I was born and raised in Florida; it's safe to say I've seen a lot of the state. The big tourist destinations are places like the Florida Keys, Orlando, and Miami. But trust me, over the years, I've learned that the state is home to a lot of other interesting places— If you know where to look. If you're in the mood for some adventure this summer, try taking a road trip (or a plane ride) out to one of these places.
1. Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda.
Fisherman's Village is a lot of fun to visit. Complete with delicious restaurants, unique gift shops, and live musicians, you'll never be bored if you decide to stop by. Plus, every so often there's an Opposum that visits from the Peace River Wildlife Center across the street, and you can cuddle with her while you're there. Yes, I'm serious.
2. Naples, Florida.
Okay, I'm giving some props to my hometown with this one. Naples is one of the prettiest beach towns there is. If you love to lay out under the sun and watch the waves roll in, you'll have a great time spending a weekend in Naples. Plus, if you're a seafood fan, you'll definitely get the freshest seafood around in this coastal city.
3. Busch Gardens.
Okay, everyone goes to Disney World and Universal, but Busch Gardens doesn't get enough love. It's a lot of fun to visit the park, and it's a lot cheaper as well: a season pass comes out to just $14/month. Even if you don't like roller coasters, it's still fun to look at the animals, and the dining options and gift shops are great.
4. Saint Augustine.
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Saint Augustine is a really cool town, but it isn't at the top of the list for tourism. From the Lightner Museum to Castillo de San Marcos, there is a ton of historical and interesting things to do there. The city is also full of gorgeous architecture and natural scenery that makes for perfect photo opportunities. If you've never been, you have to make it out there this summer.
5. Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, Florida.
This is a massive outlet mall in South Florida. Since I grew up in Naples (where our mall was rather unimpressive), I made a lot of trips over to Sawgrass Mills over the years. It has almost every store you can think of and you can get some great deals there. The food court is nothing to laugh at, either.
6. The Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Fort Myers.
A 5-course dinner, a round-trip train ride across the Caloosahatchee River, and a murder mystery theater show. Sounds too good to be true, right? It's not. The Seminole Gulf Railway runs their murder mystery dinner train out of its station in Fort Myers, and the experience is a ton of fun. If you're going to be in Florida this summer, you have to check it out.
