With vacation season in full swing, there are plenty of spots just a hop, skip and a jump from Orlando worth visiting.

The summer is fast approaching, meaning many people are looking for more ways to get out of the house, whether for shopping, exploring nature or beach hopping as the weather warms up. 

This could range from visiting spots in Orlando they’ve never previously visited, getting out of the city or even leaving the state altogether. 

Anyone looking to take a staycation in Orlando can leave the house and stay in Rosen Shingle Creek or the Hilton Orlando, two of the best four-star hotels in the city, getting that feeling of vacation relaxation without having to leave town. If you’d rather stay home but have more to do and explore, Visit Central Florida’s website and visitor center offer several ways to find events, festivals and activities throughout the region. 

For those not looking to go too far from home, we’ve gathered some of the best locations for getaways within a day’s drive of Orlando.

Mount Dora
Situated just 40 minutes from Orlando, this lakefront town is called “Festival City,” due to their hosting of over 30 festivals per year and offering a wide variety of entertainment through their year-round schedule. One of their biggest draws is the Mount Dora Arts Festival, just one of the many ways to dive into the city’s arts and culture scene, along with various galleries and museums. For the more outdoorsy, Lake Dora offers bass fishing, or you can lawn bowl in Elizabeth Evans Park or explore Grantham Pointe’s Mount Dora Lighthouse. History buffs can also research the town’s past in the Mount Dora History Museum. 

Clearwater/Clearwater Beach
A relaxing break from routine is just two hours southwest of Orlando in Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, home to the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, Shepherd’s Beach Resort and Edge Hotel, three hotels and resorts featuring their own pools, easy access to the beach and other amenities and luxuries. See dolphins, pet capybaras and feed a stingray at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium or visit the 90 acres of diverse tropic plants, butterfly gardens and trails at the Florida Botanical Gardens to engage with nature in cultivated environments. For a chance to enjoy family-friendly activities, check out Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, where kids are entertained with pirate tales, water guns, face paint and treasure hunts, while adults can enjoy complimentary beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, on the adults only deck. 

Cedar Key
This island city is best known for the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, which covers 800 acres across 13 islands in the Gulf of Mexico, great for trail walking, fishing and kayaking. As one of the oldest towns in the state, the Cedar Key Historical Society is devoted to keeping history alive, offering guided tours so the stories of the past are carried on. The area also features Cedar Key City Park, a small, dog-friendly beach that is known for its lively and diverse bird population. Dining options include fresh seafood, smoothies, hot breakfast items and bars. 

Siesta Key/Sarasota
The barrier island off the coast of Sarasota features something for people of all ages and interests. Feed a lion, tiger or bear (oh my) at Sarasota’s Big Cat Habitat on the mainland, or explore the cities’ multiple pristine beaches, with Siesta Key Beach also offering beach wheelchairs to those who need them. The free trolley service makes getting around the island convenient, while numerous shops and boutiques will keep any avid shopper busy, and the lively bars and restaurants ensure that you’re entertained and well fed throughout your stay.

Naples
Naples is renowned for its golf courses and the various high-end shopping choices available to those looking to take a piece of luxury home with them. For those who enjoy a day on the course, the golf-focused Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón allows for the perfect mix of relaxation and activity for anyone looking to practice their swing. As for those who would prefer to spend their trip admiring Naples’ white sand beaches and historic pier, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples offers watercraft rentals, a children’s area and 24-hour room service.

Ocala
Located about 90 minutes from Orlando, this town is in close proximity to the Silver Springs State Park, where visitors can take a tour on one of their famous glass bottom boats to see wild monkeys, manatees and alligators. Also known as the Horse Capital of the World, the more artistic minded can venture to the Horse Fever Painted Statue Trail, where local artists created colorful and unique painted statues that have been scattered throughout the city. For families with children, the Discovery Center offers educational fun with STEM-based classes and cycling exhibits. 

Wynwood
A neighborhood within the borders of Miami, Wynwood is celebrated for Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum that showcases murals and other large-scale artworks by world-renowned street artists. Galleries for smaller-scale art are also open to all throughout the area. Besides the vibrant art scene, the neighborhood also features craft breweries, trendy bars with outdoor spaces and eateries. The boutiques and local businesses throughout Wynwood offer goods made right in Miami, giving visitors a way to take a small token of the city home with them. 

Lake Butler
For a quiet and calm getaway destination, take a drive in the rural area of the town and admire the large swathes of land covered in pine trees that at one time were used to make turpentine. Keep a look out for a place to pick and purchase your own blueberries as you move north. You can also take a look through the few remaining pieces of the town’s history, like the Marjorie McGill Druggers Historical Museum which is housed in The Townsend Building. The Townsend Building itself is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Boca Grande
Positioned on Gasparilla Island, Boca Grande offers easy access to the ocean and the island’s state park, allowing for snorkeling, fishing or looking for seashells. Bring your own bike or rent one to utilize the six-mile Rail Trail or explore the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse, which was restored with the help of community support for $1.3 million in 2017. Local restaurants and delis offer desserts and other sweet delights, as well as sophisticated cuisine. Your four-legged canine friend can come along too for a visit to the Boca Grande Dog Park.

Coconut Creek
Part of the Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area, Coconut Creek offers summer fun for everyone. Shoppers can enjoy The Promenade’s outdoor shopping by perusing the variety of boutiques or see a film in the center’s luxury movie theater. The more outdoorsy can enjoy Tradewinds Park, providing guided trail and pony rides at the park’s stables complex. Adults 21 and over can responsibly enjoy Seminole Coconut Creek Casino’s live table games and slot machines, as well as dining options ranging from a steakhouse to a deli to an Italian bistro. The entire family can enjoy Butterfly World together, where visitors can view the 20,000 exotic butterflies and tropical birds, a live bug zoo, hand feed small parrots and go through a vine maze, among other attractions. 

