Megan duBois

Key West is one of those places that is so idyllic it can be hard to believe it’s actually real. Picture the scene: palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, surrounded by crystalline turquoise waters, basking in year-round sunshine - absolute bliss. If that ain’t the good life, we don’t know what is. And there are few better ways to properly indulge in Key West than by renting an Airbnb. The city’s finest Airbnbs range from abodes that are mere steps away from the area’s biggest attractions to those that are perfect for lounging by the beach. We’ve sifted through all of Key West’s Airbnb rental options to find the ones that are totally unmissable: read on to find out more. Updated April 2024: With new properties constantly emerging from the woodwork, it's only right that we share the ones that have recently caught our attention. Prepare to be dazzled by a renovated condo with communal pool and a classy duplex that opens up onto a private beach.  RECOMMENDED: 🏝Why not stay at one of the best hotels in Key West? Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The Wall Street Journal published an article recently with a headline that asked: “Wait, Is Fort Lauderdale…Cool?” To locals, this seemed both like confirmation of something they already knew and absurd. Because if that’s ever been an actual question, it was answered long ago. That’s especially true when we’re talking about the Fort Lauderdale restaurant scene. Sure, a generation ago, dining out here largely meant staid Las Olas restaurants serving vaguely continental cuisine. But now, the city has stellar restaurants spread from the sand's edge to the county's western reaches. To be sure, we visited the city’s chef-driven spots and hidden strip-mall gems and places as cool as, well, Fort Lauderdale itself. Follow our guide to the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale to see just how cool this city has become. This guide was updated by South Florida-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Fort Lauderdale🏖️ The best beaches near Fort Lauderdale🏨 The best hotels in Fort Lauderdale🌴 The ultimate guide to Florida

The first time I went to Key West, well, let’s just say it’s a bit of a blur. It was like that for time No. 2 through 17. Then came a trip, years later, married and semi-mature, when I wanted something different. I asked for recommendations from a native, a fifth-gen Conch, as the locals are called. She loaded my Google Maps Key West page with places I’ve been hitting since. It’s not that I still don’t have those blurry nights on Duval, hitting Sloppy Joe’s and seeing what happens after. It’s just now I go to the tree-shaded neighborhoods elsewhere on the island to hit happy hour at bars full of locals, and eat truly great food at the corner bistros, and have breakfast the next day, blocks away from the tourist-produced detritus of last night. Want a visit to Key West restaurants that combines the best tourist spots with places locals have been swearing by for, well, five generations? We’ve got you covered. This guide was updated by South Florida-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED:📍The best things to do in Key West🍻The best bars in Key West🏨 The best hotels in Key West🏘 The best Airbnbs in Key West🏖️ The best beaches in Key West

My first trip to Disney—a story I’m sure many of us can recall in fine detail—came when my grandparents announced they were taking the whole family to Orlando for spring break. We were four days in when my grandfather made a declaration: it was too hot. We piled into a rented van and drove straight east to Cocoa Beach. It was the prettiest sight a kid from the Northeast had ever seen, miles of pristine beach on one side and rows of skee ball arcades on the other. Cocoa grew up since then into something far tonier. But for many of us, a trip to Disney and a weekend at the beach near Orlando still sounds like paradise—or at least it does for the kids. But it’s not as easy as just setting a course for the shore. Follow our guide below for the finest stretches of sand not too far from the land of Mickey. This guide was updated by South Florida-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED: The best parks in Orlando

