Florida Bucket List: Fun, Adventure & Unique Finds
Florida is so much more than amusement parks and sandy beaches— although those things are great too! It’s a paradise packed with incredible adventures, hidden gems, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Whether you’re dreaming of swimming with manatees, exploring bioluminescent waters, road-tripping through the Keys, visiting national parks, or stepping back in time in St. Augustine, this list of places and things to do in Florida has something for everyone. Let’s jump in!
Kayak the Great Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile paddling trail in Lee County. It winds through coastal waters, rivers, and tributaries.
Stroll along the stunning St. Pete Pier, a vibrant waterfront destination in downtown St Pete with scenic views, a playground and splash pad, restaurants, and a rooftop bar.
Explore restaurants, bars, and the history of Ybor City, the historic cigar manufacturing neighborhood of Tampa.
Step back in time at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. Built in the 1600s, it’s one of the best historical sites in Florida.
Explore The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, a stunning Gilded Age treasure housed in the former Alcazar Hotel. Take in the impressive collection of fine and decorative arts, and breathtaking architecture.
Watch the Daytona Nascar 500 race in February at the Daytona International Speedway.
Immerse yourself into Hogwarts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios.
Wander the whole world at Epcot.
End your night at Disney watching the fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom.
Go on a safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Have a beach day at the iconic Miami Beach and check out the colorful lifeguard huts.
Explore Ocala National Forest by hiking a scenic stretch of the 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.
Make your own pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House (there are pancake griddles on every table!) in De Leon Springs State Park.
Experience the ultimate pirate invasion at Gasparilla in Tampa, where a massive flotilla led by the pirate ship José Gasparilla storms the bay, kicking off a day of parades, live entertainment, and fun. It’s held every year in January.
Visit Little Havana and take a food tour to try some of the best authentic Cuban food.
Go swimming in the largest freshwater pool in the U.S. at the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. It’s a spring-fed oasis carved from coral rock with waterfalls, grottos, and Mediterranean-style architecture.
See the manatees in Crystal River.
Kayak or paddleboard to Caladesi Island to enjoy some of Florida’s natural beauty. It is one of Florida’s most pristine and secluded beaches only accessible by boat or ferry.
Go shelling on Sanibel Island, the shelling capital of the world.
Visit one of the 10 best auto museums in the world at Revs Institute in Naples
Feed the tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada
Spend the day at a sandbar off the coast of Key West.
Visit the historic fishing village of Cortez and order fresh seafood from the famous restaurant, Star Fish Company (they’re cash only)
See a performance by the Blue Angels in Pensacola.
Discover the serenity of Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, where lush landscapes, peaceful walking trails, and the iconic Singing Tower carillon create a breathtaking escape.
Explore Florida’s only dry caves open to the public at Florida Caverns State Park located in northern Florida. You can take guided tours into the underground caverns, where you’ll marvel at ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and other stunning limestone formations.
Take the boat (or even better – seaplane!) to Dry Tortugas National Park located 70 miles west of Key West to see Fort Jefferson, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and explore some of the most secluded beaches in Florida.
Experiencing Florida’s bioluminescence is like stepping into a real-life fairy tale. On summer nights, the waters of places like the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon glow with shimmering blue-green light as tiny plankton react to movement.
Experience one of Floridas most unique coastal wonders at Blowing Rocks Preserve in Jupiter. This protected shoreline has a rugged limestone formation which sends water intot he air when waves crash.
Witnessing sea turtles hatch is a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience. On summer nights along the state’s beaches, tiny hatchlings emerge from their nests and make their way to the ocean, guided by the moonlight. Locations like Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and Juno Beach offer guided turtle walks, giving visitors a chance to see this incredible moment while learning about conservation efforts to protect these endangered creatures.
Take an airboat ride in the Everglades National Park.
Relax on Orlando’s “lazy river” at Rock Springs in Kelly Park. It’s a crystal-clear spring that stays at 68 degrees year-round, perfect for tubing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Take a glass-bottom boat ride at Silver Springs.
