The Best Things to Do in South Florida

South Florida is a popular vacation destination as it’s a mix of bustling cities, tropical beaches and cultural experiences. It has a little bit of everything whether you want to party the night away in Miami, relax on the beach or walk through history at the museums. It’s vibrant. It’s beautiful. And there are an endless amount of things to do in South Florida.

The southernmost part of the Sunshine State is unique in that it blends urban landscapes with the surrounding natural beauty. You can drive through a city and not even realize that you’re next to a state park. And the sections of South Florida offer something different as well.

What comprises South Florida?

South Florida consists of the east side beach cities from Jupiter all the way to the Keys. This includes Palm Beach County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Monroe County. There’s no official boundaries and it might differ depending on who you ask. But this is what I’ve always considered to be South Florida.

Palm Beach is filled with upscale neighborhoods and shopping. Broward County has 24 miles of golden, sandy beaches. Miami-Dade is brimming with culture and nightlife. And Monroe County is home to the famous Florida Keys.

I’ve lived in the area for quite awhile now. I lived in West Palm Beach for a hot minute when I first moved down to Florida. Shortly after that, I moved down to Miami, to the heart of South Beach, and lived there for five years. Miami is where I started to fall in love with travel. After a few trips around the world, I got married and now live in Jupiter.

Palm Beach

Palm Beach County is the northern county that kicks off the start of South Florida. It includes West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. Area wise, it’s a pretty large county and there’s quite a lot of things to do.

The Jupiter lighthouse sits along the inlet and is a popular landmark in Jupiter due to its red hue. You can visit the lighthouse, which also has a museum, and even go up to get a bird’s eye view of the inlet and surrounding area. At the foot of the lighthouse is also a huge banyan tree that’s great for photos.

The Juno Beach pier is a long fishing pier that you can walk along and get views of the shoreline. It’s a great spot for sunrise if you’re an early riser. It’s also right next to the off leash dog beach if you have a furry friend you want to take to the sand. There’s a parking lot right across from the pier or you can park easily along the beach road (for free!).

There are several Florida State Parks towards the south of the state and I always think they are worth seeing. The John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is a place to explore nature and relax on the beach. There’s a beautiful 2-mile stretch of sand to relax on and several boardwalks that take you along nature trails or over the water.

You can also get out on the water by renting a kayak to paddle through Lake Worth Cove. The water is calm and you can explore the mangroves in the area.

A great activity to cool off in the summer is the Snorkeling Trail at Blue Heron Bridge. It’s located at Phil Foster Park just off the bridge. The snorkeling trail runs along the beach and varies in depth between 10-20 feet. Along the trail, you can see man-made modules, shopping carts, hammerhead shark sculptures and even a few wrecks.

It’s also a popular diving spot and divers can access the trail along either end of the beach. There are some deeper areas under the bridge and another wreck near the docks to explore.

A fun thing to do outside of West Palm Beach is the Lion Country Safari. It was the first drive-thru safari in the US and is home to hundred of animals within its nearly 600 acres.

The drive-thru lets you explore seven different animal habitats from the comfort of your own car. You can listen to an informational audio on the way while pointing out different animals. And they’ll come right up to your car!

Another section of Lion Country Safari is the Adventure Park. This is a walk-through area where you can see even more animal habitats up close. There are rides for children, a water playground and splash zone, and several animal encounters like giraffe and lorikeet feeding.

Worth Avenue is one of the most famous streets in Palm Beach, known for its upscale shops and beautiful architecture. Worth Avenue runs horizontal through Palm Beach Island from the lagoon to the beach. The address above will bring you to the clock tower that you’ll find at the end of the road facing the beach. Otherwise, you can drive down S Lake Drive and it will turn into Worth Avenue.

The streets that run parallel and in between are fun to check out as well. Some of them feel as if you’re in a maze of mediterranean passageways that lead to small courtyards. It’s a popular spot for photography as there are many cute nooks and stairwells within the shopping area. Just make sure you bring your wallet ($$$) if you want to shop!