One of the most daunting parts of planning a vacation or staycation is deciding where to stay. After all, you need to think about price, amenities, location, and more. You are supposed to be relaxing! While there are dozens of hotels around the greater Fort Lauderdale area, some of the best hotels are just steps away from the beach, and one is even shaped like a giant guitar. A day in the Venice of America is all about time spent at the sandy beaches, top-notch restaurants, and exploring the things to do, and ends with you jumping into a cozy hotel bed as you gaze out the window to the ocean waves. There are plenty of hotels with waterfront views, mermaid shows, and luxury facilities to choose from in the area. Some resorts even have rooftop pools and award-winning restaurants. No matter what type of hotel you’re looking for or what your budget is, there’s something for everyone here. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Orlando might scream tourists and theme parks, but there’s a whole other side to this city just waiting to be discovered. The best part? These bountiful lush green escapes are the perfect place to escape the tourist rush.  Whether you want to float along a freshwater spring, follow a bike trail or spot swans in a nearby lake, Orlando’s parks and green spaces have everything you need for a spot of tranquillity. So if you’ve had a bit too much fun at one of its many theme parks, you know where to come. Here are the best parks in Orlando.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Orlando🍣 The best restaurants in Orlando🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Orlando🎡 The best things to do with kids in Orlando Megan Dubois is a journalist covering theme parks, travel and more. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Imagine you’ve embarked on a trip to Orlando with friends to explore the theme parks and cute neighborhoods of the city. Then, around 5pm, everyone in your clan is hankering for a cocktail and good vibes. Enter the iconic American tradition of happy hour. While there are plenty of options no matter where you are in the city, some are definitely better than others, and even still, some are worth driving across town to enjoy. We’ve found a fun mix of restaurants and bars that serve everything from craft cocktails and pizza to wine pairings and seafood all ready to dish out discounted drinks and shareable snacks. These are the best happy hours in Orlando that you’ll want to go back to again and again. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Orlando This guide was updated by Florida-based writer Megan duBois. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Orlando is brimming with various restaurant styles, cuisines and dining vibes. And even though seafood isn’t what may come to mind first when you think about the land-locked City Beautiful, the central Florida locale has plenty of fish-focused restaurants. Whether you’re craving shrimp that are brought in daily from nearby ocean towns, spiny lobsters from Key West or high-quality fish flown in from around the world, Orlando has it all on the menu. And no matter where you’re staying, from one of the neighborhood hotels to a theme park resort, you'll find one of the best seafood restaurants in Orlando nearby waiting to dish out the fresh catch to you and your family. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in OrlandoThe best restaurants in Orlando This guide was updated by Florida-based writer Megan duBois. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Even though Orlando is the theme park capital of the world, if you get away from the theme park corridor, you'll find that the city has a lot more to offer. In fact, some of the best shopping and dining in Florida can be found in the City Beautiful. Options run the gamut from large malls with designer stores like Chanel and Tiffany & Co. to massive outlet complexes that offer discounted theme park merchandise from Walt Disney World as well as luxury fashions. For shopaholics in the city, these malls and outlets are a treasure trove of goods just waiting to be purchased. Outside of the malls, many of the smaller neighborhoods, such as Winter Park, have adorable shopping streets that are lined with boutiques and some of the city's best restaurants for when you need a break from retail. No matter what you're looking for or your budget, Orlando has so many places to go shopping. Credit cards at the ready! RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Orlando This guide was updated by Florida-based writer Megan duBois. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

If you’re looking for a scenic outdoor adventure, the best national parks in Florida give the state’s buzzing beach scene a run for its money. Sure, the Sunshine State’s national parks command their share of the coast, but you’ll find a range of landscapes that offer plenty more than sand and sunshine. Think you already know what you might expect from Florida’s parks? Think again. Near Miami, the Everglades park alone represents an entire ecosystem in and of itself, boasting some of Florida’s most iconic wildlife (alligators, panthers, snakes, oh my!), while Dry Tortugas National Park in Key West is anything but dry (the bulk of the remote park, in fact, is located underwater). From stunning turquoise waters to itty-bitty islands only accessible by boat, plenty of mangrove forests and acres upon acres of coral reefs, there’s plenty to explore whether you’re on foot, paddling via kayak, or snorkeling into the sunset. Ready to let the scenery surprise you? Home to stunning seashores, soaring national monuments, and plenty of natural beauty, these are the six best national parks in Florida (including a few national monuments, too).  RECOMMENDED: the best things to do in FloridaRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in FloridaRECOMMENDED: The best Florida hotels

Right about now, Orlando locals have a right to complain when they hear the city’s food scene described as up-and-coming. Sure, there are those out there who still see Orlando as simply the home of Mickey. Truth is, the world’s most commercialized rodent now shares O-Town with excellent restaurants. Luckily, that restaurant scene has begun to get the attention it deserves, including the arrival of the Michelin Guide. So far, four Orlando restaurants scored a Michelin star, while 11 others received the guide’s Bib Gourmand designation, for places that serve good food at reasonable prices. Another 31 spots in the city ended up in the guide’s “selected restaurants” section. But if you’re headed to Orlando to check out the city’s four starred restaurants, we’ve got you covered. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Orlando

