Places to Visit in Florida

• Where is Tampa located and what is it known for?
  • Located on Tampa Bay on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it is a modern business hub with interesting history and diverse cultural offerings.
• What are some must-see attractions in Tampa?
  • Visit the quirky Henry B. Plant Museum built in 1891 as a luxury hotel.
• What can families do in Tampa?
  • Take the kids to Busch Gardens, with many thrill rides and wild animals.
• What is the Ybor City neighborhood like?
  • Stroll through the historic Ybor City neighborhood built in the early 20th century by cigar-factory workers from Cuba. It is also a great place to get a meal in one of many small restaurants.
• What outdoor activities can you enjoy in Tampa?
  • Paddle a kayak or canoe through the lush, wild Little Manatee River.
• Where can you learn more about Tampa's history?
  • Learn more about the city’s history at the interactive Tampa Bay History Center, located on Tampa's lively downtown Riverwalk.

If you are planning a road trip adventure, driving time from Miami is 5 hours:

• Where is Clearwater located and what is it known for?
  • Located between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, northwest of St. Petersburg, Clearwater is a famous family holiday destination known for its 3-mile-long spectacular beach, wonderful weather, and long, narrow barrier reef.
• What attractions can families visit in Clearwater?
  • Take the kids to see the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where injured dolphins and sea turtles are brought to recover and get rehabilitated.
• What are some other activities in Clearwater?
  • Check the game at the Bright House Field, where the Phillies baseball team comes for spring training.
  • Stroll down Pier 60 to see the sunset and the street artists entertaining the crowds.
• What outdoor activities can visitors enjoy in Clearwater?
  • Enjoy the shady boardwalk trails through Moccasin Lake Nature Park.
  • Take a tour of the bay to see the playful dolphins in their own environment.

If you plan to catch a flight to Orlando and drive, it's a 2.5 hour trip to Clearwater:

• Where is Daytona Beach located and what is it known for?
  • Daytona Beach is located about 51 miles from Orlando on the Atlantic coast. It is world-renowned for the Daytona 500 NASCAR race held at the Daytona International Speedway.
• What is unique about Daytona's beach?
  • Even Daytona’s beautiful sandy beach allows driving.
• What else is there to do in Daytona Beach besides racing?
  • However, there is more to Daytona than just the races: There are also popular summer concerts at the Daytona Beach Bandshell stages.
• What family-friendly attractions are in Daytona Beach?
  • Near the beach is the Daytona Lagoon water park, with waterslides, go-karts, and laser tag.

You can also fly to Jacksonville and plan a fun family day trip to Daytona Beach, 1.5 hours away.

• Where is Destin located and what is it known for?
  • Destin is a city in northwest Florida on the Florida Panhandle, on a peninsula that separates the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. Destin is famous for its beautiful beaches with powder-fine white sand, a number of great golf courses, and excellent fishing.
• What activities can visitors enjoy in Destin?
  • Get the feel of the city by strolling along the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.
  • Visit Henderson Beach State Park to see the giant dunes and enjoy a hike along the coast surrounded by oak and pine trees.
• What family-friendly activities are available in Destin?
  • Kids will love the variety of slides, pools, and waterfalls in the huge Big Kahuna’s water park.
• What historical and cultural sites can be visited in Destin?
  • Visit the Destin History & Fishing Museum to learn about the importance of fishing for Destin.
  • Don’t miss the Fort Walton Mound archaeological site, built by the Pensacola tribe in 850 A.D.

Destin is about 5 hours by car from Jacksonville, FL:

• What is Delray Beach known for?
  • Delray Beach is a small coastal city known for its lovely sandy beaches but also for the lively art community in its eclectic downtown.
• What is the Pineapple Grove Arts District?
  • The Pineapple Grove Arts District is full of amazing public art and art galleries.
• What other art-related attractions are in Delray Beach?
  • There is also the Creative Arts School and the Fieldhouse, established in 1925, and much more.
• What events take place in Delray Beach?
  • A range of art festivals run all year round. The First Friday Art Walks are a great way to explore the city’s art scene, see a show, or catch a concert.
• What else can visitors enjoy in Delray Beach?
  • And there are, of course, great restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy fresh food and enjoy some people watching.

