Things to Do in Florida
Ten stops that skip Orlando and Miami on purpose, since both have their own dedicated pages, and head instead toward swamp, coral reef, and the oldest city in the country.
Orlando and Miami already have their own pages on this site, so this list heads elsewhere, the Everglades, the Keys, and a stretch of Gulf Coast that runs considerably quieter than Florida's more famous beaches. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Everglades National Park
A vast subtropical wetland, roughly 1.5 million acres protecting sawgrass marsh, mangrove forest, and one of the largest concentrations of wading birds in North America. Airboat tours run through the marsh from several operators just outside the park boundary, a proper, fast way to cover ground that would take considerably longer on foot.
The Anhinga Trail, a short boardwalk near the main visitor centre, offers close alligator sightings without needing a boat at all, a good option if you're short on time or travelling with younger kids.
Best time December-April, the dry season, when wildlife concentrates near remaining water sources
Address Everglades National Park, FL
Key West & the Florida Keys
The Overseas Highway runs the length of the Keys, crossing the Seven Mile Bridge and dozens of smaller ones along properly striking turquoise water, ending at Key West, the southernmost point in the continental United States. Duval Street runs the town's main strip, bars, shops, and a proper sunset celebration each evening at Mallory Square.
Snorkelling and diving both run well throughout the Keys, particularly around John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the country, home to a real coral reef system just offshore.
Best time March-May and October-November, less humid than peak summer
Address Key West, FL
St. Augustine
The oldest city in the continental United States, founded by Spanish explorers well over four centuries ago, the Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century stone fort still standing at the harbour entrance, remains the best-preserved example of Spanish colonial military architecture anywhere in the country. The historic district runs narrow, cobblestone streets lined with colonial-era buildings, a proper walkable core for an afternoon.
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, built around the site where Ponce de León reportedly searched for the legendary spring, leans into the myth while covering the area's real archaeological history alongside it, a decent stop for kids curious about the legend specifically.
Hours Castillo daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address 1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL
Naples & the Gulf Coast
A considerably quieter stretch of Florida coastline than the Atlantic side, calm, warm Gulf water and a properly relaxed pace that suits a slower trip well. Naples Pier, rebuilt several times after hurricane damage over the decades, remains the town's gathering spot each evening for a sunset that regularly draws a proper crowd along the railing.
The Naples Botanical Garden, a short drive from downtown, runs a good rainy-day or midday-heat backup, several distinct garden sections covering different climate zones under one roof of tropical shade.
Best time November-April for milder, less humid weather
Address Naples, FL
Daytona Beach & Racing History
Daytona International Speedway hosts the Daytona 500 each February, the sport's most prestigious race, but the town's racing history actually predates the track itself, early stock car races were run directly on the hard-packed beach sand before the speedway was ever built. The track runs tours outside race weekends, covering both the current facility and this earlier beach-racing history.
Daytona Beach itself still allows limited driving on certain sections, an unusual enough thing for a US beach that it's worth knowing before you plan a swim in that particular stretch.
Best time February for the Daytona 500, book well ahead
Address 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
Busch Gardens, Tampa
A combined theme park and zoo, roller coasters running alongside a properly substantial African wildlife collection, over 12,000 animals across the park's various sections. SheiKra, a floorless dive coaster, and Iron Gwazi, one of the tallest hybrid wooden coasters in the world, both draw serious coaster enthusiasts alongside the family-friendly animal exhibits.
The park runs a proper safari experience too, a truck tour through an open savannah section where giraffes and zebras roam with considerable space, a good, calmer break between the more intense rides.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-6pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 10165 N McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL
Weeki Wachee Springs
A properly unusual roadside attraction turned state park, performers dressed as mermaids swim in a natural spring in front of an underwater theatre, breathing through hidden air hoses, a show that's run continuously since the 1940s and remains one of the more distinctly Florida things you can watch. The spring itself runs crystal clear, a swim or kayak trip beyond just the show pays off.
This tends to charm kids specifically, the whole concept lands differently for a younger audience who haven't yet developed any scepticism about mermaids being real.
Hours Daily, shows run on a set schedule
Address 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, FL
Florida's Stone Crab & Cuban Food
Stone crab season runs October through May, and Florida's fishery is unusual in that only one claw is harvested from each crab before it's returned to the water to regrow it, a properly sustainable practice built directly into the industry. Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach remains the most famous name associated with the dish, though smaller, family-run spots along the Gulf Coast often run considerably better value for the same quality.
Cuban food runs deep throughout the state too, particularly Tampa's Ybor City, a historic cigar-making district that developed a distinct Cuban sandwich tradition, worth trying alongside any stone crab.
Best time October-May for stone crab season
Address Ybor City, Tampa, FL
Dry Tortugas National Park
A cluster of small islands roughly 70 miles west of Key West, accessible only by boat or seaplane, home to Fort Jefferson, a massive, unfinished 19th-century coastal fortress that never saw the combat it was built for. The surrounding waters hold some of the clearest snorkelling in the country, a properly remote, uncrowded reef system compared to the busier spots closer to the mainland.
Camping is permitted on the main island for anyone wanting more than a day trip, a properly isolated overnight given there's no regular ferry service after the day boats leave.
Best time Winter and spring for calmer seas
Address Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
St. Pete Beach & Clearwater
A stretch of Gulf Coast beach that regularly tops national rankings, powder-soft white sand and shallow, calm water considerably safer for younger swimmers than the Atlantic side. Clearwater Marine Aquarium, made widely known by a rescued dolphin's story that inspired a popular film, runs real rehabilitation work alongside its public exhibits.
Sunset cruises depart regularly from both towns, dolphins turn up often enough along these routes that most operators build the possibility directly into their marketing, though sightings aren't ever guaranteed.
Best time March-May and September-November
Address St. Pete Beach, FL
Best time to visit Florida
November through April covers the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, drier and considerably less humid than Florida's long, intense summer.
Hurricane season runs roughly June through November, check forecasts closely if travelling during these months, particularly for any coastal or Keys-based plans.
Getting around Florida
A car is essential for most of this list, the distances between the Panhandle, central Florida, and the Keys run into several hours each. The Keys themselves are a single, straightforward highway if that's your main focus.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Florida worth visiting beyond Orlando and Miami?
- Yes, easily, the Everglades, the Keys, and St. Augustine's colonial history all offer a completely different picture of the state than its two most famous destinations.
- How many days do you need in Florida beyond Orlando and Miami?
- Seven days gives a comfortable pace to cover the Everglades, the Keys, and either the Gulf Coast or St. Augustine without excessive driving.
- Is Florida expensive to visit?
- Moderate, national and state park entry stays affordable, most of the cost on this list shows up in accommodation during peak winter season specifically.
- What's the best Florida trip for kids?
- Busch Gardens and Weeki Wachee Springs both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that runs considerably further than its two most famous cities.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