Dive or snorkel to the Christ of the Abyss statue in Key Largo. It’s an iconic bronze statue 25 feet below water, surrounded by marine life and coral.
Order an authentic Cuban sandwich from Brocatos in Tampa.
Go on a scalloping adventure, where you can snorkel in crystal-clear seagrass beds and collect fresh bay scallops straight from the Gulf. This is most popular in places like Crystal River, Homosassa, and Steinhatchee.
Step into a world of surrealism at The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, home to an extensive collection of Salvador Dalí’s masterpieces.
Experience the magic of Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, where millions of twinkling lights transform the nation’s oldest city into a holiday wonderland. It runs from mid-November through the end of January.
Climb part of the remaining Overseas Highway at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. While you’re there, you can also rent a kayak or have a beach day.
Eat greek food and buy sponges in Tarpon Springs.
Experience the ultimate bucket list adventure at Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. You can walk under the Saturn V rocket, see the Space Shuttle Atlantis, meet real astronauts, and explore interactive exhibits. For an added bucket list item, visit when there is a rocket launch!
Join almost 90,000 Gator fans at The Swamp (the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium) for a Florida Gators game.
Climb the 105-step spiral staircase at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse for panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and intracoastal waterway.
Walk along the 2.5 mile Tampa Riverwalk, which is lined with hotels, restaurants, bars, and more.
See where Edison and Ford used to spend their winters at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
Visit Wakulla Springs State Park which has the largest and deepest freshwater springs.
Spend a day at The Ringling in Sarasota. There is so much to see here. Take in artwork at the Museum of Art, learn about the history of the circus at the Circus Museum, tour the Ca d’Zan (where the owners used to live), check out the numerous gardens, and let your kids play on the playground.
Anchor up at Crab Island in Destin, a vibrant sandbar where boaters gather for a day of fun in the emerald-green waters. There are floating restaurants, inflatable obstacle courses, and a laid-back atmosphere.
Eat a piece of key lime pie in the Florida Keys.
Get a milkshake from Robert is Here in Homestead before you kick off your road trip through the Florida Keys.
Go tubing down Rainbow River.
Search for prehistoric treasures along Manasota Key, one of Florida’s best spots for shark tooth hunting.
Step inside the Coral Castle in Homestead, a mysterious limestone structure hand-carved by one man with no machinery.
Try fresh Apalachicola oysters in Apalachicola, home to some of the best oysters in the U.S.
Join the excitement of Mini Lobster Season in the Florida Keys, a two-day event in July where divers and snorkelers hunt for spiny lobsters before the commercial season begins.
Rollerblade along the Miami Beach Boardwalk.
Set sail on a pirate boat adventure, where swashbuckling fun meets scenic ocean views aboard a pirate-themed ship. Whether in Clearwater Beach, St. Augustine, or Destin, these family-friendly cruises feature treasure hunts, water cannon battles, and pirate storytelling for an unforgettable experience on the high seas!
Take a ghost tour in one of the most haunted cities in Florida – St Augustine or Key West.
Go island hopping throughout the Tampa Bay beaches. You can take the Suncoast Beach Trolley all the way from Clearwater Beach to Pass-a-Grille. Check out amazing beaches, tiki bars, and good restaurants along the way.
Order a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” on Cabbage Key.
Go deep sea fishing in Islamorada, the fishing capital of the world.
Get high above the treetops at the Myakka River State Park canopy walkway. It’s suspended 25 feet in the air where you can get a bird’s eye view of your surroundings.
Check out the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, dedicated to Florida’s version of Bigfoot!
See the five-toed cats at the Hemingway House in Key West.
Visit Solomon’s Castle, a quirky, one-of-a-kind artist-built castle in Ona, made entirely of repurposed materials.
Take in history and art at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami. It’s a waterfront estate with a Gilded Age mansion filed with antiques and gorgeous gardens overlooking Biscayne Bay.
Hike to the highest point in Florida at Britton Hill in Walton County– 345 feet above sea level!
Florida is truly a great place to do it all! From seeing rocket launches on the east coast to white sand beaches in coastal towns and natural wonders, I hope this gave you some great ideas to add to your Florida bucket list.
