Fun as they are, Florida isn’t all theme parks and crowded beaches. Beyond the famous vacation spots lie quiet towns, spring-fed rivers, waterfront hideaways, and quirky pockets of Old Florida that locals have loved for generations. Whether you’re craving
small-town charm , a
private island , or a paddle through clear, quiet waters, these under-the-radar escapes show off the Sunshine State’s slower, sweeter side.
Jensen Beach
On Florida’s Treasure Coast,
Jensen Beach stays quiet—just the way locals like it. Spend the day exploring sandbars and hidden inlets and visit
Bunk House Coffee Bar , a locally beloved beachy café with a plant-based and vegan focus. Nearby
Stuart is known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” and its historic downtown is worth a stroll.
Okeechobee
Out here, Florida can feel like Texas—but green. At the
OK Corral Gun Club, a 356-acre Old West–style sporting resort in the middle of cattle country, you’ll find comfy cabins, trap and skeet shooting, sporting clays, and even a restaurant where they serve beef raised on the property. It’s low-key, down-home fun, and the wide-open skies make for unforgettable sunsets. Don’t miss a stop at
Sutton Milk dairy farm; they have farm fun to entertain kids and a cow-painted truck dishing out some of the freshest, creamiest ice cream you’ll ever melt in your mouth.
Sebring
Visit Sebring. This Central Florida town is best known for its
international raceway , but in-the-know Floridians love
Sebring for its lakes, mossy oaks, PGA-quality golf on the
Citrus Golf Trail , and the annual
Sebring Soda Festival for soda lovers. It’s also home to
Highlands Hammock , where wooden boardwalks and shaded trails offer an escape into nature. Spend your stay on the lake or downtown in the historic Circle Park district, where antique shops, cafes, and colorful murals add to the quiet appeal.
Micanopy
Just south of Gainesville,
Micanopy is Florida’s oldest inland town—and still one of its most charming. Antique shops and moss-draped trees line Cholokka Boulevard, while the
Micanopy Fall Festival awakens the sleepy Southern vibe each autumn. Bluegrass tunes float up from the front deck of the
Old Florida Café and attractions are blessedly limited; consider the
Micanopy Historical Society Museum to dive deep into Old Florida lore. There’s not much to do in this “town that time forgot,” and that’s part of its draw; come for a weekend of slow browsing, porch-sitting, and reconnecting with a forgotten kind of Florida.
Sunset Key
It’s just a 10-minute ferry ride (or about 500 yards) from buzzy
Key West , but it feels worlds away; Sunset Key is a 27-acre island privately held among its residents with one resort and pastel cottages, a white-sand beach, and no cars—just crushed-shell paths and ocean breezes. Stay at
Sunset Key Cottages and eat at Latitudes, where toes-in-the-sand dining and sea views are the norm. It’s salty, secluded luxury.
Lake County
Florida’s citrus belt lives on in
Lake County , where rolling hills, sweeping live oaks, and more than 1,000 freshwater lakes define the landscape. Boating the Harris Chain of Lakes is one of the best ways to spend a day in Lake County; dock for lunch at lakefront dives like
Ski Beach or
Lake Harris Hideaway . The pace is slow, the sunsets fiery, and the orange blossoms fragrant in spring—Lake County is Old Florida exemplified.
Leesburg
This writer’s humble old hometown gets an honorable mention! Leesburg is one of the nation’s top spots for bass fishing, but its real claim to fame is the annual
Bikefest , the world’s largest three-day music and motorcycle rally.
Mount Dora
The historic small town of
Mount Dora is known for its antiques, sidewalk cafes, and
festivals , the most famous of which is the annual
Mount Dora Arts Festival , typically held the first weekend of February.
Tavares
In Tavares, “America’s Seaplane City,” watch seaplanes take off and land from the waterfront downtown. In nearby Howey-in-the-Hills,
Mission Resort + Club has Spanish Colonial architecture and sweeping fairways.
Citrus County
The pace is slow here, and that’s exactly the point, but exploring some of the most
pristine springs in Florida (Three Sisters Springs, Homosassa Springs, and Seven Sisters Springs) will keep you busy. Or go even further off the beaten path to
Sunshine Lodge or
Wonderfield Farm and Retreat , a 66-acre regenerative agritourism farm and nature sanctuary in Floral City.
Crystal River
Gentle manatees and some of the best paddling in the state—in and around the
state’s clearest springs —make
Crystal River a true gem on Florida’s Nature Coast.
Inverness
Stay in a cozy vintage cabin under an oak canopy at
The Cove Resort & Pub in Inverness. It’s remote, but the food at the pub is hard to resist and it’s only a quick drive from the charming downtown area and Depot District.
Homosassa
Paddle to
The Crack , a tucked-away sulfur spring on the Chassahowitzka River that locals love for its glassy turquoise water and total seclusion. A wildlife wonderland awaits at
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park ; there’s rare and rescued Florida natives like panthers, black bears, bobcats, red wolves, whooping cranes, and, of course, alligators.
Amelia Island
The birthplace of the modern shrimping industry,
Amelia Island has fresh-caught shrimp on nearly every restaurant menu, but if you go in May, you can see what all the fuss is about at the
Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach. Otherwise, dive in at the
Amelia Island Museum of History , sip straight bourbon whiskey at
Marlin & Barrel Distillery , or rub elbows with longterm shrimping families at
The Palace Saloon , the oldest bar in Florida and a monument to Amelia Island’s pirate-filled past. It’s salty, storied, and just far enough off the radar.
Big Hickory Island
Accessible only by ferry from the
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point , this low-key private barrier island near
Bonita Springs is pure, unspoiled Gulf beauty reserved just for resort guests. Go for white sands, calm waters, and little else—here, it’s all about sun, sea, and solitude.
