One of my goals as a parent was to take my kids to 48 states before they graduated high school. We were very excited to achieve this goal as we crossed the border of Vermont the summer before my son’s senior year. We eventually made it to all 50 states! I decided to start a travel blog to share our ideas with all of you. Not only did we reach our goal, but we had so much time together as a family, my children became closer and we learned about different regions of the country. I keep a list of ideas and places we visited in each state.
A state that we are really familiar with is Florida. I moved to Florida when I was 10 years old and lived there past college. My husband also grew up there and we still have family in the state. Florida is a popular tourist destination, especially for the beaches and theme parks, but there is so much more. Florida also has culture, history, and some great adventures. I decided to separate the state into three areas: North, Central, and South. This is just a list of ideas and things we have done. I know the state has much more to offer.
North Florida
We grew up in the Panhandle of Florida and still have family in that area, so we visit often. This area is famous for its white sand beaches and emerald-green waters. I am also including Tallahassee and Gainesville for their beauty and culture, as well as Jacksonville and St. Augustine’s beaches and deep-rooted history.
- Castillo de San Marcos: oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States
- TPC Sawgrass: play golf at the home of the Players Championship
- Singleton’s Seafood Shack: Rustic fish camp in Mayport
- Kingsley Plantation: 1814 plantation house and its surrounding structures
- Riverside Arts Market: every Saturday morning under the Fuller Warren Bridge
- Wakulla Springs State Park: one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs
- Tallahassee Museum: outdoor activities including hiking trails, historical buildings, and zip lines
- Florida Museum of Natural History: free museum in Gainesville
- Lake Alice: a great place to see alligators and also has a bat house
- Devil’s Millhopper: nature walks and a large sinkhole with an interesting history
- Henderson Beach State Park: protected shoreline on the Emerald Coast
- Naval Aviation Museum: a navy museum, home to the Blue Angels- don’t miss their practices
- Stinky’s Fish Camp: seafood restaurant located in Santa Rosa Beach
- Blackwater River: canoe or kayak part of the 56 miles through cypress swamps and pine forests
- St. Andrews State Park: excellent snorkeling spot along the rock jetty
- Captain Anderson’s: longstanding family-owned restaurant in Panama City Beach
- Apalachicola: take a historic walking tour through this small fishing village
Central Florida
Of course, Central Florida is known for its theme parks, but there are some amazing beaches and interesting history in this region. When we were growing up and when our kids were young, Central Florida was an annual trip to visit the theme parks, but we always try to find other interesting attractions off the beaten path.
- Cedar Key: one of the best places to fish in the state
- Kennedy Space Center: visit the complex and check the launch schedule
- Ron Jon’s Surf Shop: The Cocoa Beach flagship shop is also the world’s largest surf shop at 52,000 square feet
- Crystal River: the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees
- You can’t miss the theme parks: Busch Gardens, Sea World, Legoland, Disney, Universal, plus so many more
- Disney Springs and Disney’s Boardwalk: check out all the free entertainment
- Celebration Town Center: look up the free, family-focused events
- Plant City: pick your own strawberries at the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World
- Ybor City: ride the streetcar to explore the history, art and food of the Tampa neighborhood
- St. John’s River: spot alligators on an airboat tour
- The Ringling: art museum, historic museum, circus museum, historic theater, mansion and much more
- Burger Station: grab a burger and shake in Hernando
- DeSoto National Memorial Park: take a free ranger-led kayak tour
- Lake Placid: explore the outdoor art gallery with over 40 beautiful murals
South Florida
Everyone knows that South Florida has sun and sand, but it is also known for the international food scene, arts, history, culture, and outdoor adventure. It is truly a unique place with a tropical climate.
- Homestead trolley: offers free public transportation to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks
- Everglades National Park: walk the Anhinga Trail, take an airboat ride, tour Shark Valley on the tram
- Robert is Here fruit stand: a family-owned market with local & exotic fruits
- El Rey De Las Fritas: known for Cuban hamburgers topped with shoestring potatoes
- Biscayne National Park: sign up for a boat trip through the Biscayne National Park Institute
- Crandon Park Beach: great place to kayak, paddleboard, and kiteboard
- South Beach: enjoy a walking tour of the historic Art Deco architecture
- Old Fort Lauderdale Village: offers programs and activities throughout the year
- Jungle Island: a more intimate eco-adventure zoo park
- Pennekamp Coral Reef: catch a boat to snorkel at the reef
- Islamorada Brewery and Distillery: try a Key Lime Coconut Ale
- Mallory Square in Key West: attend the sunset celebration, a nightly arts festival
- Blue Heaven: order the best pancakes while in Key West
- Dry Tortugas National Park: take the ferry or a plane to the island, enjoy visiting the fort, snorkeling the reefs, or lounging on the beach
- Fort Myers: tour some of the homes such as Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter estates
- Grouper and Chips: serving fresh local gulf coast fish in Naples
- Big Cypress National Preserve: take a swamp buggy tour