Rainbow Springs
Address: 18185 SW 94th St., Dunnellon, Florida 34432 USA
Reviews: 4.5/5
At Rainbow Springs, you can go and camp in the forest with beautiful, sapphire blue water. It is also surrounded by gardens, waterfalls, and rolling hills. Activities include bird watching, camping, fishing, geo-seeking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, picnicking, snorkeling, swimming, tubing, and wildlife viewing.
There are also plenty of amenities available for visiting guests as it is a newer park and they are very modern. These amenities include laundry, a shower station, and many more.
Rainbow Springs has many positive reviews, many stating things like, “We had no clue what to expect beyond the pictures of the River, which I assumed had been heavily filtered. We went around 3 pm through the main entrance and were able to park easily. We walked across to the park entrance, paid about $2 per person, and went directly to the spring where you can swim. It was pretty full and the water ice cold but it was beautiful! We also walked around the park and saw the small waterfall. We checked the kayak but ended up not renting. Everything was inexpensive and the park so enjoyable.”
Ocala
Address: City of Ocala 110 SE Watula Avenue Ocala, FL 34471
Ocala, Florida is a small town of 60,000 located in central Florida. While being smaller, it is a very pretty town with lots of activities for those of all ages. Activities include Gypsy Gold Horse Farm Tour, Treetop Express Zip Line Tour, Sholom Park, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, The Silver Spring River, and much more.
With so much to do throughout the smaller town, we couldn’t just list one activity and had to mention the whole of the town. When visiting you have to try and get out to all of the activities as each one was unique and fun in its own way. Whether it’s horses, Juniper Springs, or visiting Ocala National Forest – we’re sure that you’ll enjoy visiting Ocala.
Cape Canaveral
Address: Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920
Cape Canaveral is another town with so much to do around it that we can’t just list one thing but rather had to put the town itself. Fun activities include Jetty Park Beach & Pier, Exploration Tower, U.S. Air Force Space & Missile Museum, Manatee Sanctuary Park, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, The Wizard of Oz Museum, and a lot more. Being located just off the coast, Cape Canaveral has plenty of fun beach activities to offer along with lots of fun museums and fun parks. There are also plenty of activities for those of all ages, so when visiting there will always be something for everyone.
Walt Disney World
Address: Walt Disney World Resort. 1375 E Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830
Reviews: 4.6
It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that Walt Disney World is on this list of places to visit in Florida. The world-famous park has lots to offer and is much bigger than its sister park in California. It is split up into several different parks, which include Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Magic Kingdom Park, and Epcot. With so much to do, Walt Disney World is a must when in Florida.
Everglades National Park
Address: 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
Reviews: 4.55
Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetland preserve on the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida. The vast majority of the park is made up of coastal mangroves, and sawgrass marshes and is home to hundreds of different animal species. Some of the animals include turtles, panthers, manatees, alligators, and many different species of snakes. The most common activities are the plethora of different boat tours that go all through the wetlands. If you’ve never gone on an airboat ride, now’s the time!
Alligator Alley
Address: 6515 International Dr. The International Palms Resort and Conference Center, Orlando, FL
Reviews: 3.75
Alligator Alley is an 80-mile stretch in southern Florida surrounded by swampland. Part of the Alligator Alley goes very close to the Everglades National Park. It is around this 80-mile area where a large portion of the 1.3 million alligators. The road that makes up Alligator Alley is I-75 and has no rest stops throughout, so if one of the larger gators is crossing the road you are going to have to wait however long it takes for it to cross.
We captured the picture above simply by driving Alligator Alley. We easily saw 20 alligators sunbathing. My suggestion – go around early afternoon on a sunny day, stay in your car, and whatever you do – don’t feed the alligators. But it’s so cool to see them from the safety of your car!
