What to do and see in Florida, United States: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do

February 2, 2022 Harland Bartelt

Not just for retirees and theme park enthusiasts, the Sunshine State offers beautiful beaches, pristine diving conditions, and sizzling nightlife. Salsa the night away in a smokin’ hot Miami club, or swing away at one of Kissimmee’s many premium golf courses. An airboat tour of the Everglades is an unforgettable adventure – just look out for alligators! For the risk-averse, a lazy day spent on the soft sands of an Emerald Coast beach is as rejuvenating as a spa treatment.
Restaurants in Florida

1. Canaveral National Seashore

+1 321-267-1110 http://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 894 reviews

Canaveral National Seashore

Reviewed By Sunseekergirl77 - Moorhead, United States

We were traveling with a group (staying in Orlando - 1.5 hr away), many of whom had never seen the Atlantic before, so we chose this beach to take them to, to see the Atlantic side of Florida. It was near the time a hurricane was heading toward Bermuda, etc. so the seas were really rough, but everyone had a great time running in the surf, playing in the sand and even swimming a little. We have visited this beach a few times while staying in Orlando and have enjoyed walking the beach, looking for shells, watching the fishermen on the bay side and frequently see dolphins and manatees over by the visitor center - which was true for this visit as well. Disappointed they close the bathrooms up at the visitor center so early!

2. National Naval Aviation Museum

1750 Radford Blvd Suite C, NAS, Pensacola, FL 32508-5400 +1 850-452-3604 [email protected] http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org
Excellent
92%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 6,454 reviews

National Naval Aviation Museum

Experience the magic of flight at the National Naval Aviation Museum! See over 4,000 artifacts and 150 aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Aviation. Ride the flight simulators or catch all the drama and power of amazing IMAX films. Dine in the authentic Cubi Bar Cafe and take home the spirit of Naval Aviation with a unique memento from the Flight Deck Store. Spend a cool day inside the Museum and experience Hands-on-History! New Naval Air Station Entrance: All visitors to the National Naval Aviation Museum, Fort Barrancas and Pensacola Lighthouse who do not possess a Department of Defense identification card or are unescorted by the holder of a Department of Defense identification card, will be required to enter the installation via the West Gate located off Blue Angel Parkway.

Reviewed By 763cathrynd

State of the art aviation museum for all ages! Has it all! 2 story quality museum along with a gift shop, iMax theater, restaurant in the beautiful setting at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL! Easy to spend anywhere from 2-5 hours there! It’s awesome! Cost? FREE!

3. McCarthy's Wildlife

12943 61st St N, West Palm Beach, FL 33412-2017 +1 561-790-2116 [email protected] http://www.mccarthyswildlife.com
Excellent
96%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,118 reviews

McCarthy's Wildlife

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! : Eight lush acres of endangered wildlife surrounded by a botanical garden situated in the palmetto and pine forest of West Palm Beach! Over 200 animals from White Tigers to African Lions, Black Leopards, Ligers, Lynx and Amur Leopards seen from just four feet away. You can't get any closer than this by law! Hands on experiences with alligators, snakes, tarantulas, and who knows what else. You will have to come by and experience it for yourself! We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit wildlife rescue facility that take in injured native wildlife, orphaned babies, and unwanted exotic pets! Your experience here helps us with the tremendous expense of caring for our animals. Price is $35.00 for adults and $25.00 for children (ages 5yrs.-15yrs).

Reviewed By ehmegee

This was our second trip to McCarthy but definitely won’t be our last. Here are a few of the things that make McCarthy a must-see (in our humble opinions). STAFF: Our tour guide, Lisa, was superb. She knew the history of the animals, answered all questions asked by our group throughout the tour, and provided detailed information on each of the animals; both in terms of the species and individual creatures’ lives. The tours are well organized and they do an excellent job of keeping everything on track and groups together, without rushing everyone. We had several mobility impaired individuals in our tour group and the presence of many chairs/benches along the way offers respite to those who need it as we stop at each creature. RESPECT: There is a clear culture of mutual respect cultivated at McCarthy’s: the animals are all clearly content and enjoy their lives, and cared for by total professionals. The keepers all clearly care about the animals and speak to them like old friends, but respect their autonomy and power (big cats in particular) and treat them accordingly. There are tons of lovely animals to fall a little bit in love with, and the accompanying talks about them, occasionally delving into what makes them unsuitable as domestic pets, are as timely as they are educational. INTERACTION: We did get to interact with Snowball the boa constrictor and a little baby alligator, which was fun. These interactions were well-structured and for those who opted to participate in the interactive portion, they were given clear instructions for how and when to handle them, always under direct supervision. EXPERIENCE: In my view, the best way to approach this experience is as a privilege: it is an opportunity to come alongside & learn from a great organization. This facility is doing incredible rehabilitation & education work, and there is always something new to learn and see, as well as some long-term residents to check in with. For animal lovers, it is especially exciting to see these wonderful creatures up close and to be certain that they are being well cared for and that their quality of life is excellent (or as good as it can possibly be for some of the rescued/rehabilitated creatures - the one-winged turkey vulture that they nursed back to health after being hit by a truck is living the best life he could, even though he would be unsuitable for the wild with only one wing). My husband and I were here a year and a half ago, again today, and now intend to visit every time we’re in the area. This incredible nonprofit deserves all the support it can get.

4. St. Augustine Distillery

112 Riberia St, St. Augustine, FL 32084-4351 +1 904-825-4962 [email protected] http://www.staugustinedistillery.com
Excellent
82%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8,108 reviews

St. Augustine Distillery

St. Augustine Distillery is a locally owned and operated, artisanal spirits distillery in historic, downtown St. Augustine. Located within a beautifully restored ice plant from the turn-of-the-century, our mission is simple: Educate and inspire our guests about our handcrafted, award-winning rum, bourbon whiskey, gin, and vodka. All of our spirits are made from local and regional agricultural products. The result is undeniable; world-class spirits that create the best local cocktails imaginable. Come taste for yourself. St. Augustine Distillery offers free tours and tastings seven days a week.

Reviewed By kristincW3725BV - Sarasota, United States

The St. Augustine Distillery tour is a must-do! It’s a free tour and Nick is a great tour guide/bartender.The samples are excellent, especially the Florida Mule and Rum Tiki. You won’t regret this off-the-beaten path stop.

5. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

102601 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 +1 305--676-3777 [email protected] http://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/john-pennekamp-coral-reef-state-park
Excellent
57%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,804 reviews

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

A beautiful state park that features land and undersea adventures.

Reviewed By TimeToGoInNC - North Carolina, United States

Whether you’re spending months or just hours in the Keys, this spot should be on your “must do” list. There is so much to do - aquarium, glass-bottom boat trip out to Molasses Reef, kayaks to rent, short trails to explore, a small beach for relaxing, ... Staff is extra friendly and helpful. All facilities are clean, well maintained and clearly marked. We especially enjoyed the boat trip out to the reef. Capt. Cathi’s knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious. GO!

6. The Ringling

5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243-2161 +1 941-359-5700 [email protected] https://www.ringling.org/
Excellent
77%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7,113 reviews

The Ringling

The Ringling is located in Sarasota, Florida and preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, the Art Library, two Circus Museums, and the Historic Asolo Theater. The grounds and gardens are free to visit, and the Museum of Art offers free admission on Mondays.

Reviewed By jbwhitehouse - Dallas, United States

The Circus Museum is closed for renovations as are an art gallery. The new Kotter-Koville Glass Museum is at the entrance to Ringling and is free to view. It has beautiful and diverse glass pieces; worth a visit. Admission--free with NARM, MARP, and ROAM memberships--provides admission to the fantastic Tibbals Learning Center, the grounds around Ca'd'Zen, and the truly outstanding and extensive art museum. Additional fees are charged to view Ca'd'Zen for the first floor or other floors. It used to be free to do a self-guiding of first floor and a fairly reasonable charge for two other floors. Now there is a high price, which is understandable when considering the very costly upkeep of the property. Still such high prices exclude this family. Ringling is for all ages and necessitates hours to enjoy.

7. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

375 Sanctuary Rd, Naples, FL 34120-4865 +1 239-348-9151 [email protected] http://corkscrew.audubon.org
Excellent
70%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,318 reviews

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Online reservations only. No walk-ins allowed. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000 acre Preserve. The Sanctuary is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8:00am-3:00pm with last admission at 1:00 pm. Timed tickets are available for 8am-10am, 10:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3pm. Visitors will find a gentle, pristine wilderness that dates back more than 500 years. A 2.25 mile boardwalk meanders through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and ferns. The forest is also home to alligators, otters, white-tailed deer and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, raptors and the fabulous Painted Bunting can be seen throughout the year. Photo opportunities are available at every turn of the boardwalk trail.

Reviewed By saintnick76 - Southampton, United Kingdom

We were recommended the corkscrew swamp by one of the tram drivers at the Naples Grande hotel and really enjoyed our visit so much that we went back the following day (ticket price is for 2 consecutive days) During our visits we saw 600 year old cypress trees, woodpeckers, alligators, herons, anhingas and even a snake, towards the end of our 2nd visit we had the lovely sight of 3 raccoons running along the boardwalk right in front of us. Staff are knowledgeable and very welcoming and it is a worthwhile visit if wildlife is of interest

8. Clearwater Beach

1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767 https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/
Excellent
72%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 12,523 reviews

Clearwater Beach

With hundreds of things to do on Clearwater Beach, the main attraction is still pretty much its near-perfect beach (USA Today readers voted Clearwater Beach "Best Beach Town in Florida" in 2013). Beautiful white sand and clear, shallow water make this beach an ideal playground for families.

Reviewed By ideasinfluence - Forest City, United States

Spent a winter day in February walking, jogging, tanning, orgeous white sand, spacious, spent quiet time near the rocks by Opal Sand Resort's beautiful outdoor bar, the perfect spot to watch the sun set. No matter where you are in Clearwater it seems everything you need is right there.

9. Big Cat Rescue

12802 Easy St, Tampa, FL 33625-3702 +1 813-920-4130 [email protected] http://www.bigcatrescue.org/
Excellent
79%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,223 reviews

Big Cat Rescue

Do you see yourself looking over the vast Serengeti plains, searching the horizon for a glimpse of a pride of Lions, or a Leopard lounging in the trees? Do you imagine yourself in India, riding an elephant through the high grass with your eyes peeled for the elusive Tiger? Have you ever thought how great it would be to hike through the rainforest, listening to the tropical birds, ever on the lookout for a Leopard or an Ocelot high in the canopy? Have you ever been to the zoo and wanted to be closer to the exotic cats; so close you could almost touch them? You don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to make these dreams come true. The world's largest accredited big cat rescue facility is right here in Tampa, Florida at Big Cat Rescue.

Reviewed By elizabethmP7310XL

Excellent organization who prioritizes the well-being of the cats and educating visitors on the cruelty of owning these wild animals as pets. The tour is an excellent opportunity to observe these beautiful creatures up close and learn about how to help preserve these species. Don't go to "cub petting" tourist traps! You can tell that everyone who works and volunteers with this organization genuinely loves these animals and are interested in providing the best possible life for them.

10. Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218-5770 +1 904-757-4463 [email protected] http://jacksonvillezoo.org
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,221 reviews

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

This 73-acre park is the only zoo in Florida's northeast. With over 2000 animals and 1000 plants, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is 1 of only 7 zoos in the United States with an animal wellness team who help to provide the very best care for our animals.

Reviewed By S3227OMcindys

This is a great place to visit it’s well-maintained everybody’s friendly and there’s lots to do. We have annual passes and love to take the grandchildren! They have a merry go round for the theater and you can even feed and pet the stingrays this is an absolute dump must be around Christmas time Santa is there with his wife it is gorgeous and a big light show

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