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.
Cities
Top Cities
All Cities
- Bartow
- Big Pine Key
- Bradenton
- Carrabelle
- Cedar Key
- Clearwater
- Clermont
- Crawfordville
- Dade City
- De Land
- Fort Lauderdale
- Gainesville
- Homestead
- Homosassa
- Islamorada
- Jacksonville
- Key Biscayne
- Key Largo
- Key West
- Kissimmee
- Lake Wales
- Marco Island
- Miami
- Miami Beach
- Monticello
- Naples
- New Port Richey
- New Smyrna Beach
- North Miami Beach
- North Port
- Ochopee
- Orlando
- Ormond Beach
- Palm Beach
- Pensacola
- Pensacola Beach
- Ponce Inlet
- Port Orange
- Sanford
- Sanibel
- Sarasota
- St. Augustine
- St. Petersburg
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- Tarpon Springs
- Titusville
- Vernon
- Vero Beach
- West Palm Beach
- White Springs
- Williston
Unusual Attractions in Florida
Let Your Florida Adventure Begin
Above and Beyond Expected
Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Florida
Plan Your Trip
Unforgettable Experiences Nearby
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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