18 Creative Florida Staycation Ideas for Your Next Holiday: From Beaches to Brunch (2024)
- Date: April 16, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Florida is a top destination when the weather turns cold, Spring Break arrives, or international tourists want a hot spot in the US. But that doesn’t mean locals shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of living in the Sunshine State. So much natural beauty, quality dining, resort hotels, and entertainment options a short drive from home means Florida is perfect for a staycation!
If you’re still in the planning stages, check out our Florida staycation ideas for your next holiday! We have a collection of locales to browse, including luxury vacation homes you can book here on Peerspace, one of the largest online marketplaces for staycation venues. From wellness retreats to international cuisine, there’s something for everyone here!
1. Explore the restaurant scene
Florida offers some of the best dining experiences on the East Coast. Whether you prefer vegan, seafood, international, or American fare, the Sunshine State caters to all tastes. For a truly special staycation, consider L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, a French restaurant in Miami’s design district. This Michelin 2-star restaurant offers a unique dining experience where guests sit directly facing the chefs and service team for an engaging, interactive experience.
2. Book a beach house in the Florida Keys
Hotels and resorts can be jam-packed with people, giving you less privacy than you might like. Instead of bumping elbows with tourists and Spring Break-ers, why not book a beach house instead? Beach houses like this one on Summerland Key place you just steps away from the ocean. You’ll have access to outdoor amenities like a barbecue pit and oceanfront pool. Explore the Keys further during your staycation via sea kayaking, fishing, and a tiki hut set up for outdoor dining!
3. Take a day trip to the big city
Staycations mean driving no more than a day trip away from home. Fortunately, you have several big cities to consider throughout the state. A day trip to Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, or Tampa grants you access to world-class museums, restaurants, resort hotels, and more! The Miami Zoo, cocktail cruises, the Tampa Riverwalk, Jacksonville Arboretum, and Universal Studios Florida are just a few of our favorite creative Florida staycation ideas.
Don’t forget to explore these awesome hidden gems in Miami if your staycation takes you that way!
4. Explore smaller towns in Florida
You don’t have to head to the big city to appreciate what Florida has to offer. Smaller cities and towns offer a quiet respite away from the crowds and a chance to appreciate where “real Floridians” live. For example, St. Augustine is the nation’s oldest city, with castles, wineries, festivals, restaurants, and more for staycation day trips!
5. Take a hiking or nature trip
The Sunshine State has excellent weather for year-round staycations centered on the outdoors. While the rest of the country is freezing, head to Jupiter Island for a walk along the trails to explore bluffs, sea caves, and sea grape trees. Everglades National Park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. The 1,500,000-acre park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers wildlife viewing, boating, camping, and more!
6. Host a dance party with friends and family
Dance parties are a classic creative staycation Florida staycation idea! All that’s required is music and the right venue. Whether that means a machine or a DJ, dance parties can be customized with ease. Peerspace venues like Aether Room in Miami include a DJ booth, nightclub sound system, dance floor, disco lighting, and more for the perfect party!
7. Have a magical experience at Disney World
Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion are just a few of the rides calling Florida staycationers at Disney World. With multiple resorts, sports complexes, water parks, golf courses, restaurant areas, and more, visiting Disney World is considered a life goal for a reason! Shows, shopping, and photo ops with your favorite characters mean there’s something for all ages as well.
Speaking of Disney World, you need to see these creative date ideas in Orlando that let you and your date explore the city’s more exciting options!
8. Plan a camping trip
Camping is another way to beat the crowds and have a quiet staycation while still getting out of the house. Florida has well-maintained campgrounds situated close to state and national parks. As well as a large selection of public and private campgrounds with amenities like showers, gas hookups, boating docks, and group sightseeing tours.
9. Book a glamping venue
Not interested in a mat on the ground or campground showers but still want the outdoors at your fingertips? Consider booking a glamping adventure instead! Glamping brings the glamor into camping with RVs, yurts, hammocks, fire pits, and stocked kitchens. You can even book a lakeside glamping venue in the heart of Interlachen for a cozy staycation with all of the comforts of country living!
10. Plan a movie night for the family
Movies are a great way to wrap up an evening after a morning of city exploration or a fun dinner experience. That could mean curling up on the sofa with your significant other or movie tickets at a local theater. You can make it even more special by checking out one of the several drive-in theaters in Florida for a retro movie experience! The Ocala Drive In Theater has been open for over six decades and shows the latest movies seven nights per week.
11. Buy tickets for a concert
Florida staycation ideas for music lovers include an endless buffet of options! Lovers of classical music can plan a visit to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Playing at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the space also hosts Broadway musicals and comedies year-round. Nightclubs, concert halls, and outdoor amphitheaters throughout the state offer different experiences for music lovers!
12. Join a yoga retreat
A staycation offers plenty of time to improve your asanas and flexibility! One Florida staycation idea is to sign up for a yoga class, retreat, or intensive workshop with an expert. Venues like this special event studio in Tampa offer bold natural light, wood floors, and a spacious layout for any yoga gathering. Not to mention you won’t be forced to reserve the space for the entire day, like an AirBnb. Not when you can rent by the hour through Peerspace!
13. Book a photoshoot in Destin
The sugar-white sands, crystal blue waters, and bold sunshine of Florida are the perfect backdrop for a photoshoot. Why not commemorate your Florida staycation with a planned photoshoot with an expert photographer? Destin and the other cities along the Emerald Coast are home to family photographers who can help you coordinate clothes and find the right location for memorable images!
14. Try your luck at a casino
Casinos offer you the chance to play classic games and try your luck. They are more than just gambling, however. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL, offers over a thousand luxury and music-themed rooms. Staycation guests can also explore a full-service spa with dipping pools, salons, and lounges. After which they can enjoy a show at the Hard Rock Live music venue, world-class dining, cocktails, and more!
15. Have a spa day with your friends
Take a wellness journey on your next Florida staycation with a spa day! People come from all over the world to see Boca Raton’s Spa Palmera, a five-star spa that exemplifies the resort’s Alhambra Palace-themed ambiance. Ideal for staycationers who want a taste of the overseas without needing a passport, the Spa Palmera has 44 treatment rooms nestled close to whirlpools, a garden courtyard, and mosaics.
16. Stay at a resort hotel
From oyster bars to private beaches, resort hotels provide staycationers with the perfect place to crash or explore the surrounding city. Resort hotels are often themed spaces, with Mediterranean, Iberian, or Asian influences that let you easily imagine being in a foreign country. Each one has restaurants, bars, dance floors, spas, and other amenities, ensuring you can have a fulfilling staycation without ever leaving the hotel!
17. Join an art or cooking class
Staycations are a great time to explore new artistic venues with a class. Solo and group classes for cooking, sculpture, wine tasting, sports, and more are held daily throughout the state. With classes focused on seafood, baking, doughnuts, and international cuisine, Jacksonville’s JAX Cooking Studio is a top destination for staycationers looking to learn!
18. Have a picnic at a local park
Picnics are outings that are fun for all ages! That might mean a potluck with other staycationers or planning a romantic lunch for two. Florida’s city, state, and national parks all provide a scenic backdrop for picnickers to enjoy!
Florida staycation ideas: conclusion
As you can see, Florida staycation ideas are nearly limitless! From local restaurants to drive-in movie theaters, Floridians have a wealth of options a day trip away from home. If you want to make the staycation even more special, think about booking a Florida event venue through Peerspace. Each one is an incredible venue for that dance party, karaoke night, or other Florida staycation idea of your dreams!
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