Sunshine State Florida is a wonderful destination for tourists.
Florida is a holiday destination unlike any other because of its beaches, museums, art attractions, and cultural flare, which are often near to one another.
But it could be difficult to decide where to go with so many enjoyable options.
Here is a travel list of the top 20 things to do and places to see in Florida to assist you in deciding which locations are must-see holiday destinations for you!
1. Castillo de San Marcos
St. Augustine, Florida’s coast, is home to the highly historic Castillo of San Marcos
The gray building climbs into the sky and is constructed of “unbreakable” stone walls.
The fort bravely stood against all the fights and wars while it served the territory that would become Florida, as seen by the many holes of all sizes that dot the walls.
Spanish traders who wanted to maintain their business enterprises well-protected erected this impromptu castle in the 17th century.
Even after a two-month continuous British siege, the walls held tough, and numerous cannonballs are still embedded in the stone wall. But how can the walls remain so sturdy?
Well, the walls are built of a sedimentary rock type called coquina that doesn’t break, according to the material engineering students that unlocked the secrets of Castillo de San Marcos.
This is because it resembles foam more than stone since it is made of fluid-filled shells from deceased sea organisms.
It was the greatest material available to the Spaniards, and today, this magnificent fort is one of the state’s major tourist attractions, offering breathtaking views of the city and harbor.
2. St. Augustine
The lovely St. Augustine must be mentioned since it is unquestionably one of Florida’s most alluring cities to visit.
It’s the oldest city in America, which is why it’s one of the most-visited places for individuals who adore immersing themselves in history and beautiful architecture.
The city, which is situated along Florida’s northeastern coast, is crammed with buildings and constructions from the Spanish colonial era.
There are a ton of additional attractions to see besides the amazing Castillo de San Marcos, such as the several lengths of lovely beaches, Anastasia State Park, unique restaurants, and charming roads.
3. Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is a wonderland with exciting safari activities that the entire family will enjoy.
It is situated in the Tampa, Florida region and is home to over 12,000 unique creatures representing over 300 distinct animal species.
Not a big fan of animals?
Don’t worry; there’s a good reason why USA Today readers put Busch Gardens among the top 10 theme parks in the country!
A fantastic roller coaster – floorless and incredibly exhilarating with surprising dips, angles, and speeds, is just one of its numerous charms.
4. Gatorland
Gatorland, which is home to hundreds of alligators, crocodiles, and other similar reptiles, is one of the best things to do in Florida for a natural thrill.
One of the finest ways to return to the origins of good, old-fashioned fun is to visit this amusement park. Feeding performances with opportunities for audience involvement, engaging tours, and a reasonable price combine to create a kind of amusement park that one would often forget exists in Florida.
After seeing Gatorland in Orlando, more daring visitors could try to visit the Gatorland in South Bay, which has been abandoned and is now just one structure.
The mysterious, abandoned building that still exists as a symbol of what once was is undoubtedly interesting to explore and reflect over.
5. Everglades National Park
The Everglades National Park is a definite must-see location if you want to go sightseeing while you’re in Florida.
This massive subtropical marsh, which spans 1.5 million acres, is located in Florida’s southernmost region.
The wild region has gained a position on the list of International Biosphere Reserves – and it’s also a World Heritage Site!
Environmentalists petitioned the government to protect the area’s natural beauty, which led to the creation of the Everglades National Park.
It was established in 1947 and is presently America’s second-largest national park after Yellowstone.
It is mostly made up of swamp and subtropical marsh, along with a river, mangroves, and Flatwoods, all of which provide a home for several animal species, including endangered or vulnerable ones.
Some of them, including the state panther, the manatee, the leatherback turtle, and the American crocodile, may be seen if you’re fortunate.
Due to its immensity, most people only visit portions of the Everglades National Park.
A quick stroll is effective, but guided boat trips, tram rides, and hiking tours are other wonderful ways to see the park and all that it has to offer.
6. Dry Tortugas National Park
One of the nicest and most stunning spots to visit in Florida is the Dry Tortugas National Park.
