Ride the movies at Universal Studios, party it up in Miami, take a stroll through the swamps in the Everglades, relive a childhood experience in Disneyworld, and even witness a space shuttle launch. Florida has plenty of activities for a family vacation.
1. Universal Studios
Ever wanted to ride the movies and live the magic of them? You can do that at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Only minutes away from the towering Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios is action-packed with movie-themed rides, all equipped with real life special effects ranging from 3D, 4D, pyrotechnics, and even real actors to a name a few. Spider-Man, Jaws, The Hulk, Dr. Doom, Men In Black, and even The Terminator are all included on the menu here. Throw in a some fantastic nightlife for adults and complimentary water taxis and you have one of the greatest theme parks on Earth.
2. Disneyworld
If there’s one thing that comes to mind when you first think of Florida, it has got to be Mickey Mouse or the Cinderella Castle. Orlando, Florida houses one of the largest theme park attraction properties on Earth: The Walt Disney World Resort. Neighboring the other Orlando theme park monster, Universal Studios, Disneyworld contains several different theme parks to choose from, including two water parks, one of which houses the world’s largest wave pool. There is so much to see and explore in Disneyworld that you would require at least a one week stay to see and do it all.
Restaurants, diving, snorkeling, fishing, spas, and more. You can find all of this when you visit the expansive locales of the Florida Keys and Key West – a chain cluster of about 1700 islands situated off of the southeastern coast of Florida, about 15 miles south of Miami. The keys are divided into a few different sections – the Upper Keys (i.e. Soldier Keys, Adams Key, Key Largo, etc.), the Middle Keys (i.e. Fiesta Key, Boot Key, Knight’s Key, etc.), and the Lower Keys (i.e. Little Duck Key, Big Torch Key, Fleming Key, etc.)
Also known as the biggest national park in the United States, the Everglades is a wide-open swamp-filled land with plenty to see. Just hop on one of their airboat rides and see for yourself. Nature is abound everywhere in Everglades National Park, a place where sky, Earth, and water all come together in this old low-lying green landscape. There is an endless variety of floral resources to see in the Everglades.
5. Miami
Miami is one of Florida’s most popular cities to vacation at. Popular Miami attractions consist of: South Beach, a hot spot that has partying, shopping, and all the trendy stuff you can ask for; the Seaquarium; the Miami Metrozoo; the Miami Museum of Space; the Parrot Jungle Island; Coral Castle; Monkey Jungle; and Miami’s Children Museum to name a few. And, of course, you can always hit Miami’s beaches where are prime for exercise and tanning opportunities. To top it all off, you have the Everglades which are not that far from the city.
If you’re a sucker for seashells, then you’re bound to find piles upon piles of them on Sanibel Island, one of the things which the place is notorious for. The beach on this island also starred in the finale of the zombie cult classic, George A. Romero’s “Day of the Dead”.
If you’re visiting Orlando’s popular theme parks like Disneyworld and Universal Studios, then a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex should definitely be on your list as it’s only east of the theme parks. The Kennedy Space Center is the only attraction on Earth that allows visitors to meet veteran astronauts, participate in spaceflight simulators, tour launch sites, and even witness an actual live space shuttle launch.
This museum is considered to be the holy grail for aircraft fanatics as it houses some of the best and well-preserved aircrafts around. The Pensacola Naval Air Museum has over 150 spacecraft and aircraft on display, all of which range from US Coast Guard copters to the K-47 Airship which President George H. W. Bush had trained on.
This is where you’ll find the real money in Florida. Separated from West Palm Beach and Lake Worth by an Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach is one of the last remains of the Old Florida, fully abound with nature. Palm Beach is equipped with fine resorts, restaurants, and beaches. The county is covered in Hollywood-stylized glamor. It’s hard to believe that this was once one big uninhabitable swamp until a rich man named Henry Flagler stepped into the picture and changed everything.
10. St. Augustine
Also known as the oldest and most occupied European settlement in all of North America, St. Augustine is a very historical place in Florida, complete with attractions like the Old Jail, its museum, and a tram ride that provides a tour of the entire town.