Where to stay in Key West? We have what you need. This is the best place to enjoy the ocean, hop in a kayak, and relax all day by the sea. And whether you’re a diver, snorkeler, or certified chiller, Key West has got something great for you. But don’t just plan out your activities in meticulous detail. Make sure you choose the absolute best hotel going, to suit every kind of trip, whatever you want from your Key West stay. Lucky for you, we’ve made it easy and picked out the very best hotels that Key West has to offer, close to a whole host of great restaurants, bars, and attractions. Read on for exactly where to stay in the Conch Republic, making sure your Key West stay is exactly what you need. RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Key West Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Miami favorite The Wharf's Fort Lauderdale location is right along New River, a lively addition to the spate of new businesses setting up shop in the historic Las Olas district. The Wharf Fort Lauderdale brings the Hamptons to Florida with its whitewash fencing, white-and-navy nautical decor, dog-friendly Astroturf, and boat parking along the 480-foot-long dock space. And the massive space parties just as hard.  Within the expansive 1.25-acre event space are four bars and five food-court–style eateries helmed by local restaurants. Look out for noteworthy concepts including classic American fare from Lunchroom by be nice Restaurants (the group also responsible for local favorites Coconuts, Foxy Brown and Top Hat Delicatessen), Asian fusion spot Mrs. Balloo, pan-Asian cuisine from chef Timon Balloo and pizza from chef Jose Mendin’s The Piefather. During the day The Wharf is a casual eatery and hang-out spot for people of all ages, including families, but at night the 21+ crowd gets the place to themselves for drinking and dancing. Bar top seating encourages groups to sit and linger while they enjoy cocktails and outdoor games like cornhole, while seafaring elements make for perfect photo opps—not that we think this crowd needs the motivation to snap rosé selfies for the ’Gram.  Those looking for a more traditional restaurant experience should pop next door to RIVERTAIL, run by James Beard-nominated chef José Mendín. The seafood-driven restaurant has an impressive raw bar menu

We're willing to bet you know at least one kid who loves Peppa Pig. The British TV show has been enthralling youthful audiences around the world for almost two decades and has even generated a generation of American kids with fake British accents (seriously). Well, all those millions of young Peppa fans will soon have their own dedicated theme park in the United States that they can bug their parents to visit. Move over Disney World, Peppa Pig is headed to Florida.  The new theme park is slated to open in Orlando, Florida in 2022 and will feature rides, attractions, a water play area and live shows all catering to preschool-age children and their families. Kids will have the opportunity to meet Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and the rest of the animal gang as you explore the adorable world that looks like it’s been dropped right out of your TV and into central Florida.  Peppa fans will love rides such as Grandad Dog’s Pirate Boat Ride, where little piggies can hop aboard and set sail for Pirate Island, and Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride, where you get to fly high above the park in one of Miss Rabbit’s hot air balloons. Other rides feature characters like Grampy Rabbit and Mr. Bull.  The park will also feature two play zones: A splash pad where kids can mimic jumping in muddy puddles (Peppa's favorite pastime) filled with fountains, slides and interactive water features perfect for hot Florida summers and a Pirate Island where everyone in the family can look for buried treasur

After a year of being deprived of the special kind of magic that is Disney World fireworks, the theme parks are introducing two new shows this fall—just in time for the park’s 50th anniversary.  The celebration begins October 1, and the resort-wide party is set to last a whopping 18 months and feature fun new attractions, destination-worthy new dishes and (drum roll, please) two brand-new firework shows at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.  At Magic Kingdom Park, the new ’Disney Enchantment’ show will light up the night with dazzling colors around Cinderella Castle and down Main Street, USA. The show will feature an all-new soundtrack, lighting, fireworks and projections—not just on the castle itself, but all the way down Main Street, too.  Artist concept courtesy Disney Meanwhile, when the lights go down around World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT, Mickey fans will be in awe of the highly anticipated new show, ’Harmonious.’ The fireworks display will be one of the largest ever presented at a Disney park, combining Disney music with pyrotechnics, actual moving fountains, and fantastic lighting. For the ’Harmonious’ soundtrack, classic Disney songs have been reinterpreted and re-recorded in more than a dozen languages by a group of 240 different artists from around the world.  Can’t wait that long for some Disney magic? Disney World is currently open for business, and starting July 1, both Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT will bring back their fireworks shows with the same nighttime spectacula