Florida attractions

Explore a fascinating collection of some of the world’s tiniest artworks at the Micro Masterpiece Art Gallery. Located in downtown St. Augustine, the gallery houses one of the largest collections of micro-miniature paintings, etchings, sculptures, and books in the country, around 30 of which are displayed at a time on a rotating basis.

Within the Big Cypress Reservation, you’ll find Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki, which means “a place to learn” in the Seminole language—an appropriate name for a museum that honors the culture and history of the Seminole Indians. Here, you can see how Seminole ancestors lived in the region that became the Florida Everglades, by looking through exhibits and rare artifacts. You can also travel along nature trails through the stunning 60-acre (24-hectare) cypress dome.

Situated in Miami’s Design District, the de la Cruz Collection is a museum that grew out of couple Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz’s private collection. Housed in a strikingly modern, 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square-meter) building since 2009, the museum hosts one major exhibition every year, and is a key Miami destination for contemporary art lovers.

From the curious to the strange to the grotesque, oddities abound at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Panama City Beach. Find items you're unlikely to see anywhere else, such as shrunken heads, as well as family-friendly activities, such as 7D interactive movies, a mirror maze, and laser race games—under one roof.

A haven for outdoor adventurers, Alafia River State Park is open year-round and has 20 miles of trails running through forests, flatwoods, and alongside lakes. This reclaimed phosphate mine comprising over 7,700 acres features elevation changes, unlike other state parks, offering a prime location for mountain biking.

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. This bayside gathering place is free and open to the public year-round, acting as an afternoon and nightlife hub for locals and visitors alike. Opened in 2002, the village features award-winning restaurants, art galleries, and a calendar full of festivals and events.

EverBank Stadium (previously TIAA Bank Field) is an outdoor stadium in downtown Jacksonville. It’s home to the NFL football team and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and has an entertainment complex called Daily’s Place connected to its south end. It was the host stadium for Super Bowl XXXIX and is the annual host of the Gator Bowl.

Hard Rock Cafe Orlando is inside the Universal Orlando Resort City Walk dining, shopping, and entertainment complex. It opened in 1990 and includes the namesake restaurant and a 3,000-person live music venue. Local bands, global acts, and other live events fill the venue’s calendar. The restaurant is open all year for patrons.

The Butterfly Rainforest is a special exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Located on the University of Florida’s campus in Gainesville, Florida, the Butterfly Rainforest lets you walk a path through tropical and subtropical trees as hundreds of butterflies flutter around you. Interpretive guides are available to answer questions and discuss which butterflies are native or exotic.

Combining a hearty, burger-heavy menu with displays of iconic music memorabilia, Hard Rock Cafe caters to music fans with an appetite. Add craft cocktails and a waterfront patio overlooking Biscayne Bay, and this Miami location (one of around 180 Hard Rock Cafe restaurants worldwide) offers something for everyone. Be sure to save time to peruse the walls to learn more about America’s music legends.

With its movie memorabilia, video walls, sing-alongs, and a celebrity chef–designed menu, the Disney Springs™ outpost of this world-renowned restaurant chain is the place to eat American comfort food while enjoying tributes to Tinseltown. Visitors can plan on seeing movie montages, music videos, and regularly performing live music acts.

The Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory is a staple of historic downtown Daytona Beach. It’s called this Florida city home since the early days of World War II, but it was founded in Mackinac, Michigan, in 1925 by Riddell Angell and Cora Phelps. The women-owned business was purchased by new owners in 1983. Today, old-style confections and more modernized chocolates are for sale.

Breakers Oceanfront Park and Environmental Learning Center is a 2.5-acre (1-hectare) park on Daytona Beach with a children’s splash pad, volleyball court, playground, and picnic areas. The city operates this public park, which was built in 2008. Its small indoor center specializes in natural exhibits for children. The outdoor park is linked to the boardwalk by wheelchair- and stroller-accessible walkways.

You don't need to choose between splashing down water slides and braving thrill rides at Sam's Fun City in Pensacola. With more than 20 adrenaline-fueled rides, arcade games, and the on-site water park—Sam's Surf City—this Gulf Coast destination is an ideal family-friendly, sunny day adventure.

For more than 25 years, the Old Florida Museum has invited children and adults alike to discover what Florida living was like from when the first colonial settlers arrived to the turn of the 20th century. Offering interactive activities and costumed guides, the Old Florida Museum sits on a 400-acre pioneer homestead property.

Step back to the 1930s in this fetching 20-room Mediterranean-style mansion on the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens in the heart of Florida. Originally built as a winter retreat for a Pittsburgh Steel magnate, the retreat is a National Historic Landmark with distinct architectural features such as a Spanish-style frog fountain, an English-style country garden, and a moon gate fountain.

A serene haven for displaced or mistreated animals, the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center is home to wildlife from across the globe, ranging from Floridian bears and reptiles to monkeys and Bengal tigers. A morning or afternoon at the center is a fun and illuminating experience for visitors of all ages.

Commonly referred to simply as Higgs Beach, this stretch of sand on the Atlantic Ocean in Key West features the Reynolds Street Pier, a Civil War–era fort, and memorial sites. Visitors head here for swimming and snorkeling, as well as sunbathing, beach volleyball, tennis, and pickleball. Because of its fine sandy beaches and shallow water, Higgs Beach is considered ideal for families with small children.

This shrine to human flight holds enough vintage and modern aircraft to excite even the most seasoned aviation fans. Classic, antique, warbird, ultra-light, and unique aircraft spanning history from the Wright Brothers to modern NASA launches are the museum's claim to fame, plus an educational restoration center. Children will love the flight simulators and educational exhibits.

Blue Cypress Lake—located in Florida’s Indian River County, which is part of the region known as the Treasure Coast—offers stunning natural beauty with cypress trees that rise up from the water. The lake attracts visitors interested in fishing, kayaking, bird-watching, and wildlife photography. It's particularly famous for its large osprey population, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts.