Wet Paint: Explore Florida’s New and Renovated Hotels and Attractions

By Kellie Walton 

It’s amazing what a coat of paint can do, whether it’s to transform a time-honored space or put the finishing touches on a brand-new property. Florida has plenty of noteworthy hotels and attractions across the state, and some have just arrived on the scene in recent months. From a stunning boutique property to jaw-dropping entertainment destinations and even a park dedicated to driving military-style tanks, there’s something for everyone from the panhandle to the Southernmost point.  

We’ve rounded up all of Florida’s latest and greatest attractions you must visit this year.  

A Lovely Boutique Hotel: Lily Hall 

A Pensacola newcomer, Lily Hall is a stunning new 15-room boutique lodging house from Stahlman Hospitality, a powerhouse group out of Nashville. A mix between an AirBnb and an upscale boutique hotel, the property was built on what was once the Old Mount Olive Baptist church, and the result is a coastal escape with whimsical rooms, spirited design, and excellent amenities.  

In addition to the beautiful rooms, which include king and queen options with varying views, the property also houses a stunning main floor parlor with a gathering nook overlooking it, a sweeping front lawn that doubles as a private event venue, and, of course, a perfectly Southern front porch. Developed in partnership with award-winning Nashville restauranteur, Terry Raley, Lily Hall also houses two food and beverage concepts onsite: a signature restaurant, Brother Fox, and its attached speakeasy, Sister Hen. 
lilyhall.com/  

An Entertainment Mecca, Vivo! 

With a name translating to “lively,” it’s no surprise that the new Vivo! Dolphin Mall is a jovial entertainment destination just outside of Miami. The property includes a whopping 62,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space, including a huge al fresco plaza. Whether you’re looking for premium entertainment, a great meal, or a refreshing drink, Vivo! is a one-stop shop for all-day meals and all-night entertainment.  

There’s a dedicated “sports and social” section for viewing the big games, complete with three separate bars, throwback arcade games, and a spirited atmosphere. On select game days, there may even be emcees and DJs, live fan-cams, and friendly competitions. In addition, the center will welcome a PBR Cowboy Bar, in partnership with Professional Bull Riders, to bring lively western adventure to the space – mechanical bull in tow.  

Foodies will also enjoy the casual backyard space serving bites from Sergio’s Cuban American Kitchen and sips from Crush Bar, where Orange Crush is the star of the menu.  
shopdolphinmall.com/stores/vivo-dolphin-mall  

A Refresh at the Julia Hotel 

With its premier location on South Beach, the Julia Hotel has been a Miami destination since first opening in 2017, but the adults-only boutique property recently received a facelift. There are 29 guest rooms on property, each donning unique decor combining 1950s Miami Beach nods with contemporary style. The refresh came at the hands of At Mine Hospitality, a boutique hotel management company, and the rooms are now bookable through Airbnb.  
airbnb.com/users/show/482224999  

The Retro but Renovated Roth Hotel 

Treasure Island’s Roth Hotel recently underwent a stunning full renovation – originally built in 1953 under the name “the Delecado,” new ownership went to work restoring and elevating the property while maintaining the iconic Old-World Florida feel – new floors, bathroom tiling, linens, and more. The 14-room boutique property is draped in beachy tones to match its surroundings, which includes one of Florida’s most beautiful coral beaches, Sunset Beach. There are four varying room types including studios, waterfronts, and two bedroom options.  

While the recently renovated rooms are noteworthy all on their own, the amenities onsite are equally as luxurious, including a heated pool, outdoor grill space, views of the intercoastal waterway, a 50-foot dock on property, and easy beach access.  
therothhotel.com/ 

Stay at Sea in the Aqua Lodges 

A new trend in lodging is now open across the Florida Keys – Aqua Lodges. These luxury house boats are situated in locations spanning the chain of islands, including Key West, Marathon, and Islamorada, and include tiny home-style accommodations with a bedroom suite, living space, kitchen, restroom, and porch overlooking the water. The air conditioned boats span nearly 350 square feet and are docked at varying marinas across the area: 10 at Coconut Cay RV Park and Marina, two at Key Colony Marina, 13 at Big Pine Key, and seven at Hurricane Hole Marina.  

No matter which location you choose, exploring the Keys is a breeze. Be sure to book a fishing, snorkeling, or diving adventure, or visit a number of timeless attractions throughout the area from the Hemingway Home and Museum to the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A. 
coconutcayrv.com/  

A New Deep Space Launch Complex at Kennedy Space Center 

One of Florida’s biggest attractions is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, housing tons of exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, shows, two IMAX theaters and a range of bus tours of the spaceport. Recently, the Center debuted its latest 50,000-square-foot attraction called Gateway™: The Deep Space Launch Complex. The new complex showcases NASA and commercial spacecraft hardware, immersive displays, and a “journey” through space, all with a goal to highlight the present and future of space exploration and interstellar travel.  

While Gateway™ is certainly worth a visit all on its own, make plans to stay or visit the neighboring Courtyard by Marriott in Titusville, which is right by the Kennedy Space Center. With five floors and 152 guest rooms, the resort-style hotel is a perfect place to lay your head after a day of exploring. Plus, there’s a large outdoor pool, cabanas, and both indoor and outdoor bars. Whether or not you opt to stay the night, visit the Space Bar, a rooftop deck with a bar and restaurant onsite offering incredible views of the space center’s launch complexes.  
kennedyspacecenter.com/landing-pages/gateway  

Toughen Up at Tank America 

One of Orlando’s newest adventure parks is Tank America, which, as it sounds, is centered entirely around tanks. WIth a first location on the Space Coast, Tank America made the move to Orlando in late 2022 and is welcoming visitors onsite to drive FV 433 Abbot tanks – for fun!  

A package allows you to drive military-style armored vehicles and tanks across jungle terrain and even shoot machine guns. To note, the machine gun range is located a little under an hour away from the Tank America park. Visitors can also book the Ultimate Combat Experience to navigate through a scrap car obstacle course and crush a car themselves.  
tankamerica.com/ 

Lounge at Laguna’s Beach Bar & Grill 

Pensacola has a new entertainment destination, Laguna’s Beach Bar & Grill. Despite what its name may suggest, Laguna’s is far more than a restaurant, offering incredible family-friendly activities like go-karts, a three-story ropes course, a splash pad, four climbing structures, a zip rail (the longest in the region!), parasailing, jet ski rentals, pontoon boat rentals, dolphin cruises, and more (though, need I say more?). For those looking to experience it all, a park activities pass is available for $55 per day.  

The entire facility spans 600 feet of beachfront, with Adirondack chairs and tikis set out for guests to enjoy. Entertainment is the name of the game here, so in addition to a robust food and drink menu and stunning views, Laguna’s houses the island’s largest TV screen and hosts live entertainment every summer weekend. 
lagunaspensacolabeach.com/