Must-see attractions in Florida

  • Blue Hole

    Florida Keys

    This little pond (and former quarry) is now the largest freshwater body in the Keys. That’s not saying much, but the hole is a pretty little dollop of…

  • Merrick House

    Miami

    It’s fun to imagine this simple homestead, with its little hints of Med-style, as the core of what would eventually become the gaudy Gables. When George…

  • Miami Beach Community Church

    South Beach

    In rather sharp and refreshing contrast to all the ubermodern structures muscling their way into the art-deco design of South Beach, this community church…

  • Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center

    Key West

    This 6000-sq-ft center is one of the best places in the Keys to learn about the extraordinary marine environments of South Florida. Start off with the 20…

  • Promenade

    South Beach

    This beach promenade, a wavy ribbon sandwiched between the beach and Ocean Dr, extends from 5th St to 15th St. A popular location for photo shoots,…

  • Pigeon Key National Historic District

    Florida Keys

    For years tiny Pigeon Key, located 2 miles west of Marathon (basically below the Old Seven Mile Bridge), housed the rail workers and maintenance men who…

  • Schnebly Redland's Winery

    Everglades National Park

    Given the climate, you won't find malbec, pinot noir or zinfandel – wines here are made of mango, passion fruit, lychee, avocado, coconut and other…

  • Downtown Homestead

    Everglades National Park

    You could pass a mildly entertaining afternoon walking around Homestead’s almost quaint main street, which essentially comprises a couple of blocks of…

  • Sunset Boulevard

    Walt Disney World

    The simple and sweet outdoor theater performance of Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage follows the storyline, incorporates the classic songs, and doesn…

  • Smallwood Store

    Everglades National Park

    Perched on piers overlooking Chokoloskee Bay, this wooden building dates back to 1906, when a pioneer by the name of Ted Smallwood opened his rustic…

  • Eva Munroe’s Grave

    Miami

    Tucked into a small gated area near the Coconut Grove Library, you’ll find the humble headstone of one Ms Eva Amelia Hewitt Munroe. Eva, who was born in…

  • Arch Creek Park

    Miami

    This compact and cute park, located near Oleta River, encompasses a cozy habitat of tropical hardwood species that surrounds a pretty, natural limestone…

  • Lowe Art Museum

    Miami

    Your love of the Lowe, on the campus of the University of Miami, depends on your taste in art. If you’re into modern and contemporary works, it’s good. If…

  • Turtle Hospital

    Florida Keys

    Be it a victim of disease, boat propeller strike, flipper entanglement with fishing lines or any other danger, an injured sea turtle in the Keys will…

  • Sugarloaf Key Bat Tower

    Florida Keys

    It resembles an Aztec-inspired fire lookout, but this wooden tower is actually one real-estate developer’s vision gone utterly awry. In the 1920s Richter…

  • Asia

    Walt Disney World

    Home to two of Animal Kingdom's three most popular rides: Expedition Everest, a great roller coaster with a yeti twist, and Kali River Rapids, a water…

  • Coral Gables Museum

    Miami

    This museum is a well-plotted introduction to the oddball narrative of the founding and growth of the City Beautiful (Coral Gables). The collection…

  • Typhoon Lagoon

    Walt Disney World

    An abundance of palm trees, a zero-entry pool with a white sandy beach, high-speed slides and the best wave pool in Orlando make this one of the most…

  • Coral Gables Congregational Church

    Miami

    Developer George Merrick’s father was a New England Congregational minister, so perhaps that accounts for him donating the land for the city’s first…

  • Colonial Quarter

    St Augustine

    See how they did things back in the 18th century at this re-creation of Spanish Colonial St Augustine, complete with craftspeople demonstrating…

  • Pirate & Treasure Museum

    St Augustine

    Little kids and big kids alike will enjoy this mash-up of theme park and museum: a celebration of all things pirate. As well as genuine historical…

  • Curry Hammock State Park

    Florida Keys

    This park is small but sweet and the rangers are just lovely. Like most parks in the Keys, it’s a good spot for preserved tropical hardwood and mangrove…

  • A1A

    South Beach

    ‘Beachfront Avenue!’ The A1A causeway, coupled with the Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne, is one of the great bridges in America, linking Miami and…

  • ArtCenter/South Florida

    South Beach

    Established in 1984 by a small but forward-thinking group of artists, this compound is the creative heart of South Beach. In addition to some 52 artists’…

  • Disney’s BoardWalk

    Walt Disney World

    Far less harried and crowded than Disney Springs, the very small Disney's BoardWalk area across from Epcot and along Crescent Lake echoes waterfront…

  • Wings Over Miami

    Miami

    Plane-spotters will be delighted by this Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport museum, which chronicles the history of aviation. Highlights include a…

  • 1111 Lincoln Rd

    South Beach

    The west side of Lincoln Rd is anchored by a most impressive parking garage: a geometric pastiche of sharp angles, winding corridors and incongruous…

  • Plymouth Congregational Church

    Miami

    This 1917 coral church is striking, from its solid masonry to a hand-carved door from a Pyrenees monastery, which looks like it should be kicked in by…

  • Ripley’s Believe It Or Not

    Orlando

    The 1933 World's Fair in Chicago introduced Ripley's collection of 'oddities and unusual people' to the public. It may offend 21st-century politically…

  • Fountain of Youth

    St Augustine

    Insert tongue firmly in cheek and step right up for an acrid cup of eternal youth at this kitschy 'archaeological park.' As the story goes, Spanish…

  • Sheriff’s Animal Farm

    Florida Keys

    Just before you hit Key West, you may be tempted to stop at this farm, located near the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center (seriously)…

  • Eden Roc Renaissance

    Miami

    The Eden Roc was the second groundbreaking resort from Morris Lapidus, and it’s a fine example of the architecture known as MiMo (Miami Modern). It was…

  • Everglades Outpost

    Everglades National Park

    The Everglades Outpost houses, feeds and cares for wild animals that have been seized from illegal traders, abused, neglected or donated by people who…

  • Ximenez-Fatio House

    St Augustine

    Dating to 1798, this fascinating museum complex includes the main house building, the area's only detached kitchen building and a reconstructed washhouse…

  • Big Pine Flea Market

    Florida Keys

    This market, which attracts folks from across the Keys, rivals local churches for weekly attendance. This is an extravaganza of locally made crafts,…

  • DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park

    Walt Disney World

    With five dizzying floors of exhibits designed to indulge video-game addicts, this 'interactive theme park' makes the perfect place to while away a rainy…

  • Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

    Key West

    For a fascinating glimpse into Key West's complicated history, pay a visit to this popular museum near the waterfront. It's best known for its collection…

  • St Augustine Lighthouse

    St Augustine

    The light produced by this 1870s striped lighthouse beams all the way downtown. A great place to bring kids over six and more than 44in tall (since all…

  • Morningside Park

    Miami

    On the waterfront, this aptly named park is a great spot to be in the morning, when the golden light is just right for getting a bit of fresh air. There's…