8 best Florida snowbird destinations
Find your warm-weather escape with long-term snowbird rentals in Florida.
The chill of winter isn’t for everyone. So when the temperature starts to drop, why not trade shoveling snow for beach towns, green golf courses, dolphin cruises, and amusement parks?
The Sunshine State has long been a snowbird favorite for its steady warm weather and sparkling coastline. Join the move out to blue skies and beautiful beaches, with oceanfront and ocean view homes available for monthly or multi-month rentals. Find your escape in an endless summer.
Fort Myers is popular for its beaches, fishing, and shopping—making it the ideal place to unwind for a one-month vacation, or longer. The city rests on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, offering waterfront views to relax into and plenty of attractions downtown. Take in well-needed sunshine while putting on golf courses or scouring the flea markets.
Home of Old Florida’s history, winter visitors can explore Bradenton’s museums, aquariums, and historical sites throughout town. A vacation rental by the river promises stunning views all winter long and a short walk to the water, where you can take in passing boats and Florida’s lush greenery. This Gulf community is ideal for easy relaxation and enjoying a slower pace.
Seek out white sand beaches and Gulf Coast waters with a winter rental in Naples. It’s not hard to see why the town was ranked as #1 Best Place to Live in Florida and #7 in Best Places to Live by U.S. News, with wildlife preserves, dolphin sightings, a growing brewery scene, and high-end shopping. Find yourself in perfect snowbird company in this sun-drenched city.
Known as Florida’s “Cultural Coast,” Sarasota’s emphasis on the arts is sure to entertain. Snowbirds flock to the city for months at a time in the winter season for the warm weather, access to the ocean, and Sarasota’s collection of theaters, art galleries, museums, operas, and ballets. Treat yourself to some time on the town during your winter stay.
Find your snowbird paradise where the fish are biting and sunshine is abundant. Destin is famed for its plentiful waters, sugar-white beaches, and array of premier resort offerings. Grab a gulf-front condo rental and spend your winter months with ocean views, beach access, and resort-style amenities, like swimming pools and hot tubs.
Get the best of both worlds with a city sandwiched between Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast. Clearwater is a Florida favorite and has been featured in Five Best Spring Break Beaches by Forbes and listed in Business Insider’s 24 Best Beaches in the United States. Plan a stay in a pet-friendly vacation home or beachfront winter condo rental and explore the emerald waters, golden sands, and downtown attractions.
If peace and quiet are your priority, Cape Coral offers scenic landscapes, nature reserves, and 400 miles of canals (more than any city on Earth). Take your time with a monthly rental and traverse the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve and birdwatch along the mangroves. Or, kayak Sirenia Vista Park and watch the manatees float along. Sit back and relax this winter in a vacation home with plenty of elbow room—and maybe a swimming pool.
27 miles of white sand beaches and turquoise waters await. Panama City Beach (or PCB) is a resort beach town in northwest Florida that boasts fresh seafood, aquariums, golf courses, and Pier Park, a beloved stop for outdoor shopping and dining. It’s hard to feel the winter blues when you’re sunning out on the sand.
Popular Florida spots for snowbird rentals include Fort Myers, Bradenton, Naples, Sarasota, Destin, Clearwater, Cape Coral, and Panama City Beach. The Sunshine State is also home to other great snowbird destinations, like Key West, Amelia Island, and the Florida Keys.
Yes, Vacasa offers pet-friendly snowbird rentals. Search vacation rentals in your favorite warm-weather area and add filters for “dog-friendly” and “snowbird-friendly” (and maybe even “beach access” and “ocean view”).
