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All My Favorite Things About Florida
32
items I live in the St Pete/Clearwater area but have visited so many other great places in the state. I’m hoping to create a list that gives others unique experiences that aren’t the obvious for Florida. I'll be building this list so check back often!
Map
Sections
4
Tampa Area
Dunedin Area
St Augustine Area
Orlando Area
Tampa Area
Tampa is so big that sometimes the best places get lost among the popular spots.
This is one of my most favorite places to go during the ‘colder’ months. I'm all about sea life and manatees are at the top of my list. This is such a neat place to go and it's FREE!! The viewing center has plenty of space to watch the manatees…keep ...
Manatee Viewing Center
I mean…cats and coffee…can you really go wrong??!! This place is special as they provide rescued cats with a temporary foster home. There is a fee to go into the cafe and you need to book ahead of time. The fee is to help for the care of the cats unt...
Cats and Caffeine
I've passed this place a few times coming down the interstate into Tampa and finally stopped to check it out. It's technically in Wesley Chapel right outside of the city of Tampa. Krate is a container park that is the home to 94 restaurants and retai...
Krate the Grove
This place is located in the Krate container park in Wesley Chapel. I was looking for a light lunch and was intrigued by the ‘Authentically French’. It did not disappoint! I had an egg and cheese croissant type thing for lunch and I could definitely ... I will be back!
Bakery-X
Dunedin Area
Dunedin is a great place to visit and walk their downtown, grab a bite to eat or just sit with an ice cream and people watch.
I love the Beatles so I enjoy going to this museum anytime I am in Dunedin. They have a great collection of memorabilia and the people that run it are lifelong fans so they are knowlegable. It's free to visit, but I believe they take donations to hel...
Penny Lane Beatles Museum
This is just one of the cute little shops that I love in Dunedin. They have beachy items and clothing, funny tea towels, yummy smelling lotions and candles and so much more. Stop here if you're looking for a fun or unique gift!
Tipsy Mermaid Boutique
I love arcades! This place is a bar with tons of classic arcade games and several pinball machines. They also offer a food and local craft beer. Tetris and Just Dance are definitely my jam when I visit!
Reboot Arcade & Bar
This is a new place that just opened in Dunedin about a month ago. The building is a huge house that used to be an assisted living facility. It has been converted into a store with home decor, unique gifts and jewelry. It’s super cute inside and smel...
Studio A&E Home Decor & Co. (@studioaandedunedin) · Dunedin, FL
This store has the cutest dresses and accessories along with unique gifts, candles and jewelry. The owner is really nice and usually has her adorable dog with her in the store.
Thistle
This is one of my absolute go-to’s for fun and unique gifts and home decor. They have cute purses, cute little things for kids, fun wall hangings and jewelry.
Decorators Difference
If you need a quick bite to eat, grab a slice of pizza from Tony’s. They have ready-made slices ready that you can take with you or you can dine in. The pizza is really good so you’re going to want more than one slice!
Tony's Pizza | Dunedin FL - Facebook
St Augustine Area
I LOVE St Augustine- it is the oldest city in America. It's so rich with history, great restaurants, the beach and fun shopping. If I wasn't such a Gulf-side girl, I would live here!
First off, I can't even believe this place is a real college that students take classes at. It's GORGEOUS!! I want to go to college there!! Flagler College used to be a hotel so there is a lot of history to learn about. You can take a guided historic tour to see a few spots inside. Be sure to take in the gorgeous architectural designs on the outside of the...
Flagler College
Whether you have limited time in St Augustine or a long weekend or more, this is the best way to see everything. I've been to St Augustine multiple times for a long weekend and I will do the trolley tour every single time because it's so convenient a...
St. Augustine Tours and Sightseeing with Old Town Trolley
If you're going to be in the area, definitely check out the schedule of performers. This venue has great seating with some seats under a shade awning. I've seen a few artists here and have to say there isn't a bad seat in the place!
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
The historic building that houses the museum is absolutely gorgeous! In the center there is a courtyard that is so beautiful and peaceful. Plan at least a couple of hours to go through the museum; there are so many interesting pieces to see. The buil...
Lightner Museum
One of the things I love about St Augustine are the oak trees. So you can't miss a trip to the Old Senator tree. They say the tree is over 600 years old! It is in the most unusual place in town…in the middle of a motel property, so not much else to d...
