Summer is heating up in Florida, and travelers are en route.
The Sunshine State is extremely popular this time of year as it's renowned for its beautiful beaches, world-class theme parks and sizzling temperatures.
Although Miami, Orlando, Tampa and other major cities are certain to draw a crowd, there are a handful of lesser-known parts of the state worth exploring this summer.
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach
Summer is the perfect time to visit Florida's Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. Located on the Gulf Coast, this area boasts over 10 miles of crowd-less, family-friendly beaches.
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Punta Gorda/Englewood is also a fantastic destination for watersports, boat and parasailing tours, as well as shopping and dining.
The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau has also teamed up with Allegiant Air and the Palm Island Resort to launch the "Come Play Outside" campaign. Now through Aug. 31, users can upload a photo of their favorite childhood summer memory to Facebook for a shot to win a free seven-night stay at the Palm Island Resort.
Duck Key
As if you needed a reason to unwind in the Florida Keys this summer, Duck Key's Hawk Cay Resort has announced it will debut an interactive mermaid experience for children and adults alike.
The new entertainment offering will see Koral the Mermaid interact and take pictures with guests at the resort's saltwater lagoon. Adult guests can also take Aqua Yoga lessons with Koral at the Coral Cay Activities Center.
"We are a multigenerational destination, so it's important that we create entertainment and activities that every family member can participate in and enjoy," said the resort's VP Managing Director Sheldon Suga in a statement.
[READMORE] READ MORE: The Best Beaches and Beach Towns in Florida [/READMORE]
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach has a busy schedule lined up for the end of summer and the start of fall in 2017.
The waterfront town will welcome country music superstars Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Little Big Town for the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1-3) and will host the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb less than a week later on Sept. 9.
The 28th Annual Lobster Festival & Tournament kicks off Sept. 11 followed by the Pirate of the High Seas Festival Columbus Day Weekend (Oct. 6-8).
Finally, Panama City Beach will close out October with one of Florida's premier motorcycle rallies, the Thunder Beach Autumn Rally (Oct. 25-29), and welcome classic and custom cars to town for Emerald Coast Cruizin' Nov. 8-11.
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