Florida

Some enjoy street performers and special events at Pier 60, Philadelphia Phillies spring training at Bright House Field and Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The latter is home to Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tail, made famous in the film “Dolphin Tale.”

Bu Clearwater’s biggest draw remains the beach itself. Popular lodging options include the Sandpearl Resort and the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa.

Consider exploring the acclaimed natural setting of Caladesi Island State Park, located off the beach’s north end. Hop the ferry at Honeymoon Island State Park or skipper your boat to the island. You can’t camp on the island, but you can sleep on your boat at the dock.

Some visitors kayak a 3-mile trail, complete with mangroves. Located west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. www.visitclearwaterflorida.com.

2. Havana 1957

Tourists regularly take bites out of the Cuban cuisine found at this restaurant, which sits at the bustling Miami Beach corner of Española Way and Washington Avenue. (There’s another location on Lincoln Road.)

Zero in on the roasted chicken with Cuban gravy, the fried cubed pork and the flank steak crowned with onions. Indulge in an encore with some flan or a belly full of tres leches cake with a Cuban coffee chaser.

If Frank Sinatra were alive today, he’d likely tip his fedora to the decor, including the red vinyl booths, vintage Cuban travel posters and other touches. Don’t be surprised if you see the ghost of Ol’ Blue Eyes sipping a mojito at the Cuban rum bar, which boasts more than 70 rum varieties.

405 Española Way, Miami Beach. 1-305-503-3828; 819 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. 1-305-397-8683, www.havana1957.com.

3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Oodles of travelers land at this love letter to the U.S. space program. Equal parts history lesson and science study, the experience blends actual spacecraft and NASA memorabilia with kid-centric flash.

While dad may go gaga over a real Saturn V moon rocket, tots will likely gravitate toward the newly opened Angry Birds Space Encounter. All ages might drop their jaws while watching 3-D Imax space flicks.

The most recent buzz — we ain’t talking about astronaut Aldrin — centers around the opening of the Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction. Approximately $100 million was sunk into this 90,000-square-foot tourist draw. Guests get up close and personal with the actual shuttle, which flew 33 missions and has the weathered look and traces of space dust to prove it. Simulators and interactive activities give visitors a glimpse of what it would be like to stow away on a shuttle.

Fla. 405, Kennedy Space Center. 1-877-313-2610, www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

4. Universal Orlando Resort

For nearly a quarter century, this place has given the mouse a run for its magic. Theme park-loving families have a choice of two destinations: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

At the former, some new additions launched last summer. A pair of motion simulator rides, Transformers: The Ride-3D and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, put guests in the middle of those two respective movie universes.

The long-standing The Simpsons Ride serves as the centerpiece to a new, life-size reproduction of Springfield, the hometown of the animated Simpsons family. That’s where guests can nosh at Krusty Burger, tip back a Duff beer at Moe’s Tavern and ride Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ’n’ Hurl, a nod to parking lot carnival kitsch.

Islands of Adventure lays claim to the resort’s biggest marquee value: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a land within the park entirely themed on the Potter films. Fans ride rides, suck down Butterbeer, and see locations straight out of Harry’s mythos, from Hogwarts Castle to the shops of Hogsmeade.

Restaurants, nightlife and retail spots can be found at the adjacent Universal CityWalk, which is free to visit. The resort’s three on-site lodging options (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort) will soon be joined by Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Based on the beach resorts of the 1950s and ’60s, it’s set to open in March.

6000 Universal Blvd., Orlando. 1-407-363-8000, www.universalorlando.com.

5. Kelly Seahorse Ranch

The laid-back natural beauty of Amelia Island, a barrier island located off the coast of northeast Florida, lures visitors with its 13 miles of beaches.

Some opt to soak it all up on horseback with help from Kelly Seahorse Ranch. The family-owned outfit, located in the forest of Amelia Island State Park, offers one-hour guided horseback rides along the beach.

You don’t have to be a savvy cowboy or cowgirl to do it. Before the ride, the guide takes all participants through the basics.

It begins at the ranch itself with a trail ride through the dense tree-lined forest. The short trek leads to the beach, where the riders on horseback travel single file along the shore. As the water rushes back and forth, the horses smack their hoofs on the wet sand.

The tours take place at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays when the tide allows. Riders must be age 13 or older, stand at least 4 feet 6 inches tall and weigh no more than 230 pounds. There are only 10 riders allowed per tour, so reservations are recommended.

7500 First Coast Highway, Amelia Island. 1-904-491-5166, www.kellyranchinc.net.

6.Daytona

International

Speedway Tour

The home of NASCAR’s most lauded race, the Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway provides a pit stop for fans who want a glimpse behind the action.

The facility offers three different peeks underneath the hood. The 30-minute Speedway Tour takes guests on a ride through the infield, through NASCAR garages and the speedway’s pit road. The All Access Tour is an even more souped-up version with 90 minutes of exploration including a stop in the drivers’ meeting room, a look at Gatorade Victory Lane and a chance to get up close to a winning Daytona 500 car.

