Cedar Key, Florida

A tiny island town on the Gulf at the end of a long causeway, known for clams, sunsets, kayaking among mangrove keys and a pace that makes the rest of Florida look frantic. There are no chain resorts and no theme to it. It has taken a beating. Hurricane Helene in 2024 brought a surge of more than 9 feet, breaking the record Idalia set the year before, and the town is still rebuilding: some restaurants and the grocery store were not back by mid-2026, and lodging is limited. Visiting helps, but book a room first and expect a town in recovery.