Things To Do In Florida That Aren't Disney
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The 10 Best Things To Do In Florida That Aren't Disney World

And none of them are amusement park related!

302
The 10 Best Things To Do In Florida That Aren't Disney World
annelizaohara's instagram

This past week I went on a two week trip to Florida with my whole family. My family has a staunch anti-Disney policy (I couldn't care regardless) so we spent a lot of time doing Disney alternatives while traveling the sunshine state. Here are some of my favorites!

The Florida Welcome Center

Sun Bunny!

annelizaohara's instagram

A great place to go to is often the first place you see in Florida: the welcome center! It has photo ops like the welcome to Florida sign (because the real one is on the highway on a bridge), fresh orange juice, and lots of guides to all the different parts of Florida.

Plus, you can ask the people working there about good places to see and eat!

Gatorland

Yes I fed a gator in Tevas.....what of it?

annelizaohara's instagram

Gatorland is less of an amusement park and more of an experience. There are tons of gators everywhere (duh) and lots of experiences to do. There's a zip line that's been rated one of the best in America.

While I didn't go for the zip line, my whole family did sign up to feed alligators and we feed the birds in the bird sanctuary! Both were pretty fun and thrilling!

The Kennedy Space Center

When bae needs space.

annelizaohara's instagram

The Kennedy Space Center is full of amazing one of a kind experiences that you can only see in Florida. You can take a bus tour to see the sight of all shuttle launches and rocket launches.

zip line tons of artifacts and cool things from NASA, including the shuttle wreckage which truthfully, made me cry to see in person. Plus, you can touch a moon rock! That's pretty cool!

The Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach

The best attempt I can make at surfing.

annelizaohara's instagram

The Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach is known for being one of the biggest surf shops in the country. It's open 24/7 in case you need a tee shirt at say....3 AM.

But don't laugh, we went at 12:30 and the place had a fairly large amount of people in it. It's two stories high and full of fun things that aren't shirts and surfboards.

Ask around your hotel or online for coupons, our hotel gave us a 10% of $50 purchase that really came in handy.

See a NASA launch.

That's a rocket!

anneelizaohara's instagram

The main reason we went down to Florida in the first place was to see a rocket launch! We ended up seeing the Falcon 9 get launched from Jetty Park, right across the Banana River from the launch pad! We also extended our stay to see the Parker Solar Probe, but unfortunately, the flight got delayed a day and we couldn't stay one more day.

Regardless, check the schedule for launches on NASA's website, seeing one in person is life changing!

Hobe Sound Beach

OcEaN mAn

annelizaohara's instagram

Hobe Sound Beach is an insanely beautiful beach that happens to have the most beautiful water. We went to multiple public beaches and this was by far the prettiest. One thing this beach had that many didn't? Whole shells. When going to the beaches surrounding Virginia, most shells found are partially broken.

Not the ones here! They're intact and have multiple types!

Eating in Little Havana

When in Miami!

annelizaohara's instagram

Little Havana in Miami is a beautiful and unique part of the state. We traveled to so many places in the state that felt so starkly ~country~ in comparison to here which was so built up and industrial. This place is rich with history and so interesting. Definitely go to Little Havana for Cuban food! I completely recommend Versailles Restaurant which is an institution in the town, plus very affordable!

Kayaking in the Keys.

The Aquatic lady.

annelizaohara's instagram

Kayaking in the Florida Keys is one of the most beautiful experiences I had on the trip. Apparently, the same place we kayaked had recently had manatee babies swim there. Unfortunately, we did not see any manatees while out, but we saw beautiful schools of fishes, starfish, and mangroves go through.

It was an amazing experience I recommend for everyone to do at least once! Plus the rentals were not terribly expensive!

Daytona Beach gift shops.

These were so hot that I burned my hand (actually) on a manatee statue.

annelizaohara's instagram

The gift shops in Daytona Beach are out of this world. When I say they have just about everything, I'm not exaggerating. Want two pigs having sex salt and pepper shakers? They got it. Boob mug? They have it.

Completely random and slightly trashy makes for the perfect combination.

Caballero Rivero Cemetery

Beautiful angel.

annelizaohara's instagram

My mom and dad love visiting cemeteries. Because my grandfather is buried at Arlington, many of the graves are standard issue. While it seems morbid, visiting cemeteries truly gives me a feeling of serenity.

Walking around and reading people's stories and seeing the way their families chose to remember them is an interesting and unique experience.

This cemetery is special because many families are from a Catholic background so the whole place is full of Catholic imagery. Word to the wise? When visiting cemeteries, be very respectful. Mind the graves and keep your voice down. I've seen one too many people act silly while visiting. Not cool.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71150
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133030
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments