722 Best Sights in Florida, USA

More than 20 bird species, including hawks, eagles, owls, falcons, and vultures, make their home at this wildlife rehabilitation center on Lake Sybelia. You can take a self-guided conservation tour with interactive exhibits and walkways through the wetlands, or you can call ahead for a private tour ($30 annual pass), which includes an up-close look at different birds in the center. There's an earnestness to this working facility, which takes in more than 800 injured wild birds of prey each year. Fewer than half can return to the wild; some permanently injured birds continue to live at the center and can be seen in aviaries along the pathways. To get here, take U.S. 17–92, and turn west on Lake Avenue and then north on East Street.

If you've ever seen an engraving by ornithologist John James Audubon, you'll understand why his name is synonymous with birds. See his works in this three-story house, which was built in the 1840s for Captain John Geiger and is filled with period furniture. It now commemorates Audubon's 1832 stop in Key West while he was traveling through Florida to study birds. After an introduction by a docent, you can do a self-guided tour of the house and gardens. An art gallery sells lithographs of the artist's famed portraits.

This 11-minute film focuses on how we can work together to keep our awesome planet livable in the future. The entire film is a real-estate pitch about how lucky we are to live on our planet, narrated by the ultimate real estate agent, Ty Burrell. For the first half, you're shown how Earth came to take form and the different biomes around the globe. The second half talks about how we are facing unprecedented changes to our planet and what can be done about it. There is breathtaking imagery from around the globe mixed in with this worthwhile message.

To see what Florida looked like centuries ago, visit Babcock Ranch northeast of Fort Myers. During a 90-minute excursion, you ride in a converted school bus through several ecosystems, including the unusual and fascinating Telegraph Cypress Swamp. Along the way, an informative and typically amusing guide describes the area's social and natural history while you keep an eye peeled for alligators, wild pigs, all sorts of birds, Florida panthers, and other denizens of the wild. The tour also takes in the ranch's resident cattle and cougar in captivity. Reservations are needed for tours.

This coaster stars the Great Goofini, stunt master—a perfect fit for Fantasyland's Storybook Circus area. The twisting, turning roller coaster "flight" takes you high above the circus fun. It's perfect for young children's first thrill ride if they are 35 inches or taller. Circus props and theme posters tell Goofini's tale with references to some of the short films of Goofy's heyday. For people with disabilities: You must be able to walk a few steps from your wheelchair to board the ride. Service animals are not permitted.

Think of this immersive art park as the grounds of a family-friendly music festival that never ends. Local bands and DJs take the stage while visitors dance as they please before moseying over to food trucks, several lounge areas, a playground, and rotating works of art that have seen the likes of Art Basel and Burning Man. During the day you'll find pop-up shops and food vendors, and in the evening BaseCamp becomes a relaxed hangout with a full liquor bar that specializes in tequila flights.

Rough tides are often the norm in this stretch of the Atlantic Ocean and frequently take away the beach, but a charming enclave at the southern end of Hutchinson Island—after the Marriott's beach and right by the Indian River Plantation luxury development—provides a perfect escape for families with young children and anyone who likes to snorkel. The waters are shallow and usually calm, and kids can walk up to the reef and see a dazzling assortment of fish. The parking lot is small, so get there early. Amenities: parking (no fee); lifeguards; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Kids scramble up several steps tucked between faux-rock formations, where a lifeguard sits to supervise their slide into Blustery Bay. The incline is small, but the thrill is great for young kids, who whoosh into the bay (sometimes into the arms of waiting parents). These two scaled-down versions of the Storm Slides are geared to kids shorter than 60 inches.

Kids really burn up energy going up the steps and down the slides repeatedly. Parents should be prepared for their wanting to ride over and over again.

This upscale stretch along Downtown's waterfront is the epicenter of St. Pete's cultural revival and serves as the city's restaurant row. Tons of pricey shops and alfresco eateries line the east side of this blocks-long promenade, giving it a European feel. Highlights include the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art and Bella Brava. Dazzling waterfront parks, which are often packed during the area's many weekend festivals, flank the drive's west side.

This charming museum has exhibitions on the history of the beach communities, the St. Johns River, the fishing and shrimping industry, and the area's early settlers. Its gift shop is a good place to find Florida souvenirs of every variety, from tasteful histories of the area to pure kitsch. The adjacent historical park features a 1911 steam locomotive, railroad foreman's house, and the Mayport Depot. An on-site beaches visitor center is open Thursday through Saturday.

