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My Favorite Places in Florida

29 items

PERRY'S WORLD

The only thing that Florida REALLY needs are mountains (or at least very big hills) like those in the California Lake Tahoe area where I use to go to. It does have most everything else: forests, lakes, beaches, etc. Like any place you live, you tend ...

Map

Sections

Venice & Sarasota

Alligator Reef

Ocala

Sombrero Beach is Best

Miami Zoo

Key Biscayne

Venice & Sarasota

When you combine the two, it is hard to beat. Sarasota has a huge white sand beach, Siesta and is much bigger in population than Venice. Venice is just 15-20 min. south and it is a smaller “beach town” that offers a lake and 3-4 excellent beaches. Bo...

Fly into Sarasota airport located in Sarasota and close to Venice. Many domestic fly into it. I have flown several times into this airport and it is just as nice as Tampa and others. Many domestic flights go there!

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Sarasota is like a much bigger city than Venice, which is a beach town. Sarasota offers a lot more shopping variety, but the traffic can be bad. Venice, offers less, but is slower pace and just 20 min. from Sarasota. I highly recommend Venice over Sa...

Sarasota-Venice

Alligator Reef

It is beyond words. Must do. Not expensive. You will never forget it.

I go there every few months and always when visitors come to Florida! The reef is off the Florida Keys at Islamorada, about 4 miles. It's a 30 min. ride and then stunning and awe happens. The water is crystal clear and you snorkel under the 1800's li...

Alligator Reef Light House

Ocala

Known for its horse ranches and beautiful area with lakes, it has the BEST zipline in the state, the epic Silver Springs State Park, and huge boating lakes within 45 min. It is in central Florida above Orlando and there is no ocean nearby.

I love this zipline, especially across the canyon and water. All others in the state cannot compare to this, IMO.

The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park

This park has been around since the 1930's where they use to make the old Tarzan movies and the monkeys escaped from the movie set and multiplied. They are still there! The water is like glass and numerous gators and manatee live there. Rent a kayak ...

Silver Springs State Park

OMG, about 40 min. from Ocala is this fantastic fresh water, clear as glass, swimming area! It is popular and the water is so very refreshing at 72 deg. It feed into the huge Lake George where boating galore happens. Cost is around $6.

Silver Glen Springs

I swear, the Ocala area is an outdoor paradise. In addition to the all the others, this one is like heaven on earth. Ideal for swimming, kayaking, hiking, biking. If I ever move, it will to that area.

Rainbow Springs State Park

Should you ever get tired of mother nature, you can check the museum of drag racing in Ocala. Some of the racers they have are historic and its very interesting.

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

Ocala is not far from this by car, and this is yet another place that is in a very wooded area as you can. At the bottom is the huge pool of clear water. You you desire a forest, go there, I have and it is worth the effort!

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Calling all campers and hikers! One of the most scenic and best places in Florida to do this! There is nothing to complain about in this forested locale. You can swim and take your bike on the trails, but take a map (it is a bit confusing!). I recomm...

O'Leno State Park

Sombrero Beach is Best

This beach is by far the best beach in the Florida keys to hang out at! It is in the town of Marathon just a mile from the main road. It has great bathrooms and a scenic vista to gaze at. Water is clear. It is better than the beaches in Key West beca...

Sombrero Beach in Marathon

Miami Zoo

Need a zoo to go to? This one is huge and similar to the famous Sand Diego zoo in vareity of animals. Love it there!

Visit the BEST zoo in Florida while in the Miami area. It will take you several hours and walk it for the exercise! Plenty animals and some you can get close to. Perfect way to spend 2-3 hrs.

Zoo(m) in Miami !

Key Biscayne

Going there is worth the trip to see the Miami cityscape and the lighthouse on the beach.

This is another favorite spot in the Miami area. The beach is at the very end after going through the town. The lighthouse provides great photo ops and the beach is beautiful. On the way back, you see places to park for ideal places for photos of the Miami city. I recommend this for sure!

Key Biscayne Beach

Sharky's Restaurant

The place to go right on the beach in Venice for casual and fine dining!

I go there all the time, great food, kinda pricey BUT it is on the beach and Venice pier where you can stroll hundreds of yards. The pier offers great panoramic views and sunsets, it is also a great fishing spot! Of course, you can just go to the beach also for the day. Plenty of parking. If your in the area, you MUST see it even if you do not there!

Sharky's On The Pier - Waterfront Dining -Venice, FL

Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota

One of the few white sand beaches in the area and so very popular in the winter.

This white sand beach is glimmering in the sun and be sure to have sunglasses on! One of Sarasota's major attractions, just 20 min. from Venice, is long and crowded in the winter. If you go, be there no later than 11 am to get a parking spot. The bea...

Siesta Key Beach

Busch Gardens Theme Park

A fantastic place to go for the day in Tampa is this theme park. It has all the crazy rides and African safari animals. If you want a water park, that is just down the road.

