There are hundreds of lists of things to do in the USA or individual states like Florida, but we’ve come up with one thing in every state plus D.C. in 21 different categories. Truly something for everyone, from historic places to foods you have to try, from the downright quirky to amazing museums, and from weird places to stay to fun things to do. Our primary criteria were we have or want to see them, and they are things you can physically visit or try.
A map showing the location of everything on our bucket list for the sunshine state can be found at the end of the post.
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HISTORIC PLACE: OLDEST HOUSE IN THE US
The oldest house in the USA is in St Augustine; the coquina stone house was built soon after 1702. Originally a single storey with just two rooms, it was expanded with a wooden upper floor and porch.
Read Reviews for Oldest House Museum Complex | 14 St Francis St, St. Augustine, Florida 32084
FAMOUS PERSON: HENRY FLAGLER
Henry Flagler was a founder of Standard Oil, a company that slowly gained an almost complete monopoly in the USA and hence made Henry Flagler VERY rich. He used this wealth to connect the Florida keys together by building a railway. Remnants of this incredible line are still visible today as you drive to Key West on the Overseas Highway, and parts of the road are built on the former railway.
Highway 1, Road to Key West, Florida
NATURAL WONDER: JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK
Photo by Matt Keiffer | CC BY-SA 2.0
Coral Reef State Park is the first undersea park in the USA. Whether you explore it by snorkelling, scuba or in a glass-bottomed boat, you are sure to see some stunning fish and other wildlife as well as the coral reefs themselves.
Read Reviews for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park | 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, Florida 33037
FOOD & DRINK: KEY LIME PIE AND ORANGE JUICE
What else could it be but Key Lime Pie – the simple filling consisting of key limes, egg yolk and condensed milk. And you really can’t wash it down with anything other than Florida’s most famous fruit, a chilled glass of orange juice.
FACTORY TOUR: AL’S FAMILY FARMS CITRUS
See how a family-run business grows, harvests and packs delicious citrus fruits for distribution and even taste the freshest orange juice around.
Read Reviews for Al’s Family Farm Citrus | 2001 N Kings Hwy, Fort Pierce, Florida 34951
MAN-MADE: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
The place where every manned US space flight has launched from and a supremely interesting place to visit. The picture shows Endeavour ready for its final ever launch back in 2011 (I wish they’d orientated the launch pad so you got a better view from the viewing area!), but if you visit Kennedy today you will be able to see Atlantis on display.
Read Reviews for Kennedy Space Center | Kennedy Space Center, SR 405, Titusville, Florida 32899
RECORD-BREAKING: EDWARD BALL WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK
Home to the deepest freshwater spring in the world, Wakulla Springs is a beautiful oasis. Explore the park and perhaps meet some of its varied wildlife including manatees, alligators and turtles.
Read Reviews of Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park | 465 Wakulla Park Dr, Crawfordville, Florida 32327
READ MORE: See what we found in the rest of the USA
QUIRKY RECORD: WORLD’S LARGEST BOWLING PIN
The World’s Largest Bowling Pin is over 30 feet (9m) tall and stands outside the entrance to Splitsville bowling lanes. Not sure how big the ball would be to knock that down?
Read Reviews of Splitsville Lanes | 615 Channelside Dr, Tampa, Florida 33602
ACTIVITY: TOUR A NUCLEAR BUNKER
The nuclear bunker on Peanut Island was built for JFK as a last resort in the event of World War III. It was completed just a few months before the Cuban Missile Crisis could have meant it was actually used. You can now tour this bunker on the man-made Peanut Island and see where JFK would have been holed up.
Read Reviews of Peanut Island | Peanut Island, Florida
ATLAS OBSCURA: WEEKI WACHEE MERMAIDS
Photo by Robin Wendell | CC BY 2.0
Watch “real” mermaids recreate the Hans Christian Andersen tale ‘The Little Mermaid’ in this daily show. Or watch them do underwater feats like eating and drinking in the ‘Fish Tails’ show.
Read Reviews for Weeki Wachee Springs | 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Florida 34606
MOST VISITED: WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
The most visited theme park in the world, Walt Disney World Resort or “The Magic Kingdom” is renowned for its parades, rides and entertainment. The famous castle is inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Germany.
Read Reviews for Walt Disney World | Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida 32830
STATE/NATIONAL PARK: EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
An airboat ride through the Everglades is quite the experience, especially when you are surrounded by alligators! Perhaps your boat ride will, like ours did, pull up right alongside one so close we could have reached out and stroked it!
Read Reviews for Everglades National Park | Everglades, Florida
EVENT: FANTASY FEST
For several decades Fantasy Fest has encouraged people to come to Key West in the slower off-season between summer and when the “snowbirds” arrive for winter. The event lasts for more than a week and involves parades and dressing up and basically having fun.
Read Reviews of Fantasy Fest | 1111 12th St #211, Key West, Florida 33040
DIFFERENT PLACE TO STAY: JULES UNDERSEA LODGE
Photo reproduced with kind permission of Malima Wolf
The world’s only underwater hotel – imagine waking up and there could be anything aquatic peering in through the window!
Read Reviews for Jules Undersea Lodge | 51 Shoreland Dr, Key Largo, Florida 33037
READ MORE: See what we found in the rest of the USA
DIFFERENT PLACE TO EAT: MURDER MYSTERY DINNER TRAIN
Photo reproduced with kind permission of Jim Cook of Port Allegany, PA
A five-course dinner on a beautifully appointed train passing rolling scenery, that should be enough right? But no, here you get to solve a “murder” at the same time!
Read Reviews for Murder Mystery Dinner Train | 2805 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, Florida 33966
HAVE SOME FUN: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
The iconic banked oval where the Daytona 500 takes place is a cathedral to speed. For the true adrenaline junky, you can even go for a ride in a NASCAR or maybe drive one yourself?!
Read Reviews for Daytona International Speedway | 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
FILM LOCATION: FONTAINEBLEAU MIAMI BEACH
Photo by Jonathan Molina | CC BY-SA 2.0
The Fontainebleau Hilton, Miami Beach is where Goldfinger famously cheats at cards with James Bond in the movie of the same name and where Jill Masterton is murdered by Oddjob.
Read Reviews of Fontainebleau | 4441 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, Florida 33140
FUN FACT
With 300 miles of intra-coastal waterways, Fort Lauderdale has more canals than the most famous watery city in the world, Venice. Perhaps if you have to get up as early as I did to catch the coach, you might also see a beautiful sunrise?
Read Reviews for Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: SWIM WITH MANATEES
Manatees are known as sea cows, but in fact, are closer relations to elephants. Whatever the lineage, you can swim with these gentle creatures for the experience of a lifetime.
10460 W New York St, Homosassa, Florida 34448
MUSEUM: CORAL CASTLE
The only coral castle in the world is not made of coral and is not a castle! But don’t let that put you off exploring this unique place. 1,000 tons of limestone quarried and sculpted to make beautiful gardens and buildings. Latvian Edward Leedskalnin who was just 5 feet (1.5m) tall built the castle as a labour of love over three decades.
Read Reviews for Coral Castle | 28655 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, Florida 33033
SCENIC DRIVE: ROAD TO KEY WEST
Key West might be the destination, but don’t rush down the Overseas Highway. Remnants of the original railway, Seven Mile Bridge, the many keys en route and endless ocean views make this a beautiful drive.
READ MORE: See what we found in the rest of the USA
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RESOURCES | PLAN YOUR TRIP TO FLORIDA
To book flights, rental cars, accommodations, and activities for your trip, please check out our recommended travel providers, favourite apps and websites.
These are a few tours we would recommend for your trip to Florida, USA.
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