Top 15 Attractions of the Sunshine State
Awesome attractions abound in Florida! Here, there is truly something for everyone and every age: from jaguars and mermaids to airboats and race cars. These are our top 15 picks for Florida attractions that you need to visit this year!
Jaguars in Jacksonville
Jacksonville
Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy a day at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, where you can experience wildlife from around the world through interactive exhibits and demonstrations. The zoo features more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals, award-winning exhibits like Land of the Tiger, and over 1,000 species of plants. Experience the only walking safari in Northeast Florida, two-time national award-winning South American exhibit Range of the Jaguar, the magic of Monsoon Asia, the fun of feeding the rays at Stingray Bay, and so much more. Hop aboard the Zoo Train which takes you all around the park, or take the little ones on the beautiful carousel. In the warm summer months, take advantage of the Play Park and Splash Pad, where kids can monkey around and cool off. Take advantage of the park’s special experiences like behind-the-scenes tours, become a zookeeper for the day, spread your wings at Butterfly Hollow, or listen to Keeper Talks. The zoo is also host to events throughout the year, so be sure to check their calendar to see what kind of fun things are going on!
jacksonvillezoo.org
The Wonders of Wiki Wachee
Wiki Wachee
Where better to see live mermaids perform underwater entertainment than Florida? There are several magical aspects of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, the first of which is the beautiful springs that bubble up from the earth to create crystal-clear pools perfect for swimming and kayaking. The second is the mermaids, who perform in the spring’s theater located 20 feet below the surface as you watch through glass walls in the 400-seat auditorium. These mermaids (ok, we admit, they are actually very talented humans) will perform feats like eating and drinking underwater, as well as a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. But don’t get too entranced by these mer-ladies, because the 538-acre park has so much to offer! Don’t miss the chance to River Boat Cruise, which is a great and relaxing way to tour the park and learn all about the plants and animals that call it home. In the summer, you and the kids can enjoy the spring-fed Buccaneer Bay waterpark!
weekiwachee.com
Adventures at This Aquarium
Tampa
Considering the abundant marine life found in Florida, it is no wonder that one of the best places to take the family is to the Florida Aquarium - particularly since it is a top USA TODAY-ranked aquarium in North America; a TripAdvisor top 10 Aquarium in the country; and Parents Magazine top 5 "Kid-Friendly" aquarium! Located in downtown Tampa, The Florida Aquarium is specifically designed to take you on a journey that begins with a freshwater spring and continues to the open waters of the Florida Keys. Along the way you will see simulated wetlands, shallow bays and beaches, and a coral reef ecosystem encompassed in half a million gallons of natural seawater. Children and adults alike will delight in the curious critters that you meet along the way, from otters and lemurs to sea stars, sea dragons, and sharks! Visit the 4-D theater that combines 3-D films with a variety of sensory effects built into the seats and theater environment to bring to life bubbles, snow, scent, FX lighting, water mist, seat vibration and wind. During these warm months, you’ll also want to visit the Splash Pad outside, an outdoor water play zone with wet and dry elements, a zero-depth water area with dumping buckets, spray zones, and more.
flaquarium.org
Thrills at This Theme Park
Tampa
Masterfully blending the animal experiences of a zoo with the heart-pounding thrills of a theme park, Bush Gardens Tampa Bay is a completely unique family attraction. Each section of the park is themed for a different region of the world and the animals found there, featuring animal exhibits that educate and provide up-close connection with the animals and rides that correlate to the animals. For instance, you can learn all about the stealth and speed of cheetahs as you watch them dart around their exhibit, and then hop aboard Cheetah Hunt, which is built with the same cheetah speed and even soars above the cheetahs themselves! The park’s newest ride, Tigris, is Florida’s tallest launch coaster takes you along 1,800 feet of steel track at more than 60 miles per hour to mimic the awe-inspiring agility of the world’s largest and most powerful cat: the tiger. In addition to exhibits and rides, there are many live performances that run throughout the day, from animal demonstrations to musicals, dances, ice shows, and more! Throughout the park are fantastic shops and delightful eateries.
buschgardens.com/tampa
A Marvelous Museum
Fort Lauderdale
Located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Arts and Science District, the Museum of Discovery and Science is an incredible experience for your family. The museum features 120,000 square feet packed with dynamic science exhibits, both permanent and rotating. Kids ages six and under will enjoy hands-on learning in the Discovery Center; older children can board the 20-person airboat ride simulator for an amazing journey into the Everglades; the bi-level Florida Ecoscapes exhibit allows students to discover one of the world’s most unique ecosystems; Prehistoric Florida explores ancient species that lived millions of years ago; and there’s so many more exhibits to delight the whole family! Head outdoors to the museum’s Science Park, which expands the museum’s hands-on learning with multiple, content-rich opportunities in which visitors can experiment with basic principles of the physical world and come to intuitive understandings about how they work.