My favorite theme park for rides. I hate going to Orlando for the same things, Busch Gardens is cheaper and offers jaw-dropping screaming rides. I will never forget the water jungle ride. It is less crowded during the week and lines are short. Weeken...

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Adventure Island in Tampa

Florida is hot and in the summer this water park offers everything you need to stay wet and cool!

Love this! Not too expensive and it is local. It offers all the waterpark rides you need to stay wet and cool. Best time is during the week. Highly recommended!

Adventure Island

Sea World in Orlando

Orlando is the land of theme parks, all the big name ones are there! But, this offers a variety of things to do and has some scary rides also. The dolphin and killer whale shows are a must to see!

Sea World, like all the theme parks in Orlando is pricey BUT it is a must thing to do in Orlando. The best time is on holidays, like on Thanksgiving day, the park was almost empty and there was no waiting in lines for the crazy rides! Shows are about...

SeaWorld Orlando

Venice Beach

This is another one of Venice's many beaches that make it popular. This is one is just down the road from the town.

It's not white sand, but it is equally a great beach with a snack bar, volleyball nets, lifeguards, and walking distance to downtown Venice! It is also down the road from the South Jetty area and park with its pier. A wonderful place to chill and rel...

Venice Beach, Florida

Casperson Beach in Venice

Located south of beach at Sharky's, is this more rustic beach that has a different look to it. There are large boulders along the beach and it IS the best place to find prehistoric shark teeth! Sometimes, there are some large ones you find in the sur...

Another favorite of mine is here. It is more rustic and the beach is over a mile long. You can walk away from the shore and on the other side is a huge waterway for boating and kayaking. It is also the end point of the famous Legacy bikeway. There ar...

Caspersen Beach-Venice

Snook Haven Restaurant in Venice

I've been to a lot of restaurants and this seems to be the ONLY one that serves alligator meat! And, it is right on the Myakka River!

If you want to see what alligator meats tastes like, this may be the only place you can eat it, rent a kayak or canoe or take a tour to see live gators on the Myakka River! I love going here for the food and down-home atmosphere that has live music!

Snook Haven

Bahia Honda State Park

You MUST stop here when heading or leaving Key West! I have been there many times and the park is the best on the Keys. It's panoramic views from the railroad bridge are perfect for photos. The beach is in a cove with tall coconut trees. You can spen...

I fell in love with this! You will too! But if you are not looking for the entrance sign, you will miss it (I did!). You can camp and swim there, snorkel, on either side of the park (ine side is a bay, the other is the ocean). There is also a place t...

Bahia Honda State Park

Sombrero Reef

Like Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef is further down in the Keys off of Marathon. The boat ride is longer, and the reef is much deeper and a favorite for snorkelers and scuba diving. It is equally stunning so go to BUT it still cannot beat Alligator Re...

Like I said, this is another reef that MUST see and do in the Keys. Make sure the wind and rain is NOT in the forecast!

Sombrero Reef

Clearwater Beach

If you are in Tampa or nearby, everyone sooner or later goes to this iconic beach in the town of Clearwater (it is NOT in Tampa). The beach is filled tourists and the beach is glorious and plenty of shops near to peruse. Beware of traffic due to the ...

Yet another awesome beach that everyone goes to visiting the area with plenty of nice hotels right on the beach.

Clearwater Beach

Shark Valley is a Must

This part of the Everglades State Park but its entrance is off the old highway that crossed Florida before I-75 was made. The steep entrance fee allows you to ride a bike or walk along a paved path to the “out of this world” viewing station! Along th...

If you are up for it, several mile ride or walk to the viewing station is well worth it. It's like science fiction in structure. We encountered several gators next to the path in the water and many odd birds fishing. Give yourself several hours to ge...

Shark Valley Visitor Center

Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel

This is no ordinary place to sleep, even if you are local like we are. Located in Orlando area, this is like a village once you enter the complex, which is huge. It has a large dome structure over the village with live trees and plants, fountains, st...

It's an amazing place to stay for a night or two, last year, they had an area that was below freezing and you could make snowballs or sled down a hill in Florida!!! Crazy.

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

St. Augustine

On the Atlantic side of Florida, a must see is this very old city with its ancient Spanish fort and lighthouse. It is worth a day trip.

This is a must for history buffs since it is the oldest city in the USA from the Spanish explorers first landed there in 1500's. Much of the original town remains and the fort is cool.

St Augustine, America's oldest city

Top 3 Snorkel\Dive Reefs

In the Florida Keys, there are reefs and there are the Top 3 reefs. These reefs are widely known in the press, magazines, web, and locals in the know. All offer an experience you will not forget, some are offer more shallow water than others, which i...

The Top 3 spots are ALWAYS: Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, Looe Reef. Sundance water sports will take you to Alligator Reef or Sombrero. They determine which one based on conditions (or another one), while the phone # shown is for a diving at Looe Re...

Great Spots for Snorkeling in the Florida Keys