722 Best Sights in Florida, USA

Get a look at Florida's native animals and habitats. Boardwalks and trails lead through subtropical wetlands, a birds-of-prey aviary, and a screened-in butterfly house. There are snake, alligator, butterfly, and other live-animal demonstrations several times daily. Museum exhibits include an Exotic Species room and the Insectarium. The domed, state-of-the-art, 90-seat planetarium hosts astronomy shows daily and special laser shows.

This state park is small—only 180 acres—and only open in the daytime, but its location can't be beat. It's on the shores of Lake Powell, the area's largest coastal dune lake and a great place to kayak, paddleboard, or fish (you'll need a license). The park was also once a retreat for employees of Avondale Textile Mills, and the lodge and some of the original cabins have been restored and are used as venues for weddings and meetings. The bucolic surroundings are good for bird-watching, but the main draw may be the beautiful, powdery beach. It's a ½-mile hike down to the sands, but this means you're almost guaranteed to find peace. Amenities: parking. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Remember when you were content with just a swing set and monkey bars? Well, such playground standards have been replaced by theme play areas like this. Though the prehistoric camp is primarily for kids, some adults join in, racing along footpaths through the forests, slithering down slides, clambering over swinging bridges and across streams, scrambling up net climbs and rock formations, and exploring mysterious caves full of faux lava. Watch for the dinosaur footprints: when you jump on them, a dinosaur roars somewhere (and different footprints have different roars). Also look out for the watery crossfire nearby—or join in the shooting yourself. For people with disabilities: Much of this attraction is wheelchair accessible (its upper levels probably aren't). Great anytime.

This attraction uses 12 surrounding screens to give you a 360-degree view of Canada's majestic landscape. The narrators break the nation down province by province, sharing knowledge, along with the breathtaking views, about this distinguished country. There are a couple of downsides here: it's a standing-only theater, strollers aren't permitted, and toddlers and small children can't see unless they're held aloft. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair and ECV accessible; reflective captioning and equipped for assisted-listening and audio-description devices.

As you descend into St. George Island after crossing the Bryant Patton Memorial Bridge, you can't miss the St. George Lighthouse. It has a long and storied history; it has been felled by hurricanes and beach erosion and rebuilt several times. After its last collapse in 2005, concerned citizens picked up the pieces (literally) and rebuilt it on its current site along with a museum and a gift shop. Those who climb the 92 spiral stairs and a ladder the top are rewarded with a fabulous view. Special climbs are set for full moons. The museum includes a beautiful reproduction of the lighthouse's Fresnel lens.

About ½ mile south of the Jupiter Beach Resort, the quiet beach here is just one draw; the manicured park, which straddles A1A, is chock-full of activities and amenities, and it has the most free parking of any beach park in the area. Several picnic pavilions (including a few beachside), two bocce ball courts, six lighted tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a wood-chip-lined running path, and an amphitheater that hosts free concerts and Shakespeare productions are just some of the highlights. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Ordinary horse-centric merry-go-rounds seem so passé compared with the menagerie on this one: the cowfish from McElligot's Pool, the elephant birds from Horton Hatches the Egg, and the Birthday Katroo from Happy Birthday to You! It's an entire ark of imaginary and interactive animals—indeed, the animals' eyes blink, and their tails wag. It might be a cliché, but there's a good chance you'll feel like a kid again when you hop aboard one of these fantastic creatures. You'll love it. For people with disabilities: Modified mounts let guests using wheelchairs ride without having to transfer to a ride vehicle. Make this a special end to your day. Lines move pretty well, but if they're long enough to intimidate you, use Express Pass.

The Casey Jr. circus train has just pulled into town, and train cars full of faux circus animals are taking a break in this circus-theme play area across from Dumbo the Flying Elephant. The critters might not be real, but they sure do put out a lot of water as children run hooting and squealing past spitting camels, spraying elephants, and other water hazards. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair accessible. While the kids cool off and burn energy, parents can take a break and grab a hot dog or soft pretzel from nearby carts. Pack towels and fresh clothing for cooler days.

Named for the Casino Resort, the island's first tourist spot when it opened in 1931 (the same day as the first Pensacola Beach Bridge), this beach offers everything from seasonal live entertainment to public restrooms and showers. You can also lounge in the shade of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier. Casino Beach has the most parking for beach access on the island and is just a short stroll from dining, entertainment, and major hotels. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (seasonal); free parking; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

This restored home that dates from about 1924 is a small museum run by the Delray Beach Historical Society. It's furnished as though the original inhabitants still lived there and filled with period relics, including a pump organ donated by descendants of a Delray Beach pioneer family. There's a garden of native plants out front and two small bungalow-style buildings on the property that have displays on the town's architectural evolution and history. The cottage is a block north of Atlantic Avenue and right across from the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square.