The Old Senator Tree
I can't explain how at peace I feel walking through this property. It has the main church, a museum, a cemetery and the large cross. The museum has so many interesting pieces, the cemetery is very old and absolutely gorgeous, and the cross is an asto...
Mission Nombre de Dios
Pictures do not do this gorgeous church justice. I LOVE churches and this one does not disappoint. It is right in the heart of the downtown. You are able to go inside, look around, take pictures and sit if you wish. It is a very peaceful place to vis...
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
This main street is in the historic downtown area but has lots of streets to wander through off of it. There are fun shops, historical sites, restaurants and old buildings to see and visit. Most of the area is for pedestrians only so a lot of space t...
St. George Street
I’m adding the A1A scenic byway here as St Augustine lies somewhat in the middle of the 70 mile stretch of the byway. If your plans take you north or south of St Augustine and time is not an issue, I would recommend taking this route vs the interstat...
A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway
I found this little family-owned restaurant in a side alley off Aviles Street. It's away from the busy King and St George Streets, so definitely like a hidden gem in downtown St Augustine. It was so hard to pick what to eat, because I wanted to try t...
Gaufres And Goods - Polish and Greek Cuisine
I always visit Sangrias for an afternoon snack when I'm in St Augustine. It's a wine and tapas bar so you can order light plates to share. Don't forget to try the sangria or any of their other specialty drinks. You can't go wrong with any of their food. If you're not a spicy food person, be sure to check with your waiter ...
Sangrias Wine & Tapas Bar
The Hyppo is actually in multiple locations around the state including Tampa and St Petersburg, but St Augustine is it's original home. They are a small business crafting handmade ice pops similiar to paletas. They make ice pops in just about any fla...
The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops
I found Sprout Kitchen by chance in downtown St Augustine. As you know, when you're on vacation you tend to eat ALOT! So I was trying to find a place that served something a little lighter and healthier. I like healthy fresh juices as well, so I stop...
Sprout Kitchen Juice Bar + Cafe
I stopped at the Kookaburra one morning as I had heard they had a gluten free muffin. I was tempted to try their Aussie Pies but stuck with the muffin. They had a peanut butter chocolate chip muffin that tasted so good you would never imagine it was gluten free! They had lots of coffee offerings as well, but I don't like coffee so I h...
The Kookaburra - St. Augustine
This is a fun doughnut shop right on King Street. Look at all the fun flavors!! These doughnuts are made-to-order right on the spot and you can choose from a ton of combinations. So good!!
Peace, Love, and Little Donuts
Do I need to say more about these ice cream sandwiches? Just look at the pictures! It was so hard to pick one to eat but I went with the Elvis; chocolate, peanut butter and banana. It's such a treat! They have lots of flavors to choose from including...
Peace Pie - Gourmet Ice Cream Sandwiches with a Layer of Pie Filling
I've only been to the Fountain of Youth once. I would suggest this place as one for families and those who like to learn about history. They have several demonstrations throughout the day, a cannon firing, a gift shop, a watch tower that you can clim...
Fountain of Youth – St. Augustine Historical Attraction
This record shop is one of my must-stops every time I am in St Augustine. I always find some treasures there. The shop is very well organized and albums are easy to find if you are looking for something spectacular. *Pro-tip: Be sure to look up on th...
Tonevendor Records
Orlando Area
Orlando is one busy city so I tend to stick to the non-touristy areas when I can.
I try to make a point to stop at this state park anytime there are a lot of manatees in the springs. If the weather is decent, I will rent a paddleboard and go out in the lagoon. Keep your eyes open for some friendly snouts that might pop out of the ... The park does have some very nice trails that are easy to walk.
Blue Spring State Park
People often think Disney when they hear Florida, but don't forget that they are also home to Universal Studios. There is a wide selection of rides and attractions that cater to young kids as well as us older kids! I haven't been to the park yet sinc...
Universal Studios Florida Theme Park
I have to mention this place because I've never seen such a huge piece of pizza in my life! On top of the massive size, the pizza was really good. They have lots of individual slice flavors to choose from or you can get a whole pizza. I'm not sure if...
Lazy Moon | Orlando Pizza & Craft Beer