Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Florida! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Florida.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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Just about every American travels to Florida at some point, usually to enjoy its wonderful beaches or its world-class amusement parks. But there's so much more to the Sunshine State. There are two major coastlines in Florida, each worthy of exploration from top to bottom.
To really get to know Florida, you have to dig deep and go beyond the major tourist areas and cities. Take a road trip and visit some of the charming towns and cities that dot the coastlines. Places like Destin, Naples, Sarasota, and St. Augustine are sure to charm. A road trip from Miami to Key West is also a must-do at some point as well.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN FLORIDA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Florida? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Florida, in no particular order:
✮ Take an amusement-park vacation in Orlando by visiting some of the parks of Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and/or Universal Studios
✮ Enjoy some of the fine beaches along the Gulf Coast of the Florida Panhandle
✮ Take a roadtrip from Miami to Key West by driving across the Florida Keys
✮ Cycle one of Florida's excellent paved rail trails (e.g. Withlacoochee State Trail)
✮ Jump on a guided airboat tour in the Everglades region
✮ Show off your stuff at South Miami Beach
✮ Go boating or take a guided seashelling tour of the Ten Thousand Islands near Marco Island
✮ Relax at one of the fine beaches on the southern and central Gulf Coast (e.g. Naples, Sanibel, Siesta Key, etc.)
✮ Visit the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral
✮ Spot manatees in one of Florida's beautiful natural springs
If I could select only one place to visit in Florida, I would choose the Orlando area. The quantity and quality of amusement parks in that area just keeps growing.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. I also have penned a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN FLORIDA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Florida. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Florida bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Gulf Coast: Northern (including Apalachicola, Destin, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and all of the Florida Peninsula)
✮ Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Walton Beach - an excellent indoor and outdoor military museum with planes, helicopters, and missles
✮ Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park, Destin - while online reviews are a bit mixed, this water park does offer more than 40 water attractions
✮ Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla Springs - a beautiful freshwater spring with swimming and manatees in the fall/winter
✮ Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze - a good medium-sized zoo with more than 800 animals; offers behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters
✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore - features six separate areas in Florida; known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, marshes, and coastal forts
✮ HarborWalk Village, Destin - the main shopping and dining district of lively Destin
✮ Henderson Beach State Park, Destin - one of the very best beaches in Florida
✮ National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola - features more than 150 military (Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard) aircraft on display
✮ Navarre Beach, Navarre - one of Florida's best beaches
✮ Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach - a three-mile island between Fort Walton Beach and Destin that is known for its beautiful beaches
✮ Panama City Beach beaches - offers 27 miles of beaches on the Emerald Coast that is known as the "Spring Break Capital of the World"
✮ Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach - features 8 miles of white-sand beaches
✮ Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Pensacola - climb up a historic lighthouse for great views of the Gulf Coast
✮ Pier Park, Panama City Beach - a popular shopping and dining district with more than 100 stores
✮ Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach - offers a quieter beach experience than nearby Destin
✮ SkyWheel, Panama City Beach - an 187-foot tall ferris wheel with climate-controlled gondolas
✮ St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach - features a 1.5-mile long beach (one of Florida's most beautiful) and good birdwatching
✮ St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Tallahassee - refuge with more than 150 miles of roads, levees, and trails; excellent birdwatching
✮ Tallahassee Automobile Museum, Tallahassee - excellent auto museum with more than 150 vehicles on display
✮ Tallahassee Museum, Tallahassee - a tourist attraction with an aerial adventure park, zip-lining, animal exhibits, and nature trails
Gulf Coast: Central (including Boca Grande, Bradenton, Clearwater, Dunedin, Sarasota, Siesta Key, St. Petersburg, and Tampa)
✮ Adventure Island, Tampa - a large water park across the street from Busch Gardens
✮ Brevard Zoo, Melbourne - a highly-rated medium-sized zoo with more than 900 animals
✮ Busch Gardens, Tampa - a huge and famous amusement park that also has more than 12,000 animals; one of FL's most popular attractions
✮ Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin - take a boat to visit an unspoiled island to "get away from it all"; walk the beaches or go kayaking
✮ Caspersen Beach, Venice - one of the best places in the U.S. to hunt for shark teeth (tip: bring a small shovel and a sifting box!)
✮ Clearwater Beach, Clearwater - a wide and beautiful 2.5-mile long white-sand beach
✮ Dali Museum, St. Petersburg - an exceptional art museum featuring the works of Salvador Dali
✮ Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa - features a beautiful river and natural spring; manatees live here in winter
✮ Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg - features a series of five interconnected islands known as "keys"; has outstanding beaches
✮ Florida Aquarium, Tampa - an excellent large aquarium
✮ Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail - an exceptional, fully-paved, continuous rail trail that travels 46 miles from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs
✮ Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin - known for its 4-mile long white-sand beaches, hiking trails, and as the gateway to Caladesi Island
✮ James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg - a great indoor art/sculpture museum focused on Native Americans and the West
✮ Madeira Beach, Madeira Beach - offers 2.5 miles of beach with a short boardwalk and good fishing
✮ Manasota Key Beach, Englewood - one of the best of Florida's quieter beaches
✮ Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota - a botanical garden that is perhaps best known for their orchids collection
✮ McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach - a small but top-rated sub-tropical botanic garden with Florida's largest collections of waterlilies
✮ Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota - visit a marine research center and small aquarium that offers several animal encounters
✮ Myakka River State Park, Sarasota - features Florida's 1st state-designated wild and scenic river; top-notch paddling and hiking opportunities
✮ Pass-a-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach - visit a beautiful white-sand beach in a "quaint, laid back, old Florida beach town"
✮ Peace River Wildlife Center, Punta Gorda - a highly-rated wildlife refuge and animal rehabilitation center
✮ Ringling, The, Sarasota - a large historical complex that includes an art museum, circus museum, a Venetian Gothic mansion, and more
✮ River Ventures Manatee Tour Center, Crystal River - offers a variety of manatee watching and other boat tours
✮ Robinson Nature Preserve, Bradenton - features mud flats, mangrove swamps, beaches, an observation tower, hiking trails, and great paddling
✮ Siesta Beach, Sarasota - one of the top-rated beaches in the U.S.; very family-friendly; Hurricane Ian in 2022 did some serious damage though
✮ St. Armands Circle, Sarasota - a famous upscale shopping and dining area
✮ St. Pete Beach beaches - features 35-miles of great beaches; often rated as one of the best beaches in the U.S.
✮ Stump Pass Beach State Park, Englewood - features a mile-long beach popular for seashelling, fishing, and swimming; hiking & kayaking too
✮ Sunken Gardens, St. Petersburg - a small botanical garden with more than 50,000 plants and flowers plus a flock of flamingos
✮ Sunset Beach, Treasure Island - an excellent and mostly wide 3-mile beach; has "Old Florida charm" and is close to St. Petersburg & Tampa
✮ Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa - a pair of long-beam bridges that is referred to as the "flagship bridge of Florida"
✮ Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River - a section of the Crystal River N.W.R. that offers excellent paddling on a beautiful spring
✮ Venice beaches - features 14 miles of beaches, a fishing pier, and good shark-tooth hunting
✮ Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill - famous for its mermaid diving shows and river boat cruises
✮ ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Tampa - a medium-sized zoo with more than 1,300 animals; known for its tropical zoological setting
Gulf Coast: Southern (including Bonita Springs, Captiva Island, Fort Myers, Marco Island, Naples, and Sanibel Island)
✮ Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Island - likely the #1 seashell museum in the U.S.
✮ Barefoot Beach Preserve, Bonita Springs - visit a wild and undeveloped barrier island beach
✮ Cape Romano, Marco Island - take a boat tour to see the remains of alien-like dome-shaped buildings that are sinking into the ocean
✮ Captiva
Island beaches - features 2.5 miles of laid-back beaches; close to the beaches of Sanibel Island; Hurricane Ian did damage in 2022
✮ Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples - features a 2.25-mile long boardwalk trail through an Everglades ecosystem; alligators commonly seen
✮ Cycling on Sanibel Island - one of the premier areas to go cycling in the Southeast; the town has 25 miles of mostly paved bicycle trails
✮ Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples - one of the best beaches of southwestern Florida
✮ Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers - offers self-guided and guided tours of the adjacent winter homes of Thomas Edison & Henry Ford
✮ Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers Beach - a popular, 7-mile long sandy beach; very popular for watersports
✮ J.N. (Ding) Darling Nat. Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island - some of best birdwatching in Florida; I really enjoyed bicycling in this park
✮ Keewaydin Island, Marco Island - a beautiful barrier island off the coast of Naples that can only be reached by boat
✮ Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach - one of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida
✮ Lowdermilk Beach, Naples - one of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida
✮ Manatee Park, Fort Myers - a small waterfront park where you can often spots manatees from late December through February
✮ Marco Island - an upscale area with several large resorts and miles of great beaches
✮ Naples Botanical Garden, Naples - a gorgeous botanical garden on 170-acres; probably one of the best botanical gardens in the U.S.
✮ Naples Pier, Naples - one of Florida's best fishing peirs
✮ Revs Institute, Naples - an excellent auto museum featuring more than 100 vehicles on display
✮ Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers - this nature preserve features a 1.2-mile boardwalk trail that explores a wetland ecosystem
✮ Ten Thousand Islands - offers some of the best boating opportunities in the U.S.; provides outstanding seashelling and remote beaches
✮ Treasure Seekers Shell Tours, Goodland - this company offers some of the finest seashelling boat tours in the U.S.
Atlantic Coast: Northern (including Daytona Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, New Smyrna Beach, and St. Augustine)
✮ Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine - known for its pristine white-sand beaches, maritime hammocks, sand dunes, and tidal marshes
✮ Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine - visit the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. (built in 1627 by the Spanish)
✮ Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jacksonville Beach - a top-rated animal rescue sanctuary for big cats
✮ Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville - claims to be the largest art museum in northeastern Florida
✮ Daytona 500 (event), Daytona Beach - a famous NASCAR Cup Series motor racing event that is typically held in February
✮ Daytona Beach - a medium-sized city famous for its drivable beach and motor racing events
✮ Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach - one of the most iconic NASCAR racing tracks in the country
✮ Flagler College, St. Augustine - take a guided tour of the beautiful architecture found at this college
✮ Friendship Fountain, Jacksonville - see one of the largest water fountains in the U.S.
✮ Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach - features a historic and oceanside Civil War fort, beaches, and hiking and cycling trails
✮ Guided sightseeing tours in St. Augustine - there are several operators that offer great guided tours in this city (e.g. Old Town Trolley Tours)
✮ Jacksonville beaches - there are several public beaches in Jacksonville, including Neptune Beach, Mayport Beach, and Atlantic Beach
✮ Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Jacksonville - a good, medium-sized zoo with more than 2,000 animals and a garden with 1,000 plant species
✮ Lightner Museum, St. Augustine - an art and antique museum housed within a stunning and historic late 1800s-era hotel
✮ Ormond Beach, Ormond Beach - described as a "long, laid-back beach that is not terribly crowded"
✮ Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, Ponce Inlet - visit the tallest lighthouse in Florida (and one of the tallest in the U.S.)
✮ Southbank Riverwalk, Jacksonville - an attractive 1.25-mile paved promenade with great views of Jacksonville
✮ St. Augustine - a small historic city with lots of Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and beaches
✮ St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine - see hundreds of alligators and every living species of crocodiles
✮ St. Augustine beaches - there are many miles of beaches in this area, including St. Augustine Beach (which is 2 miles long)
✮ St. Augustine Distillery, St. Augustine - visit one of the highest-rated distilleries in the Southeast
✮ St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, St. Augustine - see a 165-foot tall black-and-white striped lighthouse built in the late 1800s
✮ St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, St. Augustine - one of the best museums of its kind in the U.S.
✮ St. Augustine Wild Reserve, St. Augustine - offers excellent guided tours and animal encounters, but only on select days of the week
✮ St. George Street, St. Augustine - a historic street that is the tourist hub of St. Augustine; the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the U.S. is here
✮ World Golf Hall of Fame, St. Augustine - a golf museum that honors both men and women female golfers
Atlantic Coast: Central (including Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, and Hutchinson Island)
✮ Canaveral National Seashore - a "recreational paradise" with 24 miles of beaches, dunes, lagoons, and mangrove wetlands
✮ Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach - a lively beach and beach town known as "the surfing capital of the East Coast"
✮ Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island - one of the best space/NASA museums in the U.S.
