Florida
The Sunshine State is where most American road trips start — and where mine did. From the gates of the Magic Kingdom to the last bridge before Key West, here's everything I'd see if I were going back tomorrow.
№ 01 · The basicsWhere to stay
Base yourself near International Drive or Lake Buena Vista if you're doing Disney and Universal. The cheap chain hotels are perfectly fine — you'll barely be in the room.
South Beach for nightlife and Art Deco, mid-Beach for quiet, North Beach for value. A walkable trip if you stay anywhere on Collins Avenue.
Book at least one night in Old Town. The whole island shifts at sunset on Mallory Square — you want to be on foot, not in a car.
An underrated base for the west coast — galleries, the Dalí, and quick drives to Sanibel and Naples. Stay near downtown.
The oldest city in the country. One night in a historic B&B in the old town is plenty — wander, then drive on.
Tiny, sleepy, and the best base for airboat tours and the western Everglades. Bring more bug spray than you think.
№ 02 · Things to doTheme parks, first.
Walt Disney World
Four parks, four very different days. Magic Kingdom for the romance, Animal Kingdom for the rides hidden behind the trees, EPCOT for the food (eat your way around the World Showcase), Hollywood Studios for Galaxy's Edge.
- Magic Kingdom
- Animal Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Hollywood Studios
Universal Studios Florida
Two days minimum if you want both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Buy the Park-to-Park ticket so you can ride the Hogwarts Express between them — half the magic is in the train.
№ 03 · Cities, coasts & museumsEverything else worth a stop.
The first time I drove the seven-mile bridge to Key West, I cried. That kind of beautiful.