Die-hard NASCAR fans often indulge in the three-hour VIP Tour, which goes even deeper inside the speedway’s engine. Guests travel along this guided tour in an air-conditioned bus. A highlight is a visit to the Speedway Corporation Archives, home to a mother lode of memorabilia from trophies to racing artifacts.

1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. 1-877-306-7223, www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

7. The Dali Museum

Art buffs with a taste for the surreal don’t have to jaunt to Europe to get an eyeful of Salvador Dali’s work. This collection spans the entire career of the Spanish surrealist painter.

Expect to see 96 oil paintings and a slew of other pieces, including sculpture and original drawings. The museum’s latest digs, protected by hurricane-proof walls, opened in early 2011.

The giant bubble-shaped glass structure on the outside serves as a definite eye grabber. Inside you’ll find a combined 20,000 square feet of art gallery space.

Massive works such as the 1954 oil painting “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus” share space with the melting watches found in the much smaller “The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory.”

Events are consistently on tap, from craft beer tastings and art film screenings to children’s activities and yoga classes. The third annual Sueños de Dali, a dreamlike soiree honoring the artist’s penchant for the bizarre, takes place Oct. 26.

1 Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg. 1-727-823-3767, www.thedali.org.

8.Biking at Everglades National Park

Some say biking through this subtropical wilderness is the best way to experience its trademark wildlife and landscape.

The Pineland trails, with dense foliage and open wet prairies, feature a 43-mile network of trails for hiking with some open for biking. The area near the park’s Flamingo Visitor Center offers a pair of trails known for its bird-watching spots.

The Shark Valley section of the park is arguably the most popular for biking. It features a 15-mile scenic loop where folks can snag picturesque views of tree islands, the sawgrass prairie and animal residents. Deer, otter and even the Florida panther call the Everglades home.

Yeah, you’ll likely see alligators and other critters at a close vantage point. However, for the safety of visitors and the creatures, rangers remind the public to stay at least 15 feet away from all wild animals.

Guests can park their bikes and get a better view of the ecosystems by taking walks along the boardwalks and unpaved trails. Bike rentals are available at the Flamingo and Shark Valley Visitor Centers.

Located one hour south of Miami. www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/everglades-national-park.

9.Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

It’s hard to believe this romantic refuge is located on American soil. The oceanfront thatched roof bungalows tucked in the lush tropical environs give the impression of a luxurious version of “Swiss Family Robinson.” You won’t find a phone or a TV in the suites.

Sugar white sand beckons, and so does the bluer-than-blue sea. Some visitors experience the latter by scuba diving and snorkeling among the coral reef. Others pony up for excursions including deep-sea fishing, seaplane rides, dolphin encounters and more.

If your idea of a vacation activity simply involves pampering, its SpaTerre can suffice. Couples can be found having candlelight dinners on the shore, the waters of the Atlantic sparkling in the moonlight .

Keep an eye out for the resort’s Sandbar Sessions events when big-name musical acts perform intimate concerts for guests. Can’t wait to visit? Remember you can get there only via seaplane or boat.

28500 Overseas Highway, Little Torch Key. 1-305-515-4004, www.littlepalmisland.com.

10.The Key

West Bed

and Breakfast

This three-story Victorian sits amid a canopy of orchids and tropical trees. Built in 1898 by a crew of Bahamian ship builders, the William Russell House occupies a spot on the National Historic Register.

Bright and bold artwork, casual Caribbean decor and Bahamian ceiling fans set the island mood.

Vacationers choose from one of 10 rooms. Those traveling alone can bunk on the twin bed in the Nun’s Room. The more spacious TFF Room features a queen bed and a view of Old Town through a large French window.

Many guests nosh on their complimentary breakfast at the patio tables in the lush backyard.

The slow-go feel of island time is apparent, with plenty of places to kick back, including a hammock and Adirondack chairs found on the decks. Its location makes it easily accessible to Duval Street, the Seaport and Mallory Square.

415 William St., Key West. 1-800-438-6155, www.keywestbandb.com.

Hidden gem: Wakulla Springs Lodge

Located just outside Tallahassee and hidden away in Wakulla Springs State Park, the lodge is a time capsule of the late 1930s.

With its art deco and Mediterranean Revival stylings and cypress-laden lobby, the lodge harks back to simpler times. In fact, you won’t find a TV in any of the rooms. Instead, guests are too busy gazing at the grounds with its bountiful canopies of oak and beech.

The lodge sits steps away from the Wakulla River. Guests dip into the freshwater spring, which has a year-round temperature of 68 degrees. Don’t miss a boat tour along the river starring gators, manatees, turtles and a variety of feathered friends.

The amazing scenery has served as the backdrop for classic cinema, including “The Creature From the Black Lagoon” and “Tarzan’s New York Adventure.” Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be had in the Ball Room Dining Room, which manages to retain a happy medium somewhere between Southern ease and elegance.

Wakulla Springs Lodge, 550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs. 850-421-2000, www.wakullaspringslodge.com.