It crosses the Las Tortugas islands, so-called by its “discoverer,” Juan Ponce de Leon, in honor of the turtles he ate to stay alive while he traveled across the world’s turbulent seas.
The islands have expanded since their discovery in 1513.
The Dry Tortugas, which at first mostly consisted of coral, sea turtles, and seawater, quickly gained popularity among explorers and merchants, leading unwittingly to a number of disasters that gave them the moniker “ship trap.
After then, it served as a fort to defend the area, a jail, a coaling station, a site again during the war, and lastly, a national park.
The Dry Tortugas, which are now a sizable national park, can only be reached by aircraft or boat due to their extreme isolation.
As a result, they are now among the least frequented parks in Florida and the whole country.
7. Legoland
Bringing your kids to Florida for fun and interesting activities?
One of the top family-friendly activities in Florida is without a doubt Legoland!
With an astonishing 145 acres of land and more than 50 distinct attractions, all with a Lego theme, it is the second-largest theme park in the company.
Legoland is a fantastic pleasure because of its variety of attractions.
Everything you could possibly need to make a Lego lover leap for joy is there, including a water park, tours, rides, areas to construct Lego masterpieces, shows, life-sized Lego characters, and more.
A hotel and a botanical park are also present. The latter included Lego-themed chambers with themes including “wizard,” “pirate,” “medieval,” and more!
8. Discovery Cove
One of Florida’s most lovely tourist destinations for those who like aquatic life is Discovery Cove.
The Orlando-based attraction is well-known for enabling visitors to interact closely with gentle, intelligent bottlenose dolphins.
These delightful creatures will be available for you to converse with, touch, interact with, and just enjoy.
In addition to dolphins, a variety of other aquatic animals, such as manta rays, are accessible for interaction.
In addition, Discovery Cove offers a unique experience that allows visitors to virtually stroll “underwater” around the ocean bottom with the use of a diving helmet.
Additionally, you’ll get to see an otter colony and a freshwater lagoon with tropical birds who are ready to be fed by your inquiries.
It’s probably the prettiest method to learn about marine animals in Florida.
Here are some of the top things to do in Orlando if you want to explore more of this lovely city in Florida!
9. Venetian Pool
Being the largest freshwater swimming pool in the country, The Venetian Pool is one of Florida’s most well-known and desirable tourist destinations.
It is a highly specialized water feature that provides tourists with entertainment and leisure, and it is situated in Florida’s Coral Gables.
The pool, which is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in a defunct coral rock quarry in 1924 with the intention of resembling a Venetian grotto in the Mediterranean style.
Grotto caverns that were formed naturally enhance their attractiveness.
The Venetian Pool’s breathtakingly blue, freshwater, crystal clear, and constantly transparent water may be its most recognizable characteristic.
After pressure from water conservationists, the filtration system now permits pool water to be drained out and subsequently returned to an aquifer. Originally, the water had to be emptied out and refilled with artesian spring water every day.
This simply means that the pool is cleaned every day by the filtration system, which also replaces the dirty residue with clean ones. However, in the spring and summer, the pool is still filled with water the old-fashioned way.
The pool is often utilized for events like concerts since this means that it sometimes sits empty.
10. Salvador Dali Museum
Salvador Dali’s art is not well known to those who claim that antique art is just for grownups.
The Salvador Dali Museum, which is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, on the picturesque waterfront, is home to the second-largest collection of Dali artwork on earth.
With its bubble-shaped skylights, waxed mustache decorations, melting clocks, spindly sculptures, geometric windows, and wraparound wall lights, the building embodies Dali’s creative sensibilities.
The items at the Dali Museum originally belonged to a collection that Reynolds and Eleanor Morse had in their native Cleveland.
The collection was transferred to its present Florida site in 1982, but initially just as a warehouse.
It was extended in 2011 and currently has more than 2,000 items of oddities and marvels on display!
There are seven masterworks, including The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus and The Hallucinogenic Toreador, as well as many more fascinating pieces on show, such as strange paintings.
Additionally, there are movies, images, and visiting collections from comparable figures in the art world.
