If you’re looking for the best things to do in Florida, you’re in luck! Our ultimate guide to the most fun attractions and entertainment in the Sunshine State has you covered.
Whether you’re looking to experience thrilling theme park rides, beautiful sandy beaches, or unique activities, Florida has something to offer. From kid attractions in Orlando to animal encounters in South Florida, the state is full of fun places for kids and families to enjoy.
And if you’re looking for items to add to your Florida bucket list, but you’re on a budget, we’ve got cheaper activities on our list as well. So, continue reading below for the best ideas on fun things to do in Florida on your next vacation!
Walt Disney World
Since no list of Florida attractions is complete without a mention of Walt Disney World, we definitely wanted to include it in our guide. The Disney World resort also happens to be one of my family’s favorite spots in the Sunshine State.
From uniquely themed hotels to massive theme parks featuring all kinds of attractions and entertainment, it’s easy to see why WDW is often at the top of a family’s bucket list. While not the most cost efficient choice for those looking to stay on a budget, Disney World does offer special experiences without theme park tickets.
However, if you’re looking to take in everything Disney World has to offer, you’ll want to include its four main parks in your itinerary: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
Where to Stay: Best Places to Stay near WDW | Also Read: Best Parks at Disney World | Tickets: Disney Ticket Discounts
Discovery Cove Orlando
If you’re looking for things to do in Florida that are not Disney related, Discovery Cove offers an amazing experience. Families can purchase day passes to this all-inclusive resort where they can interact with dolphins, enjoy unlimited food and drinks, and snorkel with tropical fish.
Guests can also choose to participate in other animal experiences for an additional fee. Just note that most of those have a minimum age requirement of 6 years old.
This unique Florida attraction is definitely one you’ll want to add to your list, especially if your kids are animal lovers. If you’re planning to visit multiple theme parks in the area, you can often save by purchasing a package that includes SeaWorld, Aquatica, and/or Busch Gardens with your Discovery Cove tickets.
Destin Harbor Boardwalk
If you’re spending time in Florida’s Emerald Coast, head on over to the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. This entertainment district is full of restaurants, shops, and activities for the whole family.
From dolphin cruises to parasailing adventures to snorkeling tours, the Destin Boardwalk offers plenty of fun options. Toddlers and younger kids love the Pirate Cruise, live entertainment, and carnival style stands located throughout the boardwalk.
LEGOLAND Florida
LEGOLAND sits in the city of Winter Haven, which is located just outside the Orlando area in Central Florida. This popular theme park features rides, play areas, and splash zones for kids of all ages.
Visitors can also enjoy numerous entertainment options at Legoland, including shows and character meet and greets. Families love the nearby LEGOLAND Water Park and the Peppa Pig Theme Park as well.
You can bundle your tickets for extra savings, which allows you to enjoy all three parks.
Southernmost Point
The most southern tip of the continental United States sits in Key West, Florida. This popular tourist spot is known as the Southernmost Point, and it features a giant buoy that serves as a great photo op.
In addition to the Southernmost Point buoy, visitors to Key West can visit fun places like Duval Street, the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, and the Oldest House Museum. If you’re in the area and looking for an easy way to sightsee, we recommend utilizing the hop-on and hop-off trolley service that takes you through the community.
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway sits on the eastern coast of Florida in the city of Daytona. This famous Nascar track offers tours and experiences for visitors.
While at the Daytona International Speedway, guests can also visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to see impressive memorabilia from the world of racing.
Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk
If you’re planning a trip to the Fort Lauderdale area, you’ll want to add the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk to your list of things to do. This fun strip features lots of restaurants, bars, and shops.
Families traveling with kids will love the playground and splash pad area on the Broadwalk. You can also rent various styles of bikes to ride along the Hollywood Broadwalk, including surrey bikes that hold multiple people.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is located in the city of Clearwater in Central Florida. Visitors to the aquarium can view all sorts of sea life, including dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, otters, and more.
For an additional price, guests can interact with animals like dolphins, sharks, and stingrays. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium also offers snorkeling adventures, dolphin tours, and other boat rides for an added fee.
Also Read: Places to Swim with Dolphins in Florida
Rosemary Beach Farmers’ Market
The popular vacation strip known as 30A is full of fun activities in each of its small towns. If you’re planning a visit to the Florida panhandle, we recommend checking out the Farmers’ Market in Rosemary Beach for delicious food items and handmade merchandise.
The farmers’ markets on 30A do not have an admission charge, so they’re perfect for those families looking for free things to do in Florida. You can often find live entertainment and kid-friendly crafts available here as well.