✮ Navy SEAL Museum, Fort Pierce - visit the only museum dedicated to the U.S. Navy SEALS
✮ Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Titusville - features nearly 50 combat aircraft on display
Miami and Miami Beach (see below for the rest of the southern Atlantic Coast)
✮ Art Deco Historic District, Miami Beach - famous architectural district on Miami Beach on Ocean Drive between 5th Street and 23rd Street
✮ Frost Science, Miami - a relatively new museum complex with science exhibits plus an aquarium and planetarium
✮ Guided food tours in Miami - Miami is a dining destination, and several companies offer excellent guided food tours
✮ Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens - a famous football stadium; home of the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes (college football)
✮ Lincoln Road, Miami Beach - a very popular shopping district/pedestrian mall with 200-300 stores
✮ Little Havana, Miami - a district in Miami that is "the closest you can get to Cuba without leaving the U.S."; known for its outstanding food
✮ Lock & Load Miami, Miami - a popular and highly-rated machine gun shooting experience
✮ Miami Beach Boardwalk, Miami Beach - walk or jog along a 7-mile pathway that starts at South Beach and ends at the Surfside town border
✮ Ocean Drive, Miami - this road travels through the heart of Miami's famous South Beach area and is famous for its Art Deco-style buildings
✮ Perez Art Musuem, Miami - an excellent waterfront contemporary art museum
✮ South Beach (SoBe), Miami Beach - arguably the trendiest/hippest/most youthful beach in the U.S; bars and night clubs galore
✮ South Pointe Park, Miami Beach - a lovely green space at the southern tip of Miami Beach; the walking trails here offer great views
✮ Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami - offers tours of a large Gilded Age estate and 10 acres of formal gardens on Biscayne Bay
✮ Wynwood Walls / Wynwood Art District, Miami - a huge art district that I would say offers the best collection of art murals in the U.S.
✮ Zoo Miami, Miami - the largest zoo in Florida; features more than 3,000 animals from 500 species on nearly 750 acres
✮ Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Miami - an appointment-only zoo with intimate animal encounters
Atlantic Coast: Southern (including Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Everglades NP; see above for Miami)
✮ Airboat tours in or near Everglades National Park - there are several operators in/around the Everglades that offer these extremely fun tours
✮ Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center, Ochopee - a visitor center that offers near guaranteed alligator sightings (the last time I went I saw 20+)
✮ Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne - features a lighthouse, paddling, one of Florida's best beaches, and several hiking trails
✮ Biscayne National Park - take a ferry to visit long reefs and islands; one of the best places to go snorkeling and scuba diving in the U.S.
✮ Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jupiter - walk the trails of a small wildlife sanctuary; it's free but donations help support their wildlife hospital
✮ Butterfly World, Coconut Creek - home of more than 20,000 butterflies plus a botanical garden
✮ Coral Castle Museum, Homestead - visit a castle made out of coral rock; not everyone will appreciate this roadside attraction
✮ Everglades National Park - an enormous subtropical wilderness area; offers outstanding paddling and wildlife/birdwatching opportunities
✮ Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables - a great 83-acre botanical garden
✮ Flamingo Gardens, Davie - a 60-acre botanical garden with a variety of animals (and not just flamingos)
✮ Fort Lauderdale beaches - this city just north of Miami offers seven miles of lively beaches
✮ Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, Hallandale Beach - a large horseracing park with a casino
✮ Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton - features an indoor nature center, small aquarium, and a sea turtle rehabilitation facility
✮ Henry Morrison Flagler Museum / Whitehall, Palm Beach - explore a grand, 75-room Gilded Age mansion
✮ Hollywood Beach, Hollywood - popular beaches located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale
✮ Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, Jupiter - climb 105 steps up to the top of a lighthouse built in 1860
✮ McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary, West Palm Beach - one of the best animal sanctuaries in the U.S.; offers hands-on experiences for kids
✮ Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach - a beautiful Japanese garden and cultural center
✮ Shark Valley, Everglades National Park - take a tram tour or cycle this 15-mile long paved route; the last time I went I saw 15+ alligators
✮ Square, The, West Palm Beach - a lively indoor and outdoor shopping and dining area
✮ Venetian Pool - a tourist attraction featuring a giant pool that is fed by a natural underground spring
✮ Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach - a nature preserve with great birdwatching/wildlife viewing opportunities (alligators are common)
Interior Florida: North (including Gainesville, Lake City, and Ocala)
✮ Canyons Zip Line & Canopy Tours, Ocala - adventure center with several ziplines, sky bridges, horseback riding, and more
✮ Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring, Williston - a subterranean natural pool where you can go diving or snorkeling
✮ Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville - the official natural history museum of Florida; includes a Butterfly Rainforest
✮ Gypsy Gold Farm, Ocala - a horse farm known for their Gypsy Vanner horses
✮ Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon - visit a beautiful, 70-foot deep natural spring that offers swimming, paddling, diving, and snorkeling
✮ Silver Springs State Park, Silver Springs - see a beautiful spring from a glass bottom boat; kayak/canoe down the Fort King Paddling Trail
✮ Stetson Mansion, DeLand - take a tour of a Gilded Age mansion built in 1886 that is often called "Florida's most historic home"
Interior Florida: South & Central
✮ Alligator Cove Airboat Nature Tours, Lake Wales - popular airboat tours of the Kissimmee Basin
✮ Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales - tour 50-acres of Frederick Law Olmsted-designed gardens and a 20-room Mediterranean-style mansion
✮ Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland - an excellent nature preserve with a variety of short hiking trails; see alligators in their natural habitat
✮ Dinosaur World, Plant City - a tourist attraction featuring more than 150 dinosaur sculptures
✮ Legoland Florida Resort, Winter Haven - one of three Lego-themed amusement parks in the U.S. (the other two are in CA and NY)
✮ Solomon's Castle, Ona - tours of an aluminium castle and recycled art pieces; one of the quirkiest tourist/roadside attractions in Florida
Orlando and surrounding area
✮ Airboat tours from Kissimmee - a variety of operators offer fun airboat rides in the Kissimmee area
✮ Aquatica: SeaWorld's Water Park, Orlando - a large and excellent water park; one of the best water parks in the U.S.; next to SeaWorld
✮ Blue Spring State Park, Orange City - known for its wintering manatees, excellent canoeing/kayaking, and guided river boat cruises
✮ Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park - an art museum notable for its art nouveau collection
✮ Discovery Cove, Orlando - one of the best places to swim with dolphins in Florida; next to SeaWorld and Aquatica
✮ Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando - a major zoological theme park; one of the four main parks of Walt Disney World
✮ Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, Orlando - one of two excellent Disney water parks in Orlando
✮ Disney's Hollywood Studios, Lake Buena Vista - a major theme park with rides and themed areas; one of the four main parks of Disney World
✮ Disney Springs, Orlando - a large outdoor shopping area with more than 150 stores and 60 places to eat
✮ Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Orlando - one of two excellent Disney water parks in Orlando
✮ EPCOT, Orlando - one of the four main parks of Walt Disney World; famous for its "around the world" food and beverage stations
✮ Fun Spot America, Kissimmee - a medium-sized amusement park and family-fun center offering a variety of rides, attractions, and arcades
✮ Gatorland, Orlando - one of the best reptile parks/zoos in the U.S.; offers a variety of experiences, including gator shows and zip-lining
✮ ICON Park - ride a 400-foot tall ferris wheel that is surrounded by many shops and restaurants
✮ Madame Tussauds Orlando - one of the best wax museums in the U.S.; take photos with famous people
✮ Magic Kingdom Park, Lake Buena Vista - the "classic Disney park" of the four major Walt Disney World theme parks
✮ Orlando Science Center - a science and natural history museum; has good dinosaur/fossil exhibits
✮ Rock Springs Run tubing at Kelly Park, Apopka - a fun 0.75 mile river tubing adventure; rental tubes are available nearby
✮ SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando - a major theme park and marine zoological park; next to Discovery Cove and Aquatica (both run by SeaWorld)
✮ Universal Studios Florida, Orlando - a major theme park with many movie/TV attractions and thrill rides; Harry Potter World is also here
✮ Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando - a major amusement park with many thrill rides
✮ Universal's Volcano Bay, Orlando - an excellent tropical-themed water park
✮ Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka - features a large, beautiful natural spring for swimming and paddling, plus more than 13 miles of trails
✮ West Orange Trail - an excellent, continuous, partially-paved 23 mile rail trail from Oakland to Apopka; one of the best rail trails in Florida
Florida Keys
✮ Bahia Honda State Park and Beach, Big Pine Key - generally regarded as the best beach in the Florida Keys
✮ Barefoot Billy's, Key West - offers popular watersports activities and rentals
✮ Big Betsy / Giant Lobster statue, Islamorada - the world's largest lobster at 30 feet high and 40 feet long; one of FL's best roadside attractions
✮ Boat tours from Key West - e.g. sunset cruises, sailing charters, dolphin watching, kayaking tours, trips to Dry Tortugas National Park, etc.
✮ Dolphins Plus, Key Largo - one of the best places to swim with dolphins in Florida
✮ Dry Tortugas National Park - take a ferry or seaplane from Key West to visit a beautiful island, which has a historic fort and lovely beaches
✮ Duval Street, Key West - the tourist center of Key West with many shops, restaurants, and bars
✮ Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West - tour the beautiful residence of the famous author; famous for its six-toed cats
✮ Fishing in the Florida Keys - the Florida Keys offer an unlimited amount of fishing opportunities (some of the best ocean fishing in the U.S.)
✮ Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West - visit a Civil War-era fort near the southern tip of Key West
✮ Harry S. Truman Little White House, Key West - tour the "second White House" used by President Harry Truman
✮ John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo - some of the best scuba diving & snorkling in the U.S.; also offers glass-bottom boat tours
✮ Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West - a butterfly park with more than 50 species of live butterflies
✮ Mallory Square, Key West - a lively harborside area with many shops and restaurants; famous for its daily sunset celebrations
✮ Overseas Highway - this is the main scenic drive that travels across the Florida Keys; the best part of the drive is the Seven Mile Bridge
✮ Robbie's of Islamorada, Islamorada - a tourist attraction where you can feed giant tarpon fish; also a popular marina with shops and food
✮ Sombrero Beach, Marathon - one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys
✮ Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S. marker, Key West - take a photograph with the famous buoy marker
✮ Sunset Pier, Key West - a famous bar on a wooden pier that features great sunset views
✮ Theater of the Sea, Islamorada - a marine mammal park where you can swim with various animals (e.g. dolphins, sea lions, etc.)
✮ Turtle Hospital, The, Marathon - guided tours of a sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center
✮ U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum, Key West - tour a Coast Guard cutter-style ship
Boat tours (e.g. dolphin tours, fishing charters, pirate cruises, scenic cruises, etc.) are also enormously popular across the state. In fact, Florida is one of the very best states in the country for boat tours. There are so many great boat companies in the state that I couldn't possibly even attempt to list them here.
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Florida? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN FLORIDA
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These towns and cities in Florida are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
Gulf Coast
✮ Anna Maria - a very small town on a barrier island (Anna Maria Island) with beaches, shops, and restaurants; very close to Bradenton
✮ Apalachicola - a small town on Cape San Blas that is known for its fishing, seafood ("oyster capital of the world"), and antebellum architecture
✮ Bradenton - a medium-sized city known for its beaches, water sports, golfing, art galleries, antebellum architecture, and nature preserves
✮ Clearwater - a medium-sized city near Tampa known for its popular beaches, beach pier, and water sports; the "Disney World of beaches"
✮ Destin - a small beach city known for its beautiful beaches, resorts, water sports, and outstanding fishing
✮ Fort Myers Beach - a small beach town near Fort Myers that is known for its beaches and water sports; has a "small old town Florida feel"
✮ Naples - a small and upscale city loaded with high-end shops and fine dining; home of the Naples Botanical Gardens and lots of golf courses
✮ Panama City Beach - a beach town with 27 miles of beaches; great fishing, scuba-diving, and other water sports; popular for spring break
✮ Sanibel - a small town on Sanibel Island known for its beaches, wildlife refuge, and excellent cycling paths; Captiva Island is next to it
✮ Siesta Key - an area of Sarasota known for its beautiful white quartz-sand beaches and watersports; often rated a top ten beach in the U.S.
✮ Tampa - a major city famous for its museums, the Busch Gardens amusement park, and its proximity to many great beaches (e.g. Clearwater)
Atlantic Coast
✮ Boca Raton - a medium-sized city known for its golf courses, beaches, nature parks, and upscale shopping (e.g. Mizner Park)
✮ Cocoa Beach - a small city known for its beaches, great surfing, water sports, and fishing pier; the "surfing capital of the East Coast"
✮ Fort Lauderdale - a large city known for its beaches, lively seaside tourism areas, and inland waterways; the "Venice of America"
✮ Miami - a major city known for its strong Cuban culture, fine food, arts scene, beaches; boating, and art deco architecture
✮ St. Augustine - a small historic city with lots of Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and beaches
✮ Vero Beach - a small city known for its beaches, golf courses, great fishing, and water sports
✮ West Palm Beach - a medium-sized city famous for its beaches, fishing, upscale shopping (e.g. Worth Avenue), mansions, and resorts
Inland Florida
✮ Orlando - a major city that is world-famous for its many theme parks and water parks; this area is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world; the city is the major gateway to the four major theme parks and other attractions of Walt Disney World
Florida Keys
✮ Islamadora - a small town known for its water sports, coral reefs, diving, world-class sport-fishing, dolphin-based attractions, and breweries
✮ Key West - a small city at the end of the Florida keys that is world-famous for its sunsets, nightlife, and attractive streeets; tons of boutique shops, art galleries, and B&Bs; excellent diving, sport-fishing, boating & other water sports; gateway to Dry Tortugas National Park
My favorite major city in Florida is Orlando - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 7-10 days there
My favorite medium-sized city in Florida is Naples - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 3-4 days there
My favorite small city in Florida is Key West - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 days there
My favorite beach town in Florida is Sanibel - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 3-4 days there
If you want to visit Biscayne National Park, stay in Homestead or Miami.
If you want to visit Dry Tortugus National Park, stay in Key West. Make a ferry or seaplane reservation well in advance.
If you want to visit Everglades National Park, stay in Homestead or Miami.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS FLORIDA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Florida is famous or well-known for:
✮ air boats
✮ alligators/crocodiles
✮ amusement parks
✮ art deco
✮ beaches
✮ bird-watching
✮ boardwalk-trails
✮ charter boats
✮ citrus fruits
✮ deep-sea fishing / sport-fishing charters
✮ dolphins / dolphin-watching tours
✮ fishing camps
✮ golfing
✮ hurricanes
✮ kayaking/paddling
✮ key lime pie
✮ manatees
✮ mangroves / mangrove tunnels
✮ natural springs
✮ ocean piers
✮ oranges
✮ panthers
✮ retirement communities
✮ saltwater fly-fishing
✮ scuba-diving
✮ sharks
✮ shelling / sea-shells
✮ spring break
✮ spring training
✮ state parks
✮ sugar mills / sugar mill ruins
✮ sunshine
✮ swamps
✮ swamp-walking
✮ theme parks
✮ wildlife refuges
✮ zoos & wildlife sanctuaries
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN FLORIDA
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There are currently three national parks in Florida. There are also a fair number of other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Parks
✮ Biscayne National Park - take a ferry to visit its long reefs and islands; one of the best places to go snorkeling and scuba diving in the U.S.
✮ Dry Tortugas National Park - take a ferry or seaplane from Key West to visit a beautiful island, which has a historic fort and lovely beaches
✮ Everglades National Park - an enormous subtropical wilderness area; offers outstanding paddling and wildlife/birdwatching opportunities
National Monuments
✮ Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
✮ Fort Matanzas National Monument
National Forests
✮ Apalachicola National Forest
✮ Ocala National Forest
✮ Osceola National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Big Cypress National Preserve
✮ Canaveral National Seashore
✮ Fort Caroline National Memorial
✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore
✮ Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve
For more information on Florida's national parks, visit the Florida page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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Florida has one of the best state park systems in the entire country, and there are more than 170 of them. Some of the finest beaches in Florida are part of the state park system, and some parks include beautiful natural springs (some of which have resident manatees in season). Many would agree that these represent Florida's finest state parks:
Gulf Coast: Northern (including Apalachicola, Destin, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and all of the Florida Peninsula)
✮ Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Wakulla Springs - a beautiful freshwater spring with swimming and manatees in the fall
✮ Henderson Beach State Park, Destin - one of the very best beaches in Florida
✮ St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach - features a 1.5-mile long beach (one of Florida's most beautiful) and good birdwatching
Gulf Coast: Central (including Boca Grande, Bradenton, Clearwater, Dunedin, Sarasota, Siesta Key, St. Petersburg, and Tampa)
✮ Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin - take a boat to visit an unspoiled island; walk the beaches or go kayaking; go to "get away from it all"
✮ Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa - features a beautiful river and natural springs; manatees in winter
✮ Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin - known for its 4-mile long white-sand beaches, hiking trails, and as the gateway to Caladesi Island
✮ Myakka River State Park, Sarasota - features Florida's 1st state-designated wild and scenic river; top-notch paddling and hiking opportunities
✮ Stump Pass Beach State Park, Englewood - features a mile-long beach popular for seashelling, fishing, and swimming; hiking & kayaking too
✮ Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Spring Hill - famous for its mermaid diving shows and river boat cruises
Gulf Coast: Southern (including Bonita Springs, Captiva Island, Fort Myers, Marco Island, Naples, and Sanibel Island)
✮ Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples - one of the best beaches in southwestern Florida
✮ Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach - one of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida
Atlantic Coast: Northern (including Daytona Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, New Smyrna Beach, and St. Augustine)
✮ Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine - known for its pristine white-sand beaches, maritime hammocks, sand dunes, and tidal marshes
✮ Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach - features a historic and oceanside Civil War fort, beaches, and hiking and cycling trails
Atlantic Coast: Southern (including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Everglades NP)
✮ Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne - features a lighthouse, paddling, one of Florida's best beaches, and several hiking trails
Interior Florida: North (including Gainesville, Lake City, and Ocala)
✮ Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon - visit a beautiful, 70-foot deep natural spring that offers swimming, paddling, diving, and snorkeling
✮ Silver Springs State Park, Silver Springs - see a beautiful spring from a glass bottom boat; kayak/canoe down the Fort King Paddling Trail
Orlando and surrounding area
✮ Blue Spring State Park, Orange City - known for its wintering manatees, excellent canoeing/kayaking, and guided river boat cruises
✮ Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka - features a large, beautiful natural spring for swimming and paddling, plus more than 13 miles of trails
Florida Keys
✮ Bahia Honda State Park and Beach, Big Pine Key - generally regarded as the best beach in the Floriday Keys
✮ Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West - visit a Civil War-era fort near the southern tip of Key West
✮ John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo - some of the best scuba diving & snorkling in the U.S.; also offers glass-bottom boat tours
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN FLORIDA
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Florida only has three known natural waterfalls, and they are all small. The best one is Devils Millhopper Falls in Devils Millhopper State Park.
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Florida, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN FLORIDA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Florida:
✮ A1A from Ormond Beach to Matanzas Inlet - this 30-mile section of the 338-mile paved highway is perhaps its most scenic/undeveloped
✮ Big Bend Scenic Byway - the best section of this 220-mile paved route might be the 40 miles from Bald Point State Park to Apalachicola
✮ Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve - a 24-mile mostly dirt/gravel route famous for its cypress trees, alligators, and bird-watching
✮ Ormond Scenic Loop - a 30-mile paved route that includes several different roads (including a portion of A1A/Ocean Shore Boulevard)
✮ Overseas Highway/Florida Keys Scenic Highway - a 113-mile paved route from Key Largo to Key West in the Florida Keys region
✮ Tamiami Trail - a 100-mile paved route from Tamiami (near Miami) to Naples; alligators are commonly seen on this route
✮ Wildlife Drive, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge - a 4-mile paved drive that you can drive, cycle, or walk; great bird-watching
Although not a "scenic" drive per se, driving along Ocean Drive in Miami is also recommended. You'll see Miami's culture in action and also pass by several interesting Art Deco-style buildings.
The three mile drive across the Sanibel Causeway is also a notable scenic drive.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN FLORIDA
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Florida is world-famous for its beaches, and there are dozens of amazing stretches of sand. Here is a list of many of the best beaches in Florida:
Gulf Coast: North
✮ Blue Mountain Beach, Santa Rosa Beach
✮ Destin-Fort Walton Beach
✮ Eglin Beach Park, Destin
✮ Eglin Matterhorn Beach, Destin
✮ Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore (e.g. Opal Beach)
✮ Henderson Beach State Park, Destin
✮ Langdon Beach, Pensacola Beach
✮ Mexico Beach, Mexico Beach
✮ Okaloosa Island Beach, Okaloosa Island
✮ Panama City Beach beaches
✮ Perdido Key Beach, Pensacola
✮ Shell Island Beach, Panama City
Gulf Coast: Central
✮ Beach Point Beach, Anna Maria
✮ Blind Pass Beach, Englewood
✮ Boca Grande Beach / Gasparilla Island State Park, Boca Grande
✮ Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin - a boat/ferry is required
✮ Caspersen Beach, Venice - famous for shark-tooth hunting (tip: bring a shovel and a sifting box!)
✮ Clearwater Beach, Longboat Key
✮ Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach
✮ Cortez Beach, Bradenton Beach
✮ Fort DeSoto Park beaches, St. Petersburg
✮ Holmes Beach, Holmes Beach
✮ Honeymoon Island Beach, Dunedin
✮ Howard Park Beach, Tarpon Springs
✮ Lido Key Beach, Sarasota
✮ Manasota Key Beach, Englewood
✮ Medeira Beach, Medeira Beach
✮ Pass-a-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach
✮ Redington Shores Beach, Redington Shores
✮ Sand Key Beach, Clearwater
✮ Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota
✮ St. Beach Beach, St. Pete Beach
✮ Stump Pass Beach State Park, Englewood
✮ Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs
✮ Treasure Island Beach, Treasure Island
✮ Turtle Beach, Sarasota
✮ Venice Beach, Venice
Gulf Coast: South
✮ Barefoot Beach County Preserve, Bonita Springs
✮ Bonita Beach Park, Bonita Springs
✮ Bowman's Beach, Sanibel
✮ Clam Pass Park, Naples
✮ Englewood Beach, Englewood
✮ Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers Beach
✮ Gulfside City Park Beach, Sanibel
✮ Lowdermilk Park, Naples
✮ Lovers Key Beach, Fort Myers Beach
✮ Marco Island Public Beach, Marco Island
✮ Naples Beach, Naples
✮ Wiggins Pass Beach, Naples
Atlantic Coast: North
✮ Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine
✮ Crescent Beach beaches
✮ Daytona Beach beaches
✮ Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island beaches
✮ Flagler Beach, Flagler Beach
✮ Little Talbot Island, Jacksonville
✮ Jacksonville Beach beaches
✮ Neptune Beach beaches
✮ South Ponte Vedra Beach Recreation Area, Ponte Vedra Beach
✮ St. Augustine beaches (e.g. Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine Beach, North Beach, Vilano Beach)
Atlantic Coast: Central
✮ Canaveral National Seashore beaches
✮ Canova Beach Park, Indialantic
✮ Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach
✮ Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park, New Smyrna Beach
✮ New Smyrna Beach, New Smyrna Beach
✮ Playalinda Beach, Titusville
✮ Round Island Beach Park, Vero Beach
✮ South Beach Park, Vero Beach
✮ Spessard Holland South Beach Park, Melbourne Beach
Atlantic Coast: South
✮ Avalon State Park, Fort Pierce
✮ Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne
✮ Dania Beach, Hollywood
✮ Deerfield Beach, Deerfield Beach
✮ Delray Public Beach, Delray
✮ Fort Lauderdale beaches
✮ Haulover Beach, Miami Beach
✮ Historic Virginia Key Beach Park
✮ Hobe Sound Beach, Jupiter Island
✮ Hobie Island Beach Park, Miami
✮ Hollywood Beach, Hollywood
✮ Hutchinson Island beaches
✮ Jupiter Dog Beach, Jupiter
✮ Lake Worth Beach Park, Lake Worth
✮ Las Olas Beach, Fort Lauderdale
✮ MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach
✮ North Beach, Miami Beach
✮ Ocean Ridge Hammock Park, Boynton Beach
✮ Palm Beach beaches
✮ Pompano Beach, Pompano Beach
✮ Red Reef Park, Boca Raton
✮ Riviera Beach, Riviera Beach
✮ South Beach, Miami Beach - Florida's most famous beach (sorry Daytona)
Florida Keys / Key West
✮ Bahia Honda State Park beaches (e.g. Calusa Beach and Loggerhead Beach)
✮ Dry Tortugas National Park beaches
✮ Fort Zachary Taylor Beach, Key West
✮ Sombrero Beach, Marathon
✮ Veterans Memorial Park, Big Pine Key
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN FLORIDA
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Florida has an impressive amount of rail trails. In fact its one of the very best states in the country for rail trails (along with states like MI, OH, and PA). Here is a list of some the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Florida:
Northern Florida
✮ Blackwater Heritage State Trail
✮ Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail
✮ Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail
✮ Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway
✮ Nature Coast State Trail
✮ Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail
✮ Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail
✮ Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
Central Florida
✮ Courtney Campbell Trail
✮ East Central Regional Rail Trail
✮ Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ General James A. Van Fleet State Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Seminole Wekiva Trail
✮ Shingle Creek Regional Trail
✮ South Lake Trail (Lake Minneola Scenic Trail)
✮ Suncoast Trail
✮ Upper Tampa Bay Trail
✮ West Orange Trail / South Lake Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Withlacoochee State Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Southern Florida
✮ Sanibel Island Shared-Use Paths
✮ Legacy Trail (Sarasota)