Spring Hill
One of Spring Hill’s largest attractions is the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, where mermaids perform in an underwater theater to the delight of guests. The park also features Buccaneer Bay, which houses two water slides that dunk riders into the water of the Weeki Wachee Springs. One of the area’s most budget-friendly entertainment options is the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens and Nursery, which visitors are invited to explore free of charge. Craft brews, seafood, wings and food trucks are all available dining options from the town’s various restaurants, bars and breweries. 

High Springs
Best known for the range of physical outdoor activities the local landscape lends itself to like tubing, scuba diving in the clear waters and cave diving at Ginnie Springs, High Springs offers more than just outdoor fun. The High Springs Museum gives visitors a way to engage with the local history, as well as displaying several miniature train displays for hobbyists to enjoy. Antique shops are available and popular in the downtown area. O’Leno State Park also offers 61 campsites, trails for biking and hiking and a museum to teach visitors about the history of the park. 

Crystal River
Home to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal River shelters manatees throughout the year, which guests can dive and swim with, giving people hands-on interactions with the gentle giants. While most known for being a popular spot for nature lovers, the Crystal River Archaeological State Park allows visitors to see a 61-acre pre-colonial site, housing Native American burial, temple and ceremonial mounds. While primarily an archaeological site, the complex’s placement near a coastal marsh allows anglers to catch both fresh and saltwater fish. 

Jekyll Island, Georgia
For some out-of-state fun, Jekyll Island draws visitors in with its untarnished beaches, expansive historic district and range of nature-based recreational options. The Historic District is 240 acres of restored Gilded Age homes and mansions and offers trolley tours. People can take the Wanderer Memory Trail for an interactive and educational story of the last known slave ship to have arrived in the U.S., or see the ruins of the Horton House. For those who love animals, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is the state’s only rehabilitation center for sea turtles, offering opportunities for educational activities, rehabilitation and insights into wildlife preservation. 

Cocoa Beach
Interest in the natural world can take many forms, with Cocoa Beach offering unique ways for people to explore the various elements of nature. Known for its beaches, the city boasts over 40 beach access points over its six miles of shoreline. Bioluminescence tours offer kayakers a guided way to see bioluminescent comb jellyfish, as well as other wildlife, up close and in person. The Dinosaur Store offers the ability to purchase fossils, minerals and science-based toys, as well as offering a space for parties. The city’s Florida Surf Museum, located inside the Ron Jon Surf Shop, displays vintage surfboards and other artifacts related to the history of the sport in Florida. 

Apalachicola
As a fishing and port city sometimes called “Oystertown,” Apalachicola is a seafood lover’s dream, offering a variety of fresh fish and shellfish. Established nearly two centuries ago, the town also holds lots of history, being home to a number of museums and historic sites. The John Gorrie Museum State Park features exhibits on local history and the inventions of local physician and mechanical refrigeration inventor John Gorrie, while the Orman House Historic State Park shows off the 19th century mansion with guided tours. For the more supernaturally minded, the Apalach Ghost Tour offers walking tours that share local legends and give participants the chance to be a part of paranormal investigations. 

Longboat Key
The island destination is known for its relaxing atmosphere, miles of white sand beaches and championship golf courses, allowing guests to get a taste of luxury. Mote Marine Laboratory, though primarily a research institution, allows guests to touch stingrays and features a shark tank, as well as manatees in the mammal center. Not far from Sarasota on the mainland, visitors can make a stop by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, or stay on the island and utilize the available bike trails, rent a boat or take a kayak tour. 

Sanibel Island
Known throughout the globe for the colorful range of seashells available, Sanibel Island has more to offer than just shells. Periwinkle Place and Tahitian Gardens offer several shopping destinations with a tropical backdrop. Boat tours offer dolphin-watching opportunities, while efoil lessons aim to teach visitors how to electric hydrofoil on the local waterways. The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is several thousands of acres preserved for mangroves, allowing for bird watching and wildlife viewing experiences. 

St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra
Florida’s Historic Coast is made up of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the surrounding beaches. Both towns make the past come to life in the present, offering tours of the oldest wooden school house in the nation, giving visitors a look into what schooling was like in the 18th century. Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park shows what the first settlement in the country looked like with live shows and reenactments. Other historic sites, like famous forts, an exploration of the area’s Black history, and the Colonial Quarter all display the rich history of the region in the modern day. After you finish exploring the area’s rich past, you can enjoy a number of activities including the number of concerts that fill up the summer calendar, a day on the golf course, a visit to the local farmers market, or various walking and food-tasting tours. 

Palm Beach/West Palm Beach
The barrier island of Palm Beach and the busy city on the mainland offer several things to do and places to stay. For those who prefer to remain on the state’s mainland, the Hilton West Palm Beach is a pet-friendly hotel, offers free wifi, a fitness center and beach access during your stay. For those who would rather be in the exclusive environment of the island, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa provides a hair salon, beach towels and sun loungers, and a computer station. While in the area, take part in West Palm Beach’s vibrant nightlife or enjoy the luxury shopping options of Palm Beach. 

Tallahassee
Florida’s capital gives visitors a wide array of ways to engage with the city. The Tallahassee Automobile Museum features cars, trucks and other vehicles, from Abraham Lincoln’s carriage and steam-powered cars to several Bat-Mobiles that had been featured in different Batman movies. Take a tour through the city on a bicycle-driven carriage, or fly above in a helicopter. For the more culturally inclined, see a live performance by the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra or support young talent by seeing a show at the Young Actors Theatre. The Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park is also located in the city, giving visitors the chance to see a Civil War battle reenactment.