Where to Stay: The Pearl Hotel
ICON Park
ICON Park sits in Orlando and offers all sorts of opportunities for family fun. With multiple dining and shopping options, ICON Park is a great place to visit for fun during the day and for entertaining nightlife in the evenings. Some of the exciting attractions you’ll find at ICON Park include a ferris wheel, carousel, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, and the Sea Life Aquarium.
Universal Studios
The Universal Parks in Orlando are made up of Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. These popular theme parks feature roller coasters, live shows, and fun rides.
Kids particularly enjoy visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where they can board the Hogwarts Express to move between the two parks. Although, it’s important to note that you must have valid admission to both theme parks in order to do this. Additionally, the Universal Studios resort area is home to multiple themed hotels at different price points. Some of these even come with added perks at the theme parks.
Also Read: Best Rides at Universal Studios
Downtown St. Augustine
The town of St. Augustine sits on the eastern coast of Florida and is known for being the oldest city in the United States. If you’re looking for free things to do in Florida, this quaint community should definitely be added to your bucket list.
St. Augustine offers all kinds of fun historical attractions, and many of them are completely free to enjoy. Some of the spots we recommend touring in St. Augustine include the National Monument: Castillo de San Marcos and St. George Street as well as multiple museums.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is another popular park in Central Florida that’s perfect for animal lovers and thrill seekers. With multiple roller coasters for older kids plus Sesame Street Land for younger kids, SeaWorld Orlando is a park the whole family can enjoy.
Additionally, families enjoy the live shows and the parade offered daily at SeaWorld. If you’re looking for some extra special experiences, you can add on animal encounters with orcas, dolphins, penguins, and more.
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami sits in southern Florida and is the largest zoo in the state. With an impressive animal list that includes elephants, lions, orangutans, leopards, rhinos, tigers, and gorillas, Zoo Miami is an attraction you’ll definitely want to add to your Florida bucket list.
This popular zoo also features rides like a carousel and pedal boats. For an additional cost, visitors can also experience animal encounters with a rhino, bear, hippo, and more.
Village of Baytowne Wharf
The Village of Baytowne Wharf is located in Sandestin, which sits west of Panama City Beach. This family friendly entertainment district is full of restaurants, bars, shops, and activities. If you’re looking for cheap things to do in Florida, the Village of Baytowne Wharf is a great option. Visitors can enjoy free live entertainment nightly during certain seasons of the year. This includes family movies, magicians, live music, fireworks, etc. For an added cost, guests can partake in fun activities like a carousel, climbing zone, arcade, and more.
Bayside Marketplace
Bayside Marketplace is located in downtown Miami and is a super kid friendly spot to spend time. Visitors can ride the ferris wheel, dine at multiple restaurants, and shop at the numerous stores.
Kids love the wide open space to run as well as the playground that offers beautiful views of the bay. Additionally, families spending time at Bayside Marketplace can take in the view of the massive cruise ships docked in Port of Miami.
Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium sits in South Florida on Biscayne Bay. This Miami attraction includes animal exhibits that feature flamingos, manatees, stingrays, sea lions, turtles, and more.
Visitors can also pay extra for animal interactions like dolphin swims, penguin encounters, and seal training. Kids also really enjoy the dolphin and sea lion shows that are included with your admission.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park should be added to any nature lover’s bucket list. Located in the southern tip of Florida, the Everglades are easily accessible from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.
Visitors to this unique Florida attraction can enjoy activities like biking, hiking, bird watching, and more in the park. If you’re looking for a more thrilling adventure in the Florida Everglades, we recommend checking out the airboat rides that offer up close views of alligators.
Watersound Beach Club
The community of Watersound is located on Highway 30A just west of Panama City Beach. This coastal town is full of charming vacation homes and a beautiful resort area.
Guests at Watercolor Inn and Camp Creek Inn can enjoy access to the Watersound Beach Club. This exclusive club features dining options, beach access, and multiple pools. Visitors can also enjoy access to the Camp Creek amenities, which feature additional dining options as well as a pool with a water slide. If you’re looking for a luxury vacation in Florida, Watersound is a great option.
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is located in the Florida panhandle in Fort Walton Beach. This beachfront activity is perfect for animal lovers.
Visitors can tour the indoor aquarium and enjoy live shows with dolphins and sea lions. Additionally, you can walk around the outside area of the Gulfarium to view seals, sharks, penguins, and more. Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park also provides options to upgrade your ticket to include animal encounters.
Also Read: Honest Review of Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Gatorland
Gatorland is another Orlando park that is full of fun attractions and animal exhibits. In addition to alligators, Gatorland features crocodiles, bobcats, birds, and reptiles. You can even add on an encounter with an adorable capybara!
Gatorland features multiple live shows that are really informative as well as adventurous activities like rock climbing and a zip line.