To get a good grasp of Florida’s history, you have to know about Henry Flagler. He extended the Florida East Coast railway all the way down to the Florida Keys and is responsible for a lot of Palm Beach’s development. The Flagler Museum on Palm Beach island was formerly known as Whitehall and was his waterfront estate (and gift to his 3rd wife).

It has ornate ceilings, beautiful views of Downtown West Palm Beach and even a private rail car in the glass pavilion. You can take a guided tour through the house as well that provides a lot of great information.

The Breakers hotel is one of the most iconic hotels on Palm Beach island. The luxury property is a waterfront hotel that has been a vacation getaway for the rich and famous for quite some time. All thanks to Henry Flagler.

Only a year after the East Coast Railway reached West Palm Beach, Flagler opened the first resort on the property. But The Breakers Hotel you see today, is not the hotel that was initially built. In fact, it’s the 3rd–as the first two burned down.

The property today is beautiful and hosts lots of events and weddings (if you have the budget). You can book a room at the Breakers to get the full experience or you can come sit at the bar or eat at one of their several restaurants. We ate at the Seafood Bar and it was delicious (plus the bar is an aquarium).

Though it’s technically not in Palm Beach County, the Blowing Rocks Preserve is just north of Jupiter. This is an unusual spot on the beach with limestone rock outcroppings.

If you go around high tide, the waves will hit the rocks and cause the water to shoot up into the air. And If you go during low tide, you’ll be able to see little archways within the rocks.

It looks almost otherworldly because the rocks just suddenly appear out of the sand. Careful when you walk though, me or someone in my group has stubbed their toe on a hidden rock in the sand every single time I’ve been.

Another place to check out that’s just north of Jupiter is the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. There are several nature trails through the forest to take and you can rent a kayak to get out on the Loxahatchee River. It’s a different side of Florida but beautiful if you go around sunset. There’s also a lookout tower you can climb to get a better view of your surroundings.

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Broward

Broward County is nearly half the size of Palm Beach County but has a larger population. Most notably, it consists of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano Beach. There are naturally less places to go that fall under Broward County lines, simply because of its size. But as you know, Fort Lauderdale has a massive tourism draw.

Fort Lauderdale actually has a state park right next to the beach: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The land was gifted to the city to preserve it and today there are 180 acres that comprise the park. On one end is the Intracoastal and on the other side is the Fort Lauderdale Beach. There’s also a mangrove habitat, coastal woods and a fresh water lake.

You can walk through some of the trails and easily access the park from the beach where there’s also a restaurant/bar area just on the other side of the street from the sand.

Las Olas Boulevard

Location: 240 Las Olas Cir, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

The main street in Fort Lauderdale is Las Olas Boulevard. It’s a lively street with shopping, restaurants and bars that’s fun to walk down. It starts just past US-1 and ends right at Las Olas Beach which is lined with palm trees. There’s lot of events in the area, fun brunch places and art galleries to explore.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

One of the best things about Fort Lauderdale is the beach. It’s wide so lots of people can enjoy it, there’s a great boardwalk by the sand to walk on and it’s lined with palm trees. It’s a very picturesque beach and fun to visit.

There are shops and restaurants just across the street, so it’s easy to take a break from the sun and sand. But more than that, Fort Lauderdale has 24 miles of beach areas within the county!

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Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County needs no introduction as it is well known for Miami and the surrounding neighborhoods and one of the top things to do in South Florida. The Magic City is a tropical, crazy paradise and a playground for the rich and famous. For the broke and not so famous, it’s also a playground. It’s one of those cities that people either love or hate. I for one, love it.

