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With gorgeous sandy beaches, lively cities, and some of the world’s most sought-after theme parks, Florida is one of the most popular destinations in our country.
But when you think about visiting the sunshine state, theme park resorts like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios probably come to mind. That is, when you aren’t thinking about South Beach, of course.
And if you’ve visited any of the Sunshine State’s hot spots, you know that they can get pretty expensive and crowded. From fine art and history to once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, Florida definitely has it all.
Yet what most people don’t even realize is that there are many little-known gems all over the state. So if you happen to be passing through on vacation, you’ll love exploring our list of 10 hidden gems in this state…Minus the crowds!
You can catch a glimpse of manatees in a stunning wildlife refuge, explore one of the country’s least-visited national parks, and visit some beautiful caverns. You’ll be surprised to see just how many fantastic places are overlooked by tourists!
Click “NEXT” to TRULY explore Florida!
A perfect choice for beach bums, South Walton is a sunny, white-sand beach stretching over 16 miles along the Florida panhandle. You’ll have your pick of charming coastal towns, from the quaint to the luxurious, or you can explore on a road trip along scenic route 30A!
There are many other attractions as well, like the unique Underwater Museum of Art, where you can snorkel or scuba dive among the underwater sculptures. And be sure you also make time for chowing down on some incredible seafood!
You can find the Three Sisters Spring at the mesmerizing Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern side of Kings Bay. It has numerous vents, and sand boils.
And the surrounding wildlife refuge offers visitors many activities, including guided tours, bicycling, and hiking trails, and you’ll even spot some wildlife.
The spring’s warm water attracts migrating West Indian manatees each year, making it a “must-see” attraction if you want to see them in their natural habitat.
Dreaming of a quaint little island town? Cedar Key is southwest of Gainesville, floating about three miles into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s surrounded by some of the most amazing fishing spots, beaches, and historic charm!
As the second oldest town in Florida, this place is full of adorable cottages and fun festivals, including the October Seafood Festival, and they even have a Pirate Festival.
You can rent paddle boards and kayaks for a day on the water or marvel at your surroundings from an Airbnb that’s on stilts!
Sixteen acres of Japanese gardens are this location’s best-kept secret. This beautiful and tranquil spot features ponds filled with koi fish, a unique bonsai collection, trails, and picnic areas where you can sit back and submerge yourself in nature.
You can also learn about Japanese culture through the clubs and workshops offered, including lessons in traditional Japanese music, Japanese ink painting, and much more.
Were you aware that the sunshine state was home to an incredible, LED-lit cavern? We sure didn’t! Not until we heard about Florida Caverns State Park. Here, you can stop off for a day trip, or you can even camp overnight. Just remember to reserve a spot ahead of time.
When you explore these caverns, you’ll see stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, draperies, and much more on one of the tours that are available Thursday through Monday.
No matter the Florida heat outside, the caves stay about 65 degrees. So make sure you bring a sweater… and watch out for those bats!
This Coral Gables treasure isn’t just some average public pool. The Venetian Pool was carved out of a coral rock quarry sometime in the 1920s, and nowadays, it’s the largest freshwater pool in the US. And don’t worry!
It gets emptied and refilled daily. Swimmers can splash around in the waterfalls and caves. And the palm trees and porticos make this a picturesque place to spend your day in the water.
Did you know that the oldest fort in our country is located in Florida? Visitors can tour this scenic fort and then spend the rest of their day enjoying the rest of historic St. Augustine. This 17th-century castle is positively enchanting…rumor has it that it might even be haunted!
Attractions like kayak adventure through the zoo, the treetop trek, and a splash park where kids can splash around and cool off make this zoo in Melbourne a sought-after location for many locals.
But the best part is that it’s also at a reasonable price. We completely understand why Brevard Zoo is known to be one of the most incredible zoos in the US.
One of our nation’s least-visited national parks is well worth visiting if you’re traveling through the Florida Keys. This park might not be a secret to the locals or even lovers of national parks, but it’s actually very remotely placed.
It’s roughly 70 miles away from the famous Key West. And the national park spans 100 square miles. It’s mainly open water and 7 small islands.
If you decide to visit, you can explore attractions like the 19th Century Fort Jefferson, dive into a shipwreck, enjoy the fantastic beaches, and snorkel among the coral reefs. In fact, this archipelago’s coral reefs are presently the least disturbed out of all the Florida Keys reefs.
The states of Oregon and Vermont get lots of praise and attention for being the best places in our country for beer lovers. But many people have yet to learn about this hidden brewery trail in the sunshine state.
The great Southwest Florida Ale Trail connects all the different breweries across four counties in the state. You can even pick up a passport that gets stamped at each of the breweries you visit and even win some prizes along the way.
A few of the breweries are also close to the coast so that you can enjoy the beer AND the beach.
Be sure to leave us a comment to let us know if you’ve visited any of the locations. And if you have upcoming plans to visit this beautiful state, here are 5 Mistakes to Avoid on a Florida Vacation, According to Locals
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