Sightseeing Sunday: Weird Things to Do in Florida
Looking for weird things to do in Florida? We’ve been collecting roadside oddities, oversized objects, offbeat attractions, and stops that make you wonder who decided a hotel needed to be underwater.
Fun Facts About Florida
St. Augustine — founded in 1565 and featured on this list — is the oldest continuously occupied European-founded city in the United States.
Florida is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles live side by side in the wild.
Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States.
Florida produces more oranges than any other state, supplying most of the nation’s orange juice.
Florida brings the weird in full force — underwater hotels, mermaid shows, and the world’s largest alligator building. Some of these we’ve visited, others are still on our list. When we’ve been somewhere, the link takes you to our photo page with details and snark. Otherwise, you’ll head to their official site — assuming one exists, since sometimes that’s half the adventure.
Unique Attractions & Weird Things to Do in Florida
Weird Roadside & Oddities
Christmas
World’s Largest Alligator Building – Jungle Adventures Animal Park.
Holly Hill
The Holly Hill Gnome Tree – A tiny neighborhood tree turned gnome wonderland.
Homestead
Coral Castle – Hand-carved coral stone structure completed by one man.
Key Largo
Jules’ Undersea Lodge – World’s only underwater hotel.
Madeira Beach
World’s Largest Buffalo Chicken Wing – Located on second floor of Johns Pass Boardwalk.
Weeki Wachee
Mermaids of Weeki Wachee – Live mermaid shows in natural springs.
Factory Tours & Behind-the-Scenes
Daytona Beach
Angell & Phelps Chocolates – Watch chocolate-making through cottage windows. Free samples!
Daytona International Speedway Tour – Behind-the-scenes racing experience.
Fort Pierce
Maverick Boat Company Tours – Factory tours available Friday afternoons by reservation.
Jacksonville
Sally Dark Rides – Animatronics factory (tours currently suspended).
Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop & Tour – Candy factory tours and samples.
Lake Wales
Florida’s Natural Growers – Visitors center with history and free samples.
Merritt Island
Kennedy Space Center – Space exploration museum and tours.
Saint Augustine
Whetstone Chocolate Tour & Tasting – Local chocolate factory experience.
Tampa
Raymond James Stadium Tour – Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Creative Reuse / Thrift / Maker Spaces
Gainesville
The Repurpose Project – Creative reuse center worth exploring.
Parks, Trails & Waterfalls
DeLeon Springs
Old Methuselah – Florida’s ancient cypress tree.
Homosassa
Monkey Island – Nature preserve accessible by boat.
Food, TV Stops & Local Legends
Saint Augustine
Ghosts & Gravestones Tour – A chilly, funny, genuinely spooky night walking through the city’s haunted history.
Nights of Lights – The 32nd-year holiday lights display that turns downtown into a glowing spectacle.
St. Augustine Beach
Salt Life Food Shack – The wave tank restaurant from Tanked, complete with a bar with a wave tank behind it.
Plan Your Florida Road Trip
We’re always adding new weird things to do in Florida to this list, so check back for more roadside attractions, quirky museums, oversized oddities, and future road trip discoveries.
Where to next? Check out our South Carolina roadside attractions guide for more Southern strange, browse our complete roadside attractions by state guide, get tips for traveling with pets, or head back to the Right At The Light homepage.
Interactive Map: Weird Roadside Stops We’re Tracking
This map includes weird roadside attractions, big-rig friendly stops, and places still on our running road trip list across the country.