Florida is a wonderful vacation destination with an amazing variety of sights and experiences to be discovered. From the remote beauty of the Florida Keys and the buzzing life of Miami to the muddy swamps and picturesque natural springs, there is something for everyone in this delightful state.
Florida is a diverse place, with a huge variety of destinations, environments and vacation types to choose from. It also has a fluctuating climate, which makes careful planning of when to visit a must. When you are choosing when to visit, you’ll want to look at where you are going, what you want to do and what you need to pack, as well as taking into account the high season and other travelers. So before you book your weekend in Miami, or start organizing a Gulf Coast cruise, take a look below at some helpful information about when it is best to visit the Sunshine State.
North Florida
North Florida includes both the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It boasts some of the most incredible national parks and natural freshwater springs in the country, as well as the exciting cities of Jacksonville and Tallahassee. North Florida gets warm weather throughout the year, but can be wet and humid during the summer (with extra-added mosquitoes!), and chilly during the winter. The best time to visit the north of the state is spring, from March to May, when temperatures tend to be somewhere between 70 and 85 degrees, and rain is rare.
Miami and South Florida
Miami is the most well-known destination in Florida and draws tourists looking for culture, beach life, and superb nightlife. For travelers looking to maximize their beach time, Miami and the beaches of South Florida are the perfect winter getaway. With a tropical climate, summers tend to be wet and humid, but winters are warm and dry, so plan on visiting the south from November to April, and avoid the hurricane season from May to October.
The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys is a beautiful archipelago of remote islands stretching out from the southern tip of Florida towards the Caribbean. As you might expect, they have more in common with the Caribbean islands, both in terms of climate and pace of life, than they do with the mainland. The Gulf Stream brings warm water to the Keys, and the weather is heavenly for much of the year. Autumn, winter, and spring are all perfect times to visit, with only the summer months between June and September worth avoiding due to heavy rainfall.
Orlando
Orlando is all about theme parks and shopping. Home to Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Studios, among others, as well as some fantastic malls, outlets, and high-end boutiques, Orlando is a very popular tourist destination. The weather is less extreme here than in other parts of the state, but the best times to visit are spring and autumn, when the days are warm, dry and full of sun, and you avoid the intense heat of the summer and the chill of the winter.