Florida, which is known as “The Sunshine State,” depends a lot on tourists. Some of the most popular places to visit in Florida are the beaches and some of the most famous theme parks in the world, like Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.
While some of the state’s best-kept secrets are in remote places away from tourist spots, they are still well worth seeing. Florida has something for every type of traveller, no matter what they like.
1. Everglades
The Everglades might look like a big swamp to people who have never been there, but they are actually a huge, flat, slowly moving river of grass that goes from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. The ground dries out in most places during the dry season.
It is a subtropical wilderness with a very special environment that is home to alligators, bottlenose dolphins, manatees, and bald eagles. And in the Everglades, with its mangroves, cypress trees, hardwood hammocks, and miles of grass, there are a lot of ways to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, boat, camp, and fish.
2. Key West
Key West is the southernmost city in the United States. It is farther from Miami than it is from Havana. For a long time, Key West was the biggest town in Florida. It became rich from the valuable things that werehed up on ships. As sailing got better, fewer ships sank, and in the late 1800s, Key West lost popularity.
For the one million tourists who visit the island every year, Key West has been greatly restored and revitalised. However, the town has kept some of its sense of individualism and isolation, feeling somewhat cut off from the rest of Florida. Ernest Hemingway’s old home, the Southernmost Point, the lighthouse, and a number of bars are all popular tourist spots in Key West.
3. Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is the most popular tourist spot in Florida. It is in Lake Buena Vista, close to Orlando, and is the centre of Disney’s worldwide theme park business. It is also by far the biggest and busiest theme park resort in the world. There are four theme parks at Walt Disney World. They are The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Some tourists say it’s a fun, magical, and fantasy place, while others say it’s too crowded, fake, and always tacky.
Walt Disney World is the most popular tourist spot in Florida. It is in Lake Buena Vista, close to Orlando, and is the centre of Disney’s worldwide theme park business. It is also by far the biggest and busiest theme park resort in the world. There are four theme parks at Walt Disney World. They are The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
There are four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. Magic Kingdom was the first one to open. It opened in 1971 and is based on Disney characters and fairy tales. The layout and activities are similar to those at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. The park had more than 17 million guests in 2012, which made it the world’s busiest theme park.
It’s more than twice as big as Magic Kingdom Park. It is a celebration of human progress, especially in the areas of technology and foreign culture, and is sometimes called a “Permanent World’s Fair.” Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about show business and is based on the 1930s and 1940s, when Hollywood was at its peak.
4. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Centre has been the launch site for every US human space trip since 1968. It is also used to launch rockets without people on board. The Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex has museums, movies, a rocket garden, and bus tours of important facilities for preparing and launching the shuttle. It is also one of Florida’s tourist sites.
There are also “launch passes” for sale at the Visitor Complex before a rocket launch. However, keep in mind that the safest way to get close is at least 4 miles away, and often much farther.
5. Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale is on the Atlantic coast and is known as the “Venice of America” because of its large and complicated network of canals. People love the city’s beaches and boats the most. That city used to be a big spring break spot, but now it’s a stylish and classy place to live.
Fort Lauderdale Beach is in the middle of the beach strip. It has a clean, new, wavy-path walkway that separates the beach from the low-rise hotels, restaurants, and beach shops.
6. Universal Orlando Resort
As the biggest of the Universal Studios Theme Parks, Universal Orlando Resort is the best competitor to Disney. There are two theme parks at the resort. The first is Universal Studios Florida, and the second is Islands of Adventure. CityWalk, a complex of nightclubs and restaurants, and three vacation hotels are some of the other things to see.
Universal Studios Florida is a tourist park that lets people “Ride the Movies.” It opened in 1990. The rides, shows, and attractions at Universal Studios are themed after popular movies, TV shows, and music videos. The goal is to make visitors feel like they are on a movie set.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure is a theme park with 7 separate “islands” that are all about different kinds of adventures. People come in through the Port of Entry and then move on to the other islands.
7. Castillo de San Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos site is the largest wood-built fort in the United States. It is in the city of St. Augustine. It’s hard to think that the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument was built in the late 1600s because it is in such good shape.
Its design is what made it last so long: a diamond-shaped rampart at each corner made it easier to fire, and the 14-foot-thick walls made it harder to attack. The city of St. Augustine is a small gem. It is the oldest European settlement in the United States and has a romantic, old-world feel.
FAQ’s
Q1. What are the top 10 must-visit tourist attractions in Florida?
These are Florida's top ten tourist spots: Universal Studios, Miami Beach, Everglades National Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Key West, St. Augustine Historic District, Busch Gardens Tampa, and the Florida Keys.
Q2. How can I plan my itinerary to cover these attractions efficiently?
Group sites together based on how close they are to each other when planning your trip. See the fun parks in Orlando together, then go to the beaches, and so on. To plan your trip more efficiently, use online maps and travel books.
Q3. What is the best time to visit these attractions in Florida?
Every place has a different best time to visit. Theme parks in Florida are usually busy during school breaks, so if you want a more relaxing time, go during off-peak times.