Adventures don’t announce themselves—they’re made. YNOT
When I was a kid, one of my favorite parts of eating out was sitting down at a restaurant and finding a placemat printed with a map of Florida. It wasn’t just a placemat—it was a guide to adventure, dotted with pictures and names of places to go. As I traced my finger along the coastline and across the state, I imagined road trips to hidden beaches, historic landmarks, and quirky attractions, each destination waiting like a secret treasure.
The long, sweltering summer has finally packed its bags, and the heat has loosened its grip. That means it’s time to drop the top on the convertible, fill her belly with gas, and let the road do the talking.
I’ve been exploring Florida for more than fifty years, and yet this state still surprises me. Every turn in the road, every bend in the coastline seems to hide another treasure. And the truth is, after all this time, I’m still adding to the list. Here are the places I haven’t yet managed to visit—but they’re calling my name.
🌴 Tampa Bay & West Florida
🛕 Hindu Temple of Florida (Tampa)
5509 Lynn Road, Tampa, FL. A peaceful place of worship with colorful carvings and festivals. Open daily (weekdays mornings & evenings, weekends 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM). Admission free. htfl.org
🏰 Henry B. Plant Museum (Tampa)
On the University of Tampa campus, this was once the grand Tampa Bay Hotel. Open Tue–Sat 10–5, Sun 12–5. Adults ~$12. plantmuseum.com
🚗 Tampa Bay Automobile Museum (Pinellas Park)
3301 Gateway Centre Blvd. A museum of vintage cars focused on engineering innovation. Open most days 10–4:30, Sun 12–4:30, closed Tue. Adults ~$16. tbauto.org
🌅 Fort De Soto Park (St. Pete)
3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde. Sunrise–sunset daily. Parking $5, park entry free. Famous for beaches, kayaking, and a historic fort. pinellas.gov
🎨 The Dalí Museum (St. Petersburg)
Downtown St. Pete. Largest Dalí collection outside Spain. Open daily 10–6 (Thu till 8). Adults ~$29. thedali.org
🏝️ Sarasota & Gulf Coast
🌊 Midnight Pass (Sarasota)
A coastal waterway turned legend, best explored by kayak. No set hours, free to roam.
🦅 Myakka River State Park (Sarasota)
One of Florida’s largest parks with a canopy walkway and gators galore. Open 8–sunset daily. Entry $6 per car. floridastateparks.org
🎭 The Ringling Museum (Sarasota)
Art museum, circus history, and Venetian mansion all in one. Open daily 10–5. Adults ~$25. ringling.org
🌊 Southwest & South Florida
🌿 Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve (Cape Coral)
Mangrove trails and kayak rentals. Seasonal (Nov–May), sunrise–sunset. Free entry.
🏰 Solomon’s Castle (Ona)
Howard Solomon’s shiny aluminum castle, full of eccentric art. Open Tue–Sun 10–4, closed Mon + Aug/Sept. Tours ~$23. solomonscastle.com
💎 Flagler Museum (Palm Beach)
1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. Henry Flagler’s 75-room mansion. Tue–Sat 10–5, Sun 12–5. Adults ~$26. flaglermuseum.us
🛍️ Worth Avenue (Palm Beach)
Florida’s “Rodeo Drive.” Shops generally 10–6. Free to stroll, bring a wallet for the boutiques.
🛩️ Wings Over Miami Air Museum (Miami)
Smaller aviation museum with flying vintage planes. Hours vary, entry ~$10. wings-over-miami.org
🌞 Central Florida & Orlando Area
🔔 Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales)
1151 Tower Blvd. Gardens open 8–6 daily. Adults ~$20, children ~$10, El Retiro house tour extra. boktowergardens.org
🚗 Orlando Auto Museum (Orlando)
Dezerland Park. Themed collections with 2,000+ cars. Open daily (weekdays 1–8, weekends 11–10). Admission varies. orlandoautomuseum.com
🛩️ Florida Air Museum (Lakeland)
4075 James C. Ray Dr. Florida’s official aviation museum. Hours vary, check site. Adults ~$15, youth ~$10, kids free. floridaairmuseum.org
🌄 Zip the Canyons (Ocala)
Zipline tours over canyons and lakes. Reservation-based, tours ~$90–120. zipthecanyons.com
🚗 Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing (Ocala)
Drag racing history and Swamp Rat cars. Hours daily 9–5. Adults ~$20. garlits.com
🌿 Nature & Hidden Gems
🌊 Bean Point (Anna Maria Island)
Quiet northern tip beach, sunrise–sunset. Free entry, limited parking.
🏖️ Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island)
Gasparilla Island State Park, open 8–sunset. $3 per vehicle + bridge toll ~$6. Florida State Parks
🌿 Weedon Island Preserve (St. Pete area)
Mangrove tunnels, hiking trails, observation tower. Open daily 7 AM–sunset. Free. Weedon Island Preserve
🏝️ Anclote Key Preserve State Park (Tarpon Springs)
Boat-only access. Lighthouse, camping, pristine beaches. Open 8–sunset, free entry. Florida State Parks
🌊 Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve (Ruskin)
Seagrass beds, wetlands, good for kayakers. Open daily, free.
🌱 Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park (Pensacola area)
Rare pitcher plant ecosystem, trails & boardwalks. Open 8–sunset. $3 per vehicle. Florida State Parks
🌴 Otter Mound Preserve (Marco Island)
Historic shell mounds by the Calusa, hardwood hammock trails. Sunrise–sunset, free.
🛶 Devil’s Den (Williston)
Underground spring & cave for snorkeling/diving. Admission ~$15 snorkeling, ~$38 diving. devilsden.com
🌲 Ocala National Forest
Endless hiking, camping, lakes, and springs. Open year-round, entry $5 per vehicle at certain recreation areas.
🎨 Rain Barrel Village (Islamorada, Keys)
Artsy stop with local studios and Betsy the giant lobster. Open daily, free to browse. rainbarrelvillage.com
✈️ North Florida / Panhandle
🛩️ National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola)
NAS Pensacola. Open daily 9–4. Free admission. navalaviationmuseum.org
🚗 Tallahassee Automobile Museum (Tallahassee)
Large eclectic auto collection. Open daily 8–5. Adults ~$17. tacm.com
🌟Florida ain’t just beaches and Disney.
It’s castles of tin, gardens of song, roads lined with old cars and skies filled with flying machines. Pick any of these spots and you’ll find yourself wandering into a story—half sunshine, half history, and all adventure. The road’s waiting. Don’t keep her idle too long.
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