June: Snorkel adventures, beach towns, mangoes & more

Lots of things begin in June: beach season, tubing season, sea turtle nesting and, alas, hurricane season. We've got tips for you on all these and much more.    Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see special events in June. ­ Plan a summer getaway to the beach The best Florida beach towns are cozy and quaint, reflecting an Old Florida ambience. Here are our favorites, all small enclaves worth discovering. Read more: Best Little Beach Towns ­ Below normal hurricane season predicted An abnormally strong El Niño is developing in the Pacific, an event that historically puts a damper on hurricane development in the Atlantic Basin.  Hurricane season begins on June 1. In addition to the forecast, we offer a checklist and tips on preparation. Hurricane season ­ ­  June is a mango month ­ We've noticed that mango trees are offering their lucious ripe fruit at varying paces this year, and many are ripening early in South Florida. Peak is likely to be in mid-June but some mangoes have already ripened. Here are two ways to make the most of mango season: Try one of our favorite mango recipes, ranging from mango bread to chutney, mango bars and mango daquiris. Go to the Fairchild Tropical Gardens Mango Festival, which is earlier than in many years, planned for June 13-14. ­ ­  Chill in a spring and stay at an Old Florida lodge in Big Bend region Wakulla Springs State Park has a historic lodge, spectacular spring/swimming hole, scenic boat rides and many spots to hike, bike and kayak nearby. The Big Bend region of Florida is often overlooked by visitors, who are missing out on a rustic, rural area. Wakullah Springs ­ South Florida snorkeling trail at Phil Foster Park is full of easy-to-see sea life The snorkeling trail at the park on the Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County offers a volume and variety of sea life rarely seen close to shore. Phil Foster Park   MORE snorkeling adventures:  Where to go snorkeling without a boat ­

Ten getaways for Florida's hot summer ­

­ ­ Three Florida beaches rank in top 10 These Gulf Coast treasures -- one in Naples, one in Dunedin, one in the Panhandle -- are perennial favorites of “Dr. Beach,” whose annual Best Beaches in America list is highly regarded.    Read more: 2026 list of top 10 beaches ­ Something special to do in June ­ Tubing season opens ­ These six spring-fed rivers are among the most beautiful spots in Florida and are ideal locations for tubing, which traditionally begins in June. They're popular, so you need to do your homework before going. We've updated our guide, including news about changes in where you can go tubing at these popular spots.  More on tubing ­ The Battle of Bloody Mose comes alive June 27, 2026 Fort Mose was a haven for runaway slaves and free blacks under Spanish rule, and it was there that Black militias joined Spanish forces to fend off the British. On Saturday, June 27, the Fort Mose Historical Society hosts a reenactment of the Battle of Bloody Mose at Fort Mose Historical State Park in St. Augustine. Read more: The Battle of Bloody Mose License-free fishing weekends in Florida    It's time to get out your fishing gear and try your luck. On June 6 and 7 , you can go saltwater fishing without a license. On June 13 and 14, it's license-free for freshwater fishing. Here's more on license-free fishing dates. Waterlily Celebration, Vero Beach, June 13, 2026 In June, the waterlilies are in full bloom and McKee Botanical Garden, an unusual historic garden in Vero Beach that was once a popular roadside attraction, celebrates the event. For the Water Lily Celebration, the gardens open at 8:30 a.m. so you can see night-blooming varieties before they close their petals. McKee Garden, a little-known gem, recently opened an innovative children’s garden. Also from Florida Rambler: Things to do in Vero Beach National Trails Day, June 6, 2026     Visit Hillsboro Lighthouse, Pompano Beach, June 14, 2026 One weekend day each month, the nonprofit Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society runs boat trips to visit this Broward County icon. The shuttle boat takes you two miles up the Intracoastal Waterway to arrive at the lighthouse by boat, so while it's a $35 ticket, it's a fun trip. More on Hillsboro Lighhouse.   Sign up for nighttime walks to see sea turtles nesting   Sea-turtle walks are guided, nighttime treks on a beach to watch a sea turtle dig a nest and lay eggs. Most sites offer walks in June and early July, but you need a reservation. Find out more about sea-turtle walks. Boat shows in June With more than a million registered boats, it's no surprise Florida hosts the biggest and best boat shows in the world. There are two this month, Tampa and West Palm Beach.  Florida boat show calendar ­ You may also be interested in...   Our popular Florida festival calendar    Our comprehensive guide to seafood festivals ­ How bad is the seaweed?    Florida's Atlantic beaches are facing an onslaught of sargassum seaweed washing ashore, especially in South Florida and the Florida Keys. This article includes links to live beach cams so you can monitor your local beach and get answers about the seaweed invasion. Bookmark our Seaweed Report.   ­

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