9 Best Places To Visit On Your Next Florida Vacation

21.12.2023 - 20:21 / forbes.com / Sunshine State / Art

Florida is a top destination for many domestic and international travelers thanks to various entertainment attractions, including major theme parks, the warm weather and sandy beaches, and numerous cultures and cuisines to explore. With that in mind, Florida is a large state with many places worth visiting. To help you plan your 2024 travels, I’ve listed the best places to visit in Florida.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Florida and a brief description as to why:

While there is something for every type of traveler in the Sunshine State, there is also a lot to do. You can’t go wrong with the destinations listed above. However, I will focus on Tampa, as it has a little bit of something for everyone and isn’t necessarily the first place people think of when considering Florida.

There are several reasons to visit Tampa, including some of the reasons that put Tampa on the map. For one, Tampa used to be known as Cigar City, as it was once one of the biggest manufacturers of Cuban cigars.

Cuban sandwiches, which consist of ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, Genoa salami, and pickles on Cuban bread, are also a local staple. Cuban and Spanish workers at the cigar factory also developed the Ybor City neighborhood, which has become known for food, drinks, and nightlife.

Tampa is also home to incredible sandy white beaches, the Busch Gardens theme park, and an extensive zoo. Over 3 million people reside in the Tampa area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

The weather is humid because Tampa has plenty of water surrounding the area. It is also described as a subtropical climate. The highs range from the mid-60s to the mid-90s, with below-freezing temperatures a rarity. Additionally, as of the time of publishing, Tampa has never recorded a high of 100°F, though St. Petersburg has reached 100°F.

The hot and humid season is between May and October, with the hottest month being June and the wettest months being July and August.

Visitors can enjoy milder and drier weather in the remaining months of November through April. November is the driest month on average, and January is the coldest month, with an average high in the low 60s.

The must-see attractions when visiting Tampa depend on what your interests are.

For history buffs, consider visiting Ybor City, which contains many old cigar factories that have been converted. Stop by the Ybor City State Museum (which features the history of cigar production and its influence on the neighborhood), the Henry B. Plant Museum (which used to be a resort and focuses on the Gilded Age of tourism), and the American Victory Ship and Museum, which is one of the only operational WWII ships around. The Tampa Bay History Center also has three floors of