Bowman Beach on Sanibel Island
Address: 1700 Bowman’s Beach Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957
Reviews: 4.53
Located on the Southwest Sanibel Island, Bowman Beach this beach is beautiful and well known for being a great place to search for and find seashells. At the beach, there is also windsurfing and sailing available. Parking is $5 per hour, and be prepared to wait for someone to leave before you can find a parking spot.
There is a 1/4 mile walk to the beach on a wooden walkway, but it’s worth the walk to see the turquoise waters and find some of the biggest shells and sand dollars! They have clean restrooms on the way to the beach, a playground for kids, and walking trails.
Key West
Address: Florida 33040
On the southernmost island, there is a small town with lots of lovely activities and plenty of water activities for everyone. Most often it is a cruise stop, and also has beautiful coral reefs where you can go snorkeling. The vast majority of activities offered here are water or coastal themed, though there are also some very nice southern cuisine locations.
Key West is a historical town, so you can definitely add some history lessons to your trip. There are ghost tours, Ernest Hemingways’s house, Key West Lighthouse, and a historic tower that was built during the Civil War. For the best information, I recommend taking an Old Town Trolley Tour.
Manatee Observation Center
Address: 480 N Indian River Dr, Fort Pierce, FL 34950
Reviews: 4.1
The Manatee Observation Center in Fort Pierce is a nature center that is dedicated to helping teach and help people be more aware of the environment and how to help protect manatees. While dedicated and focusing specifically on manatees, the observation center mainly focuses on helping protect the Floridian wetlands and oceans.
Silver Springs State Park
Address: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Reviews: 4.25
This is Florida’s first state park, being founded in the 1870s. The park has lots of different nature activities which include biking, hiking, and watching a variety of wildlife. The lakes have beautiful, and very clear water which is one of the major attractions along with the wildlife.
Bok Tower Gardens
Address: 1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, Florida 33853
Reviews: 4.6
A beautiful garden designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The Bok Tower Gardens are lots of very beautiful areas that offer many unique experiences including artistic, cultural, personal, and spiritual enrichment. The gardens also have reflection pools, and the centerpiece Singing Tower.
Orlando Science Center
Address: 777 E Princeton St Orlando, Florida 32803
Reviews: 4.4
The Orlando Science Center is a great option for any looking for education purposes. Built in 1955 and opened in 1960, the Orlando Science Center has 4 floors to explore, this science center has a wide variety of topics and great options for education. Entrance to the museum will cost $18 for kids and $22 for adults.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Address: 14200 U.S. Rt. 1, Loggerhead Park Juno Beach, Florida 33408
Reviews: 4.95
Not only is the Loggerhead Marinelife Center an ocean conservation center, but it also acts as a sea turtle hospital. The marine life center experience includes up-close interactions with threatened and endangered sea turtles, plus a variety of aquariums, exhibits, and learning programs. When it comes to Juno Beach, this is one of the must-visit places as it is both an educational and a fun experience.
Holocaust Monument
Address: 1933-1945 Meridian Ave. Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Reviews: 4.4
Established in 1984, a group of Holocaust survivors came together to establish this memorial in Miami. The Memorial Wall is a reminder of the human souls whose lives were extinguished in the Holocaust. The Holocaust Memorial Wall serves many of the survivors and their families as the only link to those who experienced this disaster. This is a free-to-visit monument and offers a great experience and opportunity to teach about WWII and the Holocaust.
South Miami Beach
Address: Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Reviews: 4.5
While the beach here is going to be the most obvious part of this place to visit, there is plenty more that South Miami Beach has to offer. These offerings include Art Deco architecture, vintage Americana, hot rods, and plenty of Cuban influence. The beach is fun to visit both during the day and in the evening as they both offer very unique experiences that are both fun and allow you to learn and experience different cultures.
