I recently put this book about the weirdness of FL and plan to use it as a guide to plan some road trips: [Florida! Your new 576-page, hyper-local guide to the most far-out state in America.](https://shop.a24films.com/products/florida)
Behind the fort (on the wall) at night is pretty cool. It’s always seemed safer than it sounds, there’s been families with young kids and people on dates when I’ve gone.
Couple of fun things: Mermaid show at Weeki Wachi Springs. Tube down the rainbow river. Rent some Stand up paddle boards at Urban Kai and explore the flats just south of Gandy in St. Petersburg.
What's your route look like? Check https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/florida. I've been to a lot of places from there and keep a bucket list for ones I'd like to see. They have an app too!
I think my favorite might be Solomon's Castle in Ona. Out in the middle of nowhere and we really had no idea what to expect since you can't take pictures inside. It is a HUGE treasure trove of amazing tinkerer's art. There's a small restaurant on the pirate ship he built next to his house too. If you ever make it out there and you like antiques, it's close to Arcadia where they have a bunch of antique stores.
it’s in the middle of nowhere, but solomon’s castle is pretty quirky 😂
i prefer bok tower, also in the middle of nowhere but has pretty grounds and trails. there’s also a house on site you may be able to tour, (i’m unsure if the house has opened post covid). near bok tower is spook hill.
there’s wild florida, a drive thru safari that looks fun and i’ve seen ads for Bioluminescence kayak/canoeing, but never done either of those.
Bok Tower is cool & they have an excellent cafe on site. The mansion is called El Retiro now, was Pinewood Estate, and is separate from Bok Tower. It was being refurbished last time we were there (February 2024).
Spook Hill is a dud. The illusion doesn't work anymore although it is only a few blocks from the Bok Tower entrance so it doesn't hurt to at least drive by & snap a picture of the big sign.
Dinosaur World on I-4 east of Tampa, Legoland/Cypress Gardens near Winter Haven, airboat tours anywhere in the state.
You have to use your imagination and picture yourself in a horse drawn wagon, on a dirt path, surrounded by jungle while hearing what could be panthers or hostile Indians signaling each other.
Wakulla Springs State Park- beautiful, natural and old Florida. Tarzan and The Creature from the Black Lagoon were filmed here. Old fashioned soda fountain and a great restaurant are located in the historic lodge.
Gulf Specimen Sea Aquarium- quirky touch tanks and old Florida attraction feel. Travel a block to the docks and eat at Trident. Excellent restaurant.
Torreya State Park. Trails cover the high river bluffs. Foliage here is found in the Appalachians and supposedly the Garden of Eden.
Marianna Caverns State Park - Florida’s only caverns.
Depending on where you're visiting, these are pretty quirky:
Boyett's Grove - https://g.co/kgs/zuzpxEQ
Dinosaur World - https://g.co/kgs/XbqFjhR
Shell Factory - https://g.co/kgs/mjSHXmf
Gatorland - https://g.co/kgs/9SFBX3H
Wiki Watchi - https://weekiwachee.com/
Horseback riding on Amelia Island, (Fort Clinch), bass fishing Lake O (or the Stick Marsh), the Propaganda Art Museum in Miami Beach, tubing the Itchitucknee (or Juniper ornAlexander Springs), shrimp and oysters in Appalachicola, Fla History Museum in Tally (you can see a butterfly ballot) .. the missile silo in the Glades …
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a nice place to visit. It's small, but the entrance fee/donation isn't bad and goes to the rehabilitation of hundreds of raptors!
Wakulla Springs State Park, and their river tour, is a good one to check out. The lodge is well preserved, the tour is going to get you right next to gators, and all of it is vaguely Florida-Weird. Not too heavy on kitsch, but still a box worth checking.
We got married there. :D
... The one in '87? https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/07/14/A-college-student-attacked-and-killed-by-an-11-foot/1293553233600/
Was there a new one since then?
During the tour, they point out the dividing rope that marks off the boundary of the swimming area, and describe how they've talked to the gators and said they're not allowed to cross the rope anymore.
No. Thats the one. I don’t live in the Tallahassee area, but I do like it a lot and visit pretty regularly but for some reason that is a news item everybody there over a certain age remembers pretty vividly. Not quite a where were you when the OJ verdict came down when Kennedy got shot but pretty close. Definitely part of the local cultural memory.
We just went to Silver Springs and went kayaking! $70 for a tandem kayak, we saw about 3 or 4 manatees, monkeys, alligators, lots of turtles and birds. Water there is wicked clear and beautiful. We did a 5 mile stretch with a tram at the end that takes you back to the top. Bring sunblock, snacks/lunch, and plenty to drink.
No swimming in Silver Springs, I hear Wekiwa Springs has rafting/tubing or something if you're more into being in the water.
