If you haven't visited Florida yet, you're missing out! We've got five fantastic reasons you should put the Sunshine State on your bucket list!
1. The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
View this post on Instagram
John Ringling, a circus promoter and showman, decided to bring art and culture to Florida in 1925 by way of an art museum. With the help of architect John H. Phillips, the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art sprung into action.
Ringling named the art museum to commemorate his legacy and his business interests. The establishment and the collected artworks spread his love for culture and the arts among other like-minded individuals.
Aside from holding beautiful pieces of art, the establishment is also a memorial to Ringling's wife Mable Burton. He married Mable in 1905, who also shared his passion for the arts.
Today, the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art holds many facilities to cater to different art enthusiasts. You'll not only find the main museum, but you'll also see the Historic Asolo Theater and the establishment's education center. You can also take a walk outside the museum in the Bayfront Gardens if you need a bit of fresh air.
Business hours: 10 AM to 5 PM daily
Admission fees: $5 to $25 (prices change per age group)
Address: 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243
Contact number: 941 359 5700
2. Universal Orlando Resort
View this post on Instagram
Unleash your inner child as you visit the Universal Orlando Resort. Here, you can take on the many attractions presented by the famous Universal Studios Florida theme park.
At Universal Studios Florida, get wet and wild as you ride the Krakatau Aqua Coaster. But if you want a peaceful retreat, take a dip with friends and family at Waturi Beach. Single and family-sized cabanas are available for rent within this section of the theme park.
If you're looking for excitement, you can put on your explorer pants to go inside the park's Islands of Adventure sector. This time, you can go for a roller coaster ride on Hagrid's flying motorcycle. Otherwise, you can marvel and become filled with excitement as you explore the Jurassic Park River Adventure.
Nearby hotels are also available if you want to plan an extended stay within Universal Orlando Resort's property.
Business hours: 9 AM to 8 PM (may close early on certain days)
Admission fees: $19.99 to $754.99 per person for theme park passes (prices depend on the attractions to visit and the number of days to spend within the theme park)
Address: 6000 Universal Boulevard Orlando, FL 32819
Contact number: 407-363-8000
Take a glimpse of what you can enjoy in Universal Orlando Resort by watching the short clip below:
3. St. Pete Beach
View this post on Instagram
Among the many illustrious beaches scattered around Florida, St. Pete Beach is one that you won't want to miss. For starters, entrance to the area is free, which can be a great stop if you want to get that golden tan without spending any extra cash.
While you're here, you might also want to linger during the afternoon. Oftentimes, singers, bands, and musical marvels strut their stuff to live audiences.
Seating is in the venue, so you don't have to stand throughout the entire performance.
As for the beach itself, let your feet sink into the white sand. You can also enjoy various watersports, such as paddle boarding, kiteboarding, and parasailing.
But if you're also looking for other places to enjoy while in St. Petersburg, check out this video from TikTok user likecherriesinspring to see what you can add to your itinerary:
@likecherriesinspring 5 Places to visit in ST.PETE, FL🌺🌴 #fyp #floridacheck #floridahype #stpete #tampa #tampabay #tampafood #visitflorida #thingstodoinflorida #usf #fl ♬ Buttercup - Jack Stauber
Business hours: Always open
Admission fees: Free
Address: 4700 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Contact number: 727-367-2735
4. Mallory Square
View this post on Instagram
You should add Mallory Square to your Key West bucket list destinations.
It's a great place to be if you're looking to indulge in different activities. For instance, you can pamper yourself on a shopping expedition as the 26,000-square-foot area is home to many boutiques and shops.
You can also enjoy watersports by way of the Fury Water Adventures attraction. Here, you can enjoy activities like snorkeling, rock climbing, jet skiing, and a casual sunset cruise.
Bear in mind that it's a limited-time offer at the time of writing. But discounts are available if you can book in advance.
Business hours: Depends on the attraction or establishment
Admission fees: Free
Address: 400 Wall St, Key West, FL 33706
Tiktok user samstravelss also shows the view of the sunset from Mallory Square in a video, which you can watch below:
@samstravelss Mallory Square: The best sunset spot in Key West 🌅 #florida #keywest #exploreflorida #exploreflorida #floridakeys #mallorysquare #sunset #travel #traveltiktok #travelbucketlist #travellife #fyp ♬ Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) [2018 Remaster] - Kate Bush
5. Naples Zoo
View this post on Instagram
Located within the Caribbean Gardens, the Naples Zoo is home to many wildlife attractions. Watch as different animals are enjoying their time in a well-kept peace, thanks to the facility's staff.
You'll also find different types of animals within the zoo's walls. Some examples include different species of hyenas, leopards, and tigers. You would also find the lemur, which you might recognize from the hit DreamWorks movie Madagascar.
Visitors should be wary as the zoo is fairly strict about the welfare of the animals within the facility. For instance, you can't bring pets inside the property as other animals might become aggressive towards them. However, you can bring pets if they're service animals.
Business hours: 9 AM to 4:30 PM daily (closed on certain holidays)
Admission fees: $14.95 to $22.95 (final price depends on customer's age group)
Address: 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples, Florida, 34102
Contact number: 239 315 7626
Here's a quick look at a lemur getting a snack from one of the Naples Zoo staff:
@napleszoo Saturday Snackin 🍇 Victoria, a white-fronted lemur and Bimbini, a mongoose lemur, are enjoying their fruits and veggies! #asmr #lemur #zoo #snackin ♬ original sound - Naples Zoo