http://floridians.visitflorida.com Planning to see the state you're in? Use Floridians.VISITFLORIDA.com to find great getaway ideas or tell us about your favorite Florida vacation. You might just find something to help you plan your next trip, or help someone else plan theirs. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=217 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=217 Hot rock massages at hip new spas. A feverish arts scene with fresh festivals. A blazing bikers' blow-out; a refreshingly splashy waterpark. Hot to cool: as fall goes, so goes Daytona Beach. Come along for the ride and watch autumn wash up on this beach town. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=218 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=218 Hot rock massages at hip new spas. A feverish arts scene with fresh festivals. A blazing bikers' blow-out; a refreshingly splashy waterpark. Hot to cool: as fall goes, so goes Daytona Beach. Come along for the ride and watch autumn wash up on this beach town. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=246 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=246 I've seen Orlando plenty of times, but not like this. There was snow – and ice. Two million pounds of it sculpted into a spectacular holiday display. This extravaganza of frozen water is aptly named: ICE! at Gaylord Palms. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=247 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=247 When my father went to a car race earlier this year, that seemingly innocent event awoke the 16-year-old car lover in Dad. That's how we wound up on a father-daughter road trip around the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=250 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=250 Jupiter Beach offers you a taste of two worlds: the wild and the oh-so-sophisticated. Spend the days immersed in nature, luxuriate in style at your pampering spa resort and then check out nearby West Palm Beach. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=251 http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/getaway.php/gid=251 While the Sunshine State may not fit the typical description of a Winter Wonderland, try to embrace your inner sunshine this season. The key is giving holiday traditions a unique twist of your own. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/miami_neighborhood_primer.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/miami_neighborhood_primer.php Miami, famous for its party atmosphere and see-and-be-seen celebrity status, harbors a surprisingly strong sense of community. Exploring the area's vibrant neighborhoods may just give you an entirely different view of one of Florida's favorite cities. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/honor_vets_and_the_great_outdoors_in_olustee.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/honor_vets_and_the_great_outdoors_in_olustee.php The largest Civil War battle re-enactment in the southeastern U.S. converges on Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in February. See living history demonstrations, tour the camps and shop for old-fashioned treats and Civil War-era artifacts. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/tampa_bay_hideaway.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/tampa_bay_hideaway.php Just when I thought I knew all of the best waterfront retreats in Florida, one takes me by surprise – and it happens to be in an area best known for sweet tomatoes and clay soil. This secluded piece of paradise in Ruskin is called The Resort and Club at Little Harbor. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/gainesville_isnt_just_for_gators.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/gainesville_isnt_just_for_gators.php Sure, the town is known for its title-winning college sports teams, but you don't have to know anything about football or basketball to appreciate Gainesville's charm. This North Central Florida city has a unique and refreshing culture all its own. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/girls_night_grows_up.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/girls_night_grows_up.php I rounded up six of my friends to try out the new Girlfriends "Truth or Dare" Getaway package at the Gaylord Palms Resort, just outside of Orlando. We had all the girly fun you'd expect at a slumber party, plus five-star treatment fit for a queen. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/central_florida_in_full_bloom.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/central_florida_in_full_bloom.php It's spring, and that means Central Florida's Polk County is bursting with fun things to see and do. So gather up the family for a road trip to the area's finest family-friendly festivals and attractions, and don't forget the sunscreen! http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/martin_county_an_east_coast_treasure.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/martin_county_an_east_coast_treasure.php A favorite pastime of mine is uncovering places that still emanate that laidback, Old Florida vibe. Martin County is one of those rare places, full of small-town charm and simple pleasures, plus world-class beaches. And chances are, you don't have to go far to get there. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/indulging_your_senses_at_the_shores.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/indulging_your_senses_at_the_shores.php The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach engages all the senses, and you'll want to do nothing but relax and soak it up. Artfully presented gourmet fare makes the taste buds dance. Fine wines exude rich aromas as you imbibe. Waves wash ashore, providing the perfect soundtrack for your cabana-bound day. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/family_reunions_101.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/family_reunions_101.php Our writer uncovers a painless, low-stress and economical way to plan a family reunion that everyone will love (hint: it's in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area). This time, you can pack your sandals and leave the boxing gloves at home. Read on to find the 10-step recipe for a glorious, fight-free family gathering. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/in_motion_on_the_space_coast.