The 30 best things to do in Florida

The newest theme park in Orlando is Universal Epic Universe. As you enter the park, you’ll be inside Celestial Park, a beautiful green space that connects you to all of the portals to enter the four other worlds of the park: Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. While each world is incredible in its own right, the How to Train Your Dragon area is my favorite since it feels like it was plucked right out of the animated movies, complete with animatronic sheep, dragons and plenty of vikings walking around. 

Time Out tip: If you only want to go to Epic Universe while visiting Orlando, consider staying at one of the three nearby Universal Orlando Resort hotels. Two budget-friendly options include Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort. I recommend Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which has direct access to Epic Universe.

State Road 30A has become a popular beach retreat for Floridians. The panhandle beaches are known for soft sand, gentle waves and elaborate vacation rentals. I love hanging out in Rosemary Beach, where the old-school charm of the neighborhoods blends seamlessly with the crashing waves. After you’re done at the beach, head to one of the many restaurants or bars that are known for fresh seafood and craft cocktails.

Time Out tip: Most of the accommodations around this part of Florida are home and condo rentals, but if you’re looking for a true luxury stay, consider the Pearl in Rosemary Beach. The property is known for hand-delivering baked goods at bedtime and has been named one of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels.

Walt Disney World is one of the most visited places on earth, and no trip to Florida is complete without experiencing Magic Kingdom. It is home to a variety of attractions that have become theme park icons, like the Haunted Mansion, the Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain. The park has even more on the horizon, with a Villains Land and Cars-themed area coming soon. And I never miss a chance to hug my favorite Disney character or chow down on an iconic turkey leg at the park.

Time Out tip: To get the most out of your time at Magic Kingdom, make sure you arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before the gates open. So if the park opens at 8am, you’ll want to be at the ticket scanning area by 7:15am.

Key West is the place to sit back and relax. There are ample spaces to do this in Key West, but none are more famous than Mallory Square. Each night, the square fills with tourists and locals who are ready to celebrate the sunset with a cold drink in hand. These parties are the perfect time for people to take in the beauty of nature as the sun goes down over the glittering waters of the Florida Keys—before they head to the iconic beach bars in hopes of living out their Jimmy Buffett dreams.

Time Out tip: Since the timing of sunset changes daily, a great way to determine when to arrive is to check your phone’s weather app to see the sunset time. Festivities usually begin about two hours prior to sunset.

Football fans can rally for one of three NFL teams that call Florida home: the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins. Part of the fun of traveling to Florida for an NFL game is the game-day experience; the warmer weather makes it perfect for tailgating before a game, and the stadiums here are top-notch (one even has pools, and another has a full-size pirate ship inside).

Time Out tip: If you’re heading to any of the games in the state, be sure you brush up on some of the game-day traditions. For example, in Jacksonville, fans will yell “DUUUVAL” at the start of the game, claiming their territory in Duval County.

Universal Studios Florida is home to Diagon Alley, part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here, you’ll find Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a story coaster that allows riders to get face-to-face with villains from the Harry Potter franchise and a large, fire-breathing dragon. Universal Studios Florida is also where you’ll find classic Universal attractions like E.T. Adventure, Men in Black: Alien Attack and Revenge of the Mummy. And if you’re traveling with kids, there’s an all-new DreamWorks Land where stories from Shrek, Trolls and more come to life.

Time Out tip: One of the most underrated spots for a snack at the park is the little green hut, dubbed the London Taxi Hut, just outside of the entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley. I love the jacket potatoes, which are simply baked potatoes loaded with toppings like broccoli and cheese or beans and cheese.

When it comes to history, no city in the United States has more than St. Augustine. The charming downtown streets of the historic district feature old-school buildings, a Spanish village and more. Many of the older structures have been transformed into shops and restaurants, which are fun to pop into on warm summer days. Across the street from the historic district is the Castillo de San Marcos, which is a Spanish fort. Here, you can see reenactments of battles and walk through the fort to get a taste of what it was like to live in St. Augustine when it was first founded—in 1565!

