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Your Guide to Exploring the Sunshine State

Find your next adventure as we highlight Florida State Parks, share travel guides to some of Florida’s amazing cities, visit national parks, and find other outdoor adventures around Florida!

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Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum 📚🐈 📍Key W Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum 📚🐈 📍Key West, FL 🌴 This museum was one of my favorite stops in Key West. This beautiful home is where Hemingway lived and wrote for eight years of his life. It’s full of stories, interesting history, and lots of cats! 🐱 The gray and white one in the third picture looks extra grumpy because she was! Most of them do not want to be touched! The house is now a museum, and you can go on a guided tour of the rooms, see Hemingway’s writing studio, and enjoy the lush gardens around the property. If you’re a literature lover, six-toed cat enthusiast, or just want to see an iconic Key West gem, this one’s worth the stop. I’m currently planning another trip to Key West for 2026 and this will be on my list again! Tip: The Key West Lighthouse is right across the street, so I recommend visiting both while you’re there!
A weekend camping at Silver Springs State Park ⛺ A weekend camping at Silver Springs State Park ⛺️🌿🛶🏝️ This is the very first park I camped at 3 years ago when I jumped into camping again as an adult! It still holds up collectively as one of our absolute favorites! The sites are roomy and private without being secluded, the bathhouses are 10/10, and there are plenty of activities. If you’re wanting to start camping, this would be a great park to start. Of course, I’d recommend waiting until the fall 🥵 Paddling is a must-do at Silver Springs! The Fort King Paddling Trail is so jungley and scenic. We saw otters(!!!), turtles, and gators. Then when you get into the Silver River side, the water turns deep and blue and is full of beautiful springs. The first pic is still honestly taking my breath away even though I saw it in person! We also did a clear kayak this time for the first time ever. I’d say it’s kind of cool but not worth the hype. I’ll do a separate post on that soon! The glass bottom boat tour is a fun way to see underwater to see some of the springs. There are multiple hiking trails at the park, but my favorite is the Swamp Trail which leads to a boardwalk and gorgeous views of the river (plus we saw more otters!). There’s also a museum. The park has two entrances, so make sure you’re heading to the right one for whatever activity you’re planning!
Throwing it back to a #FloridaSPFriday today! Gamb Throwing it back to a #FloridaSPFriday today! Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach 🌊🌴🌿 (say that three times fast) This park has the best of both worlds—beach on one side, river, trails, and camping on the other! You can swim or surf on the Atlantic coast, then head across the road to launch a kayak on the Intracoastal or enjoy the quiet trails through the coastal hammock. The park is named for a Florida folk musician, Gamble Rogers, who lost his life trying to save a drowning man while visiting the recreation area. This park has campsites on both sides, so if you’re lucky you can snag a beachfront campsite. The beach side campsites are essentially laid out like a parking lot, but they have amazing views and super easy beach access. Also amazing sunsets, and I’m sure sunrises being on the east coast! 🌴Located: Flagler Beach, about 1 hour from Jacksonville, 30 mins from Daytona Beach, 1.5 hours from Orlando 🌴 Hiking: 0.75 mile Joe Kenner Nature Trail 🌴 Unique Features: beach + river 🌴 Other Activities: fishing, picnicking, shelling, swimming, surfing, camping, paddling
Florida Paddle Bucket List 🛶🌿 ✨SAVE✨ th Florida Paddle Bucket List 🛶🌿 ✨SAVE✨ this post for inspo! Florida’s waterways are some of my most favorite places in the world. Here are some of my favorite spots so far (no particular order): 1. Rock Springs Run: Shallow, calm water, and so scenic. It requires a paddle upstream and then a nice float back down. 2. Ichetucknee River: A North FL fave with crystal clear water and just enough current for an easy paddle (or tube). Put in at the park’s north entrance for a peaceful trip with minimal other people and tons of wildlife. 3. Juniper Run (Ocala National Forest): A slightly wild, twisty paddle with untouched forest surroundings. This one isn’t beginner-friendly, but it’s worth it if you’re up for a challenge. 4. Crystal River/Three Sisters Springs: Beautiful year-round, but winter is the best time to see the manatees, and the other seasons allow you to paddle into the stunning Three Sisters Spring. 5. Weedon Island Preserve (St. Pete): This paddle takes you through quiet mangrove tunnels and open water areas. It’s a peaceful, scenic, and fun day on the water. 6. Santa Fe River: A “choose your own adventure” type paddle where you can choose your trip length and stop into several springs along the way. Although the river is dark and tannic, the springs are gorgeous. 7. Silver River: One of the most iconic spring paddles in the state. You might see manatees, monkeys, and all kinds of fish and birds as you paddle through the jungle-like surroundings. 8. Rainbow River: Crystal clear water, great for snorkeling or tubing as well. The paddle is a bit longer so plan for a full day trip! 9. Weeki Wachee River: Another spring-fed river with wildlife and beautiful scenery. This is an upstream-and-back paddle and the current is a bit strong. 10. Everglades National Park: With several locations to kayak, there is no shortage of fun on the water! Keep an eye out for crocodiles, alligators, birds, manatees, and more. 🛶 Still on my list: The Chaz, Atsena Otie Key, Indian Key in the FL Keys, Bioluminescent kayaking 💬 What’s your favorite Florida paddle spot? Comment below, I’m always adding to my list!
