Florida attractions

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park spans 54 acres (22 hectares), perched at the tip of Key West. It’s popular for both its military history and recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking nature trails, riding along bike paths, and sunbathing at one of Key West’s best beaches, Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. The coral beach features turquoise waters perfect for swimming or snorkeling.

The Historic Stranahan House Museum is the oldest surviving structure in Fort Lauderdale. It was built in 1902 as a trading post by Frank Stranahan, the founder of the city, and used by Stranahan’s wife, Ivy, as a school house. Over the decades it has also served as a post office, community center, and town hall. Today it’s a historic attraction that’s open daily for guided tours.

Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is a colorful section of the trendy South Beach neighborhood, with around 800 designated historic buildings to admire—including nautical–themed hotels and pastel mansions dating back to the 1920s. The district has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and visitors come here to dine, stay at fancy hotels, and explore the photo-worthy buildings.

With its warm, clear waters and white sands, Miami Beach has some of the best urban beaches in the United States. Located just over the bridge from the city of Miami, it is also known for its vibrant neighborhoods, fine dining, pulsing nightlife, and an architectural claim to fame: The area boasts the largest concentration of art deco buildings in the world.

A mecca for art lovers, the Wynwood neighborhood, just north of downtown Miami, has evolved from a rundown warehouse zone to a lively area known for its street art. Creative energy runs through every block, and visitors can browse independent galleries, sip craft coffee, and visit local breweries. The star attraction, though, is Wynwood Walls—an open-air museum of murals by over 100 artists.

EPCOT® is one of the four theme parks that make up Walt Disney World® Resort. The park is divided into four neighborhoods—World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery—which all represent diverse aspects of the world and its people. EPCOT is the place where guests of all ages can explore and discover the enchanting depths under the sea, the far reaches of space, and the wonders of our own world.

Miami is often called the “Magic City,” and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of its most enchanting estates. Built for industrialist James Deering in the early 20th century, Vizcaya Palace is as ornate as a Fabergé egg and brimming with 15th- to 19th-century furniture, tapestries, and decorative pieces. The seaside grounds, which front Biscayne Bay, feature elegant gardens, fountains, sculptures, pools, canals, trails, and a charming Florentine-style gazebo.

You can spend a full day strolling up and down this eclectic South Florida district, which is filled with art galleries, boutiques, and al fresco dining options. The 10 blocks that span all the way to the ocean are lined with palm trees and Mediterranean architecture, and set the stage for a relaxing day or night in Fort Lauderdale.

Azure water wraps seven small, reef-fringed islands in Dry Tortugas National Park, a 100-square-mile (25,900-hectare) coastal preserve accessible only by boat or air. While untouched natural beauty abounds amid the islands, there’s history here, too. On the shores of its Garden Key lies the sprawling Fort Jefferson, one of the largest 19th-century forts in the United States.

Posh Coral Gables, called the “City Beautiful,” is filled with old European-style homes: Italianate villas, Mediterranean mansions, mini-Alhambras, and cookie-cutter Cordobas shaded by living walls of banyan trees and ficus copses. You’ll also find 1920s-era historic landmarks like the Biltmore Hotel.

South Pointe Park was once home to police units and horse stables, and today the transformed waterfront expanse is one of Miami Beach's more popular public spaces. The 17-acre (7-hectare park offers eateries, a dog park, and walking paths, though it's worth visiting for the views alone. You can spot Fisher Island, Biscayne Bay, and Downtown Miami.

Sandwiched between the sizzling beaches of Miami and the white sands of Key West, Everglades National Park stands in stark contrast to its seductive neighbors—but don't make the mistake of passing it by. Visit the park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States—to discover for yourself why it draws more than one million visitors every year.

Climb up the black-and-white striped St. Augustine Lighthouse for sweeping views of the Florida coastline. Built in 1874, this landmark is both an active lighthouse and a maritime museum offering a variety of educational exhibits for visitors of all ages. Located at the nation’s oldest port, the red-topped lighthouse contains 219 steps that must be climbed to reach the top and admire the view.

Towering palm trees wrap the elegant Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, where one of Key West’s most famous residents wrote some of his celebrated books. Walking its luscious gardens and carefully preserved rooms offers a fascinating glimpse into that literary history. There’s also the chance to spot some of the dozens of resident 6-toed cats, which are descended from Hemingway’s own pet, Snow White.

If you've ever dreamed of swimming with manatees in their natural habitat, Florida’s Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is where to go. Established in 1983, the refuge is home to one of the largest concentrations of these endangered marine mammals in the US. Up to 800 West Indian Manatees flock to the more than 70 turquoise-colored springs in the Crystal River for warmth during winter. With hundreds of manatees in a small area, sightings are frequent.

Deemed the "Venice of America," Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway features picturesque inland canals that wind through South Florida's sky-high resorts. Aside from serving as a means of transportation, the Intracoastal Waterway Fort Lauderdale offers countless opportunities for recreation, especially in the city's year-round sunshine. Although the main Intracoastal Waterway runs between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Ford Lauderdale's stretch is about 165 miles (266 kilometers) long, providing easy access to maritime activities and onshore attractions.

