Surf Hotspot: Cocoa Beach, Florida Pier – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by lunamarina
Three Florida villages are charming and among the best in the South, a new survey shows.
Results released April 9 listed the towns as smaller sites for “relaxing getaways, cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, and culinary delights” for vacationers.
The ranked locations are:
- Inverness at No. 3
- Safety Harbor at No. 5
- Cocoa Beach at No. 8.
The list comes from USA Today’s 10Best vacation rankings. To find the South’s best small towns, travel experts chose regional attractions under 25,000 people. Once trimmed, editors allowed readers a month to vote on their favorites.
Why are Florida tiny towns special?
Inverness topped the readers’ choice award list for Florida. Nearly 8,000 individuals live in the community 70 miles northwest of Orlando.
Renovations, shopping, and dining earned the town accolades, but there was more.
“Outdoor enthusiasts can cycle the 46-mile Withlacoochee State Trail that runs through Inverness, explore Fort Cooper State Park, or enjoy Henderson Lake in the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes,” 10Best reported. “This spot is unique because of its proximity to natural springs, including Three Sisters Springs where manatees gather in winter.”
Waterfronts and entertainment were complimented in other “charming” Florida villages.
Safety Harbor, recuperating from 2024 Tampa Bay hurricanes, was praised for its scenery. 10Best claimed its downtown events generate a “vibrant community atmosphere that’s welcoming to visitors.”
Meanwhile, 10Best labeled Cocoa Beach a “bucket list small town.” According to the study, the vacation spot near the Kennedy Space Center and 60 miles east of Orlando is known for its beach, surfing, and pier activities.
McClatchy News stated that Starkville, Mississippi, 120 miles northeast of Jackson, was the #1 Southern destination nationwide.
Popular small towns for historic sites, colleges, and other attractions were named by 10Best. Other Sunshine State highlights:
- Cedar Key at No. 2 among nation’s best small coastal towns
- Stuart at No. 7 among nation’s best small coastal towns
- Naples at No. 2 among nation’s best small-town food scenes
- Mount Dora at No. 8 among nation’s best small-town food scenes
- Gulfport at No. 10 among nation’s best small-town cultural scenes
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.