Were you considering where to spend your vacation and landed on going to Florida? Have you had great adventures visiting theme parks or going kayaking on Daytona Beach? You may even wonder whether moving to the sunshine state, like the regions of Sarasota or St. Petersburg, could lead to more fun things to do in Florida.
Yet, if you often have trouble coming up with an itinerary of fun things to do in Florida, you’ve come to the right place. In this overview, you’ll learn all about the many attractions at Miami Beach, the Florida Keys, Orlando, and more. Keep reading to learn about all the top tourist attractions in Florida.
Why Florida?
So, why is visiting Florida so much fun and why should you consider possibly moving here or merely taking a long vacation? There are numerous outstanding and unique activities you can take part in when visiting the sunshine state. For example, you will love visiting the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. This amazing pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The staff here refills the pool with filtered water every day throughout the summer. Doing so ensures clean and clear waters for swimmers. You might enjoy visiting Manatee Springs in Chiefland, Florida for another unique experience. The scenery is gorgeous here with warm springs and swimming manatees playing in the waters.
The number of attractions, hidden gems, and activities never seem to end in Florida. You can visit a botanical garden, see some alligators and sea turtles, spend the day at Walt Disney World, or check out the Dali Museum.
Another amazing experience comes from Weeki Wachee, Florida, which is known as the City of Live Mermaids. In Weeki Wachee, you can enjoy watching a mermaid show that began in 1947.
The performance occurs in an underwater spring with performers dressed as mermaids or part-fish, swimming and dancing below the water surface. The dancers also use free-flowing oxygen tubes to breathe underwater. You will surely want to add the incredible show to your bucket list.
You can also take boat tours or go canoeing in Citrus County’s Crystal River. Scuba diving is another outstanding activity in the region. You will love seeing the coral reefs and sea creatures when scuba diving.
Are you thinking of moving to Florida? One of the most popular places to move to is Orlando. The housing market in Orlando has grown by 20 percent since 2021. The median listing home price is $330,000 in Orlando. The state of Florida has no income tax, which is also a major reason people move here.
Some other benefits of moving to Florida include affordable housing, a strong job market, great weather, and the many outdoor attractions. Figuring out when to sell your home and move to Florida may seem complex, but spring and summer are usually the best times for the real estate market nationwide.
To buy my house in Florida, I searched for house flippers, real estate investors, and companies that buy houses in Tampa. These experts buy properties in their as-is condition and then renovate and fix them up before selling them to new owners.
If you also want a recently remodeled home, then contact cash buyers and investors. We buy houses in Orlando, so contact us when you’re ready to sell or buy a home.
Fun Things to Do in Florida
Visiting amusement parks in Florida tends to be one of the most fun things to do. Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are great options as well as Busch Gardens.
Enjoy going down a roller coaster or even visiting a water park. For example, Sun Splash is one of the biggest water parks in South Florida. Also, you should take a trip to Sea World to check out various sea animals like otters and sea turtles.
If you are spending your vacation at Miami Beach, then you can rent a jet ski for some fun! Go on a fast ride on the jet ski and enjoy the wind in your hair. You’ll love the aquamarine color of the waters at Miami Bay and you might even get to spot a dolphin or two! You can also go for a swim and try snorkeling in the bay.
Also, try visiting the Everglades National Park when you spend time in Miami. You might want to take an airboat tour of the Everglades National Park to check out the alligators and swamps. Enjoy seeing the wildlife while slowly moving past in an airboat.
You will also enjoy spending a day at South Beach where you can sunbathe, take a swim, or walk along the sandy beaches. Yet, if you want a bit more fun, you might want to take a bike ride through South Beach.
You can even sign up for a local bike tour to get your energy out and see more of the city. On the tour, you’ll enjoy seeing Miami’s famous Art Deco District and going for a swim at Nikki Beach. You might also find some other hidden gems on the tour.
Florida also features NASCAR racing at the Daytona International Speedway, so you can spend a day out watching famous racecar drivers.
Creative Things to Do in Florida
The sunshine state has loads of creative activities and attractions to pursue. For instance, you’ll find NASA headquarters in Florida, so you should consider taking a guided tour of the Kennedy Space Center. Find out if you can see the space shuttle. Maybe you’ll even meet an astronaut or see a rocket launch!
Also, do you love Harry Potter or other fantasy books and movies? If so, visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios for some great rides. You can even take a Hogwarts Express train ride similar to Harry.
Some other creative and unique things you can do in Florida include visiting:
- Neptune Memorial Reef
- The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery
- Pirate and Treasure Museum
- Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
- Legoland to discover the world of the lego
A few other family-friendly and creative activities involve checking out The Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, viewing Pegasus and Dragon statues in Hallandale Beach, and visiting Cedar Lakes Woods in Williston.
A local entrepreneur created a well and labeled it The Fountain of Youth in 1904. Further, locals dubbed the entire park the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. The well provides a unique and historical experience for families and children.
If you’re in St. Augustine, take a visit to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, which is one of the oldest masonry forts in the United States.
If you’d like to see the second-tallest statue in the continental United States, you won’t beat Pegasus and Dragon statues with their formidable presence. Now if a botanical garden is more your speed, then Cedar Lakes Woods provides a special experience with its swans, waterfalls, and tall trees. You will enjoy seeing the many ecosystems in the area or any state park.
These are only some of the most creative things to do in Florida, but you should surely add these activities to your bucket list.
Artistic Things to do in Florida
If you’re looking for an artistic outlet, then you should take a trip to the Salvador Dali Museum. However, if you’re out in Key West, you might want to check out the Tropic Cinema to see some independent and foreign films.
You can also take some art classes at Marathon’s The Art Studio at Key West. Enjoy learning how to oil paint, sculpt, and make jewelry and ceramics.
Even in the city of Gainesville, you can check out the Downtown Festival & Art Show, which includes live music, a wide range of foods to try, and other performers. You will also see the watercolors, acrylic paints, and sculptures of local artists at the event.
Do you enjoy sketching and painting? If you want to see some natural landscapes for your artwork, you should consider visiting Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens near Miami Beach. You can also sketch the gorgeous scenery at the Dry Tortugas National Park in Fort Jefferson.
The many beaches in Florida with their white sand and blue waters, such as Clearwater Beach, also make incredible scenery for a painting or a watercolor.
In addition, some places in the sunshine state with a great artistic scene include:
- Jacksonville
- Key Largo
- Tampa Bay
- Fort Lauderdale
- Naples
For example, the Naples art district has more than 125 art galleries, art studios, and museums. The area is home to many painters, sculptors, photographers, and jewelers. Essentially, you will find many artistic things to do in Florida.
Conclusion
In summary, you will find tons of fun things to do in Florida, ranging from amusement parks and beaches to art museums and botanical gardens. With affordable housing and the warm, sunny weather, you may want to go beyond taking a vacation in Florida and move to the state instead.