Explore South Beach

South Beach is iconic and infamous all at the same time. Whenever people ask me where I lived in Miami and I answer ‘South Beach’, I either get a “niiice” or an “Oh wow…” (not the good kind). There’s a lot going on in South Beach. It’s a tourism mecca, a beach town and a nightlife hotspot. But it’s also full of art and culture and events every night of the week.

• Ocean Drive – Ocean Drive is the most famous street in Miami, known for its large boardwalk next to the sand, Art Deco hotels, and roller bladers skating past under the palm trees. It’s been in countless movies and for good reason, it’s the epitome of Miami for vacationers. You’ll find it running from 15th street all the way south and it’s also where you’ll find a lot of the cute, colorful lifeguard stands!
• Versace Mansion – One of the most iconic houses can be found in the middle of Ocean Drive: the former Versace Mansion. Now it’s a boutique hotel called Villa Casa Casuarina and you can stay there for a glimpse into the world of the famous fashion designer, Gianni Versace. You can also make lunch or dinner reservations to see the inside.

• South Pointe Park – At the very tip of South Beach is where you can find a boardwalk running right along the waters edge. On one side is a pier leading out over the beach and on the other side is a grassy park area that’s perfect for watching the sun set over the city.
• Espanola Way – Between 14th and 15th street is where you can find Espanola Way. It’s a pedestrian street with Spanish influence that comes alive at night with hanging lights, music, and outdoor seating for restaurants.
• Lincoln Road – Another famous pedestrian street in South Beach is Lincoln Road. It’s located between 16th and 17th street and is filled with modern shops, cafes and restaurants. There’s a lot of outdoor seating and it’s a great place for people watching.

I could go on and on simply because there is so much to do in the area. There are great photo spots all over South Beach, iconic and eccentric hotels to see, numerous restaurants, bars and clubs to check out, and of course, the beach.

Design District

Location: Right near 195 and Biscayne Blvd

The Design District is a really fun place to explore. It’s a colorful neighborhood with shopping, art, design and fun architecture. There are large sculptures, fun children’s areas and art on every corner. Even the designer stores have taken part–the Fendi Colonnade is a popular spot for photos as it’s painted in bright colors (yellow and orange when I went!).

Don’t miss the Fly’s Eye Dome or the parking garage. Yes, the parking garage. It’s unlike any parking garage you’ve seen–it’s covered in art and you’ll find a bright pink area inside complete with a pink slide and pink net.

Little Havana

Location: West of Downtown Miami

Little Havana is an area of the city that’s just west of Downtown. There’s a lot of Latin influence in Miami and Little Havana is where you can immerse yourself in Cuban culture. Visit Calle Ocho for live music, art, cigars and Cuban cuisine. Don’t forget to have a Cuban sandwich and a cafecito before you leave!

Located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne is where you can find the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. There are nature trails, a bike trail, a paddle launch and a beach area to relax at. A highlight is the lighthouse built in 1825 right next to the beach which you can climb to the top of.

Make sure to come early on the weekends as the park can hit capacity!

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a beautiful waterfront mansion located off US-1 just south of Brickell. It was built in the early 1900s by James Deering as a winter home. And while the home is great to wander around, the gardens are the true draw.

This place is a popular spot for photography and weddings due to the extensive gardens. There are maze hedges, stone walls, gazebos and all sorts of nooks and crannies to find. Out on the water is where you’ll find a stone barge which was once used as a gathering place and small boats would take guests across to it. It’s a hidden gem in Miami and very picturesque.

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Monroe

Monroe County makes up the very southwest corner of Florida (the Everglades) and the Florida Keys. The keys are a quirky, tropical and laid-back location, perfect for weekend getaways. It’s one of my favorite things to do in South Florida. The best way to experience these islands is to take a road trip down the Florida Keys to experience it slowly.

John Pennekamp is another park that’s mostly underwater and in fact, it was the first underwater park in the US. It’s located in Key Largo and encompasses about 70 nautical square miles. While you can kayak or canoe here, the best way to experience it is obviously getting underwater.

