Florida isn't called the Sunshine State for nothing. While the majority of the United States are shivering in the deep freeze of January, Florida -- particularly, and not surprisingly, its southernmost tip -- routinely enjoys T-shirt and shorts weather. On both the Atlantic Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico, and south to Key West, Florida fills its hotels and campgrounds with visitors intent on finding warmth.
Miami
- Take your choice. Take all of them. Miami is a cosmopolitan city that offers a virtually inexhaustible array of attractions. Enjoy deep sea fishing offshore, take in the night life of South Beach, stroll the vibrant Little Havana neighborhood, and broaden your horizons at the Museum of Contemporary Art. One of the newer and especially popular attractions is the Dezer Collection Automobile Museum and Event Space, with more than 2,000 vehicles on display (including a Batman exhibit) valued at more than $100 million. And with an average January high temperature of 75 degrees, the Miami climate tempts you to leave your jacket and scarf at home.
Marco Island
- On the warm (average January high of 76 degrees) Gulf Coast, Marco Island is luxurious resort country. And although it offers many fine seaside hotels, if you enjoy sleeping under the stars, nearby Collier Seminole State Park rewards visitors with primitive camping, fishing and a lengthy nature walk. Several services provide guided tours through the "10,000 Islands," Marco itself being the largest and the only one developed. January through March, you'll find live theater and dance at the historic Dixie Theater, built in 1912.
- Everglades National Park
- Have you ever seen a crocodile? If not, you may wish to visit the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Crocodiles live there, along with manatees, the rarely seen Florida panther and birds beyond counting. This is an especially warm place, with average January temperatures lingering in the low 80s. And it's a wonderful place to bring or rent a boat -- Florida Bay accounts for a third of its 1.5 million acres. Ply the open waters or, if you're paddling a canoe, explore the densely vegetated canals. But don't forget your bug spray; even in January, the mosquitoes will greet you enthusiastically.
The Keys
- In 1948, Humphrey Bogart made Key Largo famous by starring in a popular movie of the same name. Ernest Hemingway made Key West famous simply by living there. The Florida Keys have enjoyed an aura of languor for generations. They should; the average January temperature of 74 degrees encourages that. The exposed portion of an ancient coral reef, the Keys are now tied together by the Overseas Highway, 127 miles of road that cross land and water to reach the southernmost point in the continental United States at Key West, where you can join the locals every day at Mallory Square to toast the setting sun.