Time Out tip: During the holiday season, St. Augustine is known for its Nights of Lights celebration, where the entire historic district is decked out with three million lights. I love to walk around the city under the glow of the Christmas lights, and oftentimes you’ll hear some Christmas music playing in the park. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Ringling (@theringling)

Sarasota may be known for its beaches, but when the rain comes through, or it’s just too hot, head to the Ringling. This museum is dedicated to preserving the arts and showing off the home of one of the famed Ringling Brothers. Today, the museum hosts a variety of exhibits and enrichment opportunities throughout the year. Those who are interested in a closer look at the museum and its pieces can book a guided gallery tour. And for history buffs, one of the “Collecting Recollections” talks from those who have connections to Ringling or Sarasota may be of interest.

Time Out tip: The museum has a bronze cast of Michelangelo’s original David statue. You can find it in the museum’s courtyard.

One of the most famous beaches in the United States is right here in Florida, in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood. Of course, visitors can soak up the sun on the sandy shore, but there’s so much more to the area than the beach. Consider checking out the Bass Art Museum, strolling down Ocean Drive or hopping on a double-decker bus tour to see more of the city. After a day of exploring, there are dozens of restaurants to try and a vibrant nightlife scene to keep you dancing until morning.

Time Out tip: If you’re into architecture, there are a few tours that will show you around Miami’s Art Deco neighborhoods, but the best one is the Art Deco Walking Tour, which is operated by the Miami Design Preservation League.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can live out your Star Wars dreams by piloting the Millennium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or you can take a ride on Slinky Dog’s back in Toy Story Land. You can even drop 13 stories in an elevator on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, if you’re so inclined. For a more casual afternoon, consider grabbing a margarita flight at the Hollywood Brown Derby and checking out a live reproduction of the classic Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast, which is just down the street from the Brown Derby.

Time Out tip: The park recently closed its Muppets Courtyard area to turn it into a Monsters, Inc.–themed land. But fear not: The Muppets are moving across the park to take over Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster sometime next year.

Adults and those traveling with kids of all ages will enjoy Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Here, you can explore several themed lands based on popular movies and series like Jurassic Park, Marvel, Dr. Seuss and, of course, even more Harry Potter. For some high-speed thrills, head to Jurassic World Velocicoaster, which whisks riders on a whirlwind of twists, turns, and inversions as they try to escape velociraptors at speeds of nearly 70 miles an hour.

Time Out tip: One of the most popular rides at the park is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, and lines do get long quickly. Luckily, the attraction was added to Universal’s Express Pass system earlier this summer, so if you’re willing to shell out some extra dough or are staying at a Universal hotel that offers Express Passes, you can skip the long line and get to class in the Forbidden Forest quickly.

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the nation. Considering its age, it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most haunted places in Florida. What does that mean? Well, ghost tours, of course. Hop on board a trolley in the early evening and get ready to travel past some of the spookiest places in the city, like the St. Augustine Lighthouse, cemeteries from the 1800s and an old schoolhouse.

Time Out tip: Some ghost tours are more creepy and spooky than others. If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to read some reviews before selecting which one to do.

Universal Orlando Resort is home to its own water park, Volcano Bay. The sprawling destination is filled with exciting tube and body slides, plus a rapid-style river and a wave pool. When hunger strikes after a long morning of swimming, head to one of the many restaurants where options like coconut shrimp, flatbreads and sandwiches grace the menu.

Time Out tip: There are two “river” experiences at the park. The lazy river, dubbed Kopiko Wai Winding River, is super relaxing and goes through the middle of the park’s iconic volcano. Alternatively, TeAwa The Fearless River is a rapid river where you’ll need to wear a life vest and be a relatively strong swimmer to get in.

Are you an art lover heading to the Sunshine State? Make sure you stop at the Dalí museum in Tampa. The institution is home to one of the largest collections of Salvador Dalí’s works in the world. Throughout the year, the museum also puts on special exhibits and activities, while the stunning architecture—complete with winding staircases and mirrored exterior glass—makes it worth a visit all on its own.

Time Out tip: Try to visit on a Thursday, when the museum prices are 50 percent off after 5pm. This still gives you about three hours to enjoy the exhibits before the museum closes for the evening.

Epcot recently completed a multi-year transformation, which brought new attractions like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to the park. And while the charm of old Epcot remains, especially in World Showcase, the new additions are great for families. This year, the park also opened its first adult-only lounge, GEO-82, a spectacular spot inside Spaceship Earth, where cocktails, zero-proof drinks and a delightful food menu are paired with exceptional views of World Celebration. 

Time Out tip: Since Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is no longer on a virtual queue, the line gets long and stays long throughout the day. To have the shortest wait, consider rope dropping Epcot and heading right for the attraction to get it done and out of the way first thing in the morning.