Zoological Wildlife Foundation
Address: 16225 Southwest 172 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33187
Reviews: 4.7
With over 40 different unique animal species, the Zoological Wildlife Foundation is one of the largest zoo/ wildlife foundations in Florida. The wildlife foundation has plenty of interactive activities for guests to take part in to better help them learn about animals and wildlife. Some of the popular selection of exotic zoo animals are chimpanzees, apes, sloths, lemurs, owls, snakes, anteaters, lions, tigers, ligers, black jaguars, and Capuchin monkeys.
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 12943 61st st n., West Palm Beach, Florida 33412
Reviews: 5
Another great option for a wildlife sanctuary, Everything from foxes to bobcats, Sandhill Cranes to pelicans, hawks, owls, and many others have received veterinarian care by the staff here before they are eventually released back into the wilderness. Many of the exotic animals have been donated to them by wildlife officers who confiscated these innocent creatures from the previous owners because of neglect, abuse, or illegal possession. Typically there are over 170 different animals in the sanctuary at a time with over 20 of them being large carnivores. The price for admission is $40.00 for adults and $30.00 for children.
Lion Country Safari
Address: 2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Florida 33470
Reviews: 4.5
This is Florida’s only drive-through safari that allows you to get up and close to a wide variety of animals. Within the safari, there are over 900 animals, animal displays and encounters, animal feeding experiences, 6 rides, a water sprayground, food, shopping, and more. Among the more notable species on display at the park are lions, white rhinos, chimpanzees, zebras, and giraffes. The safari has made some changes since COVID-19, so check here for additional details.
Kelly Park Campground
Address: 400 East Kelly Park Rd., Apopka, Florida 32712
Reviews: 4.5
Another one of Florida’s crystal clear springs, as its name suggests, Rock Springs bubbles up from a cleft in a rock outcropping and, instead of spreading out into a pool, becomes a swiftly running stream that quickly slows to a meander. The activity of choice here, and the major reason for the park’s obvious popularity, is riding down the stream in an inner tube or on a float.
“Spending 5 hours at the Kelly Park Rock Springs was not enough for my two sons! Neither for me and my wife!
It was overcrowded when we arrived but this didn’t let us down for a second!”
Crab Island in Destin
Address: Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548
Reviews: 4.9
Located in the panhandle part of Florida, Crab island over the past few years has become a popular destination place. Featured on HGTV and Good Morning America, Crab Island’s fame has been growing at a rapid pace. The shallow emerald green waters, obstacle courses, and floating bars have made it one of the most popular things to do on the entire Gulf Coast. Today, Crab Island is nothing more than a raised sandbar. At one point, it actually was an island, but sands from the Gulf of Mexico have eroded it over the years to turn it into what it is today. In most places on Crab Island, the depth of the water is about 1-4 ft. It’s the perfect place to anchor your boat down and have a good time out in the sun!
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Address: 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables, Florida 33156
Reviews: 4.8
The Fairchild Botanical Garden is a world-renowned garden for its collections of cycads, flowering trees, tropical fruits, vines, aroids, and endangered species, which provide a living laboratory for scientists, and the opportunity for discovery for everyone. It is dedicated to exploring, explaining, and conserving the world of tropical plants and is one of the premier conservation and education-based gardens in the world and a recognized international leader in both Florida and international conservation.
Shell Factory
Address: 2787 N Tamaimi Trail, North Fort Myers, Florida 33903
Reviews: 3.9
The Shell Factory offers a massive variety of activities which include Scallywags Fun Park & Mini Golf, featuring The Soaring Eagle Zipline, millions of shells, fine jewelry, pick your own pearl, Dept 56 Christmas collectibles, and everything for the beach from toys to clothes, and a nature park which contains over 400 different animals. With such a wide variety there will be plenty to do for anyone in any age group.
Conclusion
Florida has so much wildlife and nature to learn from, making it one of our favorite places to explore.
I hope this list was helpful and gets you excited for your next traveling homeschool adventure! If you visit any of our recommendations, I’d love to hear about it below! Let’s keep the list going! Where are some of your favorite places to visit when roadschooling in Florida?
Happy and safe travels!