Think you know
Florida?
26 surprises
for your next vacation
From Venetian palazzos to underwater museums, these adventures show there’s more to the Sunshine State than you might expect
Think you know
Florida?
26 surprises
for your next vacation
From Venetian palazzos to underwater museums, these adventures show there’s more to the Sunshine State than you might expect
1
Florida is vibrant in so many ways: beaches, nightlife… and glowing kayaks?
Believe it. On summer nights along the Space Coast near Cocoa Beach, bioluminescent plankton in the Indian River Lagoon turn every paddle stroke into a streak of neon-blue light. Guided operators like A Day Away Kayak Tours even use clear kayaks, so the glow surrounds you from below and trails off your paddle like sparks in the dark. Dip your hand in the water or watch fish dart past like living comets, and you’ll see why it feels more sci-fi than seaside. Time it for July through September, when the glow burns brightest.
2
Does Florida have an underground art scene?
How about underwater? The Underwater Museum of Art in Grayton Beach places sculptures 60 feet beneath the Gulf. Divers descend into a hushed, otherworldly gallery where sea turtles drift past geometric domes and schools of fish weave through a giant seahorse. New works are added each year, so no two dives are the same. Go in summer, when Gulf waters are calmest.
3
Think every Florida coast feels the same?
Not on the Forgotten Coast. Apalachicola is a historic fishing town where locals linger at spots like the Apalachicola Bee Company, known for its tupelo honey harvested from nearby river swamps, or the century-old Gibson Inn. Wander streets lined with quirky shops and seafood shacks, or head out on a bay fishing trip before catching a Gulf sunset. Here, the real luxury is a pace that runs decades slower — and space to breathe.
4
Florida’s beaches and theme park adventures are great. What else?
Try Marianna, where Florida Caverns State Park trades palm trees for stalactites. It’s the state’s only dry cave system open for tours. Guides lead you through chambers where spotlights catch mineral deposits on the walls, making them glisten like crystals in an art gallery. Kids’ jaws drop at the sparkle underground, and above ground you can hike forest trails or cool off in natural springs. It’s Florida, flipped upside down.
5
Paddleboarding is a fan favorite throughout Florida, but where should I go?
Head to Santa Rosa Beach, where rare coastal dune lakes create one of Florida’s most surprising ecosystems. Found in only four countries worldwide, these freshwater lakes darkened with tannins connect with the Gulf of Mexico, so you can glide past herons and lily pads one moment and drift into saltwater waves the next. Go at sunrise, when the water is glassy and the reflections make the whole experience feel dreamlike.
6
As for Florida’s beaches, if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, right?
Nope. For instance, just 30 minutes from Jacksonville, Big Talbot Island’s Boneyard Beach is littered with the sun-bleached skeletons of oaks and cedars — a natural sculpture garden that feels more shipwreck than spring break. Time your visit for sunset, when the driftwood glows orange and the low tide makes it climbable, and you’ll walk away with some stunning photos and a sense of awe that sticks with you.
7
Where can I have a beach day with a twist?
On Amelia Island, where horseback riding is a year-round reality. Outfitters lead riders along miles of wide, quiet shoreline — whether you’re a first-timer on a short trot or a couple chasing a romantic, golden-hour ride. Less than an hour from Jacksonville, it’s one Florida beach where hoofprints replace flip-flops.
8
Can you get an old-world feeling in Florida?
Check out St. Augustine, founded in 1565. Here, history comes alive with cannons, cobblestones and pirate lore. Families cross the drawbridge into Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century fort overlooking the bay, or climb the spiral staircase of the lighthouse for sweeping ocean views. On Aviles Street, America’s oldest platted street, you’ll find boutique shops selling local art, antiques and handmade jewelry. Or take a short drive to Rattlesnake Island where kids can cosplay pirates. It’s part living history, part seaside escape.
9
Anything to see on a snorkeling trip besides fish?
At Devil’s Den in Williston, an unassuming pasture hides a prehistoric spring below ground. Descend the stairs into a cavern where sapphire water glows under a natural skylight, revealing limestone ledges and fossil-bearing walls. Snorkelers and divers drift through the 72-degree water year-round, exploring a space once studied by archaeologists. It’s Florida at its most unexpected — a hidden underworld waiting beneath the farmland.
