Welcome to Florida
Known as the “Sunshine State,” Florida’s year-long outdoor activities attract many to this dazzling destination. Amusement parks and other special attractions are a major draw for those who are young at heart. This state’s expansive coastline offers bountiful balmy beaches and exciting opportunities to bond with family and friends.
A trip to Florida offers a plethora of exciting excursion opportunities. With tourism as its largest business, Florida is plenty prepared to welcome its visitors.
The first images that come to mind when we think of Florida are captivating coves of coral, flourishing flora and fauna, rides, and beautiful beaches.
For nature lovers, special destinations offer a chance to see extraordinary wildlife and breathtaking views. Manatees and alligators and flamingos… oh my!
What makes Florida unique is not that there is only one special destination but that there are so many different destinations for any and all looking for vitality or serenity in their vacation.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World, home to fifty plus rides in addition to many other attractions, is a magical experience for the whole family. Home to four theme parks and two water parks, this family-oriented adventure is sure to be a joy.
Sometimes called, “the most magical place on earth,” Magic Kingdom is not only home to many movie-themed rides and attractions (a joy for little ones and a trip down memory lane for adults), but also to Disney’s fun-filled Main Street U.S.A., which hosts many shopping, food, and entertainment opportunities, like their frequent parades.
Animal Kingdom, a journey through the natural world, is home to two thousand plus animals, in addition to several attractions and roller coasters.
Epcot, an enthusiastic look into our future as well as a content look around the globe, hosts the World Showcase, which allows visitors to glimpse countries around the world.
Hollywood Studios, in addition to being home to numerous shows, hosts Toy Story Land and the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section of the park.
All in all, Walt Disney World is home to seven roller coasters and two hundred plus places to get food, enabling families to tailor their Walt Disney World experiences to taste.
Universal Orlando
For film enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike, Universal Orlando is a place to explore. With attractions based on movies, and roller coasters meant to leave your stomach behind, it is an unforgettable experience. With rides for all ages, this park can entertain families and groups of friends alike.
Universal Studios Florida allows the visitor to immerse themselves in the films they love, from parades and play areas to character encounters and kiddie coasters.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure is home to more thrill rides, including a free fall tower, several roller coasters, and some milder rides for the whole family to enjoy.
Universal’s Volcano Bay Themed Water Park is the last of Universal’s three theme parks. Home to numerous water slides, body slides, and lagoons, this park could be the perfect setting for letting loose your inner adventurer, or just letting off some steam.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
For live entertainment, animal encounters, safari adventures, and family and thrill rides, make a trip to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Home to some of the largest and fastest roller coasters, this fun flora and fauna filled theme park with two hundred plus species of animals is appealing to all ages.
Sea World Orlando
Home to sixty thousand plus different species of fish and land animals for nature-lovers, as well as plenty of roller-coasters for the bold, SeaWorld Orlando is a great destination for the whole family to enjoy.
With a variety of enthralling experiences, from their Dine with Orcas experience to the steepest beyond-vertical drop on a roller coaster in Florida, SeaWorld Orlando has something to offer every avid adventurer.
Funspot America
Home to Orlando’s only wooden roller coaster, Fun Spot America is filled with both classic and modern rides. The guests who visit the “Gator Spot” can catch a glimpse of alligators and crocodiles during their visit to this park. Those who visit the park’s “Splash Pad” are in for a wonderfully wet experience.
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium has many different animal habitats and exhibits. The focus of this aquarium is on education and conservation, with successful rehabilitation and release work. The aquarium is home to 8,000 plus animals from Florida, the Pacific Ocean, and Madagascar. This educational ecosystem is shore to get the seal of approval from parents and little ones alike.
Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium has shows and exhibits that showcase marine life with the goal of teaching visitors to sea the beauty in our ocean ecosystems. The seaquarium targets all ages, and has 10,000 plus animals. It works with the University of Miami on conservation efforts, animal rehabilitation, and returning rescued animals to the wild.
Zoo Miami
Big cats, elephants, rhinos, egg-citing exotic birds, and other sensational species create an amusing adventure for all ages during a visit to Zoo Miami, one of the largest zoos in the nation and the only subtropical zoo in the US.
Enjoy and learn through independent animal viewing, terrific tutorial tours and exclusive encounters during a fun-filled zoo day!
Biscayne National Park
This marine sanctuary showcases a variety of vibrant ecosystems. Home to one of the largest coral reefs in the world and featuring mangrove shorelines, there is sure to be something to float your boat.
Boat tours and other eco-adventures are offered through the Biscayne National Park Institute. Snorkeling from a boat affords an opportunity to witness marine life through clear water. With hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, there are ample opportunities to “seas the day” in this area.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Made up of seven islands, this gem of a destination is home to a fort built in the 1800s that stands as an enormous pinnacle of 19th century engineering. With crystal waters and a fascinating shipwreck, along with a charming coral reef, this park is ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Isolated from the bright city lights, Dry Tortugas National Park provides a lovely location to see the stars with your friends and loved ones.
