Most overlooked tourist attractions in Florida
Most first time visitors to Florida take in the obvious sights such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and, of course, the world-famous Florida Keys. But there’s a whole lot more out there for tourists to see. Here are a few potential destinations that are a little off the beaten track…
Hiking
In order to see the real Florida, why not take the opportunity to get out and explore? The Florida Trail offers some 1300 miles of backcountry terrain, with the Ocala National Forest representing an undisputed highlight: a mecca for hikers from all over the world.
Visit a zoo
There are some fantastic places to visit in Florida for tourists interested in the local wildlife. After all, Florida is alligator country and there are reptiles aplenty at Jungle Island Miami, a unique South Florida animal experience, home to over 3,000 species of animals, birds and plants. Gatorland also offers a variety of alligator and crocodile talks and exhibitions.
Go fishing
The Florida coast has many fishing villages where visitors can enjoy big game fishing, fresh shellfish and Gulf Coast sunsets, and, if the timing’s right, take in a local seafood festival.
Visit a theme park
Don’t worry: the locals do this as well! One of the more recent additions to Florida’s range of theme parks is Legoland Florida, similar to its European counterpart but conceived on an industrial scale. Lego has never been this much fun!
Take a trip to outer space
Well, not quite, but tourists can get pretty close at the Kennedy Space Centre, one of the most important sites in a country already synonymous with space travel. Study the history of space exploration and take the opportunity to delve a little closer into what the future might hold.
Experience the meaning of adventure
If the theme park rollercoasters prove a little too tame, then perhaps a real adventure will get the blood pumping. Florida has something for everyone in the field of adventure sports, whether it’s zip-lining between oak trees, potholing or skydiving over the region’s amazing beaches.
Visit the Dali
Finally, it’s a little known fact that the Dali Museum in St Petersburg is home to the largest collection of the artist’s work outside of Europe. For anyone interested in art, this is a must-see attraction, housed in a building that’s almost as unique as the artist himself.
Image by Robert Linsdell under Creative Commons license.
