Top 10 Unique Things to Do in Florida – According to a Local (2023... (2024)

Are you looking for the most unique things to do in Florida? The kind of adventure that will blow up your Instagram feed and make your friends envy your vacation? Well, here are 10 things to do in Florida locations that are so naturally beautiful, they will think you were on a Nat Geo expedition. If you want a great alternative to theme parks, try some of these local sites:

1. Bioluminescence Tours

Topping the list of unique things is bioluminescent kayaking tours. This night tour takes you to the Florida’s famous Indian River Lagoon to see that waters light about with a bright blue-green glow. Remember in the movie Avatar where each time they take a step, the luminescent plants light up? Well, this is just like that, except you light it up with the splash of your kayak paddle. BK Adventure offers regular kayaks, family rafts, and the spectacular clear kayaking bioluminescence experience. Tours depart every night throughout the year. In summer you will see glowing plankton, in winter you will see comb jellies that light up.

2.Rocket Launch

When SpaceX took over the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center, it revitalized the space industry in Titusville, Florida and Florida’s Space Coast. If you are travelling to the Orlando, Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach area, it is worth a look at Space X’s launch schedule online to see if you can work it into your travel plans. There is nothing quite like the rumble of lift-off! One of the best viewing locations is the Canaveral National Seashore, which boasts miles and miles of unspoiled native Florida beaches. If you get the chance to see a night launch, don’t miss it – it’s absolutely spectacular!

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3. Devil’s Den Snorkeling

This pre-historic cave is part of Florida’s magnificent springs system, and is minutes away from Ginnie Springs, Silver Springs, and Manatee Springs. Free swimming is not allowed at Devil’s Den, but snorkeling and scuba are. This unique cave – spring is open daily and snorkeling equipment is just $10 plus the price of admission. There is camping on site, plus many other camping options at the other nearby springs. Remember, water in the springs is a constant 72 degrees, so it’s a great place to cool off in the Florida summer!

4. Swim with Manatees

There are two places you can swim with manatees in Florida. The most famous is on the Crystal River. There are many tour operators organizing manatee snorkel tours throughout the year, but the best time to go is January thru March when the manatees come into the warm waters of the spring fed Crystal River. The other place to do a snorkel with manatees is near Blue Springs State Park.

5. Dry Tortugas

This national treasure will require some pre-planning, but it is soooo worth it. The Dry Tortugas National Park is an old fortress in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Key West. You will have to take an early morning boat to get out there. Once on the island, enjoy hours of snorkeling, exploring, and relaxing on the beach on one of the world’s most unspoiled and historic islands.

6. Everglades Chickee Huts

Do you want to see how the natives of Florida lived some 500 years ago? Spend a night in the Everglades Huts. These thatched roof glamps are for the truly adventurous as they are in the heart of the Everglades (can you say hot and buggy?). They are built today by the local Miccosukee tribe, but are like the same style used by the mighty Calusa who also lived in the region during ancient times and the more peaceful Ais of east Central Florida.

7. Florida Springs

Florida mermaids were once a main tourist attraction at the Weeki Wachee Springs in the 60’s and 70’s. The Mermaid show was open at Weeki Wachee Springs until recently, but no worries, you can still see the original mermaids – manatees – much of the year. These aren’t the only springs you should check out. There are too many to name them all, but Ginni Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Rock Springs are all great bets. In summer, Rock Springs features tubing where you can float for hours in the crystal clear waters!

8. Airboats

If airboats were not invented in Louisiana, then surely they were invented in Florida. With the world’s most famous swamp (The Florida Everglades, which is actually a river) running through the middle of the state, an airboat ride is a Florida must-do adventure. You can find airboat rides from the northern border near Jacksonville, to the reaches of south Florida. They are a great way to see alligators, swamp snakes, and wading birds as well as the amazing indigenous plants of Florida waterways.

9. Haunted Houses of Florida

You have not seen real Florida until you have visited the Oldest City in The USA – Saint Augustine. Founded the Spanish after Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in the 1500s, this charming old city boast many haunted places. If you would like to stay in a haunted house for the night, try the Casa Blanca Inn. There are lots of haunted B & Bs in old St. Augustine, so take your pick. Be sure to check out one of the nightly ghost tours. They are full of history, and definitely spooky!

10. Nude Beach

Florida’s state motto used to be “the rules are different here,” and that is certainly apparent at beaches 11 – 13 at Playa Linda on the Canaveral National Seashore (near Titusville). This long stretch of beach is part of our National Parks system, and the views from anywhere are magnificently natural, but nowhere more so than the final 3 beaches where sun-bathers bask totally naked on the Florida coastline. If you are not into nudists, don’t worry, beaches 1-10 are great options for a day with the family. They nudists stay at the end of this 5 mile stretch. There is a beach access parking lot with bathrooms every ¼ to ½ mile. Combine this unique adventure with a bioluminescence tour, which happens every night just a few miles away.

Bonus Thing To Do – Tampa Food Tours

Florida is a state that’s known for its diverse and vibrant culinary scene, with a wide range of cities offering unique and delicious dishes. Food tours have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to explore these culinary hotspots and discover new flavors and experiences. One of the best food tour companies in Florida isTampa Bay Food Tours, which offers walking tours in three locations: Tampa, Dunedin, and St. Pete. We had the pleasure of trying their Dunedin tour and were amazed by the expert guides who took us on a culinary journey through the best hotspots in the area. From sampling mouth-watering food to trying local beer and cocktails, while learning about the rich culture and history of the area, Tampa Bay Food Tours offers a delightful and unforgettable culinary experience. By booking a food tour, you can discover great cuisine, learn some local history, support local businesses, and meet new people all in one day. So, don’t forget to add a food tour to your itinerary on your next trip to Florida.

