Have you ever gotten in the car and hit the back roads just to see what's out there? We have! And in a big way, here in our home state. Tens of thousands of miles later, we can report that there are still wonderful pockets of pre-theme park, undeveloped Florida that shouldn't be missed, from the heartfelt artists colonies in Apalachicola, Cedar Key, Sopchoppy, and Matlacha to the step-back-in-time towns of Fernandina, Micanopy, Chokoluskee, and Arcadia. Look no farther than your backyard: Explore Florida with the Explorer's Guides!

ORLANDO & CENTRAL FLORIDA: AN EXPLORERS GUIDE
This newly overhauled edition is packed with even more details on Central Florida's best genuine experiences, with greatly expanded information on Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Titusville, and a brand new section on Tampa Bay. Swim with manatees, take surfing lessons, and explore the wilds of the Ocala National Forest with this guide that brings you great hometown eateries, offbeat and authentic places to stay, and a myriad of experiences to enjoy.

NORTH FLORIDA & THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE: AN EXPLORER'S GUIDE
I’ve always felt that North Florida and the Panhandle were Florida’s best-kept secret, where you can still swim in a spring and hear the frogs croaking from the shore, search for waterfalls along rugged tributaries, glide down a crystalline stream on an inner tube, and in general, have yourself a great time. North Florida is the Old South, and it’s never more evident in towns like White Springs, Madison, Marianna, and Milton, places that retain vital historic downtowns where people still go to work and sip a cup of coffee. The genteel Old South remains intact: you’ll hear a lot of “yes, m’am” and “no, sir” up here, where live oaks and magnolias thrive and rolling acres of cotton and wheat dance off into the distance.

SOUTH FLORIDA: AN EXPLORER'S GUIDE
This book goes beyond the usual “Miami and the Keys” focus to bring you places with a genuine Florida feel. South Florida has captured the imagination of explorers since the Spanish set foot on these shores in the 1500s in search of gold. The farther south you travel, the clearer and bluer the oceans become. South Florida is on the tropical fringe, with native flora originating in the Caribbean growing as far north as West Palm Beach and Pine Island. It is where rare indigenous species roam, including the elusive Florida panther and the rare American crocodile. While the coastal regions are heavily populated, the central portion of the peninsula has rural towns, cattle ranches, and citrus groves until you reach the mighty swamps of South Florida, the Everglades and Big Cypress. We’ve made a point of finding what’s best in these places and including them, along with the well-known locales, to bring you the best South Florida has to offer.