12 Bucket-List Experiences You Could Only Have In Florida

Florida’s teeming with plenty of opportunities for adventure. Here are 12 bucket-list experiences you must have no matter what when in the Sunshine State!

Swim with manatees

Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River is the only place where you can swim with manatees in the whole nation. The gentle sea cows seek refuge in the springs during the winter months, and visitors can swim side by side as long as they abide by the rules—don’t harass the animals or chase them around!

Plunge to the bottom of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park—the first underwater park in the U.S.A.—to get a look at the 4,000-ton statue of Christ of the Abyss. It’s not every day you see Jesus, and the park lies in Key Largo, known as the diving capital of the world!

Airboat through the Florida Everglades

Go blazing through the Everglades on an airboat for a tour of the swamps and wetlands. The national park in South Florida is home to thousands of species from alligators to pythons and even the Florida panther. Just make sure to pack mosquito repellent!

Alligator in the Everglades National Park

Helicopter ride above Miami

Hop aboard a helicopter tour of the glittering Miami skyline. From the towering skyscrapers in Brickell to the turquoise beaches, the landscape’s diversity is a feast for the eyes.

Watch a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center

You don’t see rockets every day, so why not take a road trip to Florida’s space coast for a tour of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center? Peruse the collection of artifacts, such as the magnificent 363-foot (111-meter) rocket that launched astronauts to the moon and back. You can even meet an astronaut and watch a rocket blast depending on the day. Check their calendar of events here.

See the Florida Reef

The third largest coral barrier reef in the world lies just a few miles around the Florida Keys, from Key Largo to the Marquesas Keys. Home to more than 40 species of stony corals and about 500 species of fish, the beautiful reef is a sight to see, and scuba divers can easily reach it via the Dry Tortugas National Park or the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park where you can spot spiny lobsters, sea cucumbers, and pufferfish.

Go shark tooth hunting in Venice Beach

Venice Beach in western Florida is swarming with shark teeth from species such as the prehistoric megalodon shark! A few million years ago, all of Florida was submerged underwater, so the fossilized teeth have encrusted in the rock formations you can hunt down along the beach.

Try a stone crab at Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe’s Stone Crab is an institution in Miami, so when in town, head to the legendary restaurant and put on your bib for a taste of the fresh-tasting goodness that is a stone crab claw.

Balloon over Miami

Float over Florida in peaceful serenity while catching uninterrupted views of lakes, wildlife, and several cities. The ideal spot for a proposal or a good photo op, a ride on a hot air balloon is not one you’ll forget anytime soon.

Fish a marlin at the Florida Keys

Head to Key West for some big game fishing and a chance to catch a blue marlin. If you’re lucky enough to get one to bite, then prepare for an all-out battle to reel in the little monster.

Go tubing down Santa Fe River

A refreshing way to cool off from the heat, tubing down the Santa Fe River is a fun experience for all ages. The 75-mile-long (121 kilometers) river in northern Florida feeds from many springs, including the most famous, Ginnie Springs—a beautiful clear water spring perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Watch sea turtles nesting

More than 100,000 sea turtles step onto the Florida shores to bury their soft-shelled eggs in the sand before heading back to the ocean. Two months later, viewers gather around in the spring to early fall to watch the teeny-tiny turtles crack out of the eggs and hurry into the water. Catch the spectacle in Melbourne Beach, Florida.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.