Travel Guide
These 3 Iconic Florida Cities Named ‘Best 2025 Summer Travel Destinations’
May
You can travel far and wide, from Cancun’s glitzy and glamorous Hotel Zone to Southern Italy’s pastel-colored villages, but there’s nothing quite like a Floridian summer:
It’s still only May, but we can almost smell the scent of salt air in sun-soaked marinas, feel the humidity dissipate in the air as the sun breaks through the clouds after that sudden early-afternoon storm, and hear the gentle Atlantic waves crashing against golden sands.
Florida just has a rhythm of its own, and we’re not the only ones who think so.
According to WalletHub, with nearly 82% of Americans planning to take a vacation this upcoming summer, there are 3 iconic cities in the Sunshine State that are on their radar:
Tampa
Straddling the Gulf Coast, Tampa is both a business center and an unsung cultural hub that just doesn’t get enough credit for how incredible it is:
We’re talking Busch Gardens, one of Florida’s lesser-known, yet most exciting amusement parks, Africa-themed and jam-packed with big thrills, the vibrant Ybor City, an ethnic neighborhood populated by Hispanic migrants, and picture-perfect beaches.
Tampa itself sits on an industrial bay, but it’s a short drive away from several of Florida’s best Gulf beaches, most notably the aptly named Clearwater and the hugely popular St. Pete, a wide strip of white sand lining light-green seas.
WalletHub compared a total of 100 metro areas, and 41 key indicators, such as budget and fun-friendliness, and Tampa features at number 12 on the list: a single-day ticket to enter Busch Gardens costs $65.99, and sit-down meals in restaurants down by the Riverwalk cost around $20–$22.
Miami
Miami is the second-highest charting Floridian city, coming in at number 9 on WalletHub’s list. It is a vibrant metropolis known all over the world for its white-sand beaches, artsy districts, and thriving Latin American communities.
As a matter of fact, it is America’s gateway to Latin America.
Little Havana is, in many respects, the heart of Cuban culture Stateside, with its leafy public parks, where locals gather to play dominos and smoke cigars, quirky-themed cafés, and colorful urban art scene.
The equally-popular Little Haiti is a tried-and-true foodie hotspot, home to renowned eateries like Naomi’s Garden, that serves Caribbean comfort food at affordable prices, and the casual Piman Bouk Bakery, popular for their flaky patties filled with cod or beef.
Let’s not forget the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor street art museum with rotating exhibits, and South Beach, the quintessential Miami beach experience, with Art Deco buildings for backdrop and vibrantly painted lifeguard towers.
Orlando
The quintessential Floridian getaway, O-Town is, of course, the home of Disney World and countless other entertainment parks, as well as a thriving entertainment scene, and it scores more points on WalletHub’s list.
As WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo put it himself, it is ‘the best summer destination’, not only due to its unrivaled tourist offer, but also its impressive connectivity, hosting affordable flights from numerous major cities across the country, and from as little as $322 round-trip.
Beyond the usual plethora of world-renowned restaurants, mega resorts, and shopping centers, and Disney and Universal’s big thrills, there’s plenty more to be excited about if you’re heading to Orlando in the high season.
For starters, you can now explore Universal’s Epic Universe, a new theme park with Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter lands, which has only just opened on May 22, with adult tickets starting from $139.
Looking for more unique, unexpected stuff to do in Orlando? Take a boat ride through the winding canals of the idyllic Winter Park, spot alligators and rare birds at the Apopka Wildlife Drive, or see Orlando’s skyscraper-dotted skyline from above at The Wheel.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