Orlando Water Parks
In addition to the world famous theme parks located in Orlando, the city is also home to multiple water parks. The Walt Disney World Resort features two themed water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.You can add access to these water parks onto your theme park tickets by using the Park Hopper Plus option. You can also purchase a separate ticket to each park if you plan to spend the whole day enjoying the water slides. Similarly, the Universal Resort features a water park known as Volcano Bay. This fun attraction features multiple water slides along with a lazy river and wave pool.
Where to Stay: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Seaside Town Square
The quaint town of Seaside is the perfect spot to add to your list of places to visit in Florida. Sitting right on the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida panhandle, Seaside offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the state.
After spending your day building sandcastles in the sand, take a stroll over to the Seaside Town Square. This outdoor area is full of food trucks, beachfront restaurants, and shops. Additionally, the Seaside Amphitheater often hosts live music, family movies, and other free entertainment. Kids can also run off steam in the large lawn in the center of town.
Also Read: Unique Things to Do in Seaside Florida
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
The city of Tampa is home to its own theme park known as Busch Gardens. This popular park is full of fun rides and roller coasters.Visitors can also enjoy a safari ride, which allows you to see real live animals like lions, rhinos, tigers, gorillas, elephants, and more. Animal encounters with flamingos, sloths, and penguins are also available. (The animal activities are an additional cost to your park ticket.)
If you’re wanting to cool off from the heat, Busch Gardens also offers a water park known as Adventure Island. Here, you can enjoy fun attractions like water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and splash pads.
Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World is located in Plant City, which sits just outside of Tampa. This Central Florida attraction is perfect for dinosaur lovers as it features interactive exhibits and massive dinosaur replicas.
Visitors can also enjoy the themed playground that’s right onsite. If you’re looking for cheap things to do in Florida, this park is a great option. Ticket prices are affordable, and guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages into the park.
Watercolor, Florida
The picturesque town of Watercolor sits west of Panama City Beach and is full of fun things to do. In addition to the white sand beaches, Watercolor features a walkable community with shops, restaurants, and activities.
If you reserve a stay at the Watercolor Inn or at one of the many vacation homes in the area, you also get access to multiple pools. From the breathtaking oceanfront pools to the quieter neighborhood pools, Watercolor provides so many options for families. Additionally, guests can spend time at Camp Watercolor, which features a playground, lazy river, and water slides.
Where to Stay: Watercolor Inn | Also Read: Fun Things to Do in Watercolor Florida
Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center sits on the eastern coast of Florida in Cape Canaveral. This popular Florida attraction offers activities that are both educational and fun for families.
Visitors can view rockets and launch sites, and they can even engage in interactive activities. Kennedy Space Center also offers additional experiences like astronaut training for an added fee.Also, don’t forget to check out their events schedule before your trip as the Kennedy Space Center often hosts launches and meet and greet opportunities with astronauts.
Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari is located near West Palm Beach toward the southern end of Florida. Visitors to this Florida attraction can drive through the park while viewing animals like alpacas, lions, giraffes, rhinos, and chimpanzees.
Lion Country Safari also offers a walk through experience known as Safari World where guests can view additional animals like birds and reptiles. Admission to the park includes several rides and water play areas as well. For an added fee, visitors can interact with some of the animals, including flamingos and giraffes. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Florida with toddlers, Lion Country Safari is a great option.
Universal CityWalk
The Universal Resort in Orlando is home to an entertainment district known as Universal CityWalk. This lively area is completely free to visit. Guests will find all kinds of dining options, shops, and entertainment available to enjoy at CityWalk.
Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest sits just north of Orlando and is full of fun outdoor activities. Visitors to this beautiful spot can take part in things like biking, hiking, and fishing.
Additionally, water activities are available and serve as a great way to cool off from the hot and humid Florida weather. Some of the water sports you’ll find at Ocala National Forest include boating, kayaking, and snorkeling.
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is located in Tampa, and it features all kinds of exhibits and experiences. Visitors can view animals like stingrays, eels, seahorses, and more. You can also add on adventures like the dolphin cruise and SeaTrek.
Crayola Experience
The Crayola Experience in Orlando is a great option for families looking for things to do in Florida on a rainy day. This indoor attraction is full of fun activities that are perfect for toddlers, little kids, and older children.
The Crayola Experience features exhibits and experiences focused on art, science, and technology. Visitors can take part in hands-on activities, interesting experiments, and even play on an indoor playground.
South Beach
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach to visit in Miami, we highly recommend checking out South Beach. This family friendly spot offers clear water and lots of sand that’s perfect for sunbathing or building sandcastles.
Plus, you can walk along the Miami Beach Boardwalk where you’ll find all kinds of restaurants along with the Art Deco District. If you’re looking for a place to stay near this area, we love the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This oceanfront resort features renovated rooms, kid-friendly pools, and amazing restaurants.
