4. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
We almost included Weeki Wachee State Park on our list of Florida’s natural springs, but we felt it was worthy of a spot all its own as one of Florida’s most curious tourist destinations.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is different for several reasons. For one thing, swimming is not a primary activity here. While you can enjoy some fun in the water at the park’s Buccaneer Bay swim zone (which houses two large waterslides), the park is better known for two other experiences—mermaids and kayaking.
Weeki Wachee’s mermaids remain the park’s biggest draw, as well as the primary reason the area is famous as a Florida tourist spot. During normal seasons (the mermaid shows are currently on hiatus due to COVID-19 changes), guests visiting can watch the park’s resident underwater performers in a 400 seat underwater auditorium. The mermaids perform an intricate ballet underwater by breathing through underwater tubes, and hilarity can sometimes ensue when local wildlife like turtles decide to get involved. The attraction definitely falls on the cheesy / tourist trap side of the spectrum, but it is an enjoyable experience to try at least once, particularly if you have kids.
Beyond the mermaids, Weeki Wachee is also well known for its excellent kayaking. Access to the park’s narrow streams is limited, so check ahead of time for details on how to have the best chance to secure a spot. Manatees do frequent the river during cold months!
5. Tarpon Springs
If you’re one of the people who have been campaigning for Disney to add a Greece pavilion to Epcot, you need to plan a visit to Tarpon Springs.
Located just under two hours west of Walt Disney World, Tarpon Springs has some of the most unique character of any Florida town—particularly if you love all things Greek. Greek friends have described it as a favorite tourist destination for Greek families, ascribing an affection to the area similar to describing a pilgrimage site. From the food to the diversions, the town is wonderfully, stunningly Greek through and through.
Tarpon Springs is best known for their sponge docks, where boats and divers sustainably harvest sea sponges. You will never view sponges the same—they’ve got big sponges, small sponges, soft sponges, course sponges, tiny sponges, sponges as long as baseball bats... The locals will happily explain how the natural sponges are harvested in a way that improves the health of the plant and helps new sponges to grow. While sponge shopping, you’ll also have opportunity to load up on homemade goats milk soaps and lotions of every conceivable variety.
It goes without saying that the food in Tarpon Springs is spectacular—you can pretty much point a random direction and find incredible Mediterranean food. Our favorite place to visit is Hellas Restaurant and Bakery on the sponge docks, offering a wide variety of authentic Greek delights and more mouth-watering pastries than you could try in a lifetime. We have always enjoyed the saganaki (flaming cheese), Horiatiki Salad, and the whole fish of the day (usually red snapper when we’ve visited). Mama’s Greek Cuisine is also an excellent choice.
Tarpon Springs is also an excellent destination for a boat tour—particularly if you enjoy seeing dolphins and collecting giant seashells. Tarpon Springs boat companies each have their specific spots they like to bring guests for top notch shell collecting, and they will happily regale you with history of the area as you travel.
6. Flagler Beach & Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail
We mentioned Florida’s famous beach towns earlier—most of them follow a familiar pattern where you can expect to see big buildings on one side of the sand with water on the other. The state also has a famously large number of scenic byways, like the famous highway A1A, skirting the coast from Amelia Island near Jacksonville all the way down to Key West. Anyone who has travelled A1A will be familiar with the fact that the road doesn’t directly follow the Atlantic coast—buildings on the ocean side block much of the view, and the highway periodically veers away from the coast to skirt around dead ends like Ponce Inlet.
One particular stretch of A1A stands out as truly serene: Flagler Beach.
Located south of St. Augustine and north of Ormond Beach and Daytona, Flagler Beach offers one of the most charming stretches of seaside driving on the Atlantic coast. The thing that makes it unique is that A1A hugs the coast so closely in this area that there are almost no buildings blocking the sea. The result is a glimpse of Florida before high-rise condos and tourist traps—a peaceful shore perfect for a quiet drive or beachside bike tour. Flagler is also a good destination for watching Atlantic Right Whales from January to March.
A second scenic drive not far south from Flagler Beach is Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail. It doesn’t take long to drive the loop itself, but you’ll want to take your time exploring this beautiful, tree-arched stretch of historic Florida. Stops along the way include exploring the Dummet Plantation Ruins, Gamble Rogers State Park, The Casements (John D. Rockefeller’s winter home), and Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park.
7. The Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine
We’ve largely avoided Florida’s most famous beach towns on this list, but we want to make an exception for one that may hold a special appeal to theme park fans: St. Augustine.
Located right around two hours from Walt Disney World, St. Augustine is basically the oldest continuously inhabited European-settlement in the United States, founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers. It maintains a unique character among Florida destinations thanks to this rich history, and nowhere is that history more apparent than at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest masonry fort in the country. It feels like something straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean right down to the cannons and stone barracks. Touring is self-guided, and you can explore the fort at whatever pace you like, including venturing into the some impressively cramped passages. Both the indoor and outdoor exhibits are fascinating, and sometimes, the fort will even do demonstrations of historic weapons.
While in town, you’ll find plenty of other historic sites to visit like St. Augustine lighthouse, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, and more.
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