As its name implies, little ones love singing along with beloved classics from Beauty and the Beast at this show, which plays in the same theater as Impressions de France. The traditional story has a twist, however. As Mrs. Potts narrates, you realize that LeFou, best known as Gaston's sidekick, was actually working behind the scenes to help Belle and the Beast fall in love. Although this 15-minute film is particularly good for younger kids, everyone will appreciate the chance to sit down and enjoy a cute storyline. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair- and ECV-accessible; reflective captioning and equipped for assisted-listening and audio-description devices.

This popular stage show takes place at the Theater of the Stars, a re-creation of the famed Hollywood Bowl. The actors playing a luminous Belle and delightfully vain Gaston sing passionately with a lively cast of characters and dancers. The enchanted prince (Beast) and household characters (Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumière, and Cogsworth) deftly navigate the stage despite their bulky costumes. Even some set pieces sway along during the charming "Be Our Guest" number. There's high drama during the mob scene and a sweet ending when ballroom dancers in frothy pink and purple waltz along with the fairy-tale couple.

As you arrive or depart, check out handprints and footprints set in concrete of the TV personalities who've visited Disney's Hollywood Studios. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair and ECV accessible and equipped for handheld-captioning, audio-description, and assisted-listening devices. Sign language twice a week. Arrive 30 minutes early on crowded days (which are rare) or if you want the "perfect" seat; otherwise show up 15 minutes before. Attend in the afternoon when you'll appreciate a chance to sit down.

On this 60-minute program at Shark Encounter and Avian Research, you'll have a chance to see how SeaWorld's animal experts care for rescued manatees and sea turtles. Where else can you touch a shark and play with a penguin?

This Gothic-style Episcopal church had a claim to fame upon its creation in 1926: it was built by the first Protestant congregation in southeast Florida. Church lecture tours, covering Bethesda's history, architecture, and more, are offered at 12:05 on the second and fourth Sunday each month from September to mid-May (excluding December) and at 11:15 on the fourth Sunday each month from the end of May to August. Also notable are the annual Boar's Head and Yule Log festivals in January. Adjacent is the formal, ornamental Cluett Memorial Garden.

Set on the north shore of Big Lagoon, this well-maintained state park is known for a variety of natural wonders that include marshes, lakes, woods, and rivers. Take in the stunning surroundings from a three-story observation tower overlooking the beach. Bird-watching is a popular activity during migrations in the spring and fall. The 3.5-mile Sand Pine Loop is perfect for hikers of all abilities. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Bouncing back stunningly from its dark days as an army hospital, this hotel has become the jewel of Coral Gables—a dazzling architectural gem with a colorful past. First opened in 1926, it was a hot spot for the rich and glamorous of the Jazz Age until it was converted to an army–air force regional hospital in 1942. Following World War II, the Veterans Administration continued to operate the hospital until 1968. The Biltmore then lay vacant for nearly 20 years before it underwent extensive renovations and reopened as a luxury hotel in 1987. Its 16-story tower, like the Freedom Tower in Downtown Miami, is a replica of Seville's Giralda tower. The magnificent pool is reportedly the largest hotel pool in the continental United States.  Because it functions as a full-service hotel, your ticket in—if you aren't staying here—is to patronize one of the hotel's several restaurants or bars. Try to get a courtyard table for the Sunday champagne brunch, a local legend.

At this natural and cultural history museum, an aquarium focuses on manatee rehabilitation, and a first-floor gallery features fossils that tell the story of prehistoric Florida. Explore rotating exhibits on various topics; glass cases and roll-out drawers on the second floor showcase items normally out of public view. Topics covered in programs at the Bishop Planetarium (with a domed theater screen) range from black holes to the origin of life itself.

This is a good beach for nature lovers and a great spot if you are looking for a tranquil stretch of beach. The park contains about 60 acres of Gulf-to-bay land. If you're up for a hike, check out the short nature trail on-site, and keep an eye out for the Hermitage House, one of the oldest structures in the area. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Echoes of the past ring across Boca Chita, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its 10 historic structures. The park's most visited island was purchased in 1937 by Mark C. Honeywell, founder and CEO of today’s global conglomerate, and became a hip hangout, of sorts, when Honeywell invited his fellow entrepreneurs and industrialists to enjoy elegant island living and boisterous parties. Honeywell sold Boca Chita in 1942 after his wife was injured on the island and died before she could reach proper medical care. It was later enveloped into the collection of islands comprising Biscayne National Park.

Still here are a pavilion, a chapel, a 65-foot-high ornamental lighthouse (make arrangements with a ranger to climb it), and a garage that Honeywell built. Today's parties, however, consist of soirees held aboard yachts that tie up in the small harbor or more basic affairs amid tents pitched in the primitive campground. A half-mile hiking trail curves around the island's south side. Note that pets aren't allowed here, and there is no potable water (or sinks or showers) but rather just portable toilets. A $35 overnight (6 pm to 6 am) docking fee covers a campsite.

