10 Best Things to Do in Florida

Florida is synonymous with Walt Disney World. The Orlando-based park system is Florida’s largest, boasting 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, and tons of Disney-themed resorts and hotels. There are also shopping and dining options galore. Choose the Park Hopper option to visit more than one park per day.

Meet your favorite Disney characters at Magic Kingdom or travel around the world at EPCOT. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is where you can get up close to exotic animals from around the globe and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will immerse you in your favorite movies. You can plunge down Mount Gushmore, a freefall water slide at Disney’s Blizzard Beach and the waves are always big at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.

If you’ve got a budding astronaut in your party or are a self-proclaimed space nerd, Kennedy Space Center will immerse you in all things space. The NASA and commercial spacecraft museum will take you on a simulated journey through space. You might even chat or dine with a real-life astronaut.

See up close what it’s like to train for space travel. The museum is divided into “mission zones,” where you can travel back in time to the early days of space exploration all the way up to the modern-day Space Shuttle program. You can even try to time your visit to watch a live rocket launch.

One of the best things to do in Florida is visit Everglades National Park. Nicknamed the “sea of grass,” you can explore the vast wilderness of forest, prairies, and wetlands that stretch from Kissimmee to Florida Bay. You are guaranteed to see gators on wildlife tours of the swamp. If you are lucky, you might even spot a manatee.

Everglades National Park is a great way to get active in the sun. You can choose from kayaking, hiking, or even biking to explore. There are 4 visitor centers spread out throughout the park, so it’s easy to combine a trip to the Everglades with other Florida explorations.

St. Augustine is a city located on the Northeast coast of Florida. It’s steeped in history and known for its Spanish colonial architecture. With history often comes haunting, so if you are looking for paranormal encounters, St. Augustine is the place to go. Choose from guided paranormal tours, haunted historical buildings, and graveyards.

One of the most haunted places to check out is the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. There are many spooky tours where local guides will take you to the ghostliest spots. St. Augustine is also well-known for its beaches, so after you’ve got your fill of ghosts, head to the shore for fun in the sun.

If you are interested in exploring the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa Bay is a good landing spot. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an amusement park with numerous roller coasters and thrill rides, as well as an animal-themed park. You’ll be transported to Africa and Asia where you can get up-close views of exotic animals like rhinos, tigers, elephants, and hippos.

The 335-acre park has way more than animals and you can explore much of it from above while flying through the air. There are tons of roller coasters and thrill rides to get your blood pumping. Soar above the African savannah on the Serengeti Flyer or experience free fall on the 335-ft drop of the Falcon’s Fury.

Located in Orlando, Universal Studios Florida will make you feel like you are watching your favorite TV shows and movies, but in real life. You’ll be part of the action as you twist, turn, and drop. Check out the inner workings of Harry Potter, Minions, the Simpsons, and Transformers, just to name a few. There’s even a dragon that breathes actual fire.

In addition to the rides, Universal Studios Florida has a rotating calendar of shows and entertainment, including seasonal events. There are challenging games to play and an arcade. You might even meet some of your favorite characters, like SpongeBob SquarePants or Krusty the Clown.

If you are a fan of racing, add the Daytona International Speedway to your Florida itinerary. For NASCAR fans, the Daytona 500 marks the kick-off of the racing season each year. Time your trip to Florida to coincide with the race that happens yearly in February.

The Daytona International Speedway is a year-round attraction. It’s got behind-the-scenes tours that take you up close to the action. There’s also a museum featuring the Motorsports Hall of Fame America. Motorsports races run throughout the year, including stock cars, sports cars, motorcycles, and go-karts. The Daytona International Speedway is about 50 miles north of Orlando, so it could be combined easily with a Disney vacation.

South Beach is one of the main reasons people vacation in Miami. With its sugary white sand beaches, palm trees, neon lights along Ocean Drive, and Art Deco architecture, what’s not to love? Feast on Cuban and Caribbean cuisine and dance your heart out until the sun comes up and you can hit the beach again.

But Miami is more than South Beach. Culture and art abound throughout the city. Wynwood Walls anchors the neighborhood arts district and celebrates street art and graffiti artists throughout the outdoor museum of giant murals. Art Basel Miami Beach is an international art show that draws thousands each December.

Driving along the chain of 125 islands known as the Florida Keys can feel otherworldly. The Keys are stunning and the highway connecting them all makes you feel like you are part of the ocean. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy diving, snorkeling, and boating. A great spot to explore the underwater world includes the John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park where you can hop on a glass-bottomed boat.

Bahia Honda State Park is a lovely spot to snorkel or scuba dive, with vibrant coral reefs and colorful fish to see. Key West is a popular spot to visit, particularly Duval Street which has a party vibe. Don’t forget to get an obligatory slice of key lime pie.

Located along the Gulf Coast, Tampa Bay carves a nook into the central shoreline. Many say it’s one of the best places for fishing in Florida. More than 200 species call the waters of Tampa Bay home, so your chances of hooking a prized fish are high. Tampa Bay is home to the largest open water estuary in the Sunshine State.

Charter a fishing boat and let a local guide take you to the best spots to cast your line. You might catch tarpon, redfish, snook, trout, grouper, or flounder, to name only a few. The city is also home to several professional sports teams and tons of theme parks, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.