Florida Bucket List and Visitor Guide

There really is so much to see and do in the wonderful Sunshine State. I have created this Florida Bucket List to highlight some of the best places to visit and what shouldn’t be missed on your visit. 

Florida is known as The Sunshine State, and boy is there a lot of sunshine. If you want to visit a state with plenty of warmth and good weather then Florida is certainly a good start. The southeastern most state in the

USA it is famous for its theme parks but it also has so much more to offer. 

I’ve broken the Florida Bucket List down into geographical places to help you plan out your trip. So lets make a start:

Jacksonville

This is the largest and most populated city in the area. It may be a very urban area but it does have wildlife reserves and plenty of nature to explore. 

Amelia Island – Known for being one of the top 25 islands for national beauty it is a popular holiday destination and has 13 miles of beautiful beaches to explore. 

Friendship Fountain – Located at the St. Johns River Park, it was previously the world’s tallest and largest fountain and is one of Jacksonville’s most popular attractions. 

Castaway Island Preserve – This is an area that is great for spotting wildlife in the marshlands.  There are observation points and wooden boardwalks to explore and are suitable for the whole family. 

Jacksonville Farmers Market – This farmers market is the oldest in Florida and has over 200 vendors. Definitely worth a visit and it also has stalls selling vintage items, plants and playing live music.  

Orlando

Orlando is probably most well known for theme parks. And there are plenty. But there are also so some other little gems that are well worth a visit too:

Disney’s Magic Kingdom – Fun filled for the whole family. Meet your favourite characters, go on roller-coasters, see live events and much much more.

Universal Studios – Now made up of three separate parks: 

• Universal Studios Florida, This is where you can see what goes on behind the scenes of making film and TV.
• Universal’s Island of Adventure, take a trip into the worlds of your favourite characters from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Marvel Super Hero Island and Jurassic Park.
• Universal’s Volcano Bay, a water theme park full of fun rides, relaxing scenery and a rainforest village. 

ICON Orlando – ICON is an entertainment park. Home to the ICON Wheel, Madame Tussauds, Arcade City and the Pearl Express Train. 

Kennedy Space Centre – There is a lot of attractions and add ons available at the Kennedy Space Centre so I’ll list the top musts see:

• The Rocket Garden, walk among rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs
• Journey to Mars, take a look into NASA’s plans to explore Mars and deep space.
• Space Shuttle Atlantis – Explore over 60 interactive exhibits in the Space Shuttle Atlantis and learn about NASA’s history and technology. 

Gatorland – Home to alligators and crocodiles a plenty. Learn all about them and also check out their free flying avery, petting zoo and why not have a go on one of their zip lines.

WonderWorks – With over 100 interactive, hands on exhibits this science based attraction will teach you about space, weather and physics but in a fan and engaging way.

Tampa

One of the major cities in Florida and is well known as a business business center but also has some major attractions.

Busch Gardens – A truly fun filled day awaits you at this family friendly attraction. From theme park rides to animal care. Busch Gardens is home to over 200 species of animals.

Florida Aquarium – See thousands of amazing sea creatures and plants in one of the states most popular aquariums. 

Adventure Island – Tampa’s largest water park. With pools, rivers and many many slides, if you love water parks you’ll love Adventure Island

Dolphin Tour – There are many dolphin tours to choose from in the Tampa Bay area. Jump on a boat tour for sightseeing and dolphin seeking. 

Crystal River

Swim with Manatees – These early morning boat tours are well worth setting your alarm for. These shy and majestic creatures often stay in the crystal river area during the colder months and there are a number of tours available where you can snorkel nearby and catch a glimpse of them. 

Three Sisters Springs – An area of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge where you can take part in guided tours, follow hiking trails and hire out bicycles. 

Paddle Board – There are lots of little water sports hiring post dotted about the area so why not give paddle boarding a go and enjoy the gentle current of the clear river. 

Go Kayaking  – Like paddle boarding it’s quick and easy to hire out a single or double kayak and go exploring along the river in the sunshine. 

Everglades National Park

Do an Airboat Tour – Explore the Everglade swamps and undergrowth and see if you can spot a gator or two!

Go Hiking – There are plenty of easy and short hiking trails in the Everglades so if you are a hiking beginner or want something pleasurable and not too strenuous then there are plenty to pick from whilst enjoying the natural beauty of the National Park. 

Big Cypress National Preserve – This preserve protects over 729,000 acres of swamp and is home to an abundance of wildlife. You can join ranger led tours, go camping or hire out a canoe. 

Miami

Miami is hands down my favourite place that I have visited so far! For a more detailed look at things to do in Miami check out my Miami Bucket List post.

Little Havana – The area of Little Havana has a mainly Latino community with Spanish being the main language spoken. Visit this neighbourhood for great Cuban food, organised tours, art galleries and rooster statues.

Wynwood Walls – This one is a must for your Florida Bucket List. Wynwood Walls is a large collection of statement art produced by artists from around the globe and celebrates street art and graffiti. With free entrance you’ll have plenty of art, music and shops to wander about.

See the Lifeguard Towers – You can easily spend an afternoon spotting these colourful lifeguard stands. These are one of Miami’s Iconic attractions and are influenced by both the art deco architecture of Miami and Caribbean culture. 

Visit South Beach – Possibly one of the most well known neighborhoods in Miami. Vibrant and full of life, it has some of the best beaches around, glittering night life and plenty of wonderful art deco architecture.

Take an Art Deco Walking Tour – Take a 90 minute morning walking tour and get a feel for the vintage Miami Art Deco Scene. 

Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – A tropical jungle with 83 acres of nature, exotic plants and science to explore. 

Florida Keys

A tropical little paradise made up of 800 islands, connected by a 113 mile long road. For a more detailed list, please take a look at my Florida Keys Bucket List post.

Visit Key West – The southernmost island of the Florida Keys and the most popular. If you are visiting the Keys then it makes sense to drive right down to the bottom and check out the island.

The Southernmost Point Buoy – This buy sits on land and marks the most southern point of North America. Great for a good photo opportunity.

Duval Street – The main strip of Key West and full of colourful cafes, bars, shops and galleries. 

Eat Key Lime Pie – The official State Pie and oh my is it delicious. You need to try this out when in Florida regardless but it is particularly well linked to Key West.

So that finalises my Florida Bucket List. As you can see there is more than enough to keep you busy on a trip to this wonderful US State.