Your quest for the Fountain of Youth is over once you’ve visited this park in St. Augustine, Florida. This site where Spanish explorer Ponce de León came in search of the elusive fountain in the 16th century, founding the oldest European settlement in the US. Sip the legendary waters while you learn about the area’s indigenous history.

Located in the former Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine’s historic downtown, the Lightner Museum houses an eclectic collection of fine and decorative art, natural history and geological specimens, Victorian collectibles, and Americana. There’s also a robust schedule of special events, exhibitions, and educational programs.

The Key West Lighthouse is one of the island's oldest structures. It was first built in 1825 to help ships navigate the dangerous reefs of the Lower Keys. The lighthouse that stands today dates back to 1847, and the 92-foot (28-meter) building offers some of the best views in town, as well as a maritime museum in the keeper’s house.

One of only three National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida, Ybor City is Tampa’s thriving Latin Quarter. The neighborhood’s diverse cultures, food, and architecture reflect the Cuban, Spanish, and Italian factory workers who settled there in the 19th century and made it “the cigar capital of the world.” Strolling Ybor City’s cobblestone streets, you’ll see both the oldest restaurant and the oldest cigar factory in Florida, plus a flock of locally loved wild chickens.

Walt Disney World® Resort is the world's largest theme park resort, featuring four different parks: Magic Kingdom® Park, EPCOT®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, and Disney's Hollywood Studios®, plus Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Together with two water parks and Disney Springs® (a themed retail and entertainment center), the resort provides plenty of magic and adventure, as well as attractions inspired by beloved Disney characters and films.

Duval Street, running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, is Old Town Key West’s main strip, offering a mix of restaurants, bars, boutiques, live music, kitschy souvenir shops, and theaters. Walk the street at your leisure, or plan to attend a Duval Crawl; the street hosts some of the wildest pub crawls in the United States.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, locally called the “Skyway,” arcs 190 feet (58 meters) above Lower Tampa Bay and links St. Petersburg with the community of Terra Ceia. Though it’s no longer the world’s longest cable-stayed concrete bridge—it was when it was completed in 1987—it is still a proud symbol of Tampa, with multiple fishing piers and 21 yellow cables that mimic rays of sunshine.

Icon Park is an entertainment complex located on one of Orlando's main drags—International Drive—commonly known as I-Drive. Opened in 2015, Icon Park (formerly known as I-Drive 360 and Icon Orlando 360 is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and attractions—including an aquarium, Madame Tussauds, and a 400-foot-tall (122-meter observation wheel, appropriately named The Wheel—which is the centerpiece of the park.

You can explore the Ten Thousand Islands Archipelago, which covers more than 35,000 acres (14,164 hectares) of Florida’s southwestern tip, by boat, kayak, or canoe. A national wildlife refuge occupies the northern portion, while the southern area features the Everglades National Park. There are no facilities on the islands—which number in the hundreds, not thousands—making them a perfect place to decompress in nature.

Universal Orlando Resort™ features multiple theme parks, including Universal Studios Florida™, Universal’s Islands of Adventure™, and the newest addition—Universal Epic Universe™. It’s also got a tropical-themed water park—Universal’s Volcano Bay™. Visitors can step into worlds inspired by Harry Potter, Marvel, and other blockbuster films through immersive rides and attractions. The resort also includes a wide range of dining and entertainment options in the Universal CityWalk Orlando™ area that are fun for the whole family.

Disney Springs® is an entertainment district at Walt Disney World® Resort that’s home to themed shops, more than 150 restaurants, and venues inspired by Florida’s waterfront towns. It’s a great spot for snacks, souvenir shopping, and live entertainment, including Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil®. Visitors can also enjoy the Aerophile balloon ride for panoramic views, live music performances, and Amphicar Tours on Lake Buena Vista.

A hidden gem amid the hustle and bustle of the city, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden offers a secret oasis from the frenetic urban energy. Find diverse flora carefully comingling with lush lawns, fountains, and atria brimming with colorful flowers. This free attraction offers a near-perfect spot to unwind in nature while exploring Miami.

Caladesi Island is a protected barrier island off Florida’s Gulf Coast, known for its unspoiled beaches, clear and calm Gulf waters, and natural coastal habitats. Accessible only by boat or ferry, the untouched island offers a quieter alternative to nearby mainland beaches, with opportunities for swimming, shelling, hiking, and wildlife viewing (including sea birds, dolphins, and occasionally manatees) in a natural setting.

A glimpse into early US history can be found at Mission Nombre de Dios, a Franciscan mission in St. Augustine dating back to 1587. It is suspected that this landmark might be the first mission established in America, and today, it is a pilgrimage site for travelers focused on religious and architectural history. Expect a peaceful atmosphere at this small, ivy-covered stone church with wide walkways and manicured gardens.