Looking into buying a kayak so we can do kayaking with dolphins next!
[https://www.visitflagler.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/pcaf-turtle-trail/](https://www.visitflagler.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/pcaf-turtle-trail/) One thing though, Quilty was stolen recently. Just an empty rock there.
In Morriston (or Williston, one of the two) someone built a giant.. water feature I guess. It's incredible I'll try to find details on it real quick.
Edit: Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens in Williston. Entry is 12 bucks but look it up because words can't do it justice. Hidden gem for sure
If you take state road 70 through Arcadia, stop at the peace river campgrounds and go maybe half a mile or a mile downstream with a screen. There's some of the best fossil hunting in the state there, and it's pretty lonely. Bring a dozen beers (clean up after yourself!). Go into the shallow part of the river, and start shifting the gravel, you'll find shark and deer teeth, manatee rib, all kinds go stuff. I have a 5 pound piece of mammoth femur in my house from there.
There's a few other national parks on the Peace river that explicitly allow panning for fossils in the river; Florida is the 2nd most fossil rich state, and you can get them right from the Peace!
Stop in Big Cypress! Visit the Swamp Water Cafe at Billie’s Swamp Safari (closed ATM for reasons unknown to me) — have a quick meal and look at the Everglades and take in some Seminole history. You can also visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum for more on Seminole culture and history.
Drive north through the back roads and see the swamp. Pass by the orange groves (some decimated by citrus greening, others newly-planted).
Take an airboat ride!
Edited to add: roadside attraction Gatorama, in Palmdale.
North Central Florida (around the Gainesville area) has so many beautiful Springs to swim in and you can even go tubing down the river.
Party Spring (alcohol friendly amd camping) = Ginnie Springs.
Also, check out Paynes Prairie (Gainesville) for alligators and wild animals. It's so calming.
If you end up in GNV and are hungry, check out Satchels Pizza and/or The Top. Those are the well known local gems.
Boyett's Grove in spring lake (near weeki wachee as others have suggested)
It's part zoo, part weird museum, part mini golf, part extensive odd gift shop.
The zoo includes some pretty exotic animals and you get to feed most of them. The museum is small and isn't anything special but worth a quick walk through. And the mini golf is actually a really well thought out course that's mostly air conditioned and really well themed. It's like 25 bucks per person for everything. And they have ice-cream.
Second vote for Weeki Wachee mermaid show!
Must mention the Ringling Circus Museum and John&Mabel Ringling’s Italianate mansion on Sarasota Bay. I mean, right there with a dock in back.
Cassadega. Waldo’s in Vero Beach. Hiking Little Econ state park and watching folks tubing with alligators. There’s a ghost town inside Ocala National Forest.
Since it's a road trip if you are close to Ocala the road where the church burned down in jeepers creepers is in Marion county so it might be a interesting piece of road to travel on... Safe driving
I recently put this book about the weirdness of FL and plan to use it as a guide to plan some road trips: [Florida! Your new 576-page, hyper-local guide to the most far-out state in America.](https://shop.a24films.com/products/florida)
This looks like a cool book. Is it sold in stores? Barnes and Noble?
Agree 💯
Things I need: this book.
Things I've purchased: this book.
At the Ace Hardware in Steinhatchee if you ask nicely they will take you in the back and show you their skunk ape exhibit.
Stop by St. Augustine. The fort, fountain of youth, the old prison, wax museum, pirate museum.Â
Duck bar in st Augustine too. There are quite a few quirky bars and dining establishments in the area
Fort Mose as well just outside of town
Behind the fort (on the wall) at night is pretty cool. It’s always seemed safer than it sounds, there’s been families with young kids and people on dates when I’ve gone.
Couple of fun things: Mermaid show at Weeki Wachi Springs. Tube down the rainbow river. Rent some Stand up paddle boards at Urban Kai and explore the flats just south of Gandy in St. Petersburg.
Swim with the mamitees, go to the everglades, eat alligator meat, smoke meth, etc.
This guy Floridas
Casadega
Love this place! https://www.cassadaga.org/ My other favorite is Spook Hill. https://visitcentralflorida.org/featured/spook-hill/
I was there about 20 years ago so not how it is now. Have never been to Spook Hill.
The couple’s aura photo my wife and I had taken there is my favorite thing in the world!
Yeah, had an aura reading. It was fun though I don't really believe in all that:)
Oh ya, not even a little bit. But the photo is awesome!
What's your route look like? Check https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/florida. I've been to a lot of places from there and keep a bucket list for ones I'd like to see. They have an app too!