Take the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour 🛥️ Cru Take the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour 🛥️ Cruise through two scenic canals and see three lakes on the Winter Park chain of lakes. Your guide will point out impressive mansions and historic homes, including the college home of Fred Rogers, who would go on to host Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The tour lasts just under an hour. The boat only seats about 15 people, but several boats went out each hour during my visit on a Saturday. Tickets are first come first serve (they don’t take advanced reservations) and cost $20 for adults and $10 for kids. There’s no cover on the boat so be prepared for sun! ☀️
Wynwood Walls 🎨✨ – Miami, FL If you’re i Wynwood Walls 🎨✨ – Miami, FL If you’re into street art, bold designs, or just great photo ops, Wynwood Walls is a cool stop in Miami. This outdoor museum showcases a rotating collection of murals from world-renowned street artists. It does require paid entry, but it offers a more curated experience, info about the art and artists, and hands-on experiences. I think you can guess which mural was my favorite 😉🐊🦩 That said, you don’t have to go into the museum to enjoy the neighborhood. Just walking around Wynwood itself, you’ll find blocks of walls covered in vibrant murals, plus tons of unique restaurants, cafés, and bars. It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon exploring here. We did a guided food and walking tour so we’d be sure to hit the highlights. This area is very touristy, but you’ll want to stick to exploring during the daytime. One of the most unique things we ate in all of Miami was a fruit sub from La Sandwicherie! It’s stuffed with avocado, mozzarella cheese, and mango, pineapple, and papaya🍍It was so strange and something I never would have usually tried, but it was weirdly really good! Another must-try is Coyo Taco. We liked it so much, we ate at two of their locations. The birria tacos were seriously amazing 🌮 Wynwood is definitely way more concrete than the places I usually post about—but it’s a unique and fun experience nonetheless!
Happy Earth Day from Florida 🌎🌳🏝️ Ther Happy Earth Day from Florida 🌎🌳🏝️ There’s no place like Florida when it comes to natural beauty, from crystal blue springs and dense forests to coastal dunes, mangrove swamps, and miles of wild shoreline 🌊🐚 Whether it’s paddling a spring run, hiking through pine flatwoods, or catching a Gulf sunset, I’m constantly reminded how lucky we are to have so many incredible places right in our backyard. Today is a perfect reminder to appreciate and protect these places, not just on Earth Day but all year long. Whether it’s picking up trash along the trail, learning about our native ecosystems, or choosing to support conservation efforts, even the small things make a difference 🌱 Here’s to exploring more, respecting our Mother Earth, and doing our part to keep Florida wild and beautiful 💚
Just about an hour’s drive from Florida, Driftwo Just about an hour’s drive from Florida, Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, GA is one of the most unique coastal spots around. 🏝️ The beach is scattered with massive, weathered driftwood and sun-bleached trees, creating an otherworldly landscape that’s perfect for exploring, photos, or a beach day. I’d recommend going during low tide when more of the beach is exposed. It’s also a great place for shelling 🐚. I even found a piece of sea glass here! Jekyll Island and Driftwood Beach are definitely worth the trip. ❓Did you know? Florida has a similar beach too! Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park has a very similar feel. Both are full of unique driftwood trees, but I think Driftwood Beach takes the cake for the bigger trees! ☀️ Summer Road Trip Idea: there’s so much more to explore along the South Georgia coast! Why not take a summer road trip up to Savannah and explore some of the coastal spots along the way? Let me know if you want my ideas for this summer adventure!
Kayaking Juniper Run 🛶🌿 We finally got to d Kayaking Juniper Run 🛶🌿 We finally got to do Juniper Run in the Ocala National Forest and it totally lived up to the hype! This spring-fed run is known for being one of the most scenic (and technical) paddling trails in Florida. It’s often labeled as not beginner-friendly—and while there were definitely a lot of trees to avoid, obstacles, tight turns, and even rapids—we didn’t find it too challenging overall. It’s definitely doable for someone who understands the basics of kayaking and who would have fun running into trees and banks for 4+ hours and not get frustrated. We took two semi-beginners and they had a great time. There’s a good mix of maneuvering and some relaxing stretches, and the clear water and breathtaking lush forest made it all so worth it. The first part of the run was my favorite part, with the crystal-clear water winding through a shaded, jungle-like canopy. Later on the run, the creek opens up a bit and there’s prairie on either side and less forest. There are no exit points or infrastructure along the 7-mile route, so you’re in it once you start, but the current made paddling really manageable. It took us about 4.5 hours to do the run, and we went semi-leisurely, but not super slow. If you want to stop for a while for a picnic lunch, you might need more time. There’s also no swimming allowed in the run. The concessionaire at Juniper Springs is Naventure. You can rent through them at the main recreation area, launch from there, and they’ll shuttle you back at the end. Their rentals are first come first serve and there’s a limit to the number of boats allowed to launch per day, so get there early on a weekend. I’d recommend arriving before 9am on a weekend and during peak season. They also don’t recommend the run for kids under 12. I’d also stick to a single kayak if possible, because a double would be much harder to maneuver imo. Overall, it was such a fun experience and definitely one of the prettiest places I’ve kayaked in Florida. I’d absolutely do it again! Just keep an eye out for spider hitchhikers 🕷️and low branches 😅

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