Florida from a different perspective. Photo: Rebecca Parsons
Florida has been on my bucket list for a long time. I’ve read a lot of books set in Florida and have dreamt of visiting the Sunshine State for years. Mostly, I wanted to kayak through the mangroves, explore the reefs, and visit the Keys. But, I also wanted to surf. I’d been warned that Florida was not the place to go for a surf trip, but I’d seen videos of some solid swells and Kelly Slater is from Florida, so I figured it would be worth a visit. In December, I decided it was time to stop dreaming and go. So, my boyfriend and I booked a flight with low expectations and high hopes.
When we landed, the weather was great, but the waves were as flat as the state of Florida. I got to work reorganizing my thoughts and plans and decided to make the most of the trip and experience all of the other joys Florida has to offer. Despite the lack of surfing, it still turned out to be an incredible trip.
Amelia Island
Amelia Island was beautiful, despite the lack of waves. Photo: Rebecca Parsons
We flew into Orlando and rented a car to road trip to the northern end of the state. Our original plan was to stop at Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach for a quick surf, but after checking the report, we decided it wasn’t worth it and pressed on to Amelia Island.
Amelia Island was beautiful. The beaches were long with dunes running along them — it almost felt like we were in North Carolina. We checked with a local surf shop and found out the island does get waves, but it was flat and windy for the duration of our stay. Instead of surfing, we opted to run the beach and ride cruiser bikes along the plethora of bike paths. We visited Fernandina Beach, the closet town, multiple times and enjoyed walking around exploring the historic district. We enjoyed meals at the Salty Pelican, which was a sit-down restaurant with dive bar vibes and Timoti’s Seafood Shak, which had excellent tacos and a cute outdoor patio.
Cocoa Beach
Home to good surf, sometimes. Photo: Rebecca Parsons
A trip to Florida would not be complete without a stop at Cocoa Beach. Although the surf report wasn’t promising, we had our heart’s set on riding waves. We stopped at Ron Jons Surf Shop, aka the world’s largest surf shop, and played tourist for a bit. Because the report was small, we rented high volume soft tops and headed toward the pier. Although the surf wasn’t great, there were waves and we had a good time messing around on the foamies. After talking with some of the locals, we learned that the waves had been head-high to overhead the week before. Next time, I’ll do my homework and plan my trip according to the swell.
The Keys
Located off the southern tip of Florida and stretching 120 miles, the Keys are home to 800 tiny island, or keys. To access the Keys, you drive the Overseas Highway, which is one of the longest overwater roadways in the world and includes 42 bridges. The drive is incredible and was a great welcome to the Keys.
Island Bay Resort, the perfect place to rest your head in the Florida Keys. Photo: Rebecca Parsons
Where to Stay
We spent the last four days of our trip in the Keys and spent a lot of time debating where and on which key we wanted to stay. We ultimately decided to stay on Key Largo because it was close to reefs for snorkeling and diving, provided easy access to the Everglades, and wasn’t too far from the airport for our return trip.
We stayed at Island Bay Resort, a boutique resort in Tavernier. It features ten cottages, complete with kitchenettes and island style décor. The resort had a cute beach area, with kayaks and paddleboards available for exploring the nearby mangroves. The owners were helpful with planning activities, and it was easy to come and go from the resort — it was the perfect location for adventuring and accessing the surrounding keys.
“Wasted away again in Margaritville.” Photo: Rebecca Parsons
Where to Eat
When in the Florida Keys, seafood is a must. In Key Largo, The Fish House was the place to go, with lines out the door and plenty of amazing seafood options on offer. If you’re not a fan of fish, C&C Wood Fired Eats has incredible pizza. The daughter of a longtime parrot head, we knew we had to stop by Margaritaville when we visited Key West. We went to the Margaritaville Beach House and enjoyed a sunset dinner at the Tin Cup Chalice Bar and Chill, while Jimmy Buffet’s tropical tunes played in the background — definitely worth a visit if you’re a Buffett fan.
Exploring the mangroves was a highlight. Photo: Rebecca Parsons
What to Do
With so much to see and do, four days wasn’t enough time in the Florida Keys. Snorkeling and diving were priorities for us, so we booked a private snorkeling tour with Snorkel the Keys. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and the reef was incredible and shallow enough to free dive. To get our fill of diving, we also booked a scuba dive with Horizon Divers. They took us to two shallow shipwrecks. As new divers, it was incredible to experience a wreck without having to go too deep – the surrounding reef was stunning as well.
We also took a day to drive the length of the Keys and ended at Key West where we walked the town, visited the aquarium, and spent some time at the beach. Key West was more built up than I expected, but I enjoyed the historical aspect of the town. On our final day in Florida, we stopped by Everglades National Park, where we did a few hikes, kayaked through the mangroves, and awed at the local crocodiles. From there, we made our way to Fort Lauderdale airport to return home. Although we didn’t get in as much surfing as we’d hoped, we had a great time making the most of Florida when it was flat.
