Most of the time, when you think of Florida, you think of oranges, alligators, a magic castle in Orlando, and beaches. But there are so many more hidden gems throughout the state. We have been taking day trips around Florida to experience the Real Florida, and want to share what we think are the top places to get a real authentic Florida experience.
From natural springs and roadside attractions, to small towns full of charm, you are never more than a few hours drive from a great day of exploration. We have our home base out of Tampa, so most of these Florida day trips on our list are within 2 to 3 hours, at most from Tampa.
Let’s set out for an adventure and experience the Real Florida.
15 Florida Day Trips to Experience The Real Florida
Dinosaur World
It might seem strange to add a small amusement park to the top of this list, and then not include places like Disney or Universal. If you want to visit those parks, its a great way to spend an afternoon, and your hard earned money. Dinosaur World is a far more affordable trip for the family, and it is somewhat iconic in the area. Anyone who has driven down Interstate-4 (I4) has seen the signs off the highway advertising for Dinosaur World, and the T-Rex that’s waiting to greet you. Its probably about the best marketing you could have for this kind of park.
There are a couple of other things that make Dinosaur World a must stop too. It is dog friendly, it is surprisingly educational, and it is a good half-wayish point between the Orlando Parks, and the beaches in Pinellas. Overall, it’s worth doing at least once for the photo ops if nothing else. And pro-tip for anyone over 21, there is an amazing restaurant a tasting bar just up the road at Keel and Curley Winery. You could pop in there after your visit, or before, really it’s up to you.
Florida Caverns State Park
It might surprise some northers to know, but Florida does not have basements, almost nowhere in the state. This is because the water table is too close to the surface making it impossible to build below ground. This also means that any caves we have in the state are underwater caves and only accessible to divers with SCUBA equipment, except for a pretty notable exception in the panhandle.
At Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna, a little over an hour from Tallahassee, you can tour one of the only and largest of the dry caves in Florida. We booked our tickets online a few days in advance to ensure our spot for the tour, as it’s quite a popular activity at the park. We toured with a really knowledgeable guide who shared the history of the cave, its discovery, and excavation. If you get the chance this is a great chance to see one of Florida’s natural wonders.
Rainbow Springs State Park
The first place we ever headed to vlog, Rainbow Springs is located about an hour and a half north of Tampa. But, make sure you get in the car early to head there, because this is a popular destination on the weekends and holidays, and pretty much any time in the summer. And it is easy to see why this state park would quickly fill up with visitors time and time again.
There are so many great ways to explore, you’ll be getting the real Florida experience. Make plans to go on a hike in the morning, snorkeling, and tubing in the afternoon, don’t forget to fit lunch in there somewhere. And the best hidden gem at Rainbow Springs are the 3 waterfalls along the historic trails. Since Florida isn’t known for its mountainous terrain, it’s not common to find waterfalls in this state, so these are a real treat. And although they are man-made, that does not take away from how beautiful they are.
Anclote Key and Tarpon Springs
In northern Pinellas county, you’ll find the town of Tarpon Springs, and then a little ways off the coast you’ll find Anclote Key. This little Greek community in Tarpon Springs is bustling with shops and good eats, and then on Anclote Key, you can visit one of the most picturesque of the lighthouses dotted throughout the state. Only accessible by boat, Anclote key is a great place to plan to spend an afternoon searching for shells and soaking up the sun. If you set sail from the area around Tarpon Springs, you can even grab a quick lunch at a local Greek restaurant.
The Lighthouse on Anclote Key is also managed by volunteer organization, and is opened to climb usually about once a month during the cooler months. This is a unique experience that gets you some amazing views of the island and surrounding bay area. Tarpon Springs has a rich cultural heritage, and planning to spend the day visiting both these iconic spots is a great way to experience some of the best of Real Florida.
Clermont
Clermont is a great town outside of Orlando, with some classic Florida roadside attractions to visit. There isn’t just one thing that makes Clermont a day trip destination, there are quite a few.
Within the rolling hills of the Florida plains, you’ll find the Lakeridge Winery. A few miles up the road you’ll find Southern Hill Farms. Depending on where you came from, you’ll probably come in on Highway 27, and it’s impossible to miss the Florida Citrus Tower which has been a central Florida icon since the 1950s and has a delicious coffee shop. Just across the street you’ll see the most intriguing stop of the day, the Hall of Presidents.
There are plenty of other stops you can make while spending the day in Clermont, so honestly plan to make this day trip a full day.
Caladesi Island
We would be doing a disservice to all the beach lovers if we didn’t include at least one on our list. Caladesi Island is kind of a state park within a state park, making it like a hidden secret among locals, I mean its featured in all kinds of best beaches lists, so it’s not that hidden, but maybe just a little bit. To get there you enter into Honeymoon Island at the end of the Dunedin Causeway and then take a ferry over. You can plan to spend a couple of hours or all day here.
There are umbrellas and chairs to rent, so you can avoid all that heavy lifting, plus the ferry doesn’t allow wagons, so its good to plan ahead. The sand on Caladesi is soft, and the waves are gentle, most of the time. And because there are a couple of extra steps to get here, it’s never too busy, so it really is a classic, relaxing beach experience.
Weeki Wachee
If you were visiting Florida in the 1940’s, you would have been bombarded with signs encouraging you to visit roadside attraction all over the state. Everyone was hoping to get their cut of the new booming tourist dollars. One of the most iconic stops was Weeki Wachee, where the underwater theater featured real life mermaids performing and singing underwater.