The Florida Everglades is a unique environment where you can see a plethora of native wildlife like panthers, alligators and snakes. One way to really explore the Everglades is to hop on an airboat ride and travel through the swamps with an expert captain. There aren’t many other places in the United States where you can even take an airboat ride, which makes this a particularly unique Florida activity—the boats go fast, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for exciting wildlife.

Time Out tip: During peak season (November through April) airboat rides are very popular, so you’ll want to book your tour well before your trip to ensure everyone in your group is on the same boat.

Right next door to SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive park that allows you to enjoy sunny Florida days with plenty of food, drinks and animal encounters. The highlight of a day at Discovery Cove is swimming with dolphins and learning about their natural behaviors from the expert trainers who work at the park. After taking a swim with the magnificent creatures, grab a float and take a trip (or two) around a lazy river or go snorkeling with giant rays.

Time Out tip: Consider booking a cabana for the ultimate day at Discovery Cove. With the rental, you’ll have a dedicated area to sit and enjoy the park, towel service, a snack basket and a mini-fridge stocked with nonalcoholic drinks. Cabanas can accommodate up to eight guests comfortably, with a maximum of 10 guests.

One of Miami’s hippest neighborhoods, Wynwood, is certainly one of Florida’s brightest hubs for art and culture. The district is known for its colorful murals that grace the outside of large buildings, most often known as the Wynwood Walls. The outdoor museum showcases work from some of the world’s most prolific street artists. Around the area, you’ll also find smaller art galleries, craft breweries, boutiques, bistros and bars to enjoy after the sun goes down.

Time Out tip: On the second Saturday of every month, you can enjoy the Wynwood Art Walk, where artists, musicians and food trucks come together for a good time. And even better, everyone—including pets—is welcome to join in the fun.

In the heart of Delray Beach, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a stunning oasis where you can learn about Japanese culture while sitting in a tranquil, relaxing space. Before heading out to the gardens, visit the museum and immerse yourself in the culture of Japan; the museum has an abundance of Japanese artifacts and plays host to a variety of exhibitions each year. Next, step out to the gardens where you can soak in the sounds of rippling waters, singing birds, and nature.

Time Out tip: The museum has six distinct gardens, which are inspired by gardens in Japan. One of the most unique is the bonsai collection, which showcases the ancient art of growing trees in containers. You can even take bonsai classes to learn how to trim and train your own bonsai tree.

Located in Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a popular place for locals and tourists to enjoy a day in the sun. The park is one of the best snorkeling and diving locations in the world, with crystal-clear waters that allow you to see schools of fish and other marine life up close. The only way to get to the national park is by boat, but it’s a worthy afternoon trip if you’re already in Key West.

Time Out tip: Dry Tortugas National Park has the third-largest coral reef in the world. If you like to snorkel, you’ll find an abundance of wildlife, like nurse sharks and grouper, near the pier pilings.

Key West has plenty of historic sites, but none are more famous than the Hemingway Home and Museum. Here, you’ll see how the prolific author and writer Ernest Hemingway lived and worked daily. As you tour the house, you’ll see some of Hemingway’s personal objects that have been preserved, and on the grounds of the home, you might encounter some of the infamous six-toed cats that are direct descendants of the ones that belonged to Hemingway himself.

Time Out tip: Tickets for a tour are only available at the main gate, and reservations are not required.

In Florida, football doesn’t stop with the NFL. There’s nothing Florida does better than Saturday afternoon college football games. All around the state, you’ll see fans donning their team colors and hosting lavish parties with friends and family to watch the game—you might even hear them screaming out their team’s rally cry in the grocery store when they see another fan. A few of the most talked-about teams in the state are the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes. But no matter who you choose to cheer for, you’re guaranteed a good time.

Time Out tip: To get a real sense of game day, head to the stadium a bit early and explore the nearby areas. You’ll see people tailgating for hours, watching pre-game shows on massive TVs, grilling full meals and even playing some outdoor lawn games. Most folks are pretty friendly, so you may find yourself at a tailgate you weren’t invited to originally.

Round out your Walt Disney World adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. While most people think this park is just a zoo, that’s only half the story—you can also take a ride through an authentic African safari, or another ride that summits a scaled-down Mount Everest on a roller coaster. Better yet, get a flashback to the age of dinosaurs on a time rover. While at the park, you can also learn about conservation and what Disney is doing to help rehabilitate species and their natural environment.

