home to some of the most breathtaking architecture in the New World, centuries-old buildings heavy on Spanish, French, and English influence standing tall against a breezy Atlantic backdrop. This is a place that takes its history very seriously: The original cobblestone streets are often marched during period reenactment parades complete with blacksmiths and military characters, and many of the establishments look like the kind of place where Ponce de Leon himself might have grabbed a drink (and who knows, maybe he did). But at the risk of making a terrible pun, it truly never gets old here.
Hey, it is the “oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States” - founded by the Spanish in 1565.
#Florida scenery how to#
When you grow up in Florida, you’re taught certain things very young, among them how to run away from alligators (duh) and that the historical touchstone of our beloved state is St. Devil's Den | ADRIAN DIAZ CADAVID/Shutterstock Given he didn’t have a GPS anywhere nearby, we can only assume this is a rough estimate, but a statue in the parking lot still pays tribute to the historic site. Interestingly, the park sits at 30 degrees 8 minutes north, the coordinates where Ponce De Leon is said to have first spotted Florida. So a summer wade into the water here will have you coming out of the surf and feeling like you’ve crossed onto another continent. The beach is rarely crowded, as northeast Florida beachgoers often opt for more lively stretches up north in Ponte Vedra and Atlantic Beach. It’s the golden sands along the beach at Guana River State Park, where massive grass covered dunes separate the sand from the highway, and the isolation they provide gives you the sense that you’ve traveled a lot further than 45 minutes from downtown Jax. Though Florida is best known for its soft, powdery sand beaches and flat shoreline that goes on forever, just south of Jacksonville you’ll find a beach that feels more like Madagascar than Miami.
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