10
Where can I see the colors of the rainbow, but without the rain?
At the aptly named Rainbow Springs in north-central Florida. Here water shimmers so clear it reflects blue, green and turquoise like liquid glass. Once a 1930s roadside attraction complete with waterfalls and gardens, today it’s a state park where families can tube, kayak or swim in the spring-fed river. Go in summer for tubing runs, and early morning when the water is at its clearest. About 30 minutes from Ocala, it’s a reminder that Florida’s stunning scenery can be found inland, too.
11
Mermaids are just Florida folklore, right?
Not at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Spring Hill, where the mermaid shows have wowed crowds since 1947. In the Newton Perry Underwater Mermaid Theatre, performers in glittering tails glide through the spring while audiences watch from a submerged auditorium carved into the limestone. And it’s not just a show — families can cool off in the spring-fed waters at Buccaneer Bay, swimming in the same clear run where the mermaids perform. It’s kitschy, vintage Florida at its finest.
12
So it seems Central Florida has multi-sensory experiences — but what about sound?
At Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, a 205-foot neo-Gothic and art deco tower rises above 250 acres of rolling gardens. Its 60-bell carillon still rings out daily, turning the landscape into a living concert hall that feels as much European as Floridian. Visitors stroll shaded trails, pause at lily-dotted ponds, or picnic on scenic overlooks along one of Florida’s highest ridges. Built in the 1920s as a “gift of beauty and serenity,” it remains an escape where music and nature blend seamlessly.
13
Do I need beachfront property for million-dollar views?
Not in Ocala, where The Canyons Zipline & Adventure Park turns a former limestone quarry into Florida’s most dramatic playground. Nine ziplines — including one more than a half-mile long — send riders soaring over emerald water and sheer cliffs, with kayaks and horses scattered far below. Between flights, visitors tackle rope bridges, paddle the quarry lake or simply take in views that feel more Colorado canyon than Central Florida.
14
Isn’t Orlando all about roller coasters?
Not really. In nearby Kissimmee, Wild Florida Adventure Park trades fairy dust for the Florida frontier. Cruise your own car through a drive-thru safari with zebras, bison and more roaming just feet away, then hand-feed giraffes with the park-supplied snacks or snap a selfie with a sloth. Add a swamp walk to spot gators in their element, and cap the day at nearby vacation homes where golf carts and lazy rivers replace shuttle buses and theme rides.
15
Isn’t Miami all beaches and nightclubs?
Not in Wynwood, where the city trades surfboards for spray paint. The Wynwood Walls anchor a district where entire blocks double as canvases, with murals that change so often the neighborhood never looks the same from month to month. Wander side streets for hidden graffiti gems, pop into indie galleries or grab a cone from a street vendor while you fill your social media feed with color. After dark, rooftop pools and boutique hotels keep the buzz alive, making this Miami’s artsy counterpoint to South Beach.
16
Orlando is famous for castles and coasters — but can you find a tropical-style escape there too?
Just 15 minutes from the theme parks, Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort where families swim with dolphins, snorkel in lagoons and hand-feed exotic birds before unwinding poolside as flamingos wander past. With meals, drinks and gear included, it’s a seamless getaway — no passport required.
17
Where can I find a fishing adventure?
Try Boca Grande, the “Tarpon Capital of the World.” Each spring and summer, anglers chase 100-pound “silver kings” that leap clear of the water in battles equal parts strength and stamina. Local guides handle the boats, tackle and tips, so even first-timers can join the thrill. When the rods are stowed, spots like the Eagle Grill serve Gulf-to-table seafood as stories get retold. It’s Florida fishing at its fiercest — all within two hours of Tampa.
18
Sure, the Sunshine State is relaxing, but what if I feel the need for speed?
In the 10,000 Islands off Marco Island, CraigCats — half speedboat, half go-kart — put you in the driver’s seat of a two-seater that skims across the water. Zip through mangrove mazes as dolphins leap alongside and ospreys dive overhead. Local guides set you up with the essentials and a quick orientation, so even first-timers can steer with confidence. Pair it with an Everglades Jeep Safari for gators and backcountry trails, and you’ve got a Florida double feature that’s equal parts exhilaration and exploration.
