The Fairytale Road Trip That’ll Lead You To Some Of Florida’s Most Magical Places
Magic. Enchantment. Imagination. Florida is filled with so many wonderful fairytale-like places, we’ve decided to compile them all in one incredible trip. Florida itself is seemingly straight out of a fairytale, between the emerald green water shimmering like jewels, the enchanting forested landscapes, and of course, there are even a few caves, singing towers, and castles thrown into the mix. The entire Fairytale Road Trip in Florida will take just over 11 hours of drive-time to complete, but you’ll likely want to stop and explore at every place, this can be perfect for a weekend adventure with the family. To check out a Google Map of all of these magical places to visit in Florida, click here.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
We kick off this magical journey with a trip that might just make Little Red Riding Hood nervous. Just kidding — the wolves at Seacrest Wolf Preserve are anything but scary. Visitors to the preserve will be able to get up close with these gentle giants and learn all about why it’s important to protect and preserve wildlife in Florida.
Florida Caverns State Park is like something you would see in a Brothers Grimm story. The stalagmites and stalactites within this underground cave system are truly a marvel. Take a tour of the caverns and visit the dozen different underground rooms and learn all about the unique geological history of this otherworldly landscape.
What would a fairytale road trip be without a visit to a castle, right? Castle Otttis in St. Augustine is well worth the visit, as it is one of the very few castles built within the state. What was constructed back in the 80s was built to replicate Irish castles built thousands of years ago. Visitors can come and check out this gigantic stone castle and learn all about the two men who took on the feat of architectural beauty.
Ravine Gardens State Park is the type of place where you feel like you’re walking through the pages of a storybook. You can spend hours upon hours wandering the grounds of this park, whether it’s walking the steps through the forested landscape or enjoying the blossoming flowers. What’s even cooler about this park beyond just the beauty is that the tropical garden was once the site of ancient ravines!
Speaking of gardens, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven is about as majestic as you can get. This botanical garden has been around since the 1930s, but since has become part of the new Legoland Florida theme park. However, in 2011, the enchanting botanical garden, including the Banyan trees were preserved, allowing visitors to glimpse the natural otherworldly scene.
Can you just picture Rapunzel trapped up in the beautiful Bok Tower letting down her flowing hair? This garden and bird sanctuary is such a neat fairytale Florida place to visit, not just because of the 250-acre garden, but because of the 205-foot tall Singing Towner. Carillon bells will sound from the tower daily, which is a beautiful and unique experience.
There are so many wonderfully magic aspects about Weeki Wachee Springs, it was a no-brainer to add this spot to the fairytale road trip. The live mermaids are enough of a reason to visit on this trip because nothing is more mesmerizing than a live mermaid show! But also the springs have a wonderful ethereal quality to them, which makes it a storybook ending to a perfect trip.
What do you think about these magical places to visit in Florida? Who would you take with you on this excursion? Are there any other destinations you would add to this route? Let us know in the comments section!
Address: 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428, USA
Address: Florida Caverns State Park, 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
Address: 103 3rd St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA
Address: Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg St, Palatka, FL 32177, USA
Address: 6000 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33884, USA
Address: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, USA
Address: Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida 34606, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Magical Places To Visit In Florida
December 20, 2020
Marisa Roman
What’s the most beautiful road trip in Florida?
While the fairytale road trip through Florida is surely a beaut, there is another road trip that might take the cake in terms of scenery. The Hidden Beaches Road Trip in Florida will take you to a variety of beaches throughout the state, many of which remain hidden gems. You can start with Little Talbot Island State Park near Jacksonville, Florida, and wind up all the way down by Calusa Beach near the Keys. Plus, there will be many stops in between that will provide stunning scenery and beachfront adventures. If there is one thing that is most beautiful about Florida, it is certainly the beaches!
What are the best little known attractions in Florida?
Florida attractions like Disney World and South Beach tend to get all of the attention of new visitors. Rightly so, they both are beautiful and worthy of exploration. But what about those little known attractions throughout the state? The hidden gems that often only locals know about, which are fascinating in their own right. We have 18 hidden gems in Florida that run the gamut in terms of adventure, from beautiful gardens to quiet beaches. You’ll never run out of things to do on this list of attractions throughout Florida.
What are the most highly rated things to do in Florida?
Sometimes it’s fun to tackle the unique things to do in Florida and then other times it’s fun to visit the top-rated touristy spots. Even if you’re a resident, those highly rated things to do in Florida are worth checking out. After all, they’re ranked that high for a reason! Explore places like Walt Disney World, Kennedy Space Center, and Everglades National Park. Then check out Universal Studios, Busch Gardens in Tampa, and the Daytona International Speedway. There is always something to see in Florida that comes highly recommended.
Address: 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428, USA
Address: Florida Caverns State Park, 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
Address: 103 3rd St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA
Address: Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg St, Palatka, FL 32177, USA
Address: 6000 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33884, USA
Address: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, USA
Address: Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida 34606, USA
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A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
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