While apartment life can be quite cozy, sometimes you need to spend time away from home. Fortunately, Florida is home to some of the best getaway spots you can find in the entire country. From the Gulf Coast to the Space Coast, there are plenty of great places where you can hit the beach, spot local wildlife, or simply relax away from your apartment.
Whether you are more into hidden gems that aren’t known by everyone, or you’re simply looking for the best beaches to visit, there’s a weekend getaway for you in Florida. It doesn’t matter if you’re renting an apartment in Tampa or Melbourne; there are plenty of options at your disposal. If you’ve been looking for a new place to visit for a weekend away from home, we recommend any of the locations below.
Cedar Key
Distance from Tampa: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Distance from Melbourne: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cedar Key is a cluster of small islands off Florida’s Gulf Coast. When you visit these islands, it feels like you’re stepping back in time. With no high-rises and no chain restaurants, this fishing village (which is home to fewer than 1,000 residents) is known for its farm-raised clams and oysters, its artistic community, and its laid-back pace.
Spend the day exploring Dock Street’s waterfront shops on foot or by bike, then kayak out to the nearby Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge to spot nesting birds and quiet, undeveloped beaches. The town took a hard hit from recent hurricanes, but the local shops, restaurants, and the historic Island Hotel have reopened since then. The community’s slow, old-Florida charm is alive and stronger than ever. Grab a bowl of award-winning clam chowder and catch the sunset from the town pier, as locals will tell you it’s one of the best in the state.
Crystal River / Three Sisters Springs
Distance from Tampa: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Distance from Melbourne: 3 hours
If seeing a manatee up close is on your bucket list, Crystal River is the place to check it off. Three Sisters Springs is one of the only spots in the state where you can legally swim alongside manatees in their natural habitat. In addition, the water is so clear that several outfitters now run all-clear kayak tours, so you can watch them glide beneath you without getting in the water at all.
Manatee season officially runs mid-November through the end of March, when hundreds of manatees gather in the warm spring water. However, a smaller population lives in the springs year-round, so sightings are possible at any time of the year. Beyond the manatees, the refuge is also one of the best birding sites in Florida, with more than 100 documented species.
Bok Tower Gardens
Distance from Tampa: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Distance from Melbourne: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Perched atop Iron Mountain, the highest point on Peninsular Florida, you’ll find the Bok Tower Gardens, a garden that is home to 250 acres of quiet, Olmsted-designed landscaping. The garden was built around the 205-foot tall Singing Tower, a neo-Gothic carillon that still rings out 30-minute bell concerts daily at 1 and 3 p.m. It’s an easy, low-key day trip where you can wander the gardens, tour the 1930s Mediterranean-style Pinewood Estate, and pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawn while the bells play. The gardens are open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with general admission around $15 for adults, making it one of the more affordable and relaxing getaways on this list.
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Distance from Tampa: 2 hours, 45 minutes
Distance from Melbourne: 35 minutes
The Sebastian Inlet State Park stretches across three miles of Atlantic beachfront and is consistently ranked as one of the best surfing and saltwater fishing spots on Florida’s east coast. The jetty is a favorite for anglers chasing snook and Spanish mackerel, while the calmer, hard-bottomed cove on the north side is a better bet for families and young swimmers. Beyond the water, the park is home to the McLarty Treasure Museum, which tells the story of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet wrecked just offshore, and the Sebastian Fishing Museum.
Note that bridge construction along the park’s access road began in May 2026, so it’s worth checking FloridaStateParks.org for any current traffic or entrance updates before you go.
It’s Hard to Resist Florida’s Charm
Many people who visit the Sunshine State are unable to resist its charm and become full residents! If you already call one of our Garden Communities Florida properties home, we’re so happy to have you! Whether you live in Brevard County or Hillsborough County, we hope this list gives you a few new reasons to get out and explore everything the state has to offer.
If you’ve been on the fence about moving to Florida, we invite you to reach out today and check out our properties! We would love to have you at one of our properties!