Standout Senior Hotspots: Florida

For decades, Florida has been one of the top states seniors choose to live in and visit.

In fact, 4.4 million seniors call Florida home, making Florida the state with the most senior residents. Not only is Florida a popular home for seniors, but it’s also a popular travel destination. According to Florida’s tourism office, over 120 million people visited Florida in 2018.

It’s no surprise that seniors are attracted to Florida. Thanks to the variety of golf courses, beaches, and recreational parks, Florida makes for an all-around fun vacation hotspot. Also, senior residents are happy to call Florida home due to the top-notch healthcare organizations and generally low taxes and cost of living.

While Florida has several hotspots, here are our top four travel hotspots for seniors, in no particular order.

1. St. Augustine, Florida

Starting this list off with a bang, St. Augustine is a must-see city in Florida. As the country’s oldest settled city, St. Augustine offers some of the most historic sites, such as Juan Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth. Although the fountain’s powers are a myth, it’s still one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florida.

This city is rich with Spanish culture and architecture. One structure in particular, the Castillo de San Marcos, is the largest and oldest masonry fort in the country. So, if you want to dive into ancient Spanish culture, St. Augustine is a good place to start.

Two other things that St. Augustine is known for is its pirate museum and multiple lighthouse museums. The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum is a must-see. If you visit during November, you can even join in on the festivities at the Pirate Gathering and Buccaneer BBQ.

2. St. Petersburg, Florida

Florida is the Sunshine State and St. Petersburg is the Sunshine City. Known for its warm temperatures, St. Petersburg is an outdoor adventure type of destination. In this fun-filled city, you’ll find golf courses, boating tours, beaches, parks, and gardens. There’s usually always something fun to do outside in St. Petersburg.

You can enjoy a walk along the waterfront while admiring the unique glass sculptures designed by Dale Chihuly, a famous artist of blown glass. Another waterfront adventure includes the Salvador Dali Museum.

December through May are the most popular months for visiting St. Petersburg since those months are the best in terms of weather. Vacations during June through November are usually avoided since that is when St. Petersburg is its hottest and most humid. Also, that’s St. Petersburg’s hurricane season.

3. Florida Keys, Florida

The archipelago of Florida, the Florida Keys, consists of 1,700 islands. Although less than 50 of those islands are populated, the Florida Keys are a popular vacation destination. During this vacation, you can island-hop from one beautiful island to another. On each island, you have several options for ocean fun. Whether you’re snorkeling, boating, or scuba diving, you’re bound to have a blast in the Florida Keys.

Some of the most popular keys are Key West, Key Largo, Upper Matecumbe Key, and Grassy Key. On these keys, you can swim with dolphins, visit the Dry Tortugas National Park and Coral Reef State Park, and stroll along the Overseas Heritage Trail.

4. Mount Dora, Florida

Located just Northwest of Orlando is the town of Mount Dora. Here, you’ll find a charming little town with a big potential for vacation fun. If you’re looking for a slower paced, relaxing vacation, this may be the Florida town for you. Spend your nights in a sweet bed and breakfast and your days enjoying all that Mount Dora has to offer.

Mount Dora is known for its historic ambience. In fact, the Mount Dora History Museum and the Museum of Speed showcase a wide array of antique artifacts. For instance, the Museum of Speed is filled with classic cars and a 1940s gas station replica. If Mount Dora is the next vacation hotspot you book, be sure to plan your trip for the fall. Summers tend to be quite hot and wet here.

While Florida has several other hotspots, these are our four favorites for 2020. No matter which city you visit, you can’t go wrong with a Florida vacation.

Danielle K. Roberts is a Medicare insurance expert and co-founder at Boomer Benefits, where her team of experts help baby boomers with their Medicare decisions nationwide.