Posted in Florida Nature, Road Trips November 24, 2020 by

This Natural Wonders Road Trip Will Show You Florida Like You’ve Never Seen It Before

As you probably already know, Florida is full of natural wonders, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. We’ve given you many road trips that included a few natural wonders, along with awesome restaurants and attractions. But for the folks who want to see as much of the state’s unique natural beauty as possible in one go, we’ve put together a road trip that included as many of our natural wonders in Florida as possible. Of course, it’s a pretty long trip, and we did not possibly include everything Florida has to offer. Instead of just featuring a dozen beautiful beaches, we tried to include as many of Florida’s lesser-known and most impressive natural wonders as possible.

We hope this trip will take you back in time to ancient Florida and show you a side of our state you’ve never seen before. Note: We know that Florida’s west coast has natural wonders as well, but this route was chosen due to time limitations. Feel free to drive up the west coast on your way back for the ultimate Florida road trip.

Screenshot via Google Maps
1. Falling Waters State Park (Chipley)
Wikimedia Commons
We'll begin in Northwest Florida, at the site of Florida's largest and most impressive natural waterfall, which rushes more than 70 feet down a massive sinkhole. The impressiveness of the waterfall depends heavily on factors like recent rainfall. It can vary from a rushing stream to a tiny trickle, so visitors should call ahead to avoid visiting on a dry day.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 1130 State Park Rd, Chipley, FL 32428
2. Florida Caverns State Park (Marianna)
Flickr/Scott Shawcroft
The next stop on our trip is a real wonder because air-filled caves of this size are not something you'd expect to find in Florida. Most of our caves must be explored underwater, which can be very dangerous and requires special training. The caverns at this park are the only air-filled caves in Florida offering tours to the public.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446
3. Torreya State Park (Bristol)
Flickr/johnandmary.F
If you were dropped off at Torreya State Park without any idea where you were, you would probably never guess it was in Florida. This park features 150-foot high bluffs, challenging hiking trails, and the rare tree for which the park is named. The views looking out over the Apalachicola River are some of the most beautiful in the state.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 2576 NW Torreya Park Rd, Bristol, FL 32321
4. Devil's Den (Williston)
Shanna Chatraw via Flickr/Florida Fish and Wildlife
Our next stop is a breathtaking natural feature in North Central Florida called Devil's Den. It looks as mysterious as it sounds, but it's actually a karst window ( a collapsed cave over an underground spring). You must either snorkel or scuba dive to enter the cave, so plan accordingly. This spot is very popular in the summer, so call ahead to plan out the perfect time to visit.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 5390 NE 180th Ave Williston, FL 32696
5. Ocala National Forest
Flickr/sara
Some of Florida's most treasured wilderness and unique wildlife can be found within the Ocala National Forest. This gem in Central Florida offers endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and all kinds of water activities.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: Ocala, FL
6. Blowing Rocks Preserve (Hobe Sound)
Flickr/Clinton & Charles Robertson
Florida is known more for its fine white sand than rocky coastline, but there are actually some lovely beaches with limestone outcropping in the Sunshine State. The large formations at this preserve on Jupiter Island are the biggest on Florida's east coast. When ocean spray hits the rocks, water can shoot up to 50 feet in the air. This effect occurs most often after stormy weather.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 574 S Beach Rd, Hobe Sound, FL 33455
7. Everglades National Park
Flickr/deckchair
The Everglades is the largest tropical wilderness in the U.S., stretching more than one million acres. This park will take you back to Florida before theme parks and high-rises, which somehow teems with activity and holds a meditative stillness at the same time. The delicate balance of the biological diversity and natural beauty at this park will leave you in awe.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: Everglades, FL
8. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo)
Flickr/Adam Simmons
This park in the Keys was actually the first underwater park in the country. It's popular for snorkeling and scuba diving, but you don't have to be an expert swimmer to see Florida's coral reef. In fact, you don't even have to get wet. The park offers glass-bottom boat rides with stunning views of the local marine life. It's one of the most popular parks in the state.
Click here to check out more about this Florida natural attraction.
Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

What do you think? Are you ready to hit the road? There are even more attractions to see on our list of 14 places in Florida everyone should visit at least once.

Address: Falling Waters State Park, 1130 State Park Rd, Chipley, FL 32428, USA
Address: Florida Caverns State Park, 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
Address: Torreya State Park, 2576 NW Torreya Park Rd, Bristol, FL 32321, USA
Address: Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring, 5390 NE 180th Ave, Williston, FL 32696, USA
Address: Ocala National Forest, Florida 32179, USA
Address: The Nature Conservancy Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S Beach Rd, Hobe Sound, FL 33455, USA
Address: Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Natural Wonders In Florida

November 29, 2020
Marisa Roman

What are the oldest attractions in Florida?

There is something timeless about the older attractions in Florida that make them extremely beautiful. Heck, we’d consider many of the most beautiful places in Florida to be the oldest in the state! For instance, the oldest hotel in Florida, The Florida House Inn, is one of the most charming places you’ll ever sleep. Meanwhile, the oldest orchid farm in South Florida, R.F. Orchids, is about as stunning as it gets.

What are the most beautiful hikes in Florida?

Florida hiking is an incredible hobby for many residents and a nice surprise for visitors! While most wouldn’t necessarily expect Florida to have worth-while hiking trails, they would be pleasantly surprised. There are quite a few hikes in Florida that are worth taking, but for many beginners, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. We helped make things much easier by creating a list of the 5 hikes you must do in Florida. These five gems have been curated in order to give hikers a beautiful, worthwhile experience.

What is the most scenic road trip in Florida?

While the truth is simple—any Florida road trip you take will be incredibly scenic and beautiful, we do have one that might be the most beautiful of all. The Hidden Beaches Road Trip in Florida will take you to some of the best beaches in the state. What can be prettier than that?! Visitors who take the road trip will travel practically across the entire state, stopping at Little Talbot Island State Park, Vilano Beach, Keewaydin Island, and all the way to Calusa Beach. This is pure beauty in one trip.

Address: Falling Waters State Park, 1130 State Park Rd, Chipley, FL 32428, USA
Address: Florida Caverns State Park, 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
Address: Torreya State Park, 2576 NW Torreya Park Rd, Bristol, FL 32321, USA
Address: Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring, 5390 NE 180th Ave, Williston, FL 32696, USA
Address: Ocala National Forest, Florida 32179, USA
Address: The Nature Conservancy Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 S Beach Rd, Hobe Sound, FL 33455, USA
Address: Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.