The Atlas Obscura Guide To Florida

341 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Florida

Updated May 24, 2023

Come for the beaches, stay for the live mermaids. The glare of Florida canʼt hide itʼs panoply of wonders, from a coral castle built by one love-stricken man to a fort that eats cannonballs. The Sunshine State really seems to attract visionaries.

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Unusual Attractions in Florida

Key West, Florida

Dry Tortugas

These remote Florida islands have a history of sea turtles and 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.

Chiefland, Florida

Manatee Springs

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

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.

Williston, Florida

Devil's Den

The scuba diving training facility was named for the steam that rises from the cave's chimney.

The performances include a rendition of 'The Little Mermaid.'

Weeki Wachee, Florida

Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids

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

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Above and Beyond Expected

Punta Gorda, Florida

End of the Line Mural

This outdoor mural is one stop on a walking trail that weaves art and history together to tell a tale of local history.

A white pelican with a bump on its bill is pictured here standing next to the brown pelican, a state symbol, which are often only a third the size of white pelicans.

Placida, Florida

White Pelican Island

Every winter, this tiny islet on Florida’s Gulf Coast is swarmed by some of the largest birds on the continent.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Florida

The old hanging tree, once outside, now built into the bar.

Key West, Florida

Captain Tony's Saloon

Florida's oldest bar was once a morgue, complete with a hanging tree and gravestones.

Port Orange, Florida

The Last Resort Bar

Where serial killer Aileen Wuornos drank her last beer.

Captiva, Florida

The Bubble Room

This kitsch eatery is chock-a-block with bric-a-brac.

On the right, Willy Wonka movie memorabilia, including the golden ticket.

West Palm Beach, Florida

Bulk Candy Store Museum

This shop also boasts some sweet memorabilia from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Gastro Obscura’s Guide to St. Pete/Clearwater

A destination with thriving cultural cities, charming small towns, nature parks, and some of the top-ranked beaches in the country, St. Pete/Clearwater is the best of Florida all in one neat, welcoming peninsula. So welcoming, in fact, that the region is seeing a steady population growth that is fueling something of a cultural renaissance. The newcomers it’s attracting—in tandem with the locals who’ve been here all along—are building an eclectic community, with some unexpectedly tasty results. Out-of-towners arrive with creative business concepts like tropical Art Deco cafés or a pizzeria run by an acrobatic pizzaiolo. The local crowd reimagines long-standing structures, from a historic theater-turned-Roaring ‘20s nightclub to an ATM-turned-taco stand. And far-flung emigres weave strands of their home countries into the global tapestry that is St. Pete/Clearwater, from a British tea parlor to a French-Vietnamese restaurant serving two chefs’ childhood favorites. So by all means, come for the lively nightlife, the pristine beaches, and the wondrous museums. Just don’t forget to bring your appetite, too. Welcome to St. Pete/Clearwater.

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