✮ Shark Valley Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Florida, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN FLORIDA
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Florida is jam-packed with amusement parks, including some of the very best in the world. The best amusement parks in Florida include:
Orlando area
✮ Aquatica, Orlando
✮ Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista
✮ Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, Orlando
✮ Disney's Epcot, Lake Buena Vista
✮ Disney's Hollywood Studios, Lake Buena Vista
✮ Disney's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista
✮ Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Orlando
✮ Fun Spot America, Kissimmee
✮ Fun Spot America, Orlando
✮ Give Kids the World Village, Kissimmee
✮ Legoland Florida, Winter Haven - about 90 minutes southwest of Orlando
✮ Old Town, Kissimmee
✮ Peppa Pig Theme Park, Winter Haven - about 90 minutes southwest of Orlando
✮ SeaWorld, Orlando
✮ Universal Studios Florida, Orlando
✮ Universal's Epic Universe, Orlando - this theme park is expected to open in 2025
✮ Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando
✮ Universal's Volcano Bay, Orlando
The rest of Florida
✮ Adventure Island, Tampa
✮ Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park, Destin
✮ Busch Gardens, Tampa
✮ Daytona Lagoon, Daytona Beach
✮ Rapids Waterpark, West Palm Beach
✮ Shipwreck Island Water Park, Jacksonville
✮ Splash Harbour Water Park, Indian Rocks Beach
✮ Sun Splash Family Waterpark, Cape Coral
A friend is mine is a professional travel planner and can help you book Disney trips, cruises, and other vacations. Here's a link to her Facebook page.
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Here are a few basic tips for planning a trip to Walt Disney World:
✮ There are four major amusement parks in Walt Disney World: (a) Magic Kingdom, (b) EPCOT, (c) Animal Kingdom, and (d) Hollywood Studios
✮ Each of the four major amusement parks of Walt Disney World is worth at least one full day. I would encourage you to enter each park exactly when it opens, take a 1-2 hour break in the middle of the day (perhaps for a hotel pool swim), and then return to the park and remain until it closes at night.
✮ In addition to the four major parks of Walt Disney World, there is also Disney Springs, Disney's Boardwalk, two water parks, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports
✮ The least-crowded times at Walt Disney World appear to be: (a) mid-to-late January; (b) early February; (c) most of May (excluding Memorial Day), (d) late August, and (e) most of September (excluding around Labor Day)
✮ There are more than 20 hotels inside of the Walt Disney World complex
✮ It's very expensive, but staying in a hotel within the Walt Disney World complex comes with many perks (e.g. early park access, free transportation, etc.)
✮ You should book hotels, tickets, and dining reservations several months in advance (as far in advance as possible)
✮ Walt Disney World is not a place that you can just show up to. You need to have a daily plan, often in 15 or 30 minute increments (especially if you want to enjoy a lot of rides).
✮ The character dining experiences are great fun, although very expensive. Book them months in advance.
✮ One of my favorite things to do in Disney is to go "around the world" in EPCOT. This entails stopping at a variety of country-themed areas and trying the food and drinks of those countries.
✮ While in the Orlando area, don't just visit Walt Disney World. There are also the theme parks of Universal Studios and SeaWorld, plus many other parks and tourist attractions (e.g. Blue Spring State Park, Fun Spot America, Gatorland, ICON Park, etc.)
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Florida has many excellent museums. The best museums in Florida include:
Gulf Coast: Northern (including Apalachicola, Destin, Panama City Beach, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and all of the Florida Peninsula)
✮ Air Force Armament Museum, Fort Walton Beach
✮ National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola
✮ Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Pensacola
✮ Tallahassee Automobile Museum, Tallahassee
Gulf Coast: Central (including Boca Grande, Bradenton, Clearwater, Dunedin, Sarasota, Siesta Key, St. Petersburg, and Tampa)
✮ Ca d'Zan Mansion, Sarasota
✮ Dali Museum, St. Petersburg
✮ Great Explorations Children’s Museum, St. Petersburg
✮ James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg
✮ Ringling, The, Sarasota
✮ Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa
Gulf Coast: Southern (including Bonita Springs, Captiva Island, Fort Myers, Marco Island, Naples, and Sanibel Island)
✮ Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Island
✮ Edison & Ford Winter Estates / Edison Winter Estate, Fort Myers
✮ Revs Institute, Naples
Atlantic Coast: Northern (including Daytona Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, New Smyrna Beach, and St. Augustine)
✮ Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville
✮ St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, St. Augustine
✮ St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, St. Augustine
Atlantic Coast Central (including Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, and Hutchinson Island)
✮ NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island
✮ Navy Seal Museum, Fort Pierce
✮ Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Titusville
Atlantic Coast: Southern (including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Everglades NP)
✮ Henry Morrison Flagler Museum / Whitehall, Palm Beach
✮ Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach
✮ Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami
Interior Florida: North (including Gainesville, Lake City, and Ocala)
✮ Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala
✮ Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville
✮ Stetson Mansion, DeLand
Orlando and surrounding area
✮ Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park
✮ Modernism Museum, Mt. Dora
✮ Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando
✮ Orlando Science Center, Orlando
Florida Keys
✮ Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West
✮ Harry S. Truman Little White House, Key West
✮ U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum, Key West
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BEST DAY HIKES IN FLORIDA
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Although the state is mostly flat, Florida does have some great hiking trails. Here are some of the best hiking trails/areas in Florida:
Northern Florida
✮ Anastasia State Park trails
✮ Florida Trail: UWF/SRIA Dunes Preserve section, Santa Rosa Island
✮ Garden of Eden Trail, Apalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve
✮ Juniper Creek Trail, Blackwater River State Forest
✮ Little Talbot Island State Park trails - e.g. Dune Ridge Loop
✮ St. Joseph Peninsula State Park trails
Central Florida
✮ Blue Spring State Park trails
✮ Circle B Bar Preserve trails - e.g. Reserve Trail, Alligator Alley Loop, etc.
