Check out all the places seen in this video: https://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-florida
When most people think of Florida, they think of sunshine, theme parks, orange juice, and alligators. But this former Spanish colony, which became the 27th state to join the Union, offers much more.
Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, Florida boasts miles of white sand beaches. Its moderate climate makes it a popular tourist destination all year round. Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Florida.
Number 10: Kennedy Space Center
Cape Canaveral, located on Florida’s coast, is home to many space-related attractions. One of the best is the Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s primary launch site for human space flight since 1968, which now also operates as a launch site for unmanned rockets.
Visitors can learn about early space pioneers and experience the thrill of the Shuttle Launch Experience, simulating space travel.
Number 9: Naples
Naples, once a rustic town, is now one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, with homes selling for over $40 million. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, its development along the shoreline remains residential, preserving its charm.
Named because its bay was said to be prettier than the Bay of Naples in Italy, Naples features a beautiful city beach, nearby wildlife refuges, and vibrant arts and shopping districts.
Number 8: St. Augustine
Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the U.S. Its National Historic Landmark District is a major tourist destination with a walkable downtown featuring narrow colonial streets, locally-owned shops, and outstanding restaurants.
The city also offers access to the Atlantic Ocean and year-round sunshine.
Number 7: Fort Lauderdale
No longer just a Spring Break destination, Fort Lauderdale is now a sophisticated cultural center with an upscale social scene. Located about 23 miles north of Miami Beach, it is known as the “Venice of America” due to its extensive canal system.
The city has plenty of hotels, golf courses, marinas, museums, and one of the busiest cruise-ship ports in the world. The most popular section of the city beach, “The Strip,” features numerous dining and drinking establishments.
Number 6: Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach, separated from the city of Clearwater by the Intracoastal Waterway, boasts miles of white sandy beaches. Named Florida’s Best Beach Town by USA Today readers in 2013, Clearwater Beach offers activities such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, and dolphin tours. It hosts events like the Clearwater Jazz Festival and the weekly sunset festival at Pier 60, a sports fishing pier.
Number 5: Everglades
The Everglades are one of Florida’s natural treasures, featuring a unique combination of ecosystems including swamps, sub-tropical jungles, saw-grass prairies, and the largest mangrove complex in the Western Hemisphere.
Much of the Everglades are protected within the Everglades National Park, providing shelter to a variety of birds, fish, and reptiles, including endangered species like the American crocodile and the Florida panther.
Visitors can arrange boat tours to the Ten Thousand Islands or take exciting airboat tours.
Number 4: Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay area, on the Gulf of Mexico, includes Tampa Bay and the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Tampa is home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Family-friendly activities include Busch Gardens, a theme park with Florida’s best roller coasters and a zoo featuring animals from Africa’s Serengeti Plain. St. Pete Beach is renowned for its white sand beaches and clear waters, named the best beach in the U.S. and fifth in the world by TripAdvisor readers in 2012.
Number 3: Orlando
Orlando is the ultimate theme-park city, with more theme parks than any other place in the world. Attractions include Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Gator Park, drawing 51 million visitors annually.
This Sunbelt city, less affected by hurricanes, is also home to the University of Central Florida, the second-largest college by enrollment in the U.S.
Number 2: Miami
Miami is known for its Latin culture and vibrant nightlife. Located in southeastern Florida on the Atlantic coast, Miami is a major port city handling the world’s largest number of passenger cruise ships.
Attracting tourists worldwide, Miami offers a melting pot of cultures, sunny beaches, Art Deco architecture, and the glamorous South Beach.
Number 1: Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a 120-mile chain of tropical islands curving around the base of Florida, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges.
The Seven Mile Bridge in the Lower Keys, featured in films like “True Lies” and “2 Fast 2 Furious,” is the most spectacular. US Highway 1, known as the “Overseas Highway,” runs through Key Largo, Marathon, Lower Keys, and finally to Key West, the most distant and famous of the Keys.
