Historians believe it was sometime during April of the year 1513 when Ponce de Leon first came to Florida. In honor of Easter, the explorer named the land Pascua Florida which means Easter flower or flowery festival. If Ponce De Leon had come to Florida around a different holiday than Easter, the state could have an entirely different name! Are you trying to learn more about the best time to visit Florida?
Related Read: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse: Florida’s Tallest Lighthouse
Timing is everything when it comes to visiting Florida, especially if you want to plan the best vacation possible. Luckily for you, we’ve created a short guide that can help you figure out the best time to visit Florida.
We’ll tell you what Florida’s like in the summer and winter, as well as fun locations and events you can plan your trip around. So take a look! You’ll finally be 1 step closer to planning your dream vacation.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Florida?
The best time to visit Florida depends on what you’re looking to get out of your vacation! Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you find the most ideal visiting time.
- Are you comfortable with extremely high temperatures?
- Do you want to view active alligators?
- Are you planning on visiting any of the beaches?
Do you find yourself answering yes to 1 or more of the questions above? If so than June, July or August could be all be perfect times for you to visit the sunshine state.
Visiting Florida in the Summer
The state of Florida has long summers with hot temperatures and high humidity. The state’s climate is thanks to where it’s positioned by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. All of the inland lakes in Florida also contribute to the state’s climate.
However, you can beat the heat by heading down to the beach and jumping in the water. You can also visit one of Florida’s many natural springs to take a dip and cool down.
Here’s a shortlist of beaches and springs that are worth the trip:
- New Smyrna Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Cape Canaveral Beach
- Cocoa Beach
- Juniper Springs
- Rock Springs
- Silver Springs
Each location offers breathtaking views, places to swim, and things to do! For instance, at New Symrna beach, you can spend the day at the Smyrna Dunes Park. While exploring Dunes Park, you’ll be able to enjoy nature trails and easy access fishing spots.
Are you bringing kids with you on your trip? If yes, then you can end your day trip to New Symrna with a visit to the Marine Science Center. At the Marine Science Center, your family will be able to enjoy an aquarium and educational programs.
Recommended Read: Four South Florida Attractions
The Best Weather in Florida Is During the Winter
Do you want to enjoy Florida’s warm climate without the extreme heat? Visiting Florida in the winter can be the perfect way to get the best of both worlds. Starting right around November, temperatures start to cool down for the winter months.
You’ll especially love a winter trip to Florida if you visit one of Florida’s 2 famous warm spots. Punta Gorda and West Kendall are the 2 warmest cities in Florida. From November through February both cities are also frequently the warmest cities in the United States.
By planning your trip during the November through February season, you’ll be able to enjoy warm weather that isn’t overly hot! What type of things can you do in Punta Gorda or West Kendall Florida?
During your stay in Punta Gorda, enjoy some prime wildlife viewing at the Peace River Wildlife Center or the Babcock Ranch Preserve. After a day exploring the outdoors, head over to one of the ocean side Tiki Bars to unwind.
If you find yourself visiting West Kendall, you’ll also have plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities. There’s the Westwind Lakes Park, and you can also take an airboat ride through the Everglades.
Annual Events You Can’t-Miss
Are you comfortable visiting Florida in the summer or winter? If the weather isn’t a major deciding factor for you then you should plan your trip around 1 of Florida’s many annual events.
Here’s a shortlist of annual events in Florida:
- Gasparilla Pirate Fest
- Winterfest Boat Parade
- Jazz in the Gardens Music Fest
- Florida Strawberry Festival
The Gasparilla Pirate Festival takes place in late January in Tampa Florida. Have fun dressing up as a pirate for the day, while also enjoying live music, food, and pirate-themed events.
If you do wind up visiting Tampa be sure to check out 1 of the many things to do in Anna Maria Island. The Winterfest Boat Parade takes place in Fort Lauderdale Florida during December. The event is all thanks to the Hard Rock cafe and features spectacularly decorated boats of all sizes.
Next, we have Jazz in the Gardens Music Fest that takes place in the City of Miami Gardens. You and your friends will get to hear a diverse set of music genres from world-renowned talent.
Finally, the Florida Strawberry Festival is an 11-day event that takes place in Plant City Florida during the beginning of March. The festival showcases live entertainment, rides, and every strawberry themed food you can imagine!
See Alligators in Action
If you want to see wild alligators in person than the summer is the best time to visit Florida. Alligator mating season starts in June and goes throughout July. During this time alligators are more active than any other time of year.
However, you won’t see any alligators during your trip to the beach. Instead, you’ll have to visit alligator habitats such as lakes and rivers.
It’s a thrill seeing one of these large beasts in person! However, be careful to maintain your distance and adhere to any rules you see up about staying safe around the alligators. Getting too close to an alligator, or feeding them, could cause your trip to end sooner than you’d like.
Related Read: World’s Largest Mcdonald’s Orlando Florida – Is This Really Necessary?
Have a Dream Vacation
Now you know that the best time to visit Florida all depends on what you want. We hope that our article will inspire you to start taking steps today to make your dream vacation a reality. For more ways to make your dreams come true, explore the rest of this site!