Everglades National Park
Containing seven hundred plus animal species, and approximately 750 types of native plants, Everglades National Park is home to a wide variety of historical sites and several different ecosystems. Tour possibilities include traveling by air boat to see sites up close. Finding something to enjoy should be a walk in the park for any traveler.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
With six thousand plus species of marine life, seagrass beds, mangrove-lined islands, and one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary offers sustainable tourism efforts, including educational programs and volunteer and citizen science opportunities. Excursions for diving and fishing are operated separately through Blue Star Operators.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Taking up one-third of gorgeous Sanibel Island, this warm wildlife refuge is filled with mangrove trees, manatees, and migratory birds. The visitor and education centers have many fascinating programs.
The “Wildlife Drive” tour is open most days of the week, and walking trails branch off. Licensed, environmentally-friendly tours are provided through Tarpon Bay Explorers, and a percent of all profits go to benefit the US Fish and Wildlife Service. At this spectacularly sunny sanctuary, all visitors are sure to find a great way to seas the day.
Kennedy Space Center
It’s a blast! Fans visiting the Kennedy Space Center can experience the past, present, and future of space travel. Educational and entertaining, the experiences at KSC are sure to wow. As NASA’s main launch site, you can even schedule to witness a flight that’s out of this world.
Daytona International Speedway
This host of the Daytona 500 NASCAR and other racing competitions is sure to be a winner with the whole family! Experiences can vary – choose a tour of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Museum, watch a variety of events, or drive a race car. The Daytona International Speedway could be an exciting place to let go of your exhaust-ion.
Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee
Created to further the goal of promoting scientific understanding through education of the failed Challenger space shuttle mission, this museum system has 40 plus locations internationally. The system has several learning programs with more than half a million students in the U.S.A. participating every year.
The Tallahassee branch features an IMAX theatre, a space mission simulator, and a planetarium. These features are sure not only to thrill kids, but also offer great educational activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Emerald Coast Science Center
With several themed outdoor exhibits, from dinosaurs to the science behind boats in an exhibit in conjunction with the US Marines, and several indoor exhibits from robotics to the science of color, light, and sound, the Emerald Coast Science Center offers opportunities for learning for everyone!
This location also features chances to see several different types of animals, from colorful birds to mammals, to spiders and reptiles.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
With colorful flowers and educational programs for students from elementary school to those working on their graduate degrees, to professionals and other adults, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden has a lot to offer.
In addition to these educational opportunities, the garden also has several themed outdoor events for the public, from a dog date event in June to a Mango Festival in July. This venue also hosts wedding parties, offering the ability to step through greenery into a bright future.
Florida Museum of Natural History
On the University of Florida’s campus, this museum is working to record biodiversity and prepare the scientists of the future. The museum features several exhibits that demonstrate and promote the environment of the state. It also offers tours and classes to the public on the area’s biology and history.
Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
With interactive activities, the MOSI promotes learning about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in an engaging way for kids and families. The ropes course, simulated moon colony, and planetarium are just the tip of the iceberg of many promising activities!
Museum of Arts and Science
A museum that promotes outreach, the MOAS has many programs that benefit the broader community. The museum welcomes visitors of all ages to come to see their exhibits as well as provides programs that visit schools to pro-actively spread the joy of science to even more children! Additionally, the MOAS offers lectures on science, art and history topics.
Museum of Discovery and Science
With almost 20 permanent exhibits, such as prehistoric Florida and a kinetic energy clock, along with additional traveling and virtual exhibits, this museum is provides a chance to explore engaging topics. The IMAX theatre has showing of educational documentaries and blockbuster films, offering something for everyone. The Museum of Discovery and Science has several STEM-focused outreach programs and also is able to host parties and other events for the science-minded younger generations.
Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center is full of hands-on exhibits, theaters and labs, and a observatory. A visit to the Center is an engaging, educational day for the whole family! The Center also does significant community outreach and student education via their STEM Discovery Center education programs both on and offsite.
Cox Science Center and Aquarium
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium offers numerous opportunities to learn about nature, with walking trails, exhibits and a planetarium. The Center also includes the 18-hole Conservation Mini Golf Course with its holes named after indigenous animals and plants of the Everglades in a beautiful natural setting. The Science Center and Aquarium is a great day for the whole family!
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
With gorgeous old architecture and wonderfully integrated trees and shrubbery, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens features a combination of natural and creative beauty that comes together to provide an amazing place to visit and appreciate. Come visit the flora, the building and the arts!
Weather – Current & Historic
The current weather forecast from the National Weather Service:
Miami International Airport
Orlando International Airport
The historic temperature and precipitation levels for the area:
