Florida When To Go

Sun-drenched winter days and beautiful balmy nights in southern Florida serve as a siren call for frozen northerners, so plan on sharing the sands, making reservations for restaurants, and shelling out top dollar for hotels. (Northern Florida, on the other hand, experiences high season from June through August when kids are out of school and families are itching for a summer escape.)

Northern Florida, and especially Orlando, bustle during summer break, but the rest of the state earns a reprieve from crowding when the mercury rises; visitors who brave the humidity and frequent afternoon showers will find hotel deals and bathwater-warm seas.

Take advantage of the lighter crowds right before or after the summer, when school break draws throngs of vacationers; the water on both coasts is warm enough for a swim and the temperatures are milder, particularly in November. Keep an eye on tropical forecasts: September is the peak of hurricane season.