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12 of the best things to do in Florida

21 January 2025

Weeki Wachee Springs Florida's best things to do go way beyond beaches.

Please note: this article is sponsored by our partners at Visit Florida and some links on this page will take you directly to the Visit Florida website.

Any list of Florida’s best things to do starts with Orlando’s iconic theme parks. But after you’ve screamed your lungs out on some of the world’s best rides, you can experience outdoor adventures along the Sunshine State’s mesmerizingly clear rivers, kick back on some of the world’s best beaches, and get a culture fix in one of its many lively cities.

And that’s just for starters. Whether you want to tee off at more than 1,400 golf courses, get up close to wildlife or learn about all things astronautical, here are 12 of the best things to do on your Florida holiday.

1. Experience the magic of Walt Disney World Resort

Credit: Spark

Walt Disney predicted that “Disneyland will never be completed.” He was right. Just last year, Magic Kingdom cut the ribbon on the shimmering Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and big expansions in the form of Villains Land and a Cars-themed area are already underway.

The park is also celebrating its 70th birthday in 2025, and you can expect special entertainment, new merch and an extra dose of that Disney magic to take over from 16 May.

Whether you make it for the celebrations or not, one thing’s certain: you could easily spend your entire holiday at Walt Disney World Resort. With four main parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – you’ll find endless rides, shows and attractions to keep the young and the young-at-heart happy.

Meliá Orlando Celebration

  • Orlando, Florida, United States
  • 24 October 2025
  • Bed & breakfast
  • Manchester

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2. Explore Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort is also unveiling big things in 2025. On 22 May, Epic Universe opens its doors to reveal five enchanting new worlds, including the highly anticipated Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, and Celestial Park.

Epic Universe joins the beloved Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and the Universal CityWalk entertainment complex to offer five out-of-this-galaxy holidays in one.

Other musts at the parks include Wicked: The Experience, which opened in November 2024, and, if you’re visiting in the autumn, the immersive Halloween Horror Nights. The award-winning event is one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the USA.

3. Relax on Clearwater Beach

Award-winning Clearwater Beach in Tampa Bay has stretches of fine white sand and blue ocean as far as the eye can see. It’s the stuff of postcards and is family-friendly to boot, with clear, shallow waters ideal for little ones to paddle in.

Further from the shore, adventure seekers can take a spin on a jet-ski, try parasailing for a bird’s-eye view of the coastline or embark on a paddleboarding or kayaking adventure.

As the sun sets, make a beeline for the iconic Pier 60, where you’ll find a daily sunset celebration featuring street performers, local artisans and live music.

4. Encounter alligators in the Everglades

Way down in the swampy south of the Sunshine State is the incredible patchwork of subtropical wilderness known as the Everglades. It’s home to alligators, along with numerous bird, insect and mammal species – including Florida panthers.

Spread across more than 1.5 million acres, there is plenty to see and do for intrepid explorers. At Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a 3.6km (2.25 miles) boardwalk will take you through towering cypress forest where otters, turtles and birds nest.

For serious alligator-spotting, you’re all but guaranteed a sighting at Big Cypress National Preserve. Join a guided hike, kayak or cycle tour to get the lowdown on the area while you keep an eye out for the ancient reptiles. Don’t forget your camera.

5. Stroll through the Ringling Museum of Art

Credit: Kevin McGeever

Dive into Florida’s art scene at The Ringling in Sarasota. A vision in pink inspired by Italian renaissance and other European architecture, the huge estate is a day out in itself.

As well as an art museum, which has 21 galleries filled with work from European masters, incredible contemporary art and hundreds of antiquities from across the globe, there’s a circus museum and the Venetian gothic-inspired Ca’ d’Zan waterfront mansion to discover.

The estate is the brainchild of John and Mabel Ringling, who dreamed in the 1920s of leaving a legacy of art and art education to the people of Florida. It’s clear they succeeded.

EVEN Hotel Sarasota-Lakewood Ranch

  • Sarasota, Florida, United States
  • 14 June 2025
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  • Heathrow

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6. Marvel at the Kennedy Space Center

Credit: Spark

Space enthusiast? The Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral is a must-visit.