This is a popular spot for snorkeling or diving tours to check out the coral reefs within the park. And you can also snorkel to see the Christ of the Abyss statue underwater.

Robbie’s has become a staple road trip stop on the way down the Florida Keys. It’s got a little bit of everything here: kayak and boat rentals, gift shop, restaurant and what they’re most famous for: tarpon feeding. For a couple bucks, you can feed tarpon right off the dock or you can head down towards the end where there’s a netting situation with holes cut out so you don’t get swallowed whole.

But even more vicious than the tarpon are the pelicans. They aren’t afraid to steal your fish right out of the bucket and more than one victim had a fish stolen from their hand before they could even think about getting it to the tarpon.

One of my favorite stops in the Florida Keys is Bahia Honda State Park. It’s located about two-thirds down US-1 right before you reach Big Pine Key. This park is a great place to spend the day at the beach. It has some of the prettiest beaches in the Florida Keys and a short hike up to the Old Bahia Bridge where you can get a great view of the beaches.

Bar hop on Duval Street

A trip to Key West wouldn’t be complete without a bar crawl down Duval Street. This famous street has quite a few bars playing live music into the night. You can find fun shops to check out during the day and hole-in-the-wall bars for drinks at night. The bars (and the Keys for that matter) are quirky but can get quite fun!

Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square

The Sunset Celebration in Key West is a nightly occurrence. Visitors and locals flock to the water front at Mallory Square to watch as the sun goes down past the ocean. There are bars on the square to grab a cocktail, street vendors and performers for the occasion. You can also opt for a sunset cruise or even a sunset flight over the island.

The third National Park in Florida is the hardest to get to. Dry Tortugas National Park is a 2 hour 15 minute boat ride from Key West. If you don’t have your own boat, your only option is to take the ferry and tickets are pretty expensive. A day trip ticket cost $200 per person. If you want to stay on the island, the only option is to tent camp, but those tickets are typically booked out far in advance.

The main attraction is Fort Jefferson, a six-sided fort that was used as a prison during the civil war. You can explore the fort, walk around the island and snorkel.

Visiting South Florida

Best Time to Visit South Florida?

The Best time to visit South Florida is during the shoulder season, right before or after peak season.

–To Floridians, there are two seasons: in-season and off-season. In-season runs from about December to April, when the snowbirds come down for the winter and of course the Spring Breakers in the spring. It’s the busiest time in Florida and prices will be at the highest. There’s less rain during this time and the weather is very enjoyable–still warm but you aren’t dying of humidity.

-From the end of December through February, the weather can be very fickle. Florida does get its cold fronts and they could last for two weeks or two months. Yes, we do break out coats and sweaters on occasion.

–March is Spring Break and unless you’re a Spring Breaker, it’s likely a time that you’ll want to avoid the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area. But March is not always hot–we can have cold fronts through March as well and it’s definitely not always the optimal beach/swimming weather.

-Off-season is May through November. It’s also hurricane season (June-November). To me, May, September and October are some of the most enjoyable months to visit, weather-wise. Once the end of June hits, it is hot and it is humid. Rain in the summer can also be finicky. Some summers, we get that afternoon shower that rolls in out of nowhere and then it’s back to blue skies within an hour. But this summer, we’ve had it stick around with longer thunderstorms in the afternoon.

How Expensive is it?

Very. Florida is a tourism hot spot, so you can expect to be paying high prices for hotels, dinners and drinks. That’s not to say that you can’t find cheaper places to eat. But cost of living is high. For cocktails, expect to pay about $12 on the low end and $18-20 on the high end.

What Should You Pack?

If you come during the winter months, don’t be surprised if the weather drops. Be prepared with jackets, jeans and close-toed shoes just in case. If you travel during the summer, bring your beachwear! And if you plan on going anywhere nicer for dinner or drinks, make sure you have a nicer outfit for that–typically not beachwear or anything with holes.

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