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Need more ideas about unique things to do in Florida? Contact our friendly team of advisers at BK Adventure. We know wild Florida; we love adventure! You can book any of the BK Adventure mentioned in this post by clicking here: BK Adventures Florida

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About the author

Sandra Krasa BK

We are team BK Bloggers! Our social media and web content team are: Max Gavin, Lauren Garrick-Keyes, Audra Espinoza, Brie Bramblett and Sandra Krasa BK. Contact us any time for questions about Florida adventure and how to #GetOutsideFL

Top 10 Unique Things to Do in Florida – According to a Local (2023... (2024)

FAQs

What is the most visited place in Florida? ›

1. Miami
  • 2,759,000 visitors.
  • 88.71% tourism growth from 2021.
  • National Rank: 1.
Aug 8, 2023

What city in Florida has the most activities to do? ›

Orlando ranked as the second-most fun city in the U.S. When it comes to entertainment, WalletHub said the city leads the nation in amusement parks, such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

What is Florida known for now? ›

Florida is the theme park epicenter of the world. All of the titans of family entertainment are here -- Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, Busch Gardens. Orlando attracts more visitors than any other amusement park destination in the United States. Seven of the 10 most visited theme parks are in Florida.

What is Florida 3 interesting facts? ›

Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the country. There are over 30,000 lakes and 1,000 golf courses in the state. Florida has 34 commercial wineries. Florida's oldest tree is 3500 years old and is located just north of Longwood in Big Tree Park.

What are 7 interesting facts about Florida? ›

Some Fun Facts About Florida!
  • Florida is the southernmost point in the USA. ...
  • The oldest inhabited city in the country resides in Florida. ...
  • Florida has the longest coastline in the continental US. ...
  • Florida is the only state that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
Feb 9, 2023

Where is the prettiest place in Florida? ›

If you're looking for wild and untouched landscapes, head to Everglades National Park or Caladesi Island. For nature that is more landscaped, visit Leu Gardens, a tropical paradise in Orlando. The Morikami Museum and the Ponce de Leon Hotel will delight art and history buffs.

What was Florida's first tourist attraction? ›

1. Silver Springs (1888) Back in the 1880s, a fellow named Hullam Jones put a pane of glass in the bottom of a rowboat and charged passengers five cents apiece to ferry them above the clear waters of Silver Springs. Florida had its first tourist attraction.

Where do the rich and famous live in Florida? ›

Gold Beach has stunning beachfront properties. Median home prices in Golden Beach are over $12 million, making it one of the richest neighborhoods in Florida by that metric alone. Many famous people have homes in the area, including Bill Gates, Paul Newman, Eric Clapton, and more.

What is the #1 city in Florida to live? ›

1. Gainesville. Home to the University of Florida Gators, Gainesville, in Alachua county, ranks as the best city to move to in Florida. At 3.7%, Gainesville's unemployment rate is lower than the state average.

What is the nicest city in FL? ›

Melbourne was highest ranked city in Central Florida
Rank (Florida)Rank (U.S.)City
15Sarasota
26Naples
315Melbourne
416Jacksonville
10 more rows
Mar 7, 2024

What is the most isolated place in Florida? ›

The Florida Mainland Remote Spot is located along the Southwest Florida coastline within the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area of Everglades National Park. This area is famously remote and is referred to as the Ten Thousand Islands.

What are 5 fun facts about Florida? ›

5 Fun Florida Facts
  • The Everglades is a huge subtropical park in the south of Florida. ...
  • More than 60 animal species from the Everglades are endangered animals.
  • Florida was under Spanish rule for about 300 years. ...
  • The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral has been the home of America's space exploration for decades!

What is Florida's motto? ›

"In God We Trust" was adopted by the Florida legislature as part of the state seal in 1868. This is also the motto of the United States and is a slight variation on Florida's first state motto, "In God is our Trust." In 2006, "In God We Trust" was officially designated in state statute as Florida's motto.

What are the top 5 products in Florida? ›

Top Florida Agricultural & Related Products Export Commodities — 2022
Commodity GroupExport Value
Beef & Beef Products$367.3 million
Fresh Fruit$334.8 million
Distilled Spirits$347.2 million
Fresh Vegetables$324.9 million
6 more rows

What is Florida's famous person? ›

Film and television
NameNotabilityConnection to Florida
Johnny Depp (1963–)Film actorRaised in Miramar
Creagen Dow (1991–)Film and television actorBorn in Sebring
Faye Dunaway (1941–)Academy Award-winning actressBorn in Bascom
Gail Edwards (1952–)Film and television actressBorn and raised in Coral Gables
99 more rows

What is Florida's iconic food? ›

What is the official state food of Florida? According to PBS, Key Lime pie is the official state food. It describes this slice of pie as a "citrusy, tart treat" that's "made from eggs and fresh lime juice."

What does Florida sell the most of? ›

Florida exports of manufactured products supported an estimated 170 thousand jobs in 2021 (latest data available). The state's largest manufacturing export category is computer and electronic products, which accounted for $14.9 billion of Florida's total goods exports in 2023.

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