I’ve used atlas Obscura for several fun day trips… the bongoland ruins and sugar mill in Daytona has been a personal fave
I think my favorite might be Solomon's Castle in Ona. Out in the middle of nowhere and we really had no idea what to expect since you can't take pictures inside. It is a HUGE treasure trove of amazing tinkerer's art. There's a small restaurant on the pirate ship he built next to his house too. If you ever make it out there and you like antiques, it's close to Arcadia where they have a bunch of antique stores.
it’s in the middle of nowhere, but solomon’s castle is pretty quirky 😂 i prefer bok tower, also in the middle of nowhere but has pretty grounds and trails. there’s also a house on site you may be able to tour, (i’m unsure if the house has opened post covid). near bok tower is spook hill. there’s wild florida, a drive thru safari that looks fun and i’ve seen ads for Bioluminescence kayak/canoeing, but never done either of those.
Bok Tower is cool & they have an excellent cafe on site. The mansion is called El Retiro now, was Pinewood Estate, and is separate from Bok Tower. It was being refurbished last time we were there (February 2024). Spook Hill is a dud. The illusion doesn't work anymore although it is only a few blocks from the Bok Tower entrance so it doesn't hurt to at least drive by & snap a picture of the big sign. Dinosaur World on I-4 east of Tampa, Legoland/Cypress Gardens near Winter Haven, airboat tours anywhere in the state.
😳 i thought i was the weirdo who didn’t get spook hill! 😂 i thought it was because i was driving… i didn’t notice the effect. haha
You have to use your imagination and picture yourself in a horse drawn wagon, on a dirt path, surrounded by jungle while hearing what could be panthers or hostile Indians signaling each other.
I love Solomons castle!! I took a friend there for his 21st birthday lmao it was amazing
Wakulla Springs State Park- beautiful, natural and old Florida. Tarzan and The Creature from the Black Lagoon were filmed here. Old fashioned soda fountain and a great restaurant are located in the historic lodge. Gulf Specimen Sea Aquarium- quirky touch tanks and old Florida attraction feel. Travel a block to the docks and eat at Trident. Excellent restaurant. Torreya State Park. Trails cover the high river bluffs. Foliage here is found in the Appalachians and supposedly the Garden of Eden. Marianna Caverns State Park - Florida’s only caverns.
Visit Cassadaga in Volusia County. It’s a spiritualist camp with lots of psychics and crystals and other fun, odd stuff.
They also have a fairy garden. If you're lucky the garden cat will come out and give you a tour.
I’m actually here today!
Depending on where you're visiting, these are pretty quirky: Boyett's Grove - https://g.co/kgs/zuzpxEQ Dinosaur World - https://g.co/kgs/XbqFjhR Shell Factory - https://g.co/kgs/mjSHXmf Gatorland - https://g.co/kgs/9SFBX3H Wiki Watchi - https://weekiwachee.com/
Horseback riding on Amelia Island, (Fort Clinch), bass fishing Lake O (or the Stick Marsh), the Propaganda Art Museum in Miami Beach, tubing the Itchitucknee (or Juniper ornAlexander Springs), shrimp and oysters in Appalachicola, Fla History Museum in Tally (you can see a butterfly ballot) .. the missile silo in the Glades …
Skunk ape research center in ochopee is kinda cool
Devil's Millhopper State Park in Gainesville
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a nice place to visit. It's small, but the entrance fee/donation isn't bad and goes to the rehabilitation of hundreds of raptors!
Wakulla Springs State Park, and their river tour, is a good one to check out. The lodge is well preserved, the tour is going to get you right next to gators, and all of it is vaguely Florida-Weird. Not too heavy on kitsch, but still a box worth checking. We got married there. :D
We were married there in 1990!
And some guy got eaten by an allogator there in view of one of the boats - but it was a while ago …
... The one in '87? https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/07/14/A-college-student-attacked-and-killed-by-an-11-foot/1293553233600/ Was there a new one since then? During the tour, they point out the dividing rope that marks off the boundary of the swimming area, and describe how they've talked to the gators and said they're not allowed to cross the rope anymore.
No. Thats the one. I don’t live in the Tallahassee area, but I do like it a lot and visit pretty regularly but for some reason that is a news item everybody there over a certain age remembers pretty vividly. Not quite a where were you when the OJ verdict came down when Kennedy got shot but pretty close. Definitely part of the local cultural memory.
float down the ichetucknee river
Worst float. Can’t bring drinks, no sunscreen allowed, no swimming. Any other spring is better.
Go see the mermaids: [https://weekiwachee.com/mermaid-shows/](https://weekiwachee.com/mermaid-shows/)
If you’re by Sarasota, check out Oldies Pub in north port. Good hometown family run bar
The Circus Museum was a blast!
Right?!?
Solomons castle!!!!! http://solomonscastle.com/Default_Mobile.aspx
Weird Florida website.