• Where is Pensacola located and what makes it special?
  • Pensacola is a charming, old coastal Florida city, the westernmost city on the Florida panhandle, with lovely Santa Rosa Island separating it from the Gulf of Mexico and creating quiet, safe sandy beaches, perfect for the kids.
  • One of the oldest European settlements in America, Pensacola is full of historic charm.
• Where should you start exploring in Pensacola?
  • Start your exploration at the Historic Pensacola Village, where 19 well-preserved 19th-century buildings create a living museum.
• What attractions are near the historic area?
  • Just around the corner are the beaches, and not far away is the 1839 Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum.
• What can you see from the Pensacola Lighthouse?
  • Take the steep spiral staircase to climb to the top of the Pensacola Lighthouse, built in 1859; the view is worth the climb.

• What are the Florida Keys known for?
  • Stretching almost 120 miles from the southern tip of Florida between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean is a string of tropical islands called the Florida Keys.
  • This coral archipelago starts about 15 miles from Miami and ends in Dry Tortugas National Park, which is uninhabited.
• What is Key West famous for?
  • The last inhabited key is Key West, a famous tourist destination that is called Key Weird by the locals, with its popular bars and shops on Duval Street and daily Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square.
• What activities can visitors enjoy on the Florida Keys?
  • Anywhere on the Keys you can charter a boat and go fishing, snorkeling or diving, rent a kayak and explore the mysterious mangroves, sample unique local cuisine, stroll along quaint, colorful streets, and sit in one of many rustic beach bars to soak up the spirit of the Keys.

• Where is Fort Lauderdale located and what is it famous for?
  • Located 28 miles north of Miami on the southeastern coast of Florida, Fort Lauderdale is a popular tourist destination famous for its beaches and picturesque boating canals.
• What is the best place to start exploring Fort Lauderdale?
  • The best place to start your exploration is at the Strip, a long, wide promenade that runs along the ocean and is lined with posh outdoor restaurants, lively bars, fancy boutiques, and luxury hotels.
• What historical sites can be visited in Fort Lauderdale?
  • Visit 1901 Stranahan House, the oldest structure in Fort Lauderdale still standing.
• What are some other attractions in Fort Lauderdale?
  • Check out the International Swimming Hall of Fame, take a hike or a boat ride through Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, and visit the NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale to see what the local artists are doing.

• What is the history of Fort Myers?
  • Fort Myers was a fort built on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River to protect the settlers from the Seminole Indians. Today’s Fort Myers is a modern commercial center, a gateway to sunny southwest Florida and a place that attracts thousands of tourists to its lovely beaches.
• What activities can visitors enjoy in Fort Myers?
  • There is a lot to do in Fort Myers besides swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and relaxing on the sand.
• What cultural attractions are in Fort Myers?
  • Visit the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Museum in the busy Fort Myers downtown.
• What family-friendly activities are available in Fort Myers?
  • Take the kids to the Lakes Regional Park to ride a miniature train, or let them unleash their imagination at the Imaginarium Science Center, an aquarium and hands-on science museum.
• What historical sites can be visited in Fort Myers?
  • Take a guided tour of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, where Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford spent their winters on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.

• What is Gainesville known for?
  • Gainesville is the lively college town with the huge campus of the University of Florida. It is the largest city in north-central Florida, about a 90-minute drive from Jacksonville and Orlando.
• What is the natural landscape like in Gainesville?
  • The city is lushly forested and surrounded by rural lands and the 21,000-acre Paynes Prairie Wilderness on the city’s southern edge.
• Are there outdoor activities in Gainesville?
  • There are more than 30 miles of hiking and biking trails where you can spot birds, wild horses, bison, or alligators. Floating down the cool, spring-fed river at the lush Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a city tradition.
• What cultural attractions can visitors explore?
  • Visit the Florida Quilt Museum, Quilt Trail, and Quilt Festival. Stroll through the spectacular Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, with its waterfalls, bridges, and small lakes.