The 30 best things to do in Florida

The newest theme park in Orlando is Universal Epic Universe. As you enter the park, you’ll be inside Celestial Park, a beautiful green space that connects you to all of the portals to enter the four other worlds of the park: Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. While each world is incredible in its own right, the How to Train Your Dragon area is my favorite since it feels like it was plucked right out of the animated movies, complete with animatronic sheep, dragons and plenty of vikings walking around. 

Time Out tip: If you only want to go to Epic Universe while visiting Orlando, consider staying at one of the three nearby Universal Orlando Resort hotels. Two budget-friendly options include Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort. I recommend Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which has direct access to Epic Universe.

State Road 30A has become a popular beach retreat for Floridians. The panhandle beaches are known for soft sand, gentle waves and elaborate vacation rentals. I love hanging out in Rosemary Beach, where the old-school charm of the neighborhoods blends seamlessly with the crashing waves. After you’re done at the beach, head to one of the many restaurants or bars that are known for fresh seafood and craft cocktails.

Time Out tip: Most of the accommodations around this part of Florida are home and condo rentals, but if you’re looking for a true luxury stay, consider the Pearl in Rosemary Beach. The property is known for hand-delivering baked goods at bedtime and has been named one of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels.

Walt Disney World is one of the most visited places on earth, and no trip to Florida is complete without experiencing Magic Kingdom. It is home to a variety of attractions that have become theme park icons, like the Haunted Mansion, the Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain. The park has even more on the horizon, with a Villains Land and Cars-themed area coming soon. And I never miss a chance to hug my favorite Disney character or chow down on an iconic turkey leg at the park.

Time Out tip: To get the most out of your time at Magic Kingdom, make sure you arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before the gates open. So if the park opens at 8am, you’ll want to be at the ticket scanning area by 7:15am.

Key West is the place to sit back and relax. There are ample spaces to do this in Key West, but none are more famous than Mallory Square. Each night, the square fills with tourists and locals who are ready to celebrate the sunset with a cold drink in hand. These parties are the perfect time for people to take in the beauty of nature as the sun goes down over the glittering waters of the Florida Keys—before they head to the iconic beach bars in hopes of living out their Jimmy Buffett dreams.

Time Out tip: Since the timing of sunset changes daily, a great way to determine when to arrive is to check your phone’s weather app to see the sunset time. Festivities usually begin about two hours prior to sunset.

Football fans can rally for one of three NFL teams that call Florida home: the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins. Part of the fun of traveling to Florida for an NFL game is the game-day experience; the warmer weather makes it perfect for tailgating before a game, and the stadiums here are top-notch (one even has pools, and another has a full-size pirate ship inside).

Time Out tip: If you’re heading to any of the games in the state, be sure you brush up on some of the game-day traditions. For example, in Jacksonville, fans will yell “DUUUVAL” at the start of the game, claiming their territory in Duval County.

Universal Studios Florida is home to Diagon Alley, part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Here, you’ll find Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, a story coaster that allows riders to get face-to-face with villains from the Harry Potter franchise and a large, fire-breathing dragon. Universal Studios Florida is also where you’ll find classic Universal attractions like E.T. Adventure, Men in Black: Alien Attack and Revenge of the Mummy. And if you’re traveling with kids, there’s an all-new DreamWorks Land where stories from Shrek, Trolls and more come to life.

Time Out tip: One of the most underrated spots for a snack at the park is the little green hut, dubbed the London Taxi Hut, just outside of the entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley. I love the jacket potatoes, which are simply baked potatoes loaded with toppings like broccoli and cheese or beans and cheese.

When it comes to history, no city in the United States has more than St. Augustine. The charming downtown streets of the historic district feature old-school buildings, a Spanish village and more. Many of the older structures have been transformed into shops and restaurants, which are fun to pop into on warm summer days. Across the street from the historic district is the Castillo de San Marcos, which is a Spanish fort. Here, you can see reenactments of battles and walk through the fort to get a taste of what it was like to live in St. Augustine when it was first founded—in 1565!

Time Out tip: During the holiday season, St. Augustine is known for its Nights of Lights celebration, where the entire historic district is decked out with three million lights. I love to walk around the city under the glow of the Christmas lights, and oftentimes you’ll hear some Christmas music playing in the park. 

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Sarasota may be known for its beaches, but when the rain comes through, or it’s just too hot, head to the Ringling. This museum is dedicated to preserving the arts and showing off the home of one of the famed Ringling Brothers. Today, the museum hosts a variety of exhibits and enrichment opportunities throughout the year. Those who are interested in a closer look at the museum and its pieces can book a guided gallery tour. And for history buffs, one of the “Collecting Recollections” talks from those who have connections to Ringling or Sarasota may be of interest.

Time Out tip: The museum has a bronze cast of Michelangelo’s original David statue. You can find it in the museum’s courtyard.

One of the most famous beaches in the United States is right here in Florida, in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood. Of course, visitors can soak up the sun on the sandy shore, but there’s so much more to the area than the beach. Consider checking out the Bass Art Museum, strolling down Ocean Drive or hopping on a double-decker bus tour to see more of the city. After a day of exploring, there are dozens of restaurants to try and a vibrant nightlife scene to keep you dancing until morning.

Time Out tip: If you’re into architecture, there are a few tours that will show you around Miami’s Art Deco neighborhoods, but the best one is the Art Deco Walking Tour, which is operated by the Miami Design Preservation League.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can live out your Star Wars dreams by piloting the Millennium Falcon at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or you can take a ride on Slinky Dog’s back in Toy Story Land. You can even drop 13 stories in an elevator on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, if you’re so inclined. For a more casual afternoon, consider grabbing a margarita flight at the Hollywood Brown Derby and checking out a live reproduction of the classic Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast, which is just down the street from the Brown Derby.

Time Out tip: The park recently closed its Muppets Courtyard area to turn it into a Monsters, Inc.–themed land. But fear not: The Muppets are moving across the park to take over Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster sometime next year.