The Salvador Dali Museum in Florida is open every day, and because of its many special events, visiting is a pleasure practically all of the time. Even this weekend, visiting is probably going to result in something worthwhile.
11. Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 race, often regarded as the most significant of Nascar’s events, represents the height of the sport’s goodwill.
This event is conducted in February at Florida’s Daytona National Speedway to kick off the racing season.
These races were formerly conducted at Daytona Beach before the Speedway was built in 1959.
The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile race, and tickets may be rather expensive.
But during the start of the racing season, Florida residents often flock to the Daytona International Speedway because of the exciting adrenaline rush of the race.
You can still visit the racetrack even if you can’t see a race since there are summertime activities, music festivals at certain times of the year, and year-round excursions!
12. Kennedy Space Center
One of the top activities for space enthusiasts in Florida looking for engaging and interesting things to do is visiting the Kennedy Space Center, which is near to Orlando.
From rocket launchers to historical artifacts, the space center is home to a wide variety of equipment and materials related to space research.
Some of the nation’s most significant space shuttle flights have been launched from the 140,000-acre Kennedy Space Center.
Two IMAX cinemas display a variety of informative and entertaining films on space exploration and travel, while exhibits and showcases offer you a unique look into the world of NASA.
A bus tour of the spaceport that includes a visit to the center grounds is an option if you’re interested.
You may choose from a wide variety of tours that are organized chronologically to provide you a thorough understanding of NASA’s past, present, and future objectives.
By the time you’re done, you won’t even feel like you’re in Florida anymore; it’s literally out of this planet!
13. Home and Museum of Ernest Hemingway
Given the illustrious past of writer and author Ernest Hemingway, it should come as no surprise that the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is one of Florida’s numerous well-known tourist attractions.
Despite the fact that the prolific man resided in several places during his life, one residence in particular has a great lot of significance.
On the recommendation of a friend and soon-to-be-famous author John Dos Passos, Hemingway moved to this house in Key West, Florida on Whitehead street in the middle of the 1920s as he made his way from Paris to America.
The house’s opulent Spanish-style architecture and opulent furnishings make it a treat for both its design and its history. It was given to Hemingway by one of his uncles, clearly above what he could have afforded on his own.
Hemingway penned A Farewell to Arms and significant portions of other classic books in this home, including Green Hills of Africa, Death in the Afternoon, and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
He also received the moniker Papa while residing in this mansion and obtained the idea for To Have and Have Not.
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum now offers visitors the chance to see more than 20 years’ worth of artifacts from Hemingway’s time there, including his typewriter, hunting trophies, and more than 50 cats, the majority of which have extra toes!
These are all allegedly related to a six-toed cat that Hemingway once possessed.
14. Miami Beach
Few people would travel to Florida without visiting Miami Beach, one of the state’s premier beaches.
It is a paradise for travelers, culture, and even real local encounters.
It seems like everyone who is (and isn’t) anyone comes here, from families to models, from celebrities to critics.
The beach is great for families, it’s surrounded by cheap restaurants, and it’s near to a ton of things including galleries, theaters, and museums.
Surf, fish from piers, participate in water activities, or do all of the above while soaking up the sun!
In a word, it is the epitome of Florida.
Want to participate in one of the best things to do in Florida without having to deal with a lot of people?
For a more curated atmosphere with a variety of individuals, go south to South Beach or South Pointe Park.
15. Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is situated along Florida’s southern coast and is typically regarded as a must-do for travelers who adore gorgeous experiences, wonderful beaches, and the opportunity to explore!
One of the finest ways to see Florida in its entirety is to visit this area, which is known as the Venice of America and offers beaches, sunshine, leisure, shopping, and more.
There are many interesting locations to visit in Fort Lauderdale, including the Strip, a pedestrian strip lined with stores, restaurants, hotels, and clubs, the 1901 Stranahan House, the city’s oldest remaining structure, and landmarks including Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and the Swimming Hall of Fame.
That’s not all! If you’re spending more time here, be sure to check out some of the fun things to do in Fort Lauderdale!
16. Bok Tower Gardens
The Bok Tower Gardens are among Florida’s most breathtaking locations for tourism and architectural beauty.
Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., a landscape architect, constructed it for Edward W. and Mary Louise Curtis Bok. Construction took five years and was finished in 1926.
After visiting Lake Wales Ridge in the winter, the couples decided to establish a bird refuge.
The Bok Tower Gardens are basically a gift from Bok to the people of Florida, and there are many exciting and stunning vacation sites to discover and take in.
Included are the Iron Mountain, one of the highest points in the state, a 205-foot singing tower in the Art Deco and neo-gothic styles (identified by a brass entrance; entry is fee-based), and of course, one of the best carillons in the world.
A library dedicated to the instrument offers a wealth of images, publications, recordings, and essays.
Every day between one and three in the afternoon, the carillon plays twice.
17. Panama City Beach
If you’re looking for a lively coastal town that showcases the liveliest areas of Florida’s coast, Panama City Beach is among the best places to visit in the state.
It offers opportunities for people of all ages, a thriving nightlife, and long expanses of beaches.
At Panama City Beach, there is no lack of things to do.
There is Lake Powell, Camp Helen State Park, Russell-Fields Pier, Shipwreck Island Waterpark (which has slides and pools), Gulf World Marine Park (where you may swim with marine life), and even the Gulf of Mexico itself.
This little town is a blend of a natural paradise and a hotspot for nightlife, so you’re bound to enjoy it here!
18. Neptune Memorial Reef
A “lost city” 40 feet below the surface of the ocean, the Neptune Memorial Reef is a mixture of mystery, joy, and adventure.
Originally known as the Atlantis Memorial Reef, this artificial reef for marine life also doubles as an underwater graveyard.
Its sponsor, the Neptune Society, a cremation business, gave it its present name.
The Neptune Memorial Reef opened its doors in 2007 and is a short distance from Miami’s Key Biscayne.
It covers 16 acres and was specially created to serve as a hospital and habitat for coral and marine life. It was designed by local artist Kim Brandell.
Divers can visit the location and explore the park by swimming through the memorials.
Cremated remains that have been cast into concrete memorials and placed throughout the memorial park are kept in the Neptune Memorial Reef.
The concrete is embellished with a blend of steel and bronze elements for style and allure.
Bert Kilbride, formerly the oldest scuba diver in the world, is among the famous people buried here.
It’s unique among Florida’s tourist attractions!
19. Clearwater
There is no lack of things to see in Clearwater, famous for hosting a 3-mile width of one of the greatest beach segments in Florida.
It’s among the popular tourist attractions for beachgoers and divers, particularly considering its thin but long-reaching barrier reef.
Hotels, cafés, and resorts line the dunes, and its small-town vibe makes it a terrific, calmer holiday option in Florida.
Apart from heading to the beach, while in Clearwater, Florida, you can visit the Moccasin Lake Nature Park (full of boardwalk trails), Pier 60 (a great place to watch street performances and the sunset), the Bright House Field (where spring training is held for the baseball team of the Phillies), or the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (which is home to the dolphins that starred in the Dolphin Tale films) (which is home to the dolphins that starred in the Dolphin Tale films).
20. Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is the pinnacle of Florida’s must-see attractions, brimming with adventure and fun that unleashes anyone’s inner child.
It’s such a popular site that it’s usually regarded as a standard for things to do in Florida.
Walt Disney World, located in Orlando, Florida, allows you to come up close and personal with all the wonder, whimsy, and charm of Disney.
The theme park is jam-packed with all different kinds of attractions, cocoa beach, delectable Disney-themed foods, fantastic souvenir shops, and more!
Closing Thoughts
As you might already know florida legislature state’s economy both in terms of economic growth and economic prosperity get effected during its hurricane season. so, you wanna be careful if its storm season as its effect not only the southwest florida but also central florida and even other edges of florida state.
University of Florida innovations earn national attention and acclaim. Florida State University is in the process of reviewing and updating programs based on changes to Florida law.
Full Story Hurricane season has begun, and the Florida Department of Health (Department) is joining the Florida Division of Emergency Management in encouraging all residents and visitors to prepare for severe weather emergencies.
Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani
