10 Best Hidden Gems in Florida

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has been an iconic roadside attraction in Florida since 1947. About an hour north of Tampa in Hernando County, the park is built on top of a natural underwater cavern, one of the deepest of its kind in the country. The magical aquatic world here welcomes you with a 400-seat submerged theatre, where you can watch a one-of-a-kind mermaid show that enchants you with beauty and wonder.

To fully explore the 538-acre grounds, consider checking out Buccaneer Bay, a spring-fed water park within Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. It offers sandy beaches, thrill rides, and boat cruises, among many other adventures.

Cedar Key is a quaint little town full of tranquil coastal charm. Nestled on the Gulf Coast of Florida, 50 miles southwest of Gainesville, it offers a retreat far away from the cities with its unspoiled nature. You can stroll around old-fashioned cottages and waterfront shacks, spot rare birds at the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, or rent a golf cart and cross over the salt marshes on the town’s four small bridges.

While enjoying the view, don’t forget to top off your visit with plenty of local seafood. Cedar Key is famous for its fresh Florida oysters, and it’s also one of the nation’s top producers of farm-raised clams.

The Showmen’s Museum, as its name suggests, is a museum centred around travelling shows. The 54,000 square feet building in Riverview houses amazing artefacts from antique wagons to vintage costumes. You can find here one of the first Ferris Wheels in the country, fully assembled and in operating condition. You can also check out the outfits worn by burlesque performers or the Viking Giant, once the tallest man alive.

The museum also exhibits rare photographs that capture the colourful moments of historic carnivals and circuses. A visit here is like a step into the past, filled with the excitement and fun of this long-lived form of entertainment.

The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum showcases the culture and history of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Everglades, it is home to over 180,000 artefacts and archive materials that preserve the traditions of the Seminole people. Its permanent galleries include life-sized depictions of the tribe’s lifestyle dating back to the 1890s, while the temporary exhibitions offer a close look at both the past and present of their heritage.

In addition to the cultural collections, another must-see at the museum is its mile-long boardwalk through a cypress grove. This nature trail is great for both relaxation and education, with plenty of interpretive signs along the path to deepen your understanding of the Everglades.

Florida Caverns State Park offers one of the rarest experiences in Florida – a tour through a gorgeous cave system. This geological delight, hidden underground in the Florida Panhandle near Marianna, welcomes you with a pleasant 65°F temperature year-round. You can explore the splendid formations of stalactites and stalagmites, flowstones, columns, and draperies. You can also learn about the cave’s history and observe the hand-chiseled marks left from the cave’s enlargement work in the 1930s.

To add more variety to your visit, consider checking out the surrounding water systems that complete the karst terrain. Opt for canoeing along the Chipola River or try fishing at the Blue Hole spring.

Santa Rosa Beach is a beautiful seaside community in Walton County, on the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida. With turquoise waves and soft white sand, it is a slice of paradise great for both sunbathing and fun water activities. Easy access to the Point Washington State Forest provides another option for soaking up nature, with more than 15,100 acres of greenery and scenic trails to explore.

If you’re looking to add a taste of culture and history to your holiday, there is also Wesley House, a historic mansion built in the 1890s. The artist colony at Gulf Place is another lively place to see, filled with colourful galleries and local crafts.

The Monument of States in Kissimmee was dedicated by Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis, a retired doctor, after the attack on Pearl Harbour. He envisioned this monument as a symbol of American solidarity and constructed it out of donations of rocks and fossils from all around the world. Contributions came from each of the 48 states at the time, including one from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Today, the 50-foot tower has been refurbished with a walkway that includes additional stones from Hawaii and Alaska, as well as donations from more foreign countries. It has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and remains an obelisk of American unity.

Solomon’s Castle is the 12,000 square feet home of sculptor Howard Solomon. Here in the wild swamps of Ona, Florida, Solomon built this gleaming three-story castle out of discarded aluminium printing plates. The structure also serves as his workshop and galleries, where you can find many of his sculptures made from “found objects”, as he calls them. Typical materials include old machine parts, beer tins, coat hangers, and oil drums.

Howard Solomon offered tours of his castle until he passed away in 2016. Today, his family carries on the tradition and continues to showcase his life’s work.

The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters is a roadside attraction dedicated to the elusive Skunk Ape, the Florida version of Bigfoot. Located in Ochopee, in the heart of the Everglades, this research office was established to promote awareness and report sightings of the creature commonly thought of as a “local myth”.

You can find in the exhibits here abundant documents, media, and educational materials on Skunk Apes. There is also a display where you can see a 24-foot-long python, among other snakes, alligators, turtles, and birds

Bok Tower sits within the Bok Tower Gardens, on top of Iron Mountain in Lake Wales. Built in the 1920s, this 205-foot tower features stunning Gothic Revival architecture, a Great Brass Door depicting 30 scenes from the Book of Genesis, and ceramic mosaics. Its most famous hallmark, the majestic 60-bell carillon, plays beautiful concerts that are not to be missed on any visit.

The surrounding garden grounds also provide enchanting attractions throughout the year. Stroll through the seasonal blooms, tour the Mediterranean-style El Retiro Estate, or take a hiking trail through the lush landscape. You’ll find historic and natural beauty gleaming in every corner of this 250-acre sanctuary.