With 663 miles of beaches lining warm, swimmable seas, balmy year-round temperatures, and an eclectic mix of attractions that ranges from high-end shopping to kitsch-filled theme parks, it's no wonder that Florida makes vacation-minded hearts beat faster. But not every destination in the Sunshine State is created equal when it comes to gay travelers. In this list you'll find the most welcoming enclaves – some obvious, but with angles you might not have considered; others that may require a map – to appeal to every possible type of LGBT tourist. For complete gay trip planning information, go to VisitFlorida.com’s gay site.

Fort Lauderdale

The numbers don't lie. With more than150 gay-owned businesses – including 28 gay guesthouses – and two annual LGBT pride festivals, this once-sleepy resort town known for its hetero-laden spring break frenzies is officially the queerest spot in the state. Add a gay-popular stretch of sand at Sebastian Street and A1A; the Stonewall Library—the largest LGBT lending library and archives in the Southeast; and the village of Wilton Manors, where the concentration of same-sex households ranks among the top five in the country and it's hard to imagine a place much more gay anywhere. With the recent boom of gay-friendly luxury accommodations on Fort Lauderdale Beach, including the St. Regis and soon-to-open W Hotel, the push is on to add more upmarket gay travelers to the mix, erasing memories of wet T-shirt contests once and for all. Get your bearings by ordering a free Rainbow Planner at http://www.sunny.org/rainbow and making your first stop Wilton Drive, home of the bright-yellow Shoppes of Wilton Manors plaza, aka ground zero for all this gaiety.

Best for: Travelers who crave total gay immersion, from bar to beach, guesthouse to gastronomy.

The Palm Beaches

Since the late 1800s when oil magnate Henry Flagler turned his attention to Palm Beach, the 14-mile-long island has been inextricably linked with the wealthy snowbirds who have made it their winter retreat of choice. The gay community has played a visible role in local politics since the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council formed in 1988; two years later, the group paved the way for a fair housing ordinance that protected LGB residents, the oldest gay rights law on the books in Florida. Slip into Palm Beach's tony history at the 55-room, Beaux-Arts-style Whitehall Flagler Museum before strolling Worth Avenue, the east coast version of Rodeo Drive, and dining at the 140-acre oceanfront resort, The Breakers, built by Flagler in 1896. Then, explore the heart of the local gay community in West Palm Beach, site of a few gay bars and Compass, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches, which presents the area's annual PrideFest in Lake Worth's waterside Bryant Park.

Best for: Those who love high society, elegant shopping, and a subtler gay scene.

Miami

Don't assume you know Miami because you've attended the pec-packed gay circuit extravaganzas that are Winter Party and White Party. There is Miami Beach, the Art-Deco-drenched island that rose to gay fame as a playground for the well toned, and then there is the city of Miami, across the causeway, where the heat is steadily rising within its arts scene. In the 18-block Miami Design District, furniture showrooms, galleries and buzzworthy restaurants, like Michael's Genuine Food and Drink, lure locals away from South Beach. The Wynwood Arts District, its grungier southern neighbor, has 40-plus galleries that throw open their doors for a festive arts walk every second Saturday of the month, plus it's home to a pair of contemporary art powerhouses: the Rubell Family Collection and the photo-centric Margulies Collection at the Warehouse. To experience the fusion of South Beach and the downtown arts scene, visit during December's event-jammed Art Basel Miami Beach, the sexy stateside sibling of the renowned Swiss art fair.

Best for: Fans of beautiful people, arts, and architecture and an international vibe.

Pensacola

A destination in the "Redneck Riviera" might not seem like the first choice for queer travelers, but this low-key Florida Panhandle city of about 53,000 has long attracted gay Southeasterners in search of a beach getaway. Positioned about 10 miles from the Alabama border, it's home to Emerald City, a decade-old gay dance club; a 20-building historic village; and sugary-white sands that create a vibrant, almost surreal landscape against the Gulf of Mexico's blue-green waters. If strength in numbers matters, then schedule a visit over Memorial Day Weekend, when a massive gay party spearheaded by New Orleans-based promoter Johnny Chisholm takes over the beach and downtown bars.

Best for: Unpretentious beach bums in search of a gorgeous patch of sand.

Walt Disney World

There's this little event that happens here in June called Gay Days, which brings an estimated 135,000 LGBT fun seekers to Central Florida's theme-park filled heart, most of them wearing red in a show of solidarity. On the first Saturday of the month, the Magic Kingdom serves as ground zero for gay visibility – a role it's held since the event began with an informal gathering of friends in 1991 – but the sprawling festivities ensure that nearby Universal Studios, Downtown Disney's permanent Cirque du Soleil show La Nouba, and Walt Disney World's other parks also brim over with queer cheer. If steamy summer temperatures and thousands of grown men in princess hats aren't your cup of tea, have a cool, adult-oriented experience by visiting WDW's Epcot during its fall International Food and Wine Festival. The park's global village is enhanced with booths selling surprisingly delicious sample-size portions of authentic cuisine from Ireland, China, South Africa, Morocco, Mexico City and more, accompanied by beer and/or wine from the regions. Parties, concerts, dinners, and workshops (cheese and wine pairing lessons, anyone?) accompany the six-week festival.

Best for: Families, fans of kitsch, and those who like their holidays in convenient packages.

Orlando

There's more to Orlando than Mickey. Set up base camp in Downtown Orlando to explore the interconnected neighborhoods and parks of its urban core: the Lake Ivanhoe district with its plentiful antique shops; lovely 43-acre Lake Eola Park; oak-filled Loch Haven Park, which houses the Orlando Museum of Art, the Mennello Musuem of American Folk Art, and the Orlando Science Center; and laid-back College Park, where queer Beat writer Jack Kerouac once rented tiny quarters. There are a handful of gay bars to be found nearby if you need a fix, but for a less obvious take, head to brick-lined Thornton Park and enjoy the neighborhood mix of gays and artsy types over a meal at chic Hue or the more casual and funky Dexter's.

Best for: Vacationers who want to dabble in theme-park fun but have an adult-style escape from family overload.

The Everglades

There are no rainbow signposts pointing the way to Everglades National Park. In fact, the roads leading from Miami into its marshy heart are liberally doused with heterosexual trappings of the good ol' boy variety: Swamp buggy rides, grizzled fishermen, and shops selling gator heads. But nature is a great equalizer and for gay outdoor enthusiasts, this 1.5 million-acre World Heritage Site (the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States) is a swampy mecca. Rent a canoe/kayak at the Flamingo Visitor Center, accessible from the Florida City entrance, and vanish into the mangroves and islands of Florida Bay for a few hours or days. Overnight backcountry camping is available on beaches or chickees, elevated platforms built into the swamp. Shark Valley, 38 miles west of downtown Miami, offers some of the park's best wildlife viewing. Pedal its 15-mile loop trail for close encounters with alligators, wood storks, and great white herons. The 65-foot observation tower at the halfway mark provides panoramic views up to 18 miles across the sawgrass prairie. A two-hour tram ride covers the same ground for the less athletically inclined.

Best for: Nature lovers who don't care if there's another gay person in sight.

Key West

Follow in the footsteps of gay playwright Tennessee Williams, who made his way to Florida's southernmost city in the 1940s and polished A Streetcar Named Desire while staying at the seven-story Crowne Plaza La Concha on Duval Street. Arguments may rage about whether or not the resort town is as overtly gay as it once was, but there's no denying it's still a spiritual home for eclectic creative types who embrace the city's "one human family" motto. The annual Key West Literary Seminar draws passionate book fans and often includes top gay writers, while the over-the-top, historic Gay Trolley Tour delivers insight into the city's most colorful characters every Saturday morning. Despite its tropical setting, Key West is not a beach lover's destination, but it's a gem for snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing; hit the water on a women's-only dolphin-watching cruise with Venus Charters or take in one of the legendary sunsets on a gay sail with Blu Q.

Best for: Gay couples, bibliophiles, and aquatic sports enthusiasts.

St. Petersburg

Sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay on Florida's west coast, St. Pete is the kind of pretension-free place where artists thrive. The city is home to the Salvador Dali Museum, said to contain the world's most comprehensive collection of the surrealist painter's works; the largest LGBT pride festival in the state; and the substantial (and seasonal; fall through spring) Saturday Morning Market where you'll spy plenty of gay locals browsing through the gourmet cheeses, organic produce, and crafts. In true gays-paving-the-way form, a rainbow presence is also bolstering the revitalization efforts of downtown's Central Avenue business district. Sun worshippers looking for their queer brethren will find them at Pass-A-Grille at the sleepy southern end of St. Pete Beach.

Best for: Gay travelers who want plenty of arts and culture to go with their beautiful beaches.

Ybor City

There are gay-appealing attractions in other parts of Tampa, including a top-notch LGBT film festival held downtown every October, but Ybor City deserves a special shout-out. Thanks to the 90-plus-member GaYbor Coalition founded in 2007, the National Historic Landmark District, originally established as a cigar-manufacturing center in the late 1800s, is undergoing a queer renaissance. Hang at gay hotspots like G. Bar or The Honey Pot, grab a casual bite at Streetcar Charlie's, or check out the LGBT resident artists at Gallery Live amid the Latin Quarter's backdrop of brick buildings and wrought-iron balconies. Rainbow-draped MC Film Festival acts as the area's de facto gay information center.

Best for: Fans of historic architecture who prefer their gay urban fix in a less overwhelming and attitude-driven city than Miami.

For more info on great places for LGBT travel in Florida, check out VisitFlorida.com's gay and lesbian site.