Off the Beach-Beaten Paths of Florida

Florida features one eccentric beach enclave after another

While sugar-white beaches and emerald-green waters are the main attraction for many visitors to this area of Florida, but there is so much more to see — from the Big Bend's Apalachicola to the tip of the Panhandle's Pensacola. You'll not only find great sand beaches, but charming waterfront communities and historic districts well worth the visit.

In this region of Florida, small towns are the norm and large cities the exception. Tucked off seaside roads and backcountry rural routes are the special hidden places that add to the unique appeal of Florida’s First Coast.

Although speeding race cars and soaring space shuttles take the spotlight among Central East Florida attractions, travelers will be pleasantly surprised to find a wealth of historical gems quietly awaiting discovery, just slightly off the beaten path.

Florida’s Gold Coast features numerous small towns and communities offering a variety of extraordinary pursuits to passers-by.

The southwest coast of Florida features one eccentric beach enclave after another. Roaming through the region’s coastal villages and small barrier islands, wayside wanderers will find pirate hideouts, unusual pioneer settlements and famous winter retreats. Many of the area’s most unique, off-the-beaten-path locales are best reached by boat and best navigated on foot or by bicycle.

Dotting the region’s coastline, a host of unique diversions await on the roads less traveled. Down scenic bayfront avenues and tucked off quiet Gulf beaches, gilded architecture, ethnic enclaves and historic villages can be explored at a leisurely pace reminiscent of a bygone era.