258 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Florida - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Florida

Key West, Florida

Dry Tortugas

Remote Florida islands have a history of sea turtles, sunken treasures, and one of the world's largest coastal brick fortresses.

Coral Gables, Florida

Venetian Pool

The only swimming pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places is emptied and refilled each day with naturally filtered water.

Lake Wales, Florida

Bok Tower Gardens

Possibly the most beautiful carillon in the world, set atop Iron Mountain in Florida.

Key Biscayne, Florida

Neptune Memorial Reef

An underwater city for the dead.

St. Petersburg, Florida

Salvador Dalí Museum

Florida might be at its most surreal in this museum devoted to the famed Spanish artist.

Chiefland, Florida

Manatee Springs

Where manatees are the snowbird vacationers in these balmy Florida springs.

Weeki Wachee, Florida

Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids

Welcome to old Florida, where a 1940s mermaid show is still enchanting visitors.

Homestead, Florida

Ed Leedskalnin's Coral Castle

A mysterious castle built as a monument to lost love.

See All 258 Things to Do in Florida See All 258 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Florida

Sour Orange Pie

Floridians baked this tangy treat before key lime took over the state's pie scene.

Clarified Milk Punch

Just so we’re clear, there is actually milk in this old English punch.

Jezebel Sauce

Cooks in the Southern United States still whip up this spicy, seductively sweet condiment from the 1950s.

Dole Whip

This pineapple soft serve has a cult following at Disney theme parks.

See all 13 things to eat in Florida See all 13 things to eat in Florida

Itinerary Sponsored by Go RVing

Gulf Coast Road Trip

The terrain along the Gulf of Mexico is sometimes called the “Third Coast,” but for an offbeat road trip, it’s second to none. Starting in Houston and ending in Pensacola Bay, this journey takes you through some of America’s most diverse landscapes. You’ll cross Cajun swamps, drive along sparkling white sand beaches, and even spend some time in the Big Easy. Take an RV and camp along the way to truly immerse yourself in this wondrous region. The world’s largest gulf, it turns out, holds some of America’s best-kept secrets.

The East Texas Bayou.

Itinerary Sponsored by Go RVing

Gulf Coast Road Trip

The terrain along the Gulf of Mexico is sometimes called the “Third Coast,” but for an offbeat road trip, it’s second to none. Starting in Houston and ending in Pensacola Bay, this journey takes you through some of America’s most diverse landscapes. You’ll cross Cajun swamps, drive along sparkling white sand beaches, and even spend some time in the Big Easy. Take an RV and camp along the way to truly immerse yourself in this wondrous region. The world’s largest gulf, it turns out, holds some of America’s best-kept secrets.

View this Itinerary

The East Texas Bayou.

Community Forums / United States / US: South

Top Discussions in the US: South Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
What would you do on a time crunch in DC?	18 December 4, 2019	725	December 4, 2019
Off the beaten path / hidden gems near Nashville?	9 November 20, 2019	712	November 20, 2019
Salvador Dalí Museum	3 September 13, 2019	1671	September 13, 2019
Vintage Sewing Center and Museum	1 September 26, 2019	960	September 26, 2019
Road Trip To Disney World	4 November 18, 2019	129	November 18, 2019

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Stories
About Florida

Excavations conducted after the lidar survey revealed the extent of the bead-making village.

Found: A Prehistoric Bead-Making Factory Town Off the Florida Coast

The kinds of beads they made were coveted far and wide a thousand years ago.

by Isaac Schultz

November 5, 2019

Miami blue butterflies are one of the rarest insects in the world.

The Tiny Florida Butterfly That Refuses to Become Extinct

Miami blues have returned from the dead. Twice.

by Karuna Eberl

December 12, 2018

Catasticta sibyllae, named for Maria Sibylla Merian, is known from only two specimens.

A Rare and Striking Butterfly Is Named for a Pioneering Female Naturalist

Maria Sibylla Merian watched these beautiful insects more closely than anyone else of her time.

by Sarah Laskow

December 6, 2018

Transplanting blueberry seedlings at the University of Florida.

The Tooth-Rotting Trials of Building Better-Tasting Berries

How new flavors are created and killed.

by Abbey Perreault

November 14, 2018

Minna Fernald's painting of fewflower milkweed.

Found: A Lost Painting Collection of Florida Wildflowers

An amateur artist captured now-rare flowers in great detail.

by Sarah Laskow

November 5, 2018

A notched stake marked a burial place.

An Underwater Grave Site Was Untouched for 7,000 Years

Once far above sea level, this gravesite is now deep under the ocean.

by Sarah Laskow

October 29, 2018

Green iguanas laze around Florida—and wreak havoc.

How Escaped Pets Took Over Florida

When store-bought animals are released, they may go from pet to pest.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 31, 2018

Hundreds of moths rest in a hollow tree in Florida.

Peek Inside an Unexpected Moth Slumber Party

The flying insects usually go solo—but one lepidopterist surprised hundreds snoozing together in a hollow tree.

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