Are you a Florida resident looking for a quick weekend getaway? Or, are you visiting Florida from out of state this summer? We’ve come up with an AWESOME Florida Bucket List to help you plan out your adventures.
Check out our Florida Bucket List to get those creative vacation juices flowing! Whether you’re looking for an idea for a day trip, weekend getaway, or a vacation we hope this list serves a jumping point for your grand adventure! As always, be sure to pin this post so you can remember all of your favorite ideas!
Table of Contents
Florida Bucket List
Hit the Beach
Not quite sure where to start here? That’s no surprise considering Florida has 825 miles of accessible beaches to enjoy. Florida is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
The beaches on the east coast and west coast are night and day. The gulf shore offers emerald waters whereas the Atlantic side is a bit darker. The further south you go, the lighter the water becomes.
We’ve included 12 beach recommendations to help get you started! After all, it wouldn’t be a Florida Bucket List trip without a trip to the beach!
- Blackrock Beach (Jacksonville)
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (Palm Coast)
- Butler Beach (St. Augustine)
- Sanibel Island
- Destin
- Siesta Key
- Naples
- St. Petersburg
- Marco Island
- Fort Walton Beach
- Amelia Island State Park
- Dry Tortugas
Cool Down in a Natural Spring
If you’re not a fan of salt water, getting slammed by waves, or being covered in sand (or if you’re afraid of sharks), you could always head to the springs. Florida has more natural springs than anywhere else in the world. These springs are absolutely stunning- we’re talking crystal clear, cool, waterways tucked deep in the forest. You will not regret adding springs to your Florida Bucket List!
The springs are an excellent spot to beat the Florida heat. They are great for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and even diving. Some springs offer rental facilities if you do not have your own kayak, paddleboard, or canoe.
Most of the Florida springs have a year-round temperature of about 72 degrees. The water is super refreshing during the hot months- once you get used to it. You may want to have a wet suit if you plan on swimming during the cold months.
When the weather cools down, the temperatures of the adjoining waterways also drops. Because of this, manatees flock to the springs where the water temperatures are a little warmer. The best times of year to spot a manatee in the springs is between November and April. Yeah…go ahead and add swim with a manatee to your Florida bucket list!
- Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park– kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, snorkeling
- Alexander Springs– swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding
- De Leon Springs State Park – swimming, eco tours
- Blue Spring State Park– tubing, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking
- Madison Blue Springs State Park– swimming, tubing, kayaking, paddleboarding (The #1 Swimming Hole in the US)
- Ginnie Springs- swimming
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park- swimming, tubing
- Silver Springs State Park– glass bottom boat tours, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking
- Salt Springs– swimming, snorkeling
Visit a Botanical Garden
Due to Florida’s tropical climate, visiting a botanical garden is an option year-round. There are some pretty incredible gardens sprinkled across the Sunshine State. Many of the botanical gardens offer hiking trails that are often covered by the canopy of the trees- offering a bit of shade for your stroll.
- Kanapaha Botanical Gardens (Gainesville)
- Sunken Gardens (St. Petersburg)
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (Miami)
- The Cummer Art Gallery and Gardens (Jacksonville)
- The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens (Jacksonville)
- Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach)
- McKee Botanical Gardens (Vero Beach)
Scope out at National Park Site
Did you know there are eleven National Park sites in Florida. The sites protect historic landmarks, marshes, swampland, stunning beaches, and some of the most pristine landscapes in the state.
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (St. Augustine)
- Fort Matanzas National Monument (St. Augustine)
- Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (Jacksonville)
- Fort Caroline National Memorial (Jacksonville)
- Gulf Islands National Seashore
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Desoto National Memorial (Bradenton)
- Biscayne National Park (Homestead)
- Dry Tortugas National Park (The Keys)
- Big Cypress National Preserve (Ochopee)
- Everglades National Park
Check Out a State Park
Believe it or not, Florida has 175 state parks! The parks offer some of the best, natural landscapes our state has to offer. Some are tucked inland and offer incredible hikes through the dense forest while others line the coast and are home to amazing beaches. Here are some of our favorites!
- Ravine Gardens State Park (Palatka)- picturesque walking trails
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (Palm Coast)- stunning formal gardens, unique beach, hiking
- Fort Clinch State Park (Fernandina Beach)- shelling, great spot for sharks teeth, historical site, hiking, biking
- Myakka River State Park (Sarasota)- Hiking, boat tours, paddling
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park– home to wild horses, bison, alligators and more. Hiking, fishing, biking.
See also 18 Gorgeous State Parks with Springs
Visit Somewhere Instagram Worthy
- The Ringling (Sarasota)
- The Devil’s Den (Williston)
- Lightner Museum (St. Augustine)
- Blow Rocks Preserve (Hobe Sound)
- Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas National Park)
- Mile Marker 0 (Key West)
- Sweet Pete’s– the largest candy shop in the south! (Jacksonville)
Soak Up Some Culture at a Museum
Florida is more than beaches, springs, and parks. It turns out, we’re pretty cultured, too! The Sunshine State is home to some pretty remarkable museums. There are over 500 different museums in Florida. Whether you’re into art, history, space, science, or pirates, our museums cover it all!
- Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg)
- Ringling Museum (Sarasota)
- Florida Museum of Natural History (Gainesville)
- St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (St. Augustine)
- Orlando Science Center (Orlando)
- Kennedy Space Center (Merritt Island)
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates (Fort Myers)
- Vizcaya Museum (Miami)
- Museum of Science and History (Jacksonville)
- Kingsley Plantation (Jacksonville)
Head to the Theme Parks
Theme parks nearly didn’t make the list, but let’s face it…they have weasled their way into the Floridian culture. Dare we say they are just as Floridian as a Pub Sub? Okay, you’re right. We’ve gone too far.
There’s more to Florida than just Disney and Universal, however. Make sure you include all of these theme parks to your Florida Bucket List!
- Marineland
- St. Augustine Alligator Farm
- Disney World
- Universal Studios
- Legoland
- SeaWorld
- Busch Gardens
We hope that our Florida Bucket List has inspired you to take a few road trips this summer, or to explore the REAL Florida!
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