TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards – Best of the Best in Florida
Updated for 2023 – TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards for Florida ran the normal gamut of beaches, attractions, and resorts. To save you a little time in looking through all the categories on TripAdvisor, I’ve compiled all of Florida’s winners here. I hope you find this a useful guide in planning your special weekend away or family vacation.
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But first…what are TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards?
For those in the crowd who don’t know or haven’t heard of them, the giant travel reviews website TripAdvisor creates a list of the best of the best as chosen by their users. This is the Traveler’s Choice Awards, and it’s a big deal. Cities love to say they have the best beach. Hotels can claim to be the best hotel. With hundreds of thousands of users, this recognition can lead to a lot more business from travelers.
Best Beaches
Florida beaches remain in the top 25 in the US. No surprise there. Each year the number of top beaches added to the list increases. A part of me is happy to see my personal favorite beach, Caladesi Island, isn’t on the list though it did make Dr. Beach’s list again this year.
- Siesta Key Beach – #11 in the World | #2 in the US
- Henderson Beach – #6 in the US
- St. Augustine Beach – #13 in the US
- St. Pete Beach – #14 in the US
- Panama City Beach – #18 in the US
- Pensacola Beach – #20 in the US
- Sombrero Beach – #22 in the US
- Clearwater Beach – #23 in the US
Best Destinations
Destinations are places that travelers go. Cities. Towns. TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards separates this category into several subcategories – popular, trending, for outdoor enthusiasts, for sun seekers, for food lovers, and for city lovers. Oh, and the one Florida will never rank for – destinations for skiers. As someone who doesn’t particularly like crowds, destinations for outdoor enthusiasts interests me the most. Sadly, Florida didn’t rank for any of those. Florida only ranked once in the world standing; however, we bagged a few US rankings.
Popular Destinations
- Key West – #4 in the US
- Miami Beach – #8 in the US
- St. Augustine – #12 in the US
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Trending Destinations
- Fort Myers Beach – #4 in the US
- Clearwater – #5 in the US
- Naples – #9 in the US
Destinations for Food Lovers
- Miami Beach – #4 in the US
Destinations for Sun Seekers
- Orlando – #23 in the World
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Things to Do
The attractions category has grown over the years and now includes amusement parks, water parks, experiences, and all sorts of other attractions. It’s simply called Things to Do now. The large number of experiences categories shows how travelers’ expectations shifted from spending money at amusement parks to building memories with curated experiences.
With an experience, you might be visiting a place but you’re doing something special or seeing a unique culture while you do so. You come away with a different perspective, deeper memories, and hopefully a better understanding of what makes this animal/country/area unique. As these experience categories grow, however, it’s important that we all take an active part in protecting those things we are experiencing.
While Orlando and the Magic Kingdom once dominated this category, neither rank particularly well even in the Amusement Parks category. Disney has come under fire lately for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the exorbitant cost to spend a day at one of their parks. It’s no surprise, then, that several other Florida attractions and experiences overtook Disney as fan favorites.
Top Overall Experiences
- 3 Hour Swim with Manatees in Florida – #8 in the US
- Mangrove Tunnel, Manatee and Dolphin Kayak Tour of Cocoa Beach – #13 in the US
- Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area – #14 in the US
- Shark and Wildlife Viewing Adventure in Key West – #17 in the US
Amusement and Water Parks
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure – #16 in the World | #3 in the US
- Fun Spot America – #17 in the World | #4 in the US
- Magic Kingdom Park – #23 in the World | #5 in the US
- Universal Studios Florida – #8 in the US
- Legoland Florida Resort – #10 in the US
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – #12 in the US
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – #14 in the US
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – #15 in the US
Bucket List Experience
- 3 Hour Swim with Manatees in Florida – #8 in the World
- Shark and Wildlife Viewing Adventure in Key West – #16 in the World
Cultural and Historical Experiences
- St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour – #11 in the US
- Eight Flags Road Tour – #14 in the US
- Key West Historic Homes and Island History Small Group Walking Tour – #21 in the US
Family-Friendly Experiences
