Discover Florida

09/02/2026

There are places that feel like a little piece of another world—and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is one of them. 🌿✨

Built as businessman James Deering’s winter estate in 1916, Vizcaya combines European-inspired architecture, elaborate historic interiors and ten acres of formal gardens with the tropical beauty of Biscayne Bay.

Everywhere you turn, there is another detail to discover: weathered stone staircases, ornate sculptures, hidden garden paths, lily ponds, towering trees and beautiful waterfront views. It feels romantic, mysterious and completely unexpected in the middle of Miami.

I came home with so many photos that choosing only a few was nearly impossible! If you enjoy history, architecture, gardens or photography, Vizcaya deserves a place on your Florida list.

Have you explored Vizcaya or is it still waiting on your list? 📍Miami, Florida

Follow the Discover Florida Beyond blog for more Florida places, photos and adventures: https://discoverfloridabeyond.com/

Vizcaya visitor information: https://vizcaya.org/

09/02/2026

🌴 A new island park is taking shape in Fort Myers!

Downtown Fort Myers is already charming - but soon there will be a little adventure close by. Legacy Island, located in the Caloosahatchee River near Downtown Fort Myers and the Edison Bridge, is being transformed into a public waterfront park and construction is now underway.

The approximately $1.2 million project is expected to include:

- A five-slip boat dock
- Beach access for kayaks and paddleboards
- Walking paths and nature trails
- An observation deck and pier
- Gazebos and picnic areas
- A stabilized living shoreline with native vegetation

One of the most interesting things about Legacy Island Park is that visitors will arrive by water rather than by car, making it a unique stop for boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders exploring the Caloosahatchee.

The City of Fort Myers is reportedly hoping to have the park ready to open by December 2026, although construction schedules can always change.

I love seeing new places that make it easier to enjoy Florida’s natural side especially when they are this close to downtown!

Would you visit Legacy Island by boat, kayak or paddleboard? 🌴

09/01/2026

A tiny Florida neighbor watching the morning begin.

I spotted this burrowing owl during a walk in Fort Myers. I only had my phone and very shaky hands but it was too special not to share.

Have you ever seen a burrowing owl in Florida?

08/31/2026

🌺 GO BEYOND THE FLORIDA YOU KNOW—FOLLOW US TO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE!

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden feels like stepping into another world.

Winding paths lead through layers of towering palms, unusual tropical flowers and dense greenery before opening onto peaceful ponds covered in enormous Victoria water lilies. Look closely and you may even spot a little heron using one of the giant leaves as its own private island.

Between the cascading waterfalls, brilliant purple blooms and plants that look almost too unusual to be real, there is something new waiting around every corner.

📍 Where giant water lilies, hidden wildlife and tropical beauty come together

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden — Coral Gables, Florida

Would you spend more time exploring the gardens—or sitting beside this pond?

Discover more Florida places worth exploring:
https://www.discoverfloridabeyond.com/

08/30/2026

Something we see everywhere in Florida, and still never get enough of!

08/30/2026

How did you spend your Sunday?

08/29/2026

Florida nature walks are wonderfully peaceful.

The birds are singing.
The palm trees are swaying.
The water is perfectly still.

Then a “log” blinks—and everyone suddenly remembers to respect personal space. 🐊😂

What is the most surprising thing you’ve encountered on a Florida trail?

08/27/2026

🌿 Come explore Pinecrest Gardens, where lush tropical paths lead to peaceful ponds, historic stone structures, and swans gliding across the lake.

Read the full story and follow Discover Florida as I continue exploring the places that make Florida special.

Step into the lush tropical beauty of Pinecrest Gardens, where winding paths lead past colorful flowers, peaceful ponds, historic stone structures, and swans gliding across the lake.

08/27/2026

Entering Pinecrest Gardens feels like stepping into another world.

A winding path leads you beneath lush tropical trees, past colorful flowers and walls softened by trailing ivy. As you continue deeper into the gardens, the landscape opens to a peaceful lake where swans glide across the water.

One of the loveliest places to pause is inside the historic stone pavilion, where its open arches frame the lake and tropical greenery like a living picture.

This visit was about five years ago, but I still remember how peaceful and enchanting it felt. Have you ever visited Pinecrest Gardens?

📍 Pinecrest Gardens | Pinecrest, Florida

08/25/2026

🌺 GO BEYOND THE FLORIDA YOU KNOW—FOLLOW US TO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE! 🌴

Bradenton Riverwalk was already alive as the morning sun began to rise over the Manatee River.

People walked and ran along the waterfront, a group practiced yoga beneath the changing sky, and a man stretched before taking on the skate ramps. Out on the river, boaters glided across the water while everyone along the shore seemed to welcome the new day in their own way.

It wasn’t simply a place to watch the sunrise—it was a place to become part of the morning.

📍 Where Bradenton wakes up beside the river

Bradenton Riverwalk — Bradenton, Florida

How would you spend your morning here: walking, running, yoga, skating or simply watching the sunrise?