mods.org
Amazing Airboating
Florida Everglades
Imagine racing through the swamplands of the scenic Everglades, skimming across the surface on a speeding airboat, the warm Florida breeze whipping through your hair and the gentle spray of the water misting across your face. The airboat slows down as your guide tells you, through your headset, about the beautiful plants and birds you see. Maybe you’ll even spot an alligator! Is there a more thrilling way to tour the Everglades? We think not. Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours is one of many fine airboat tour groups that can take you on a wild ride through the Everglades to see alligators, birds, fish, snakes, and unique tropical plants. Captain Mitch himself comes from a long line of airboaters, which was actually the original way that the pioneers of the swamplands got around back in the 1930s and ‘40s. He and the other abbot captains in his company will take you on private tours, thanks to their own private property being adjacent to the Everglades National Park, the Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee State Preserve - this means you’ll just see lots of nature, not other tourists!
captainmitchs.com
Drive in Daytona
Daytona Beach
Do you feel the need - the need for speed? Well, then, you should definitely take a tour of one of the most iconic racetracks in the world: The Daytona International Speedway. Host of the thrilling DAYTONA 500 every spring, as well as other racing events throughout the year, the track has seen millions of visitors - but you can still be one of the most important, when you choose a V.I.P. tour of the track. In addition to touring the speedway itself in an air-conditioned bus, you will have access to ISC’s Archives and Research Center where many of racing’s most treasured artifacts, including Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird III, are stored. See the media deadline room and pit road. Have your photo taken in Gatorade Victory Lane. Cap it all off with a visit to the Houston Lawing Press Box overlooking the track. At the end of the tour, you’ll visit the Coca-Cola Theatre and get a close-up look at the Champion DAYTONA 500 Car. After the tour, you can visit the new Motorsports Hall of Fame of America!
daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Let’s Go LEGO!
Winter Haven
Embark on a multi-day adventure with a trip to LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven, just a short drive from Orlando. Spanning 150 acres, the interactive theme park features over 50 rides, shows and attractions, a world-famous botanical garden, plus the five acre LEGOLAND Water Park. In 2017, the park added LEGO NINJAGO World, an all-new theme park land where kids learn to become the ninja with a variety of hands-on attractions before the ultimate showdown on LEGO NINJAGO The Ride. In addition to the theme park, LEGOLAND offers two hotels: LEGOLAND Florida Hotel, which is just steps from the entrance of the park and sports interactive areas, LEGO sculptures, and more; and the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat, which offers a village-style layout of brightly colored, beach-themed bungalows just a half hour from the park. They are also partnered with several other resorts in the area, all offering great deals on park admission!
vacations.legoland.com
Wild Wheel
Orlando
A visit to the shopping, dining, and entertainment center at ICON Orlando 360 is a thrill in and of itself, even if you didn’t ride its towering observation wheel - which is essentially an enormous ferris wheel, built specifically using an A-frame structure that will not block a single view for riders (hence the addition of “360” to its title - referring to the experience of 360-degree views). The center features shops offering clothes, accessories, gifts, and more. Eateries range from the burger joint Shake Shack to high-end dining like Yard House and even the American brasserie Sugar Factory. Rides and attractions include the heart-pounding 7D Dark Ride Adventure, the famous wax museum Madam Tussauds Orlando, the SEA LIFE Aquarium, an Arcade, and more! Of course, the main attraction is the 400 foot tall observation wheel, which is the tallest on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. The wheel provides you with unobstructed views of the center, International Drive, and downtown Orlando. At night, the wheel is illuminated in multi-colored lights as it turns slowly over the city.
iconorlando.com
Find it on Fifth Avenue South
Naples
As part of the Paradise Coast, it’s safe to say that Naples lives up to the area’s reputation as heaven on Earth. While the pristine beaches and fabulous golf resorts are what draw some visitors, it is Fifth Avenue South in Downtown Naples that calls to the avid shoppers, retail aficionados, and bargain hunters. The historic architecture of Old Florida lends to the charm of this retail area, and having long been shopping destination, many of the stores here are locally owned and operated. Looking for the perfect outfit during your fantastic vacation? Try one of the boutiques like Jami’s or Marilyn’s. This is an excellent place to choose a piece of fine jewelry, perhaps to celebrate a birthday or anniversary - stop in to Kristoff Jewelers or make an appointment at Schmitt Jewelers. You can also shop for antiques, home furnishings, beauty products, gifts, and so much more. Has all this shopping worn you out a bit? Rejuvenate at a spa like Hidden Oasis Salon Spa (at Salons by JC). If you can’t see all the shops in one day, don’t worry - you can always come back! In fact, shopping here is so popular that some hotels and resorts even offer shopping packages.