19
Are there also adventures on terra firma?
At Alafia River State Park in Lithia, just outside Tampa, former phosphate mines have been reshaped into some of Florida’s most dramatic mountain biking terrain. Riders can cruise beginner-friendly loops or test themselves on white-knuckle runs packed with steep drops, banked turns and jumps. Bring your own bike or rent on-site, then hit the trails to discover a side of Florida where the thrills are measured in dirt, dust and elevation.
20
Do I have to go to Miami for Cuban culture?
Not when Ybor City serves it with a side of history. Once the cigar capital of the world, this Tampa neighborhood still hums with Latin influence along its brick-lined streets. The crown jewel is the Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest (est. 1905), where families share Cuban sandwiches, paella and sangria as flamenco dancers electrify the stage. Pro tip: Ask for a table in the Don Quixote Room, with its hand-painted tiles and murals, for a transportive Old World vibe. Then wander Seventh Avenue for vintage shops and cigar rollers who keep the heritage alive.
21
What? Florida has Renaissance paintings and a Venetian palazzo?
At The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, you’ll find both — a Mediterranean-style mansion on the bay and galleries filled with European art that rivals collections up north. Step inside the Ca’ d’Zan, John Ringling’s Venetian-inspired palazzo from the 1920s, then wander into galleries anchored by Rubens’ massive “Triumph of the Eucharist” canvases and centuries-old tapestries. And because Ringling built his fortune under the big top, the Circus Museum adds a whimsical twist, with artifacts that nod to the spectacle that funded this unlikely cultural gem on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
22
Can the Florida heat melt a clock?
At the Dalí Museum in downtown St. Petersburg, it almost looks that way. The collection showcases Dalí’s iconic melting clocks alongside vast dreamscapes and mind-bending works seldom seen outside Europe. The building itself — the Enigma, a glass geodesic bubble erupting from a concrete cube — is as surreal as the art inside, with the bay as its backdrop. Step through the galleries, then into immersive exhibits like the Dalí Alive digital installation, where you don’t just view his imagination — you walk through it.
23
Florida and cowboys — do those two really go together?
They do at the Westgate River Ranch, where the Wild West meets Central Florida. Just south of Orlando, this 1,700-acre ranch swaps boardwalks for horseback trails and surfboards for saddles. Families glamp in luxe teepees or wagon-style cabins with fire pits perfect for s’mores, then spend the day riding, fishing, practicing archery or panning for gold. Kids can bounce on trampolines or feed goats at the petting zoo, while Saturday nights are alive and kicking with a full rodeo.
24
Let’s go back offshore. Where can I find Florida’s most heavenly dive?
Off Key Largo, the Christ of the Deep statue rises from the seafloor in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The nine-foot bronze figure, arms lifted toward the surface, rests 25 feet down among coral gardens alive with parrotfish, angelfish and snapper. Snorkelers and divers drift side by side here, some seeking a spiritual moment, others the sheer wonder of a reef teeming with color. Either way, it’s a Florida dive that feels both iconic and transcendent.
25
Isn’t Key West the end of the road?
Not quite. Seventy miles farther into the Gulf sits Dry Tortugas National Park, one of Florida’s most remote treasures. Reachable only by boat or seaplane, it’s crowned by Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century brick fortress rising from turquoise water. Snorkel the Moat Wall, where coral blooms against the fort’s edge, or head to South Swim Beach for a chance to spot sea turtles gliding by. Bring your own picnic — there are no concessions — and save a climb to the fort’s top for late afternoon, when the light turns the Gulf into gold. With few crowds and no roads, it’s Florida’s ultimate castaway escape.
26
Let’s end this list with an impossible ask — can I meet a majestic marine creature face-to-face?
Crystal River is the only place in Florida where it’s legal to swim with wild manatees. Guided snorkel tours slip you into spring-fed waters where these gentle “sea cows” drift by like slow-motion submarines. Winter season (November–March) is the ideal visit, when hundreds gather in the warm springs. Remember to float calmly — the quieter you are, the closer they’ll come. But don’t touch! For a different view, paddle a clear-bottom kayak and watch them glide beneath you. It’s a Florida encounter as tender as it is unforgettable.
