Florida attractions

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.

American President Harry S. Truman used this 1890 landmark as a winter White House, visiting 11 times over the course of his presidency. Now a presidential museum, the house preserves Truman’s legacy with original furnishings, personal items, and memorabilia. Guided tours of the museum uncover personal stories from Truman’s time here.

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.

Discover the sunshine state’s untouched side in the vast Big Cypress National Preserve, which borders Everglades National Park but receives a fraction of its annual visitors. Explore the preserve by scenic drive, trail, or boat to see basking alligators in their natural habitat. The landscape here spans mangrove swamps and woodlands, and is dotted with eight campgrounds where you can stay overnight in the Florida wilderness.

Situated on Key West’s Mallory Square, the Key West Aquarium is home to an array of undersea wonders. Exhibits offer an up-close look at some of the Florida Keys’ wildest and most fragile species, from kid-friendly touch tanks—featuring shells, urchins, and crabs—to rescued sea turtles that can’t survive in the wild. They’re swimming alongside translucent jellyfish, sharks, and a wide range of rainbow-hued tropical fish that flaunt their fins at daily feedings.

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.

Waving palm trees and pristine white sand stretch for .5 miles (.8 kilometers) at Smathers Beach, among Key West’s best places to soak up Florida’s generous sunshine. While many simply come to enjoy the views, this beach also stands out for its wide range of activities. Gaze offshore, and you’ll spot parasailers gliding through the sky, as other visitors swim, snorkel, kayak, or drive Jet Skis.

With soft white sand and calm, clean water, Las Olas Beach is one of the top family-friendly spots in Fort Lauderdale. Whether sunbathing—with umbrellas and chairs available to rent—or venturing out in the water to try out surfing, Las Olas Beach has something for everyone. There are also plenty of restaurants just across the street, making it an excellent all-day destination.

Centuries of history are on display at the Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum in St. Augustine. History buffs come to see archaeological artifacts such as Spanish gold and Native American canoes. For a thorough introduction to several centuries of St. Augustine history, check out the diverse exhibitions at this museum, managed by the University of Florida.

Don’t let the friendly pink stucco exterior fool you. Although this building might look like an old-fashioned luxury resort, it was actually one of the most feared places in all of St. Augustine—the St. Johns County Jail. Built in 1891, the jail housed prisoners until 1953, when it opened to the public for tours.

Downtown Tampa's Florida Aquarium highlights the diverse marine habitats of the Sunshine State and far beyond. Spot wetlands dwellers such as alligators and river otters, watch tiger sharks and moray eels circle coral reefs, and see many more species native to everywhere from Madagascar to Australia. Suitable for all ages, the aquarium has a variety of habitats and temporary exhibition spaces, plus touch tanks and animal encounters.

Visitors to St. Augustine looking for an alternative to historical landmarks are often drawn to the fun, family-friendly Potter’s Wax Museum. Kids are especially fascinated by this entertaining museum, featuring dozens of wax sculptures of well-known personalities, from actors to historical figures and beyond. Photographs with life-like figures are a favorite thing to do at this museum.

Just offshore of Florida in the Tampa Bay, Egmont Key State Park features a lighthouse built in 1858. The island was used as a prison during the Third Seminole War and a Union Naval station during the Civil War. Fort Dade, now in ruins, was built during the Spanish-American War. Today, Egmont Key is a state park and wildlife refuge.

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay combines the thrills of a theme park—replete with looping roller coasters, drop towers, white-water rafting, and more rides for all ages—with the educational discovery of a zoo. One of the largest zoos in North America, Busch Gardens is home to more than 200 species, from rhinos and zebras to cheetahs and gorillas, that you can see up close on a Serengeti-style safari.

Home to an array of animals ranging from native Florida species to African wildlife, ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a top family attraction in the Tampa Bay area. In addition to the animals, the zoo features a train and other kid-friendly rides.

Treacherous waters off Key West have brought down ships carrying gold and silver for centuries. The Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum puts those treasures on display, alongside cannons, swords, and other artifacts dredged from the bottom of the sea. Wrecks from the 1700s and 1800s are the heart of the museum's collection.

The somber Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is a fitting place to reflect on the tragedy of World War II and learn the story of the Holocaust. Beyond its stunning bronze sculpture, the memorial offers educational programs, lectures, and seminars. The Memorial Wall, etched with thousands of names, honors those who lost their lives.

