Contrary to what some might think, Florida is a year-round destination beyond escaping cold weather during winter or having a sunny vacation during summer. It has its own distinct seasons shaped by wildlife migrations, Southern harvests, and Gulf and Atlantic microclimates. The trick to timing a Florida visit is to align it with the food and fun you love most.
Want mild sweater weather, freshly squeezed orange juice, and manatee sightings? Then mark your calendars for a Central Florida winter. Or maybe you’d rather prioritize freshly caught crack-and-eat crab and the kind of fall weather where you’re still wearing shorts. Then southwest Florida from October to December is for you.
While the rest of the country experiences a traditional four seasons, Florida operates on its own natural rhythm. Align your stay with these Florida-specific events worth planning a trip around.
Manatee Season
Swimming with manatees in Three Sisters Springs.
Credit:
Brown W. Cannon III
Central Florida from December through March
When Florida waters start to cool in the winter, mammalian manatees make their way to warm refuges like freshwater springs and power plant outflows. Seeing these creatures gather in an aggregation (the manatee-specific term for herd) is a Florida wildlife spectacle. You can view the sea cows at Blue Spring State Park in Central Florida, or the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center at the Big Bend Power Station, just to name a few locations.
Swimming with manatees is illegal, except in one location—Crystal River, where guided tours oversee responsible swimming (no touching, only passive observation!) with manatees. Cooler air and fewer bugs also make this a comfortable time of year to be in Florida.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Other Wildlife Seasons in Florida:
Sea Turtle Nesting Season is from May to October. You can get involved and safely up-close with the endangered animals by volunteering with organizations like the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Bird Migration Season in the fall, winter, and spring brings all kinds of birds flock to the state seeking warm weather. Follow the Florida Birding Trail to wildlife hotspots throughout the state for optimal birding.
Bioluminescence Season
Credit: Courtesy of Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism and BK Adventure
Florida’s Space Coast from June to September
Peak summer isn’t the most popular time to come to Florida, but if you can brave the humidity you could bear witness to a rare natural aquatic phenomena. In the warm, shallow waters of Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River Lagoon, microscopic dinoflagellates (a kind of plankton) let off a bioluminescent glow in the water when moved, such as with a paddle stroke.
Since dinoflagellates’ light is only visible in darkness, you’ll wait until the heat of the day has burned off and embark on the tours at night. Exclusive to the Space Coast, these kayak and paddle tours are an otherworldly experience you’ll find in only a select few places around the world.
Stone Crab Season
Fall marks the start of stone crab season in Florida.
Credit:
Courtesy Naples Marco Island Everglades CVB
South Florida and the Florida Keys, from mid-October to mid-December
No one does fresh seafood like Florida. And in my opinion, the best time to get a taste of the state’s ocean flavor is peak stone crab season. Catching stone crabs is fairly easy, humane, and sustainable. Only one claw is taken from caught crabs, and then they’re returned to the water where they’ll regenerate another claw within a year.
For a real Florida experience, plan your visit around the season kickoff in the “Stone Crab Capital of the World”—Everglades City. The “blessing of the fleet” is a cultural tradition, dating back centuries to European fishing villages. The fanfare includes clergymen blessing the fishing boats, plus plenty of music, food, and meet-and-greets with real fishermen.
Citrus Season
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
November through May
There’s a reason the Florida license plate has an orange on it. The Sunshine State is still a huge producer of citrus, despite decades of struggles with blight, fungus, and commercial development. To see the citrus industry up close at a grove or historic farm stand is a trip back in time, and an up-close look at an agricultural legacy that needs protecting. You can experience the best of Florida citrus by taking a grove tour in Clermont (in a giant monster truck!), or supporting growers at places like Butrico Groves.
Credit: Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images
Other Agricultural Seasons Worth Traveling For:
Mango Season is in South Florida in the heat of summer. Pick up fresh mangoes at the famous Robert is Here farm market.
Key Lime Season is at its best in the summer into fall. If you’re in Key West, take Lloyd’s Tropical Bike Tour to get a taste of Key Limes and other tropical fruits.
Blueberry Season is in June and July in Central Florida, and u-pick opportunities abound at local farms.
Blue Angels Season
U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.
Credit:
Courtesy Visit Pensacola
Pensacola from March through November
North Carolina may be “First in Flight,” but Pensacola is home to one of the world’s most daring aerobatic acts. The Blue Angels are a fleet of Navy jets that perform air shows across the country. When they’re not on the road performing, they call Pensacola home base and training ground. The Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show is a huge event and marks their return to Pensacola skies after being on tour. Between the months of March and November, you can catch them performing their maneuvers twice a week.