Today, Weeki Wachee is a state park, where you can also spend the day kayaking or tubing down the river. But they have kept up the tradition of the mermaid show, which still happens multiple times a day, seasonally. You will immediately appreciate the nostalgia and sheer wonder of these performances. It a great way to spend the day, and honestly its unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Bok Tower Gardens
Bok tower is an icon in the Lake Wales area. Situated at one of the tallest points in Central Florida, which really isn’t saying much, the tower stands tall with its art deco/neo-gothic architecture style. The tower is also surrounded by beautiful and lush botanical gardens. But that’s not all that makes this spot so special. The Bok tower has the nickname of the singing tower, and it’s because the tower is also a carillon, which is a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard.
At regular times throughout the day, the bells ring out in concert, heard from anywhere within the gardens. This stop is also dog friendly, as long as your dog is friendly and you agree to pick up after them. It’s always great for us when we can bring along our dog, his name in Henry, and he really loves going for car rides, so this is just perfect.
Mount Dora
There is not one specific thing that draws people to Mount Dora. There are many things that make this small town such an irresistible charm. There are antique shops, local restaurants, historic sites, farms, a lighthouse, and even a whole street corned decorated like a Van Gogh painting.
Mount Dora is also know for a variety of street festivals that happen throughout the year. These festivals draw large crowds and give local artists a chance to reach a bigger audience. When there aren’t festivals going on, Mount Dora converts back into a small town with a quiet downtown, but just as adorable.
Silver Springs State Park
One word; Monkeys. Wait, 3 more words, Glass Bottom Boats. Silver Springs State Park is one of the most popular and loved State Parks in Florida. And it is definitely easy to see why. Located in the heart of the state, it is a quick day trip from almost anywhere in the state. And the range of activities you can fill your day with are numerous.
We opted for a tour with a glass bottom boat, and a hike to try and spot the monkeys that call this park home. There are also opportunities to kayak or paddle board in the spring, however swimming is not allowed, a few too many alligators in the area for that. The boat tour lasts about 30 to 90 minutes and shows you the history of the park hidden within the springs waters, some from thousands of years ago, and some from a few decades ago.
The Coral Castle
Located in South Florida, the Coral Castle is a little more than a day trip for us, but that’s all depending on where you start out. Regardless, this attraction in worth the drive. Built in the 1940’s by a very small man, the Coral Castle is a feat of physics and strength, being constructed without the use of any large equipment, allegedly. Today it stands as a monument to the roots of the tourism industry in Florida.
They offer daily guided tours, its the only way to enter the castle, and we had an enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide who showed us around. The massive stones sit still these day, but historically there were many different elements which rocked and swung, like chairs and doors. Weather got the best of these elements, as it often does with places in Florida, but it is still quite impressive to see.
Myakka River State Park
Myakka River runs straight through the heart of Sarasota County, and is steeped in Florida History. With cabins you can still rent today that were originally built by the CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park is a true taste of Florida History. Among the cabins is also miles of trails to explore, and even a canopy walk to get you up into the tree tops.
We haven’t talked about alligators much yet, but Myakka River is a great place to catch a glimpse of some these prehistoric native Floridians. There is also an incredible boat tour that gets you out onto the river, and explores some of the more distant areas of the parks. It’s definitely worth the day trip, but we recommend an over night cabin stay if at all possible for you.
Hunsader Farm
Pumpkin Chunkin’. Yes, that is exactly what it sounds like, a pumpkin chucked across a corn field, hundreds of yards. Hunsader farms is known for a lot of different things like their u-pick farms, their unique KOA accommodations, and the bison that roam the fields, but the main draw for a lot of people is the fall festival.
Held a couple of weekends in the fall, the festival offers as close to a traditional fall experience as you can get in Florida. A corn maze, pumpkins, hayrides, scarecrows, it’s every fall girl’s dream come true. Even if it isn’t fall, its still worth a trip down to the farm, because they offer seasonal u-pick and a petting zoo.
Solomon’s Castle
You might wonder how we ended up with two “castles” on our list, but they are both unique in their own way. Located a little closer to central Florida, this one might be even be easier to tackle as a day trip. And it is completely different than the towering blocks found at the Coral Castle.
Solomon’s Castle is more like a living art project, where someone just happens to have taken up residence. The castle shines brightly in the Florida sun, covered in the old discarded sheets of metal from a local defunct newspapers printing presses. There is also intricate stained glass, and even the adjacent snack shop holds some of the artists creations. Solomon passed away, but his family still lives on and offers tours of the house daily. It’s quite a way to spend the day, and maybe you’ll pick up on some interior decorating tips.
Florida Railroad Museum
The Florida Railroad Museum is one of our favorite spots to take a day trip. With a couple of their seasonal festivals, you can keep visiting multiple times a year. But really the most interesting part of the visit is that you don’t just tour a museum about trains, you ride on an actual train. The museum runs and maintains historic locomotives, and part of your experience is a timed ticket and round trip ride out to a former rail stop.
Seasonally they host a fall festival, a Polar Express trip, and even a train robbery experience. One of our first trips, we actually got to experiencing riding with the engineer in the cab. The railroad museum is very a unique experience unlike any others on this list, so it is perfect for the day when you are looking for something a little different.
If you are looking to plan your own Florida Day Trip, we hope you found something on this list that piqued your interest. We have visited these places and many more, which we’ve captured in our Florida Day Trips series. You can find it and follow our adventures on YouTube:
The Savory Suitcase 