Sarasota County's largest park is known for its fossil finds. Amenities: playground; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

This circular, 15-foot-wide, 3-foot-deep, 2,000-foot-long waterway is satisfyingly soothing. Just snag an inner tube and float placidly along a clear creek that winds through the park and around the Surf Pool and beaches. You'll pass through a rain forest that showers you with spray, slide through caves and grottoes, float beneath overhanging trees, and get drenched from the "broken pipes" at the Water Works. The current flows a gentle 2½ feet per second. Along the way are five landing areas. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to an inner tube.

A full circuit takes about 20 minutes, longer if you stop at one of the five lifeguard-manned launches.

Here, you encounter a crazy cat ready to wreak havoc while your mom is out. As you sit on a couch that spins, whirls, and rocks its way through the house, you'll roll past 18 scenes, 30 characters, and 130 effects that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You're never alone. The mischievous cat appears balanced on a ball; hoists china on his umbrella; introduces Thing 1 and his wild sibling, Thing 2; and flies kites in the house while the voice of reason, the fish in the teapot, sounds the warning about the impending return of the family matriarch. As the tension builds, so does the fun—and kids love pointing out scenes from the classic book. This isn't the right ride for anyone who's pregnant; prone to motion sickness; or suffers from heart, neck, or back problems. For people with disabilities: The ride accommodates guests using wheelchairs and is equipped for assisted-listening devices. Come early or late.

This cathedral has the country's oldest written parish records, dating from 1594. The circa-1797 structure underwent changes after a fire in 1887 as well as restoration work in the mid-1960s. If you're around for the holidays, stop in for Christmas Eve's gorgeous Midnight Mass, conducted amid banks of flickering candles that reflect off gilded walls. Regular Sunday masses are held throughout the year at 7, 9, 11, and 5.

You can step back into the past at Centennial Park, which re-creates a period streetscape and hosts a farmers' market called the "Fresh Market" every Saturday, as well as festivals, pottery classes, and other events throughout the year.

Sanford has had a zoo since 1923, and there's a certain charm about the place. In addition to 400-plus animals, including giraffes (you can feed them), cheetahs, monkeys, and crocodiles, there's the Seminole Aerial Adventures, with rope bridges and a zipline through the treetops, and the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground, a mini water playground. Evening events for grown-ups are as popular as summer camps for kids. The Florida black-bear habitat and Florida Trek are delightful, as is the ¼-scale model of an Atlantic Coast Line Railroad streamliner train that travels around the grounds. Burgers, salads, and kids' meals are available

No subtropical skiing paradise would be complete without a chairlift, and this one is an attractive alternative to trekking to the top of Mt. Gushmore over and over again. The two-minute ascent is a great opportunity to scout out other slides and enjoy the "ski beach" scenery. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs must transfer to a ride seat and subsequent attractions. A companion will have to meet you with the wheelchair at the base of Mt. Gushmore. If the wait is too long or you have children under 32 inches tall, hiking up is good exercise.

Visitors of all ages can't help but get excited about math and science at this "edutainment" center, featuring a space-mission simulator and an IMAX 3-D theater that shows popular movies as well as documentaries. Also on-site is the Downtown Digital Dome Theatre & Planetarium, where the high-definition, 50-foot-high theater's booming surround sound and state-of-the-art projectors make educational films and musical odysseys thrilling.

Open since 1989, this winery has won honors in national and international competitions, with most wines crafted from two varieties of sweet muscadine grapes: the white Carlos and red Noble. Take a free tour to see how ancient art blends with modern technology. Most of the action takes place during harvest season, from late August through September, when the owners invite visitors to pick and eat some grapes from their on-site preview vineyard (the 50-acre vineyard is about 12 miles north of Defuniak Springs). Wine tastings are held daily throughout the year, and the under-21 set is invited to sample muscadine grape juice.

This hands-on center in Sugar Sand Park has interactive displays designed to enhance 5- to 12-year-olds' understanding of everyday physical sciences. Outside is a reconstructed Science Playground and a classic carousel and tot lot. Day camps are run during school breaks and are open to visitors.

A hidden gem just north of downtown, this garden is a magical place for children and their families. Connect with nature and explore this whimsical world featuring more than 2 acres of gardens, old trees, and imaginative outdoor play structures. The center also regularly presents kid-friendly events—story times, nature walks, arts-and-crafts workshops, and gardening programs—and has a costume room and cottage where children can play dress up.

Although similar to Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle, at 189 feet this iconic structure is more than 100 feet taller, and, with its elongated towers and lacy fretwork, it's more graceful. Don't miss the elaborate mosaics on the walls of the archway as you rush toward Fantasyland from the Hub. The five panels, measuring some 15 feet high and 10 feet wide, were created from a million bits of multicolored Italian glass, silver, and 14-karat gold by mosaicist Hanns-Joachim Scharff. The mosaics tell the story of the little cinder girl as she goes from pumpkin to prince to happily ever after.

The fantasy castle has absolutely real foundations, made of solid steel beams, fiberglass, and 500 gallons of paint. Instead of dungeons, there are service tunnels for the Magic Kingdom's less-than-magical quotidian operations, such as Makeup and Costuming. These are the same tunnels that honeycomb beneath much of the park.

Within the castle's archway is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where the "royal treatment" transforms little girls age 3 and older into princesses or divas. Hair and makeup are by a Fairy Godmother's Apprentice. The valiant Knight Package offers a heroic makeover that includes hairstyle, sword, and shield. If you have reservations to dine at Cinderella's Royal Table, you enter the castle by way of an ascending spiral staircase. You are attended by costumed waiters and joined by Cinderella and other princesses in one of Disney's most popular character-dining experiences. For people with disabilities: For those with limited mobility, elevator access to the dining experience is provided. Call or book online 180 days ahead, if possible, to reserve the character breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

There's something for everyone at this beach just west of the Third Street South shopping area, but what gets the most attention is the historical pier, which extends well into the Gulf and offers the best free dolphin-viewing around. Sunsets are a nightly ritual, and dodging anglers' poles is to be expected. The concession stand sells food for humans as well as for fishy friends, and, on the sand below, teenagers hold court at volleyball nets; families picnic on blankets; and a handful of other people swoop up cockles, fighting conchs, and coquinas. To avoid the commotion, head south on Gulf Shore Boulevard, and take your pick of the public access points. The sands here won't have the facilities of the pier—or facilities, period—but the solitude can't be beat. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunsets; swimming.

Housed in one of Downtown's oldest buildings, this charming, small gallery features mostly local and regional artists.

A quiet day at the beach gets an adventurous start when you board a tram and careen down a ¾-mile boardwalk through shaded mangroves and a network of canals. At the end is a pretty, secluded patch of sand where the calm surf is perfect for swimming. In addition to sunbathing, shelling, and sand-castle building, you can spring for a kayak and meander around the marsh. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming.

Swarms of surfers have co-opted these choppy tides almost immediately south of The Breakers' private beach club. With almost no public parking nearby and a lack of basic facilities, this beach caters principally to locals who come here by foot from their posh crash pads. But if you're staying at The Breakers or visiting the main municipal Palm Beach, walk south or north, respectively, and witness the throng of boards in and out of the water and surfers riding the wave crests. Amenities: none. Best for: surfing.

This aquarium gives you the opportunity to participate in the work of saving and caring for endangered marine species. Many of the sea turtles, dolphins, and other animals living at the aquarium were brought here to be rehabilitated from an injury or saved from danger. The dolphin exhibit has an open-air arena giving the dolphins plenty of room to jump during their shows.

This aquarium is also home to Hope, star of the Dolphin Tale film franchise. The aquarium conducts tours of the bays and islands around Clearwater, including a daily cruise on a pontoon boat (you might just see a wild dolphin or two), and kayak tours of Clearwater Harbor and St. Joseph Sound.

Detailing city history, the Clewiston Museum tells stories not only of Big Sugar and the Herbert Hoover Dike construction, but also of the World War II British Royal Air Force pilots training at the Clewiston airfield. Artifacts from the Seminole tribe and even fossils found by a local paleontologist are on display, too. Historical ecotours are held on Friday 9–4:30 ($25) and include bird-watching, lunch, and a tour through the museum and nearby Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum.

Each year, this clinic cares for and rehabilitates more than 5,000 wildlife patients, from bald eagles to loggerhead sea turtles. The center offers a look inside the world of wildlife medicine through exhibits, videos, interactive displays, touch screens, and critter cams that feed live footage from four different animal spaces. Wildlife walks give a behind-the-scenes look and can be reserved for $25 per person. This is an excellent facility, but the displays may be too graphic for young visitors.

This is one of the Space Coast's nicest beaches—and the place where the great professional surfer Kelly Slater got his start. It has one of the East Coast's steadiest surf breaks, as well as wide stretches of hard sand that are excellent for biking, jogging, power walking, and strolling. In some places, there are dressing rooms, showers, playgrounds, picnic areas with grills, snack shops, and surfside parking lots. Beach vendors offer necessities, and lifeguards are on duty in the summer. A popular entry road, Route 520, crosses the Banana River into Cocoa Beach. At its east end, 5-acre Alan Shepard Park, named for the famous astronaut, aptly provides excellent views of launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Facilities here include 10 picnic pavilions, shower and restroom facilities, and more than 300 parking spaces. Parking is $15 for the day. Shops and restaurants are within walking distance. Another enticing Cocoa Beach entry point is 10-acre Sidney Fischer Park, in the 2100 block of Route A1A in the central beach area. It has showers, playgrounds, changing areas, picnic areas with grills, snack shops, and plenty of well-maintained parking lots ($20 per day). Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (seasonal); parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; surfing; swimming; walking.