Miami’s Jungle Island (formerly Parrot Jungle) is an eco-adventure park where you can experience animal encounters, treetop walks (or bolder explorations), and educational shows to learn about different creatures. The park is home to a range of animals—including sloths, wallabies, lemurs, capybaras, and Burmese pythons; there are also parrots and macaws that fly freely in indoor aviaries, as well as flamingos, tortoises, and other tropical species.

Filled with more than 100,000 items reflecting the times of the early 20th century, the Oldest Store Museum reflects what you might have found in a typical general store at the turn of the century. A tour with in-character guides gives you an engaging look at authentic antique items with a fun explanation of local history.

The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum lets you step back in time and immerse yourself in the nautical and maritime heritage of what was once the richest city in the US. Discover the perils of shipwrecking and climb the 65-foot (20-meter) lookout tower, from which folks would watch out for Spanish galleons and alert the authorities in case of a wreck.

In a city rich with historic landmarks, the Oldest Wooden School House in St. Augustine remains a striking sight—this small wooden structure is chained to the ground to protect it from hurricanes. Dating back to the 1700s, this schoolhouse offers a glimpse into the layered history of St. Augustine. See the schoolhouse, gardens, and historic kitchen during a visit.

Zoo Miami (Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens) is home to thousands of animals, trees, and plants. Florida’s subtropical climate allows the zoo to feature large swathes of natural habitat, making it one of the most diverse wildlife parks in the country and a great place to explore. If you’re interested in the state’s native environments, visit interactive conservation exhibits showcasing flora and fauna from the Everglades and the Pine Rockland habitats. It’s the perfect family-friendly Miami activity.

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum in St. Augustine stands out in a destination full of fascinating historic landmarks. This site offers educational tours and a glimpse of the Spanish Colonial period, including an overview of medical practices. Learn about an ancient apothecary and medicinal herbs grown in the garden during a visit to this popular attraction, which includes the Hospital West building, the Apothecary, and the Hospital East.

Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a family-owned Central Florida amusement park and entertainment center with locations in Orlando and Kissimmee. The Orlando park is known for having the city’s first wooden roller coaster, as well as the world’s second-tallest SkyCoaster (with the tallest being at the Kissimmee location). Orlando’s Fun Spot also has go-karts, carousels, bumper cars, a splash pad, and a wildlife oasis with birds, alligators, and other reptiles.

Step into the Florida Everglades without having to make the big trip at Wild Florida Adventure Park, located right outside of Orlando. Here, visitors can explore the Florida wilderness, its resident animals, and exotic critters. Spend the day spotting alligators, giraffes, sloths, capybaras, and more during a drive-through safari—and don’t leave before going on an adventurous airboat ride at this popular family attraction.

Fort De Soto Park is a 5-island chain that was a working fort during the Spanish-American War—but because it was completed after the war ended, the site saw no violence. Today, the park is home to hundreds of bird species, campsites, a museum, and beaches rated among the best in the country.

Go back in time to the night of April 14, 1912, when the “unsinkable” Titanic had a fatal run-in with an iceberg and tragically sank to the bottom of the Atlantic. With full-scale room replicas, hundreds of objects recovered from the vessel, and immersive interactive exhibits, Orlando’s Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition offers a real-world connection to a defining moment in history.

Boats glide alongside actual swans on Lake Eola, in Orlando’s Lake Eola Park. The site isn’t big by many standards, only a mile (1,609 meters around, but it packs a big punch as an oasis in the heart of bustling Orlando. Locals and visitors flock here—like the geese they feed out of hand—to take in the nature.

Engage your mind and your imagination at WonderWorks Orlando. Located in an “upside-down” secret laboratory, WonderWorks is an indoor amusement park for the mind. With more than 100 interactive exhibits, a glow-in-the-dark ropes course, laser tag, a 4D motion ride, and more, it offers a fun and educational day for the whole family.

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is an aquarium, planetarium, and science museum all in one, and is one of Miami’s top destinations for an educational experience. Here, you can learn about everything from coral reefs to the hunt for dark matter, or how prehistoric animals evolved to fly. Expect interactive exhibits that offer a fun, hands-on experience and the opportunity to see a variety of marine life at the multi-level aquarium.