Florida Small Town Road Trips

Florida is known for its larger cities such as Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, that attract tourists from all over the world. But Florida is also sprinkled with charming and quaint small towns that can make for excellent road trip adventures. Take a road trip this Summer to explore the state, spend some quality time with your family, and step away from your daily routine.

Our top three road trip ideas for this Summer: 

Rosemary Beach

Established in 1995, Rosemary Beach is a small town that used to be a part of the inlet beach area, in between Panama City Beach and Miramar Beach. Where everything in the area is no more than a five-minute bike ride away, Rosemary Beach does a great job of encouraging walking and biking on the town’s system of interconnected sidewalks and pathways. The green spaces dispersed throughout the town are excellent places to have a picnic with friends and family, throw a frisbee, or read a book. The beach is truly one of the most beautiful in the state, with gorgeous white sand finer than sugar, crystal clear blue water, and breathtaking sunsets.  

Matlacha 

Located in Lee County, Matlacha is a small island known for its fishing, due to the great variety of fish in the Everglades ecosystem that populates the waters. With a population of fewer than 700 people, the town offers a feeling of isolation from the busy world and gives people a place to relax and amongst brightly colored buildings and pristine beaches. Kayak and paddleboard rentals give visitors plenty of options to explore and appreciate the town from the water. The island is also very encouraging of pedestrian traffic and known for its good restaurants and quaint city center.

Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is located in Manatee County, South of Tampa Bay, and was first settled in the beginning of the twentieth century, which is reflected in the town’s architecture and landmarks, such as the Roser Memorial Church built in 1913. The island’s stretch of beach brings tourists in from near and far to appreciate the soft sugar sand and beautiful blue water. Summertime is a perfect time to take a road trip to visit the island, as sea turtle nesting season spans through the months of May to October and could offer a once in a lifetime chance to observe a fascinating feat of nature. 

Enjoy your Summer road trips and remember to enjoy the view!