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NORTH

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THE COLLECTOR LUXURY INN & GARDENS

St. Augustine

Like St. Augustine, The Collector is packed with incredible history. Once the Dow Museum of Historic Houses, this landmark was built in 1790. Today, the venue still features the original structural integrity of its 30 unique rooms with coquina walls and stained glass windows, yet it’s equipped with modern technology like iPads. Stay where Napoleon’s nephew once lived. Check out Kenneth Dow’s outdoor bathtub, now a koi pond. Grab a drink at The Well and meander past stunning gardens to the outdoor amphitheater. thecollectorinn.com 

GOOD DOUGH

Jacksonville

Jacksonville has a sweet tooth for Logan and Brittany Moore’s artisan donut shop, Good Dough, located in San Marco. “We wanted a community shop,” says Logan. Indeed, people are coming together to enjoy favorite varieties, such as brown butter and Molly Ringwald. The flavors rotate monthly, and the handcrafted recipes are filled with locally sourced ingredients. Customers can watch the donut-making process through the kitchen windows while sipping Vagabond Coffee. Need more than just dough? Try the fried chicken doughwiche. The shop’s goal, explains Logan, is “for guests to be a little bit happier when they leave than when they came in.” gooddoughdoughnuts.com

HEARTWOOD SOUNDSTAGE

Gainesville

Put four musicians together, three of whom are sound engineers, and what do you get? A recording studio for live concerts, the only one of its kind in North Florida. Heartwood Soundstage welcomes an audience in its 150-seat listening room, where they tune in for an unparalleled experience. Can’t make it to Gainesville? All performances by national and local bands are not only taped on multiple cameras, but also livestreamed. The revenue from these events goes right back to the artists. As one of the owners, Dave Melosh, puts it, “It’s just a phenomenal place to hear music.” heartwoodsoundstage.com

 

BREW HA HA

Pensacola

In East Hill, a giant vintage postcard mural welcomes diners to this family- and dog-friendly eatery, Brew Ha Ha. “It’s an ode to Pensacola history and what makes Pensacola special,” says owner Angela Walker. Order Southern-inspired dishes with a twist—wings arranged like the Blue Angels, for example—from the 1940s Greyhound bus ticket window. Sip local beer at the bar built of materials from the old Hotel San Carlos. And check out the indoor graffiti bridge. The chefs are locals who prepare family recipes. Initially, Walker had to hunt for decor. Now, people are making the place their own by contributing their personal memorabilia. brewhahapensacola.com

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Central

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HAWTHORNE BOTTLE SHOPPE

St. Petersburg

Oenophiles and beer lovers, rejoice! Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe landed on Central Avenue’s west end in February with 75 wines and 300-plus brews, including Frank White, an IPA exclusive to the shop. Equal parts bar and market, it also serves up artisan sandwiches and snacks, like Sriracha tuna and homemade pimento cheese. Inside, there’s a lounge outfitted with vintage furniture and a library (shop policy: take a book, leave another behind). Outside, a 1,200-square-foot covered patio beckons with sofas, benches and a swing. “It’s a casual, welcoming ambience,” says co-owner Tegan Foster. “But we also help guests find something they can enjoy at home.” hbsforlife.com

DOVECOTE BRASSERIE

Orlando

Marble countertops, brass fixtures, 10-foot-tall drapes in flowing fabrics, and an ethereal blue and green mural accented with gold leaf subjects conjure visions of the City of Lights at downtown Orlando’s DoveCote. Chef Clay Miller—a student of The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller and renowned restaurateur Daniel Boulud—completes the Parisian experience with decadent dishes such as pork terrine, chicken and sausage cassoulet, crab and shrimp beignets, grilled octopus, braised beef short ribs and chocolate souffle. Since debuting in July 2016, the brasserie has racked up accolades and reservations. dovecoteorlando.com 

POSTO 9

Lakeland

The old masonry building on Main Street has been many things in its 109 years, including a dental office, music store and private home. On December 17, it found new life as Posto 9, a Brazilian-Southern gastropub. Owners Marco and Grace Franca had 13 tons of wood removed from the original structure and repurposed into tables, bar tops and decorative pieces. With 20 years of experience and inspiration from his hometown of São Paulo, Chef Michel Revy conceives memorable dishes, such as cheese bread waffles with Bahia spiced fried chicken, poblano aioli and guava ketchup. Each plate is an Instagram-worthy creation. posto9gastropub.com

SURF OUTFITTER

Tampa

In March, Hyde Park Village got a new neighbor, one that’s decidedly easygoing. Stocked with swimwear, cover-ups, footwear, accessories, wetsuits, boards, fins, leashes and waterproof gadgets such as cameras, GPS devices, tide trackers and speakers, Surf Outfitter helps shoppers escape the rat race and hang ten in comfort and style. The beachy boutique carries a mix of nationally known labels and boutique brands, including Duvin, Conscious Coconut, Maaji Swimwear and Frankie’s Bikinis. “We handpick everything and are always searching for specialty items and locally sourced products,” says manager Rikki Radkay. surfoutfitter.com

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SOUTH

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THE PERRY HOTEL

Key West

Situated on Stock Island’s bustling waterfront, The Perry Hotel lies perched at the southernmost edge of the country. Named after the famed commodore who helped claim Key West for the United States 195 years ago, the newly built 100-room boutique hotel features local artwork, gourmet Key West cuisine and reclaimed wood flooring reminiscent of the fishing boats that rock gently in their slips just steps from the front of the hotel. Balancing the quiet, rustic feel of Stock Island with the upscale ambience of a luxury hotel, the Perry gives travelers safe harbor from the tourist traps on the surrounding island. perrykeywest.com

THE RESERVE

Sarasota

Housed in buildings that once belonged to Charles Ringling of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Reserve in downtown Sarasota transforms these former circus venues into a contemporary urban gathering place. Offering Buddy Brew specialty coffees and an assortment of teas, wines, craft beers and light bites perfect for pairing with books from the curated bookstore, The Reserve encourages patrons to kick back in the brick courtyard beneath Edison bulbs and enjoy the warm Sarasota breeze. “The conversations you’ll have and the people you’ll meet here make it just a fantastic place,” says owner Kim Cressell. thereservesrq.com

THE FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

Miami

The newest addition to downtown Miami’s expanding Museum Park, The Frost Museum seeks to whisk your imagination on a journey from the ocean depths to the far reaches of space. It’s housed in four buildings and features a three-story aquarium that takes you from the surface to the depths of South Florida’s aquatic ecosystem, a 250-seat planetarium designed to hurtle you across the universe, two additional wings dedicated to exhibits exploring the Everglades and the nature of flight, a dazzling laser show and more. The Frost Museum is set to reinvigorate your sense of wonder at the world that surrounds us. frostscience.org

PLANT FOOD + WINE

Miami

Located inside The Sacred Space, a restorative gathering place offering mental and physical nourishment for the healthy set, Plant Food + Wine eatery focuses on creating minimally processed, plant-based cuisine. The restaurant, led by Chef Horacio Rivadero, embodies the ideals of sustainability and wellness with locally sourced ingredients. Situated in a 100-seat restaurant divided between a spacious dining room and an outdoor patio with ocean views, Plant Food + Wine features a menu offering a delicious assortment of bowls, sandwiches, wraps and salads made in a 100-percent raw-food kitchen. matthewkenneycuisine.com