Florida’s Secret Vacation Spots: Nature, Clams, And One Town Older Than America

Photo by Konstantin Kitsenuik on Unsplash

KEY POINTS

•Florida offers seven lesser-known travel spots, including Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine, ideal for avoiding crowded tourist hubs.
•St. Augustine, founded in 1565, features historic sites like Castillo de San Marcos and hosts 'Nights of Lights' each holiday season.
•Cedar Key is noted for farm-raised clams and quiet charm, while Ocala provides natural springs with kayaking, wildlife, and the state's longest zipline.

While the rest of the US is shivering in 2025’s relentless winter, Florida locals are flaunting bikini season like it’s a state sport. Escape the crowds of Miami Beach and Disney World by visiting hidden gems like Ponte Vedra Beach, where winter homes masquerade as Airbnbs along lonely A1A roads. St. Augustine, America’s OG town from 1565, lights up palm trees instead of pine for the holiday 'Nights of Lights'—because why not mix medieval Spain with sunshine? For fresh seafood fans, Cedar Key offers farm-raised clams and Jimmy Buffett vibes minus the human traffic jam. Nature lovers can kayak with monkeys and alligators in Ocala’s springs or zipline over Florida’s longest ziplines. And in Sarasota, beaches named best in the United States deliver white sand so perfect it mocks Daytona’s struggling tan. Florida’s got more than theme parks—it’s got history older than the USA, clams aplenty, and possibly some Covid-immune manatees.

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Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

Florida’s best hidden spots serve farm-raised clams, medieval vibes, and monkeys with herpes. Meanwhile, Disney fans just deal with lines and sunburns.

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