Time Out tip: Disney’s Animal Kingdom is about to get a major upgrade, turning DinoLand U.S.A. into a Tropical Americas–themed land complete with rides based on Encanto and Indiana Jones. The last day to ride the iconic Dinosaur attraction is February 1, 2026.

Manatees, a native Florida species (you might also know them as sea cows or dugongs), are large creatures that often migrate to warmer Florida springs in the cooler months—it’s a great time to hop in the water or on a paddleboard to get a closer view. At Crystal River, you can learn about the gentle giants before swimming alongside them on a guided excursion.

Time Out tip: Even though it may be tempting, you should never touch a manatee in the wild, even if it comes up to you out of curiosity.

One theme park that often gets left out of the conversation is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The thrilling theme park is home to some of the fastest roller coasters in the state. The park also goes all out for the holidays, with themed events for Halloween and Christmas. Even better is that the park is filled with wicked-fast coasters, so this is a thrill-seeker’s dream.

Time Out tip: The park operates on a seasonal schedule, so even though it’s open year-round, there will be some times that the park closes pretty early. For instance, there are plenty of weekdays throughout the year where the park may only be open from 10am to 5 or 6pm.

There’s nothing better than splashing into a pool after whizzing down a water slide. That’s exactly what happens at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. The park is known for its massive wave pool, which sends out perfect waves every 90 seconds. There are also plenty of raft rides and a lazy river, so you can pick the vibe of the day. Just don’t leave without trying some of the mini doughnuts from Joffrey’s coffee stand—we promise it’s worth every sugary calorie.

Time Out tip: If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, you get free entry into the Disney water parks on your check-in day. This hotel benefit is applicable through the end of 2025, and will restart again during summer 2026.

Are you a space fanatic? Spend the day at NASA and Kennedy Space Center. The complex takes visitors past some of the launchpads where space shuttles were once lifted off into space—and where current-day spacecraft are still launched. You can also get up close to things like the Space Shuttle Atlantis, see some modern rockets and learn about NASA’s next big mission to explore Mars.

Time Out tip: The bus tour is a must-do at Kennedy Space Center. This is the only way you’ll be able to see the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The tour is included with your admission, but it’s a big time commitment at about three hours.

If you’re traveling with smaller kids, a stop at LEGOLAND Florida is hard to skip. The adorable theme park features plenty of attractions that kids of all ages can ride, not to mention a fun water park for a break from the Florida heat. And if you have toddlers, there’s an adjacent Peppa Pig Theme Park—based on the popular kid’s TV show—that has rides designed for the tiniest thrill seekers. After a day riding attractions and spotting favorite LEGO characters, relax at one of the three LEGOLAND Florida resorts—they’re all family-friendly and LEGO-themed (of course).

Time Out tip: LEGOLAND hosts a variety of seasonal events for Christmas, Halloween, the 4th of July and more. If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate any of the major holidays with kids, this is the spot. Halloween is our favorite because the park is filled with not-so-spooky fun and plenty of trick-or-treating for kids.

If you’re looking for a day filled with adventure and aquatic animals, head to SeaWorld Orlando. The exciting theme park has plenty of thrilling roller coasters along with ample opportunities for adorable animal encounters. While at the park, explore animal exhibits with penguins, sea lions and dolphins. The best part about SeaWorld compared to the other Orlando theme parks is that you really just need one day to do everything, which allows you to do more of the “local” activities in the city.

Time Out tip: SeaWorld Orlando is a Certified Autism Center, ensuring that all its staff get training for autism sensitivity and awareness. Additionally, the park has an online guide you can check out ahead of your trip.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Florida Aquarium (@floridaaquarium)

If you’re traveling to Tampa and looking for something the entire family can do together, look no further than the Florida Aquarium. Here, adults and kids can learn about sea life and ocean conservation, and they’ll also have the opportunity to get up close to marine life. One of our favorite exhibits is Stingray Beach, where visitors can watch and touch beautiful rays as they glide in the water—roll up your sleeves, put your hands into the tank and feel their velvet-soft wingtips.

Time Out tip: There are some animal encounter opportunities at the aquarium. These include spending some time getting up close (but not touching) sloths, meeting penguins or even taking a tour to find wild dolphins on a short boat cruise.