There’s no doubt that the state of Florida is spectacular.
As a peninsula, it offers some of the best beaches in the world. And smack dab in the middle of the state are the best amusement parks in the world.
But the state of Florida has more to offer than just beaches and amusement parks.
There are one-of-a-kind things to do, and the state plans to show them to you this summer if you choose to take advantage.
Orlando is more than just Walt Disney World and Universal, you know. If surfing is not your style, get out on one of Orlando’s many beautiful lakes and paddle board. Follow it up with a great meal at one of Orlando’s many Michelin-starred restaurants.
Want to see some animals? Don’t bother with the zoo. In Dade City, located just 45 minutes north of the Tampa area, sits Giraffe Ranch. The exotic 47-acre ranch offers five unique safari tours led by experienced guides – even including a guided tour via camelback.
Giraffe Ranch offers educational excursions and close encounters with breathtaking animals, including giraffes, rhinos, zebras, camels, a Brazilian tapir and pygmy hippopotamus. Visitors can also enjoy giraffe and lemur feedings, where explorers can get up close and personal with these animals.
St. Augustine, Florida. (Photo via SeanPavonePhoto / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
If you get a chance, head over to America’s oldest city. In St. Augustine, tour a Sea Turtle Hospital, because, yes, everything can become an experience in Florida. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory to learn how veterinarians and hospital staff care for and nurture these sea creatures back to health.
Visitors can see the day-to-day activities and may also meet some current patients.
Stay on the East Coast and head down to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The B Ocean Resort Wreck Bar, famous since its inception in the 1950s, is one of the few places in the world where people can enjoy the beauty of living mermaids from a porthole view while enjoying a tropical cocktail and dining on fresh seafood. The Wreck Bar is one of the only destinations in the country to offer live underwater mermaid performances. Fort Lauderdale also has Las Olas Blvd. if you’re in the mood for shopping at its upscale boutiques and shops.
Miami is well, Miami, maybe the most cosmopolitan city in the southeast.
Back over on the west coast of the state, Chris and Ryan Zubrick, award-winning illusionists who have wowed crowds in more than 7,000 performances across the globe, have made a permanent stage for their act in downtown St. Petersburg. The pair opened the doors of a new state-of-the-art Zubrick Magic Theatre last summer and the performances are so popular, they sell out quickly.
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