Under the shimmering golden dome of the city's original town hall is a vital repository of archival material and special exhibits on the area's development, run by the Boca Raton Historical Society. With advance reservations, you can experience a 40-minute guided tour of Boca Raton's original town hall and a small museum. The Boca Raton Historical Society also runs tours for groups Monday through Thursday (10 am–noon), which take patrons around the museum's exhibits. 

Changing-exhibition galleries on the first floor showcase internationally known artists—both past and present—at this museum in a spectacular building that's part of the Mizner Park shopping center; the permanent collection upstairs includes works by Picasso, Degas, Matisse, Klee, Modigliani, and Warhol, as well as notable African and pre-Columbian art. Daily tours are included with admission. In addition to the treasure hunts and sketchbooks you can pick up from the front desk, there's a roster of special programs that cater to kids, including studio workshops and gallery walks. 

While it may be a hard claim to qualify, this certainly appears to be the most exciting indoor stunt show in America. Following an eight-minute preshow that fills you in on the backstory (an assassin trained in a secret government program has gone off script and eluded his handlers), what ensues is an international chase that takes place with live actors and right before your eyes. Against a series of dazzling, always-in-motion film backdrops you follow Bourne around the world as he eludes his pursuers. From the Middle East to the middle of the desert to Washington, D.C., and other capitals, Bourne is running, racing cars, and riding motorcycles to stay alive. The wide-screen images, the rapid pace, and the constant adrenaline will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the solid 20-minute show.

Overlooking the Manatee River, this 1.5-mile path connects downtown Bradenton attractions to the waterfront. The path spans the Green and Desoto bridges and offers various activities, including a splash fountain, a skate park, a canoe and kayak launch, a beach volleyball court, a fishing pier, outdoor seating, and a 20-slip day dock. Various groups use the outdoor amphitheater for special events, and musical and theatrical performances. An eastward expansion of the Bradenton Riverwalk is planned.

This is the place to come to get the lay of the land in other eras. Not to be missed are Ice Age–era creatures such as a fully articulated mastodon, giant ground sloth, and saber-tooth cat, all of which lived in the area. The Windover Archaeological Exhibit features 7,000-year-old artifacts indigenous to the region. In 1984, a shallow pond revealed the burial ground of more than 200 native people who lived in the area about 7,000 years ago. Preserved in the muck were bones and, to the archaeologists' surprise, the brains of these ancient people.

Hands-on activities draw in children, who love the Imagination Center, where they can act out history or reenact a rocket flight. Newer displays include The Hubble Space Telescope: Eye on the Universe, provided by the Kennedy Space Center. Nature lovers appreciate the museum's butterfly garden and the nature center, with 22 acres of trails encompassing three distinct ecosystems—sand pine hills, lake lands, and marshlands.

Britton Hill is the high point in Florida, located just south of the Florida--Alabama state line off County Road 285 in the town of Lakewood. At just 334 feet above sea level, it is the lowest high point in the United States, so it's an easy one to check off the list for high-pointers.

This quiet beach south of St. Augustine played a role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when it attracted national attention for a "wade-in" that later led to Martin Luther King Jr. visiting St. Augustine. Today, it is a county park that still provides access to the beachfront. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Opened in 2018 and named after Dr. James Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, this museum is designed to inspire future inventors and creators with hands-on activities and learning opportunities for children. Permanent exhibits explore the solar system, space and time, and inventors. The Sweat Solution tells the story of how Cade used science and creativity to make Gatorade. At First Flush highlights the history of soap, toilets, and other bathroom essentials.

Located at the southernmost point of Bahia Honda State Park, this public beach is a calm and pleasant spot for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling. It’s shallow enough for little ones to wade in, and the sand is velvety soft and clean (as opposed to some of the rockier beaches in Key West). There are public restrooms and showers nearby. Camping sites are available, but they tend to book up, so reservations are recommended in high season. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Bridging two vibrant neighborhoods—the Warehouse Arts District to the south and the Grand Central District to the north—Calusa Commons is home to three favorite local outfits. Pick up everything from the latest bestsellers to titles by Florida authors at the charming Tombolo Books. Or grab a cup of coffee from Black Crow Coffee Co. or a cold-pressed juice from Squeeze Juice Works next door. Special events are held throughout the year in the shared brick courtyard.

Affiliated with the University of Florida's natural history museum in Gainesville, this 0.7-mile interpretive walkway explores the site of an ancient Calusa village—more than 1,500 years old—with excellent signage, two intact shell mounds you can climb, the remains of a complex canal system, and ongoing archaeological research. Check the website for special tours and lecture events.