7 Of The Most Charming Small Towns In Florida

The ‘Sunshine State of ‘Florida attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

People flock to one of its many popular tourist destinations for its golden beaches, theme parks, natural scenery, and of course, the climate.

But there is much more to Florida than the big cities such as Miami and Orlando, it is in the smaller towns where you may indeed find the true Florida.

Enjoy below, our pick of the best 7 small towns in Florida (population less than 15,000), here to prove, size certainly isn’t everything.

Palm Beach

While Palm Beach County is certainly one of Florida’s more known, larger regions, Palm Beach itself is a small 10-square-mile island with a population of below 9,000.

Known as one of the US’s wealthiest zip codes, you will find an abundance of stunning beaches, glam hotels, and beautiful bike ride trails.

Check out the island’s multi-million dollar estates, have a gander at the art galleries along the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast, or spend some of your hard-earned money in one of many designer boutiques.

Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is widely considered as one of Florida’s best-kept secrets…until now. It is a barrier island on Florida’s Gulf coast known for its large stretches of white-sand beaches and its picture-perfect scenery.

Check out the shops, restaurants, galleries, and the wooden Rod and Reel Pier.

Mount Dora

Mount Dora is a quaint city in central Florida with a population of around 14,000. You’ll find lots of antique shops and eateries as well as annual festivals which take over the streets.

Most notably The Mount Dora Arts Festival is held on the first weekend of February which attracts around 200,000 people every single year.

If that isn’t your cup of tea, you can find a large number of museums, lakes and live oaks.

Sanibel

Sanibel is located on Sanibel Island in southwest Florida. It has built a reputation for being a shellers paradise due to the abundance of unique shells that wash ashore. This is because it is one of the few islands that is directly perpendicular to Florida’s coastline, as opposed to parallel.

Sanibel is home to less than 7,500 people, but this doesn’t mean there isn’t an abundance of things to do. You can check out its amazing beaches, fishing pier, national wildlife refuge, boardwalk, and even a 19th-century lighthouse.

Micanopy

With a population of under 700, Micanopy is the smallest town on our list. Located right in the middle of the state, this tiny rural town is considered one of the antique capitals of Florida.

It is among the oldest towns in the state, and therefore you can find lots of narrow dirt roads, ancient oak trees, and many antique shops dotted around.

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is a 125-mile string of tropical islands with towns such as Marathon and Key Largo which are a great mix of quirky and touristy. You will find an abundance of activities such as diving, snorkeling, and boating.

Cedar Key

This is one of the smaller towns on our list, with only a population of around 800, it doesn’t get much smaller than Cedar Key. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, this tiny town is most known for the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge which has many picturesque trails. Don’t leave without visiting one of the many on-the-water restaurants and trying their fresh local seafood.