Palm Beach Zoo
The Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society is located in West Palm Beach. This family favorite attraction is home to many endangered species and offers lots of animal viewing opportunities.
Visitors will find bears, tigers, monkeys, and more at this popular zoo. Additionally, guests can pay extra for various animal experiences with tigers, sloths, koalas, etc.
WonderWorks
WonderWorks has several locations across the United States, including one in Orlando and another in Panama City Beach. This indoor attraction features hands-on exhibits that are fun for kids of all ages. From adventurous activities like laser tag and ropes courses to earthquake and hurricane simulators, WonderWorks is full of unique things to do. If you’re looking for indoor things to do in Florida on a rainy day, WonderWorks is a great option!
Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park sits 70 miles west of Key West. This historical site is full of beautiful scenery and fun activities.
Visitors can tour the famous Fort Jefferson, snorkel in the clear water, view multiple bird species, and lay out on the spectacular beaches. Since Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of several islands, guests will need to reach this unique spot by ferry or seaplane.
Disney Springs
The Walt Disney World Resort offers a free entertainment district where visitors can enjoy some Disney theming without purchasing park tickets. Disney Springs, which was once known as Downtown Disney, is full of restaurants, bars, shops, and activities.
Visitors can often enjoy free live music on the multiple stages at Disney Springs. You can also enjoy additional entertainment options like helium balloon rides, the dine-in movie theater, Cirque du Soleil, and Amphicar rides.
Where to Stay: Places to Stay near Disney World
iFly Indoor Skydiving
iFly Indoor Skydiving features multiple locations across the state of Florida. At this super thrilling attraction, visitors aged three years old and above can enter a skydiving simulator.
Guests can choose from several different flights to experience, which range from stable beginner flights to advanced experiences that include mid-air flips.
Disney’s Beach Resort
Did you know Disney owns a beach resort on the Atlantic coast? Disney’s Vero Beach Resort sits just a two hour drive away from the Walt Disney World theme parks. Visitors to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort can enjoy oceanfront views along with lots of family friendly activities. Guests can take part in experiences like miniature golf, sea turtle walks, bocce ball, archery, and more. Plus, kids love the pirate themed pool, water slide, and splash pad area. You can often find discounted prices for Disney’s Vero Beach Resort by renting DVC points.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Zoo Tampa sits in Central Florida and is full of amazing animal exhibits. Guests can view elephants, orangutans, panthers, rhinos, tigers, bears, and more.
Additionally, ZooTampa offers animal encounters for an extra fee. Some of the add on options you can choose include experiences with rhinos, koalas, penguins, and giraffes.
Top Tips for Visiting Florida
If you’re a first time visitor to the Sunshine State, you may be looking for tips on how to make the most of your trip. With so many fun things to do in Florida, it can easily feel overwhelming when planning your trip. We suggest making a list of your top priorities, so you can determine which part of this beautiful state in which you plan to spend the most amount of time. Luckily, many of the activities listed above sit within an easy drive of each other.
Visitors who plan to vacation during the summer months should plan for rain, especially in the afternoons. But, don’t let a stormy forecast ruin your trip. The daily rain tends to be short-lived, and you can often find sunshine right after the storm blows over. You will want to be prepared with your packing list though. So, make sure you include an umbrella, raincoat, and hat on your list.
If you’re wanting to beat the heat, you can also include items like cooling towels and wearable fans on your packing list. These really help to keep you cool, especially if you are planning to spend time at one of the many theme parks.
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Finally, make sure to take along some bug spray and reef friendly sunscreen. You definitely won’t want to ruin your bucket list trip with a terrible sunburn. We recommend Blue Lizard coral safe sunscreen because it’s perfect for sensitive skin.
If you are planning to visit some of the beautiful beaches in Florida during your trip, you may be interested in our post on what to pack for the beach. In that article, we include our must-have items to pack for a beach vacation. We also include a free printable packing list for you to use as you plan your trip!
Final Thoughts on What do Do in Florida
Overall, the Sunshine State is full of amazing activities, entertainment, and scenery. Whether you’re looking to experience animal encounters, ride rollercoasters, or take part in unique adventures, Florida has something to offer. With its mild weather, beautiful beaches, and popular theme parks, it’s easy to see why the state of Florida often sits at the top of a family’s vacation bucket list.
If you’re interested in finding things to do in Florida other than Disney World, you can see from our list above that the options are endless. We hope you have an amazing time in the Sunshine State! And, if we forgot to mention your favorite Florida activity, please let us know!
Also, if you’re planning to spend time on Florida’s beaches, we highly recommend checking out our article on the Best Clear Water Beaches in Florida. In that post, we provide a list of places in Florida that provide the clearest water. Some of them even rival the Caribbean! What are your favorite things to do in Florida? Comment below to share them with us!
