Florida's known for its 12 months of sunshine, and you've probably got some special family memories as a child heading to Florida or made new memories there as an adult too. To me, Florida is always both nostalgic and new - forever a fixture in America's favorite vacation imagination. Plus the way heat waves hit around the country now, Florida summers are tolerable by comparison! With those salt air breezes at night, the evenings are so lovely. Winters are mild, and it's not so humid; the water's warm in Spring and Fall too. Florida's definitely a 12 month destination with miles and miles of perfect beaches around the peninsula from the Atlantic Ocean waves to the calmer Gulf coastline and the Florida Keys, which rival the Caribbean with its relaxed vibes and pristine waters. You can read more about the unique ecosystem of the Florida Everglades too in my blog post HERE.
Florida is a culturally diverse state; the northern regions feel part of the American South, and the southern sections have Latin American flair. Miami is a welcoming, LGBTQ-friendly city, and its dining and arts scenes are among the best in the country. Miami's also got the nightlife, marvelous Art Deco historic district, Art Basel, and excellent art scene. When you're ready to wind down, Naples and the Keys are much more relaxed. Florida's more than a place to lie on the beach and has so many great activities, and with Nine Muses Travel you have insider access to specialist guides and private VIP tours. Florida has reopened with indoor dining (except for Miami) with limited seating, and museums and attractions have carefully reopened with physical distancing guidelines in place. From Disney to Dalí, there's something for everyone with a sunshine state of mind!
Why Florida?
12 months of sunshine!
Great flight schedules from across America
No additional travel restrictions for Americans
Incredible family destination and romantic spots
World arts and culture hub
Amazing beaches and nature
Delicious dining scene
Cultural diversity - Latin, LGBTQ, African-American, Caribbean, Southern, Indigenous
Juxtaposition of exciting nightlife and relaxed, low-key vibe
Orlando
There's more to Orlando than Disney, but if you're headed to the parks, definitely upgrade your experience with VIP tours that go behind the scenes to places you simply can't see on your own. Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando and you may enjoy it so much you forget about the parks altogether! Waldorf Astoria Orlando is near Disney too, or you can opt to stay in your own private villa. Disney and Universal are open and still feeling pretty empty, which means more of the park to yourself. You can easily spend a week in Orlando, and Nine Muses Travel can arrange everything for you, private concierge style.
Top Experiences
Disneyworld: VIP tour or Ultra VIP experience
Universal Studios Private VIP tour
Kennedy Space Center VIP tour or private astronaut lunch meeting
Blue Man Group VIP experience
Orlando Magic VIP experience
Wildlife airboat eco adventure
Western Florida
This part of Florida is more casual and affordable for families and offers lots of activities! For beautiful beach sunsets and soft, white sand, you'll enjoy staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples or the historic, renovated Don CeSar at St. Pete Beach. Private villas are available for you here too. Other excellent properties include The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, and Naples Grande Beach Resort.
Top Experiences
Naples float plane adventure
Naples Car Museum private access
Big Cypress Everglades private, eco-friendly swamp walk
Salvador Dalí Museum private tour
Sarasota sand castle or marine biology experience
The Ringling museum in Sarasota
Ringling Circus workshop
Miami & Palm Beach
Lovers of arts and culture, history, cuisine, and beautiful beaches all have so much to enjoy in Miami and Palm Beach. My top hotel recommendations for Miami Beach and South Beach are W South Beach for its excellent dining, 1 Hotel South Beach for being family-friendly, COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach for a smaller, more subdued boutique hotel, Faena Hotel Miami Beach for Argentinian style and a more quiet luxury. There's also the wonderful Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club - only 20 minutes from South Beach; it's also great for families to feel like you're on your own private beach in the Caribbean. The Setai, Miami Beach is great for families or couples too. Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, The Breakers Palm Beach, or a private villa are also excellent choices. For the ultimate cool factor, Nine Muses Travel can arrange for you to stay at the private, members-only Soho Beach House for a truly special boutique experience.
Top Experiences
Hands-on workshop with a famous graffiti artist at Wynwood, one of the largest open-air street art installations in the world
Little Havana adventure with a cultural anthropologist - easier than getting to Cuba!
Contemporary art collections tour with a local art curator
Private, full day charter of a yacht from 30' to 200' (DJ optional)
Art Deco South Beach exploration with an architectural historian
Everglades science adventure with an ecologist
The Florida Keys
The Keys are a long string of tropical islands reached by a three hour drive from Miami all the way to Key West along a stunning highway, sometimes in the middle of the ocean. To get there faster, you can charter a sea plane or easily fly commercial to Key West from Miami in 20 minutes. The Keys are best known for pristine blue water and excellent diving, snorkeling, fishing, and active water activities from its rocky shoreline. The northern and central Keys have smaller, more intimate hotels and are known for being laid back, while Key West brings the quirk and nightlife and is like the New Orleans of Florida with lively bars and great restaurants. Stay at the recently renovated Baker's Cay in Key Largo for a relaxing beach escape. Isla Bella Resort is further south in Marathon and is great for families. The adults-only Little Palm Island reopened after beautiful renovations and is a terrific alternative to the Caribbean here in the U.S. In Key West, stay at Sunset Key Cottages, Ocean Key Resort & Spa, or your own private villa.
Top Experiences
Key lime pie making workshop
Private fishing charters
Snorkeling and diving tours
Key West insider bike tour
Private sailing adventure to a secluded island
Hemingway House VIP tour
Dry Tortugas by sea plane to explore a 19th century fort and incredible marine life
Suggested Itineraries
Five Star Florida for the Family: Orlando, Palm Beach, Miami
Florida Coast to Coast: Orlando, St. Pete Beach, Naples, Miami (more affordable, self-drive)
Florida Keys Escape: Key Largo, Key West (add on to either of those)
Nine Muses Travel works with exceptional tour operators who add value for all my clients.
Expert guides for private tours: specialists, historians, unique locals
Exclusive experiences
Comfortable, sanitized, and luxurious vehicles
Custom-designed routings
24/7 real-time support
Competitive rates at four and five star properties with strict health and safety protocols
Deep destination knowledge
Flexible and worry-free cancellation policies, including 100% refunds until shortly before travel
Contact Nine Muses Travel when you're ready for fun in Florida and to learn more about me and what I can do for you!
I creatively customize luxury travel highlighting local arts and culture, history, and cuisine for intellectually curious clients longing to feel deeply inspired by exciting destinations, culinary delights, and authentic cultural experiences on a life-changing, joyful journey of discovery.
Danielle Dybiec
President of Nine Muses Travel
Comments