Follow the sunshine to Florida this winter for a dose of warmth and happiness—and you’ll end up right where you need to be. We partnered with VISIT FLORIDA to show you how.
When temperatures plummet, there are many reasons to ditch the snow, dig out your sunglasses, and head to Florida. Around the state, you’ll find 825 miles of accessible beaches, average temps in the 70s, and lush tropical scenery.
Along with every shade of blue water imaginable, you’ll discover some of the most beautifully designed resorts and hotels in the world. If you need some inspiration to get your wanderlust out of hibernation, here are some of the most relaxing spots in Florida’s great outdoors.
Located in the beautiful Florida Keys, Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is the only private island resort in the U.S. and feels like its own little world, where you can dock your boat for a few days or find your moorings in stylish thatched-roof bungalows. Mingling British West Indies design and the faraway feel of a Balinese hideaway, this tropical paradise is surrounded by natural beauty in all directions. Stroll along white sand by turquoise water for pure tranquility, or unwind by the lagoon-inspired pool.
Ideal for sustainability-minded travelers, 1 Hotel South Beach is a visually stunning oasis inspired by nature—including 600 feet of beach along the Atlantic Ocean. Designed using reclaimed and repurposed materials such as regional coral stone and salvaged wood, every detail of this LEED Silver-certified hotel has been meticulously considered. Relax in a full-service cabana by a rooftop pool, soak up the view from a hot tub on the 70,000-square-foot deck, or nurture mind, body, and spirit at the Bamford Wellness Spa.
First built in 1913, this “grand dame of Boca Grande” has retained its timeless elegance for more than a century. Nowadays, its Old Florida aesthetic looks as of-the-moment on social media as a chap wearing a crisp polo for a game of croquet on the perfectly manicured lawns. Around this enchanting slice of Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, guests can rent bikes, kayaks, or paddleboards to explore at a leisurely pace, or hit the Pete Dye-designed golf course featuring native seashore turf grass.
On the central Gulf Coast, a short drive from St. Petersburg, you can slip off your sandals and stroll along Clearwater Beach to feel the warm, powdery white sand under your feet and take in a glorious sunset. At the Opal Sands Resort, a guest can settle into a flawless room or suite overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and instantaneously switch into beach mode. With swaying palm trees and a zero-entry pool flanked by comfortable lounges and umbrellas, you’ve got everything you need for snapping a selfie with a blueberry mojito by the pool bar.
In the pulsating heart of central Florida—and a stone’s throw from the family-friendly theme parks and action of Orlando—The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes’ lakefront setting is the perfect place to relish the great outdoors. Swim in three heated outdoor pools (including an adults-only spa pool), have a signature spa treatment infused with honey made by the resort’s resident bees and herbs grown in the garden, and savor a refined spin on surf-and-turf at Knife & Spoon from award-winning chef John Tesar.
When the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa opened in Jensen Beach in 2017, it was the first newly built resort in this area—once known as the Pineapple Capital of the World—in two decades. Tucked alongside a stretch of Florida’s Central East coastline about two and a half hours south of lively Daytona, it’s a quiet beach community where you can float through freshwater marshes by canoe in Savannas Preserve State Park, or cast a line from the fishing pier at Indian Riverside Park.
With its commanding architecture recalling a gracious seaside manor of the Gilded Age, The Henderson, which opened its doors in 2016, holds a place of pride in Destin. Those fortunate enough to visit the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village on Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast will discover sugary white-sand beaches, rolling dunes, and nature preserves teeming with birds. Along with a beautifully designed spa and several restaurants, the resort offers fitness classes, family-friendly activities, and bikes to borrow.
Find your happy place among the world’s best resorts. Start planning your trip to Florida now.