- The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show – #13 in the World | #4 in the US
- Kid-Friendly Beach Rides – #7 in the US
- 1-Hour Interactive Pirate Cruise in Ft. Lauderdale – #9 in the US
Food Experiences
- Little Havana Food and Walking Tour in Miami – #7 in the World | #1 in the US
- St. Augustine’s Wine, Cocktail and Food Experience – #11 in the US
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area – #7 in the World | #4 in the US
- Small Group Motorboat Eco Tour of the Everglades – #18 in the US
- Marco Island Wildlife Sightseeing and Shelling Tour – #19 in the US
Sailing and Day Cruises
- Party Boat Cruise in Miami – #9 in the US
- Fort Lauderdale Sailing Charter – #10 in the US
- Small-Group Key West Sunset Sail with Wine – #14 in the US
- Intimate Sailing Adventure in Miami’s Biscayne Bay – #16 in the US
- Island Time Boat Cruise – #18 in the US
Snorkeling and Water Sports
- 3 Hour Swim with Manatees in Florida – #4 in the World | #2 in the US
- Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour – #12 in the World | #5 in the US
- Parasail Flight at Madeira Beach – #12 in the US
- Full-Day Kayak Adventure in the Everglades – #13 in the US
- Key Largo Snorkeling Trips & Islamorada Sandbar Tours – #20 in the US
- Dolphin Shelling Snorkeling Cruise in Tampa – #21 in the US
Top Attractions
- Stetson Mansion – #8 in the US
- The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum – #22 in the US
Wine, Beer, and Spirits Experiences
- Corks & Forks Culinary Tour – #7 in the US
Restaurants
Mmmmm….good food. Need I say more?
I think we can all agree that a spectacularly good meal, made with perfect ingredients, teased into existence by a master chef, is worth every penny that great restaurants charge. Much like experiences above, dining in an award-winning restaurant creates an unforgettable experience that you savor for years.
While Florida doesn’t have many entries in this category, there are a few. I intend to try them all when I can, especially that one in St. Pete Beach which is practically my back yard. It seems, however, that Miami Beach is the place to go for delectable dining.
Best Date Night Restaurants in Florida
- Collage Restaurant – #9 in the US
- Latitudes – #11 in the US
- Little Pearl – #13 in the US
Everyday Dining
- Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille Ft. Myers Beach – #2 in the US
- The Salty Crab Bar & Grill North Beach – #7 in the US
Fine Dining
- Six Tables a Restaurant – #6 in the US
- Collage Restaurant – #9 in the US
- The Bazaar by Jose Andres – #21 in the US
Hidden Gem Restaurants in Florida
- Seaside Café at the Mansion – #3 in the US
- Yardie Spice Restaurant – #12 in the US
- Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant – #22 in the US
- The Breakfast Club, Too – #25 in the US
Hotels
This is another huge category for Florida. That shouldn’t come as a surprise though, considering how many excellent beachside hotels the state has. Florida hotels ranked in a number of categories so if you’re looking for a special place to lay your head on your next vacation or weekend getaway, try one of these.
Top Hotels
- Aqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach – #3 in the US
- The Capitana Key West – #15 in the US
- Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club – #18 in the US
Best B&Bs & Inns
- Cedar House Inn – #15 in the World | #4 in the US
- St. Francis Inn Bed and Breakfast – #13 in the US
Family-Friendly Hotels in Florida
- Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club – #18 in the World | #1 in the US
- Santa Maria Suites Hotel – #2 in the US
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites S Lake Buena Vista – #23 in the US
- Marriott’s Harbour Lake – #24 in the US
Hottest New Hotels in Florida
- The Elser Hotel – #9 in the US
Luxury Hotels
- Aqualina Resort & Residences on the Beach – #2 in the US
- Faena Miami Beach – #14 in the US
- Setai Hotel Miami – #21 in the US
Small Hotels
- The Gardens Hotel – #6 in the US
- Marker 8 Hotel & Marina – #16 in the US
- Seashell Suites Resort – #19 in the US
Related: Expert Ways to Save on Your Next Hotel Stay
Final Thoughts on TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards
TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards are a great way for travelers to reward their favorite places and experiences and to let other travelers know which places are the best of the best. For many years these awards have been coveted by businesses who know that word-of-mouth and excellent service are the best ways to market yourself.
What did you think of Florida’s winners? Do you agree with these or would you like to see some other places on this list? I’d love to continue the conversation below. Let me know your thoughts!
I have always dreamt of visiting Florida. We live in London so dream of sunny beaches and warm weather. Hope to make it there soon!
I’ve been to many of these places, but there are several new ones on the list that I’d love to check out. I’d also like to go back to Universal–I haven’t been there since 2001!