The Original Guide to Florida
With its endless beaches, iconic attractions and eclectic food scene, Florida is a Southern state that defies expectations. From Key West’s toasted meringue Key Lime pies to the 300-year-old Spanish fort in St Augustine, we explore the best of what the Sunshine State has to offer
Words: Mariette Williams
02/07/2025
Carl Hiaasen’s satirical crime caper follows a former detective as he investigates a murder case in the Florida Keys
Julia Duffy and Kristen Wiig in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale
Ariana Grande performing on stage for the movie Don’t Look Up
Pre-trip culture checklist
READ: Carl Hiaasen’s Bad Monkey captures the beauty and absurdity of living in the Sunshine State and was recently adapted into a television series starring Vince Vaughn. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, set in the historic all-Black town of Eatonville, is a must read. And honourable mention goes to Best. State. Ever – a hilarious ode to Florida by Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry.
WATCH: Kristin Wiig’s masterful Palm Royale, a gorgeously shot comedy series about an outsider wanting to infiltrate Palm Beach’s high society in the 1960s. Look out for the punchy, bright dresses from Lilly Pulitzer, the Palm Beach-founded fashion line.
LISTEN: For party vibes, create a playlist featuring Florida’s homegrown pop artists such as Gloria Estefan, Ariana Grande or Pitbull. Though he wasn’t born in Florida, the folk country singer Jimmy Buffett embodies Florida’s laidback ‘beach bum’ vibe. His 1974 album A1A references the beachfront road that winds down the west coast and is the fitting soundtrack to a day on the water.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
A local’s view
“I’ve been living in Florida for nearly a decade now. I felt drawn to its vibrant culture, international mix of residents and proximity to the ocean. It’s been an inspiring place to call home. South Florida has a rhythm that really speaks to me – the sunny weather, the beach and the laidback pace of life create a certain calm. I find a lot of beauty in the landscape – the oak trees, the variety of birds, the seasonality of the flowers. It feels like a hidden oasis. And, of course, being close to the ocean is a gift – I love to go to the beach whenever I get the chance. Living here feels like a privilege.
“I have a few go-tos around Coral Gables, a city near Miami. One of my favourite morning rituals is stopping by Tinta y Café for croquetas and a Cuban coffee. For dinner, Luca Osteria is a favourite. The chef, Giorgio Rapicavoli, is a Miami native who makes great Italian food. The pasta is always fresh, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. And of course, Joe’s Stone Crab on Miami Beach is a classic. The stone crab and Caesar salad never disappoint.”
The Tampa EDITION Pool Bar (Nikolas Koenig)
New view
Tampa has upped its hotel game, welcoming a Tampa EDITION in 2022, and the city’s best views are from the hotel’s sexy rooftop Pool Bar. Draped in lush florals, the deck has a Garden of Eden vibe and daybeds to complete the tropical dreamscape.
Rubens’ The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota; the Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling Estate Circus Museum
Rainy-day views
On Florida’s west coast, Sarasota has one of the state’s most unusual museums if you’re looking for indoor entertainment during the rainy season, which typically lasts from May to October. The Ringling, founded by circus pioneers John Ringling and his wife Mabel, is a cultural complex with several museums. The Museum of Art is home to an impressive collection of Italian Baroque paintings, Chinese ceramics and contemporary art installations, all housed in a pink Renaissance-style building. The Circus Museum’s comprehensive collection includes big top memorabilia such as posters and wagons, as well as interactive exhibits.
Key lime pie is said to have originated in Key West in the late 19th century
The original… key lime pie
A three-hour drive from Miami, Key West is Florida’s southernmost destination – known best for its namesake tangy custard dessert, key lime pie. For a classic slice, Key Lime Pie Company serves its desserts chilled, using a 100-year-old family recipe involving a handmade graham cracker crust. Equally delicious, the famed Blue Heaven restaurant serves a creamy slice piled high with toasted meringue.
