Florida never ceases to amaze. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, look beyond the theme parks and you’ll see that there are a ton of surprising things to do in Florida. Where else can you find an underwater cemetery, a wolf preserve, and a pirate-themed Mardi Gras all in one state?! Let the non-stop adventure begin!

1. Visit an Ancient Spanish Monastery.
Flickr/Brett Levin
How did a monastery that's older than this country end up in North Miami Beach? This 12th-century marvel was purchased by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the '20s, but his plans were sidetracked by shipping complications. It was finally purchased again in the '60s and reassembled in Florida.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 16711 W Dixie Hwy St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church, North Miami Beach, FL 33160-3714
2. Get up close and personal with real wolves.
Flickr/Kim Hill
The big-hearted folks at Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Chipley started this non-profit to raise public awareness of the perils these magnificent creatures face by being removed from federal protection.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428
3. Take a dip in the country's largest freshwater pool.
Flickr/socialBedia
The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is the only swimming pool on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in the '20s in a coral rock quarry in the style of Venice, Italy.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
4. Visit a cottage right out of a fairy tale...in Tallahassee.
www.lichgate.com
Nestled away in the woods near FSU is a time capsule in the form of an English Tudor cottage that looks more at home in a storybook than in Florida. Lichgate on High Road, as the creator called it, was the passion project of a woman named Laura Jepsen, an English professor at the university, who wanted her home to be a gateway to the eras she loved so much in her favorite literature.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 1401 High Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32304
5. Vacation alongside the Amish in Sarasota.
Flickr/Kat...
You may not have known there was an Amish community in Florida, but now that you do, you could probably guess that it's different from all others. The Pinecrest Amish ride bikes instead of buggies, and the homes in the community have electricity because they're intended for vacationers and retirees. Don't miss the amazing Amish food (especially the pie) at restaurants like Yoder's.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, FL 34239

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6. Tour Monkey Island...From a Safe Distance.
Flickr/Carol Vinzant
Monkey Island came into being when a man developing what would later become Homosassa Wildlife State Park needed a place to keep his misbehaving monkeys where guests could watch them from a safe distance. The tiny place is still attracting curious visitors today.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Homosassa, FL
7. Peruse the World Erotic Art Museum.
Flickr/Smart Destinations
This adults-only museum in Miami Beach is home to a private collection of over 4,000 X-rated pieces from all around the world. You really won't find another museum quite like this in the state.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 1205 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
8. Journey into a giant sinkhole.
Flickr/Rain0975
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville, gives guests the opportunity to hike into a 120-foot sinkhole with a mini-rainforest, small waterfalls, and lush foliage.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: 4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653
9. Explore an underwater cemetery that doubles as an artificial reef.
Flickr/Todd Murray
Neptune Memorial Reef is the brainchild of artist Kim Brandell and is located three miles off the coast of Key Biscayne. Ashes are cast into memorials that make up a 16-acre artificial reef divers are encouraged to explore.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Key Biscayne, Florida
10. Party like a pirate.
Flickr/get down
Gasparilla Pirate Festival is named for Tampa's patron pirate Jose Gaspar, "the last of the buccaneers." The winter festival has been compared to a pirate-themed Mardi Gras celebration, so there's also a separate festival for children around the same time.
Click here for more information about this Florida attraction.
Address: Tampa, Florida

Do you have any other surprising things to do in Florida? Please share any other unique places and events you can only find in Florida in the comments below!

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More to Explore

Surprising Things To Do In Florida

Marisa Roman | August 02, 2020

What are the most unique things to do in Florida?

No matter where you end up exploring there are always plenty of unique things to do in Florida to fill your schedule. Personally, we love a good roadside attraction. Usually, the roadside attractions in Florida end up being some of the coolest, strangest, most unique aspects of the state. Florida has quite a few roadside attractions worth checking out all throughout the state. Also, check out these 13 weird places in Florida that are as strange as it gets.

Where can I find the largest waterfall in Florida?

Florida isn’t really known for having large or impressive waterfalls. With the minimal elevation changes and the lack of mountains compared to other states, waterfalls aren’t really a huge bucket-list must for visitors. But one of the lesser-known places in Florida, which also happens to be the largest waterfall in the state is located in Falling Waters State Park, and boy is it beautiful!

Where is the creepiest attraction in Florida?

If you’re the type of person who loves to explore places in Florida that are a little bit historical and a whole lotta creepy, then don’t worry, there is plenty to check out. While we can’t think of just one to label the creepiest, instead we’ve compiled a list of creepy Florida attractions into one giant road trip. Take this haunted road trip in Florida for an epically scary time.

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Featured Addresses
Tampa, FL, USA
16711 Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, USA
Seacrest Wolf Preserve, 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428, USA
2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA
1401 High Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32304, USA
Pinecraft Park, Sarasota, FL 34239, USA
Monkey Island, Homosassa, FL 34448, USA
1205 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA
Florida, USA