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/in_motion_on_the_space_coast.php For kids, it's all about keeping up the momentum - going, going and still going. Florida's Space Coast is a great in-state getaway that more than delivers with activities for the active and motion-minded, including kid-loved space attractions, awesome watersports and family play places. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/adventures_in_nature.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/adventures_in_nature.php Explore our very own Space Coast, a unique destination less than an hour from Orlando that combines 72 miles of sun-bronzed beaches, unspoiled nature and space-age fun. From beautifully sedate to thrillingly fast-paced, the Space Coast offers outdoor adventures of every kind. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/saluting_diversity_on_floridas_beach.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/saluting_diversity_on_floridas_beach.php Sitting on Clearwater Beach, parasailing off of St. Petersburg or applauding a Blue Jays homer in Dunedin, Floridians probably never give a second thought to the different ethnicities that helped found this area of their state more than a century ago. They flourish here still. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/highoctane_fun_in_daytona_beach.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/highoctane_fun_in_daytona_beach.php The sun's rays will bounce off the polished chrome and flecked paint of countless custom choppers as Biketoberfest® rolls into town October 18-21. And wherever you point your scoot, you'll find concerts, demo rides, diverse attractions and the Daytona Beach area's famous nightlife and hospitality... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/signs_of_the_mermaid.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/signs_of_the_mermaid.php A little magic isn't difficult to come by in Florida's Gulf Islands of Anna Maria, Longboat Key, Bradenton and the Lakewood Ranch area. After all, its environs include the color-shifting Gulf and an island popping with brightly-hued beach cottages, parrots in the trees and restaurants inspired by mermaids... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/park_yourself_in_marianna.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/park_yourself_in_marianna.php If Florida had its own "Seven Wonders" of the state, you'd expect to see the obvious: Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Lake Okeechobee, the Florida Reef, Canaveral National Seashore. Here, we offer up two more contenders: Florida Caverns State Park and Falling Waters State Park in Northwest Florida... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/splurging_and_saving_in_chic_fort_lauderdale.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/splurging_and_saving_in_chic_fort_lauderdale.php Fort Lauderdale is a sophisticated playground filled with world-class shopping, dining and entertainment. But Floridians don't need to empty their wallets to enjoy themselves here. The city offers an interesting mix of upscale and easy-on-the-pocket choices, and in the center of it all is the new Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/grand_island_getaway.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/grand_island_getaway.php Our writer sets off for a close-to-home family getaway – a good old-fashioned rollicking trip to the beach. She finds it, along with some romance, at the TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach. Here, paradise is gorgeous Gulf beaches and a great kids' program. http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/adventure_for_all_ages_in_st_petersburgclearwater.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/adventure_for_all_ages_in_st_petersburgclearwater.php Family adventures abound in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area with exciting attractions and activities that are geared towards all ages, from preschoolers and elementary kids to 'tweens and teens. http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/a-gentler-tastier-tallahassee http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/a-gentler-tastier-tallahassee There's more than politics in our capital city: Tallahassee is home to a few of Florida's finest restaurants and some of the prettiest scenery this side of the Mason Dixon line. Which makes it the perfect place to eat well and walk off the calories this winter... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/secrets_from_the_space_coast.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/secrets_from_the_space_coast.php When it comes to Florida's Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is hardly the final frontier. In the years my family has visited the Space Coast to hit KSC and the waves, we've discovered some lesser-known but equally compelling attractions that have made the 72-mile stretch of coastline one of our favorite destinations... http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/where_the_fish_are_in_st_petersburgclearwater.php http://floridians.visitflorida.com/getaways/g/where_the_fish_are_in_st_petersburgclearwater.php When you live on a peninsula, the fishing is always good somewhere, sometime. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area has many of those faithful fishing spots. With Tampa Bay to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west, anglers here are usually assured of a sheltered place to cast a line. Here's a rundown of what you can expect... http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/get-to-know-hollywood http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/get-to-know-hollywood Hollywood is an eclectic destination where you can kick back at the beach during the day and live it up at a trendy bistro by night. Located off Interstate 95 between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood is a convenient in-state getaway. If you haven't visited the town, take a weekend to introduce yourself. If you have, come see what's new... http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/spring-break-tradition-with-a-twist http://www.visitflorida.com/articles/spring-break-tradition-with-a-twist Daytona Beach has always been a magnet for spring break getaways, but with an ever-growing list of kid-friendly activities and budget-friendly deals, this famous beach town is attracting more families than ever. The prospect of spring break in Daytona Beach is especially sweet for Floridians, who can just pack up the car and go...