Bird’s-eye view
Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St Augustine is the oldest city in the US. One of the its popular attractions is Castillo de San Marcos (above), a limestone rock fortress built as a lookout to protect the city from pirates and British forces. From the gun deck, there are stunning views of Matanzas Bay and the St Augustine skyline.
Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in Bad Boys: Ride or Die
As seen on screen
The state has been the backdrop for several iconic films, such as Marley & Me, which spotlights South Florida’s sunny suburbs. Both Miami Vice and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys quartet zigzag between Miami’s downtown high rises. And 2022’s Father of the Bride remake offers a visual tour of a few South Florida landmarks, such as Domino Park in Little Havana (where locals have gathered to play dominoes for the past 40 years), and the 100-year-old Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
The US Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Access all areas
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, just 40 minutes from Orlando, ranks as one of the best accessible attractions in Florida. The sprawling centre dedicated to space travel has a US Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Rocket Garden, which displays authentic rockets. There are wide paved and level walkways throughout the park, and the front rows of viewing areas are reserved for visitors using wheelchairs. The complex is also a Certified Autism Center, with designated areas where people with sensory sensitivities can take a break from potential sensory overload. And with a two-week notice, the centre will provide an American Sign Language interpreter to accompany hearing-impaired visitors.
The sensory six
Dale Chihuly’s End of the Day Tower in the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables (Carlos Causo)
Bananas Records is a treasure trove of vinyl
Strong, sweet Cuban coffee is traditionally served as a shot (Znawca Kawy)
Sanibel Island is a shell collectors’ paradise (though collecting live shells and marine life is banned)
Siesta Key Beach is famous for its very rare and soft quartz-crystal powdery sand
Ghosts & Gravestones ‘Frightseeing’ trolley bus
Smell
Founded in 1938 by plant explorer Dr David Fairchild, Miami’s Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a sprawling park of lush plants and foliage, many rare and exotic. Spend a few hours meandering through the living exhibits on a self-guided tour and stop to smell the ylang-ylang and chocolate daisies.
Hear
Head to vintage record store Bananas Records in St Petersburg, which claims to have one of the world’s largest vinyl collections with more than three million records. The city is an eclectic music hub, and downtown St Pete’s music venue Jannus Live has hosted bands including The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Green Day.
Taste
Piping hot thimbles of sweet Cuban coffee are served from a venadita (a ‘little window’) alongside empanadas or croquetas. There are dozens of venaditas around the city, but Miami’s Versailles is one of the best places to grab your cafecito.
Touch
Go shelling on Sanibel Island, an idyllic barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. During low tide, beachcombers can be seen meticulously searching the shoreline for seashells.
See
There’s stiff competition, but one of Florida’s best beaches is Siesta Key Beach, a stretch of dazzling, Caribbean-esque white sand that gets its hue from its high quartz content.
Sixth sense
Hear about Key West’s spooky past on the Ghosts & Gravestones Tour. The island’s past is marked by violent clashes, yellow fever deaths and hurricane casualties, contributing to the eerie after-dark vibes.
Everglades National Park is a vast subtropical wetland in southern Florida
The one thing
Take a break from the glammed-up digs in Miami and head an hour south to Everglades National Park. The one-and-a-half-million-acre swampland offers kayaking, biking, hiking and birdwatching activities. Book a room at the recently opened eco-friendly hotel, Flamingo Lodge, or opt to sleep under the stars.
Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway is a local landmark of Nashville’s music scene
Where next?
If Florida is your thing, check out Tennessee. Like Florida, the state is filled with historic landmarks and unique attractions, especially in the capital. Nashville is home to The Parthenon, an art museum built in 1897, modelled after the Greek Parthenon, and the Grand Ole Opry, a live music venue showcasing country music performances. The state serves up a bit more Southern charm than Florida (locals are known for their penchant for striking up friendly banter), but there’s also a burgeoning food scene, especially in Nashville. Crowd favourite Hattie B’s Hot Chicken serves Southern classics such as fried chicken, mac and cheese and peach cobbler.
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