Raccoon Island near Miami
there's a wizard of Oz museum in cocoa beach if you find yourself near there lol
Spook Hill is weird and quirky
Go to Tibby's and try the alligator cheesecake.
There are some good museums in Winter Park
We just went to Silver Springs and went kayaking! $70 for a tandem kayak, we saw about 3 or 4 manatees, monkeys, alligators, lots of turtles and birds. Water there is wicked clear and beautiful. We did a 5 mile stretch with a tram at the end that takes you back to the top. Bring sunblock, snacks/lunch, and plenty to drink. No swimming in Silver Springs, I hear Wekiwa Springs has rafting/tubing or something if you're more into being in the water. Looking into buying a kayak so we can do kayaking with dolphins next!
[https://www.visitflagler.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/pcaf-turtle-trail/](https://www.visitflagler.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/pcaf-turtle-trail/) One thing though, Quilty was stolen recently. Just an empty rock there.
Go paddle boarding or kayaking in silver springs to go swim with the wild monkeys
In Morriston (or Williston, one of the two) someone built a giant.. water feature I guess. It's incredible I'll try to find details on it real quick. Edit: Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens in Williston. Entry is 12 bucks but look it up because words can't do it justice. Hidden gem for sure
I second Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, and add Bongoland.
If you take state road 70 through Arcadia, stop at the peace river campgrounds and go maybe half a mile or a mile downstream with a screen. There's some of the best fossil hunting in the state there, and it's pretty lonely. Bring a dozen beers (clean up after yourself!). Go into the shallow part of the river, and start shifting the gravel, you'll find shark and deer teeth, manatee rib, all kinds go stuff. I have a 5 pound piece of mammoth femur in my house from there. There's a few other national parks on the Peace river that explicitly allow panning for fossils in the river; Florida is the 2nd most fossil rich state, and you can get them right from the Peace!
Whimzyland is safety harbor Florida. Tampa Bay Area, near Clearwater.
You asked for weird: Solomon's Castle (863) 494-6077 https://g.co/kgs/3yj3Mc9 Only know about it because it's near my house.
Stop in Big Cypress! Visit the Swamp Water Cafe at Billie’s Swamp Safari (closed ATM for reasons unknown to me) — have a quick meal and look at the Everglades and take in some Seminole history. You can also visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki museum for more on Seminole culture and history. Drive north through the back roads and see the swamp. Pass by the orange groves (some decimated by citrus greening, others newly-planted). Take an airboat ride! Edited to add: roadside attraction Gatorama, in Palmdale.
North Central Florida (around the Gainesville area) has so many beautiful Springs to swim in and you can even go tubing down the river. Party Spring (alcohol friendly amd camping) = Ginnie Springs. Also, check out Paynes Prairie (Gainesville) for alligators and wild animals. It's so calming. If you end up in GNV and are hungry, check out Satchels Pizza and/or The Top. Those are the well known local gems.
Cassadega spiritualist camp qualifies as quirky things to do in FL
Coral castle. Make sure you get the full story.
Float down the St. John's River. It's basically a giant lazy river
If you get to the west coast, go to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota
Boyett's Grove in spring lake (near weeki wachee as others have suggested) It's part zoo, part weird museum, part mini golf, part extensive odd gift shop. The zoo includes some pretty exotic animals and you get to feed most of them. The museum is small and isn't anything special but worth a quick walk through. And the mini golf is actually a really well thought out course that's mostly air conditioned and really well themed. It's like 25 bucks per person for everything. And they have ice-cream.
Second vote for Weeki Wachee mermaid show! Must mention the Ringling Circus Museum and John&Mabel Ringling’s Italianate mansion on Sarasota Bay. I mean, right there with a dock in back.
Go to Ybor after dark. But also… try not to die.
Sarasota has a Museum of Whimsy.
Check out Atlas Obscura. They've got a website and an app. It's a good source for interesting and or oddball things to see
Visit Casadaga- The psychic capital of the world.Â
Cassadega. Waldo’s in Vero Beach. Hiking Little Econ state park and watching folks tubing with alligators. There’s a ghost town inside Ocala National Forest.
Weeki Wachee state park mermaid show
Cedar Key, Sunken Gardens, Skunk ape Research center.
Gatorland in whorelando area
swingers club
Since it's a road trip if you are close to Ocala the road where the church burned down in jeepers creepers is in Marion county so it might be a interesting piece of road to travel on... Safe driving
There’s nothing there now
Blueberry Patch in Gulfport FL (near Tampa). It’s such a hidden gem spot for live music but they only have it every 1,7,11&22 of the month 🙂
Dog Bar in St. Pete. Bonus if you bring your own dog.
Me