Lining the coast of America’s most oddly-shaped state are 4 secret resort towns surely to peeve gatekeepers as I shine a spotlight on where locals go for a tranquil vacation without elbow-to-elbow crowds.
You might think you know Florida end to end as the “Sunshine State” is always reliable for a sunny beach getaway, but there’s still a handful of places to kick back and relax in luxury, including a brand new resort in a town you’ve likely never heard of before.
While most vacationers are scoping out quintessential Spring Break hotspots such as Panama City, Daytona Beach, and Miami (although, local authorities are cracking down on shenanigans), why follow the crowd when you can sprawl out starfish-style in paradise and best of all, you don’t have to wake up early to reserve a poolside lounger?
Kind of a jerk move anyway, no?
Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie is easier to reach than ever before lying between Palm Beach and up-and-coming Vero Beach, becoming a hotspot for budget flights with their very own Breeze Airways-anchored airport.
Home to multiple islands in arms reach that are more popular than Port St. Lucie itself, the beachside of town along the ‘Treasure Coast’ is breathtakingly beautiful, boasting conveniently spaced-out resorts like Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, a far cry from Florida’s household name destinations.
But, Port St. Lucie also holds a secret all-inclusive resort too often overlooked since it’s not technically a beach resort per se.
Formerly Club Med, the 4-star Sandpiper Bay All-Inclusive Resort is nestled riverside along the St. Lucie River.
While you’ll have to skip it as a spring getaway, this resort is coming back bigger and better than ever after an extensive glow-up set to wrap up later this year.
Punta Gorda
While popular budget airline Spirit has found itself to be the butt of many jokes in 2025 due to well-documented bankruptcy filings, its competitors have made wise investments to expand their portfolio.
Allegiant Airlines not only hosts one of the coolest NFL stadiums, but also designed their very own resort in their growing Florida hub of Punta Gorda, an easy gateway to some of Florida’s top-rated beaches like Siesta Key, Clearwater, and one of my favorites, lesser-known Nokomis.
As Punta Gorda’s only resort as of now, highly-anticipated Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor is open and receiving rave reviews from guests who have been delighted by this surprising waterfront escape with epic sunsets over the harbor.
While Punta Gorda isn’t a beach town, it’s certainly a worthwhile resort destination. Once you see either of the two pools, one with ground-level harbor views and the other on the rooftop, you’ll understand the hype of this place.
Duck Key
We all know Key West, but you don’t have to venture all the way down when there’s an itty bitty resort town tucked away along the famous Overseas Highway.
Duck Key features 4-star Hawks Cay Resort, which has been around for decades yet remained relatively hush-hush.
Not to show up Sunseeker, but Hawks Cay boasts 5 pools on site! Better yet, they have Tiki Beach, a great spot for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and encountering wild dolphins and sea turtles.
Truth be told, that’s about all there is to Duck Key unless you’re into deep-sea fishing excursions. Speaking of fresh catches, don’t skip Angler & Ale at the resort for a variety of seafood dishes and scenic views from the patio.
Brooksville
“Brooksville? Where is that?”, you might be thinking, and I wondered the same thing. It’s located inland roughly an hour north of Tampa and their local economy just hit the jackpot with the grand opening of Cabot Citrus Farms, the company’s first venture on U.S. soil.
While primarily seen as a golf resort with 57 holes to exaggerate your handicap, there are posh amenities and activities that suit everyone.
For example, there’s axe throwing, bass fishing, and archery to name a few. Overall, the mission of Cabot Citrus Farms is to provide a serene escape in nature, which is why they describe their resort as a ‘walking village’ with ample nature trails.
You can’t beat the accommodations either. Not only is this unique Florida resort to escape the crowds, but guests can choose between very spacious 2-bedroom to 4-bedroom cottages.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