This, the hub of the nation’s human space program, is where American astronauts confronted and overcame the challenges of space flight, conquered the moon and set out to launch satellites and build the International Space Station.

Today you can tour launch sites, meet astronauts, experience simulators that replicate space travel, and learn all about NASA’s plans to explore deep space. If you’re lucky, you may even be in town to see a live rocket launch.

7. Discover wildlife at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Credit: Visit Florida

Busch Gardens in Tampa offers both thrilling rides, like the SheiKra and Tigris rollercoasters, and exotic animals including cheetahs and rhinos. It’s a two-in-one attraction families will love.

The Sesame Street Safari of Fun is a highlight for younger kids, with mini coasters, a splash zone and the chance to meet characters like Elmo and Grover.

Spring 2025 will also see a realm re-imagined into the rainforest-themed "Wild Oasis", an interactive zone that’s set to educate and inspire young minds.

8. Tee off at Florida’s top golf courses

Credit: Folklore Film Company

With more golf courses than any other place in the United States, Florida is the perfect destination to practice your swing.

Whether you want to stay and play, or pay as you play, beginners and experienced golfers alike are welcome at more than 1,400 golf courses in the state.

Join the pros on the green at top-rated courses like TPC Sawgrass, home of The Players Championship, or tackle the three award-winning courses set amidst stunning natural landscapes at Streamsong Resort.

9. Laugh and dine at a dinner show in Orlando

Whether you’re looking for entertainment, a delicious meal or both, Orlando has amazing family-friendly dinner shows that will keep you smiling throughout the night.

True crime fanatics can put their detective skills to the ultimate test with a “whodunit” plot twist at the two-hour-long Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, while the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show serves all-you-can-eat pizza and popcorn alongside all-you-can-laugh moments.

And for a knight to remember, why not step into the Queen’s Court for a jousting tournament and four-course feast at Medieval Times?

Hilton Orlando

  • Orlando, Florida, United States
  • 29 March 2025
  • Room only
  • Manchester

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10. Go snorkelling or diving

Credit: Carol Grant

There aren’t many places in the world where you can explore shipwrecks-turned-artificial reefs, dive through protected coral reefs and swim beside friendly manatees all during one holiday.

But pack your snorkel and get that PADI certification in order, because Florida is a paradise for water lovers looking to explore new depths.

Expect to see a myriad of colourful tropical fish, living coral and sea turtles as you explore the depths of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America’s first underwater park, in Key Largo.

Experienced divers might also like the USS Oriskany dive. This sunken WWII-era aircraft carrier was scuttled off the coast near Pensacola back in 2006 and is now the world’s largest artificial reef.

Not a diver? Go for a snorkel tour to meet the Crystal River manatees. These gentle giants are a curious bunch and love a good belly scratch (on their terms, of course). You’ll be smitten in seconds.

11. Dive into aquatic adventures at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

No matter where you stay in Florida, you’re sure to be close to an aquarium. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of the best – and it’s anything but typical.

As a working hospital, it’s focused on the three “Rs”: rescue, rehabilitation and release. You can learn about marine life conservation, meet rescued dolphins, sea turtles and otters, feed tortoises and stingrays, and join an eco-boat tour around the aquarium’s local estuary.

Elsewhere, the historic Key West Aquarium’s touch tank introduces little ones to conchs, sea stars and giant hermit crabs, while the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories in the quiet town of Panacea is a non-profit that studies endangered species and provides marine life to schools and research laboratories.

Monumental Hotel Orlando

  • Orlando, Florida, United States
  • 1 December 2025
  • Room only
  • Gatwick

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12. Meet mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Credit: John Athanason

Florida has 175 award-winning state parks. If you have time to visit just one, make it Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, about an hour’s drive north of Tampa.

Here, for more than 75 years, “mermaids” have been wowing visitors with their underwater football skills and mesmerising aquatic ballet. Visit today, and you’ll be able to catch a version of The Little Mermaid in a submerged 400-seat theatre.

If you want to get splashy yourself, its Buccaneer Bay water park features fun water slides and a sandy beach, or you can swim, kayak or paddleboard in the 19km (12 miles) of clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River.

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