✮ Dames Caves and Lizzie Heart Sink Loop Trail, Withlacoochee State Forest
✮ Hillsborough River State Park trails
✮ Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge trails - e.g. Cruickshank Trail
Southern Florida
✮ Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park - near-guaranteed alligator sightings
✮ Cayo Costa State Park trails - boat/ferry required
✮ Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary trails, Naples
✮ Grassy Waters Preserve trails, West Palm Beach
In addition to the hikes listed above, you can also hike for miles upon miles upon miles on many of Florida's other beaches.
The highpoint of Florida is Briton Hill (345'). You can drive very close to the top, and so there is no hiking required.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN FLORIDA
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Florida offers a few good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking areas in Florida include:
✮ Coastal Prairie Trail, Everglades National Park - warning: this trail may be overgrown! check the nps.gov site for updates
✮ Florida National Scenic Trail
✮ Hal Scott Preserve
✮ Lake Kissimmee State Park
✮ Little Manatee River Trail
✮ Myakka River State Park
✮ Prairie Lakes Loop
✮ Tamiami Trail, Big Cypress National Preserve
✮ William Bartram St. Johns River Loop
✮ Withlacoochee State Forest
The premier backpacking trail in Florida is the Florida National Scenic Trail. The entire trail is 1,500 miles from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore at Pensacola Beach.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN FLORIDA
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Florida offers many outdoor adventures, including these classics:
Backpacking the Florida National Scenic Trail
Bouldering in Blowing Rocks Preserve
Canoeing/kayaking the Apalachicola River
Canoeing/kayaking the Blackwater River
Canoeing/kayaking the Crystal River
Canoeing/kayaking in Everglades National Park
Canoeing/kayaking the Loxahatchee River
Canoeing/kayaking in Rainbow Springs State Park
Canoeing/kayaking the Santa Fe River
Canoeing/kayaking the Suwannee River
Canoeing/kayaking the Wakulla River
Cycling the East Central Regional Rail Trail
Cycling the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail
Cycling the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Park Trail
Cycling the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail
Cycling the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail
Cycling the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail
Cycling the West Orange Trail / South Lake Trail
Cycling the Withlacoochee State Trail
Kayaking the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail
Kayaking to Indian Key Historic State Park
Kayaking the mangrove tunnels in Marco Island or Sarasota
Kayaking in Myakka RiverState Park
Kayaking the Ten Thousand Islands
Mountain biking Alafia River State Park
Mountain biking Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve
Mountain biking Caloosahatchee Regional Park
Mountain biking Graham Swamp
Mountain biking Markham Park
Mountain biking Mount Dora
Mountain biking Santos
Parasailing on one of Florida's beaches (many beaches have operators that offer this activity)
Sea-shelling boat tours from Marco Island
Scuba diving in Blue Grotto in Williston
Scuba diving in Devil's Den in Williston
Scuba diving in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo
Skydiving in one of a dozen plus places in Florida that offer this activity
Snorkeling in Dry Tortugas National Park
Surfing on Cocoa Beach
Surfing on Daytona Beach
Surfing on Sebastian Inlet
Tubing in Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Tubing in Kelly Park on Rock Springs Run
Tubing in Rainbow Springs State Park
Tubing the Santa Fe River / Ginnie Springs
Tubing Spring Creek
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN FLORIDA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Florida:
✮ conch fritters / conch chowder
✮ cuban coffee
✮ cuban sandwich
✮ Dole Whip (e.g. at Disney)
✮ fish dip
✮ fried catfish
✮ fried shrimp
✮ frog legs
✮ gator
✮ key lime pie
✮ key lime pie ice cream
✮ lobster (e.g. Key West lobster)
✮ shrimp and grits
✮ stone crab
✮ swamp cabbage
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Florida (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Florida (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY FLORIDA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Florida:
State Capital:
Tallahassee
Major Airports:
Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers (Southwest Florida), Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach
Largest Cities:
Jacksonville (975,177), Miami (450,797), Tampa (394,809), Orlando (321,427), St. Petersburg (261,016), Hialeah (222,797)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-4, I-10, I-75, I-95
State Highpoint:
Briton Hill (345'); you can drive very close to the top
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays
NBA: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic
NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NHL: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Celebration, Christmas, Hooker Point, Niceville, Picnic, Reddick, Two Egg, Yeehaw Junction, Yellow Water
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Casperson Beach, Florida
Alligator on the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park, Florida
Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, Florida
Alligator at the Big Cypress Visitor Center in Florida
the start of US-1 in Key West, Florida
the southernmost point in the continental U.S. in Key West, Florida
beautiful flowers at the Naples Botanical Garden in Naples, Florida
Naples Pier in Naples, Florida
Siesta Key beach in Sarasota, Florida
Siesta Key sign in Sarasota, Florida
one of the hundreds of Wynwood Walls murals in Miami, Florida
Siesta Key Beach, Florida
the haul from our guided sea-shelling tour in Goodland, Florida (near Marco Island)
one of several good key lime pie stores in the Florida Keys
Big Betsy in Islamorada, Florida
Bahia Honda State Park beach in Bahia Honda Key, Florida
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
EPCOT, Florida
Disney's Magic Kingdom, Florida
Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Florida
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