The best time to visit Florida is typically November through April.
This is when:
The humidity is lower
The temperatures are comfortable (70s–80s)
Hurricane season is over
You can actually enjoy being outside
Winter is peak season, especially in South Florida and the Keys, so expect higher hotel prices. But the trade-off is perfect patio weather and no melting into the sidewalk.
Summer (June–September) is hot, humid, and rainy in the afternoons. It’s also cheaper. If you don’t mind planning indoor breaks or pool time around quick storms, you can save money — just prepare for “my hair gave up” levels of humidity.
From South Beach in Miami to the white sand of Clearwater Beach, Florida beaches are a major draw. Some are lively and social. Others are quiet and family-friendly. Decide your vibe first, then pick your coast.
If you’re heading to Orlando, you already know what’s happening. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort are bucket-list level for many travelers. Plan ahead, book early, and hydrate like it’s your job.
Drive the Overseas Highway down to Key West for turquoise water, boat days, and sunset celebrations at Mallory Square. It’s quirky, it’s colorful, and it’s worth the drive.
Everglades National Park is wild Florida at its best. Gators, mangroves, and wide open wetlands. It’s a completely different experience from the beaches and adds variety to your trip.
South Florida and the Keys offer excellent snorkeling, reef trips, and deep-sea fishing excursions. If you like being on the water, Florida gives you plenty of excuses.
Florida has multiple major airports, making it easy to reach from almost anywhere in the U.S.
Popular airports include:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Tampa International Airport (Tampa, FL, US)
Flights are frequent and competitive, especially from major U.S. cities. If you’re visiting the Keys, you can fly into Miami and drive, or fly directly into Key West.
Florida is big. Like, bigger-than-you-think big.
Renting a car is often the easiest way to explore, especially if you’re:
Visiting multiple cities
Driving to the Florida Keys
Exploring beaches outside of major downtown areas
Cities like Miami have rideshare options and walkable neighborhoods, but once you leave those pockets, having a car makes things significantly easier.
If you’re only doing theme parks in Orlando and staying on property, you can get by without one.
Hurricane Season: Runs June through November. Peak activity is August–October. Travel insurance is smart during this window.
Afternoon Storms: In summer, rain usually hits mid-afternoon and clears quickly. Plan beach time in the morning.
Sun Protection: The sun is strong year-round. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and reapply.
Tipping: 18–20% is standard at restaurants.
Tap Water: Safe to drink, but many people prefer bottled due to taste.
Theme Park Strategy: Arrive early, take midday breaks, and don’t try to “do it all” in one day. That’s how meltdowns happen.
Most importantly, decide what kind of Florida trip you want. Beachy and relaxed? Theme park marathon? Island road trip? The state can do all three — just not efficiently in one weekend.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Thousands of motorcycles, decades of history, and one very hot infield. 🏍️
I went into Mid-Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days expecting a bike show. What I got was closer to a small town that pops up once a year camps stretched across the hills, swap meet tables piled with parts I couldn’t name, and bikes older than some of the people admiring them parked next to restorations that looked showroom-fresh.
Fair warning: this is not a quick stop. Give yourself the whole day, wear real shoes, and don’t skip the racing watching pre-war machines and modern superbikes share the same track is worth the sunburn.
Ohio keeps surprising me. Full recap on the blog link in bio. 🔗
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
