Places to Explore

• Bradenton

  In 1539 Hernando de Soto landed near this Manatee River city, which has some 20 mi of beaches. Bradenton is well situated for access to fishing, both fresh- and saltwater, and it also has its share of golf... (more)

• Clearwater

  Residential areas are a buffer between the commercial areas that center on U.S. 19 and the beach, which is moderately quiet during winter but buzzing with life during spring break and summer. There's a... (more)

• Crystal River

• Dunedin

  If the sound of bagpipes and the sight of men in kilts appeals to you, you might catch an earful or a glimpse if your timing is right. Founded and named by two Scots in the 1880s, this town hosts the Highland... (more)

• Homosassa Springs

• Sarasota

  Sarasota is a year-round destination and in some cases permanent home to some of Florida's most affluent residents. Circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable, started the city on the road to becoming... (more)

• St. Petersburg

  St. Petersburg and the Pinellas coast form the thumb of the hand that juts out of Florida's west coast and grasps Tampa Bay. Two distinct parts of St. Petersburg hold most of the appeal: the arty, sometimes... (more)

• Tampa

  Tampa, the west coast's business-and-commercial hub, has a sprinkling of high-rises and heavy traffic. A concentration of restaurants, nightlife, stores, and cultural events is amid the bustle.... (more)

• Tarpon Springs

  Tucked into a little harbor at the mouth of the Anclote River, this slowly growing town was settled by Greek immigrants at the end of the 19th century. They came to practice their generations-old craft... (more)

• Venice

  This small town is crisscrossed with canals like the city for which it was named. Venice beaches are good for shell collecting, but they're best known for their wealth of sharks' teeth and fossils, washed... (more)