fifthavenuesouth.com
The Confounding Castle
Homestead
Just a short drive south of Miami is Coral Castle in Homestead. Perhaps one of the most unique and mysterious places you will ever visit, the castle is shrouded in rumors and speculation about how it came to be built in the first place. Coral Castle features enormous sculptures made of coral rock - totaling over 1,100 tons - and was constructed by the very elusive Ed Leedskalnin, who built it at nighttime, in secret, from 1923 to 1951. There were no witnesses to tell how this small man, brilliant as he was, put together such structures as the castle’s nine ton gate, or huge Polaris telescope. Featured on many network channels including The Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel, BBC, and more, experts still debate about how the castle came to be. Visit the Coral Castle for yourself, and see if you can solve the mystery!
coralcastle.com
Sleep Under the Sea
Key Largo
In the lagoon of the Key Largo Undersea Park is a very unique hotel - because you can only get to it by SCUBA diving! Imagine sleeping under the sea in the unforgettable Jules' Undersea Lodge. Truly submerged, you must dive 21 feet beneath the surface of the sea to get to the lodge, which is like entering a cozy cabin beneath the waves. There is a stocked kitchen, hot showers, books to read, and an Amazon Fire stick to watch movies. The lodge’s comfy beds are situated beneath windows that let you watch the fish swim by outside. Make this incredible stay even better with special packages like the couples’ retreat that includes a pizza delivery dinner, breakfast the next morning, and secured privacy (meaning no people can swim in the lagoon while you stay in the lodge - although you will have to share your night with the fishes). The lagoon at Key Largo Undersea Park has something to offer the snorkeler or diver with SCUBA lessons, tours of the tropical mangrove habitat, a marine archaeology exhibit, the MarineLab underwater research and education habitat, and more!
jul.com
Dive with Dolphins
Key Largo
If you thought that only fairytale cartoon characters swam with dolphins - you’d be wrong! You, too, can take a dive into adventure with these friendly finned creatures when you visit Dolphins Plus Bayside in Key Largo. Located on the bay side (Gulf of Mexico) of the island, this attraction lets you interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in a unique and stimulating environment. Perfect for dolphin lovers of any age, you can choose between a structured swim and a shallow water encounter. The swim takes you into deeper waters to experience the speed and agility of the dolphins as you swim, enjoy dorsal tows, “handshakes,” and even kisses! The shallow water encounter is best for smaller children and non-swimmers, and takes you waist-deep into the water to meet the dolphins up close. There are also dockside encounters, letting you interact with the dolphins while you sit on the floating platform - have a dolphin kiss, paint with a dolphin, and more.
dolphinsplus.com
Beautiful Botanicals
Key West
Located on the beautiful tropical paradise island of Key West, the Key West Botanical Gardens showcase the natural flora and fauna of the Florida Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean, and emphasizes cultivation of threatened and endangered species of the Florida Keys. This is the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States, with a tropical environment with ample rain that allows most trees to retain their leaves even in the dry season - meaning no matter when you visit, the garden will be full of colorful blooms. As you tour the garden, you will learn the importance of biodiversity and its preservation. The garden is home to a variety of endangered plant species, is a roasting place for butterflies and birds, and its forest area contains two of the last remaining fresh water ponds in the Keys. The gardens offer a welcome center, gift shop, and facilities.
keywest.garden
Spectacular Sunsets
Key West
When visiting Key West, you may hear friendly passerby say, “See you at sunset!” - this is because each evening, hundreds of people gather in the iconic Mallory Square two hours before sunset to begin a celebration of the day - the Key West Sunset Celebration. A tradition and view that has been witnessed by the likes of Mark Twain and Tennessee Williams, this is a can’t-miss festival that includes the talents of magicians, jugglers, clowns, psychics, local musicians, and artists, and offers delicious food from local vendors. Watch as the sun sinks below the horizon and the Gulf of Mexico, transforming the sky and waters into a myriad of vibrant colors. There’s no better way to end the day!
mallorysquare.com
