25 Best and Fun Things to Do in South Florida

Southern Florida visitors will enjoy exploring its beachfront parks, museums, and beautiful botanic gardens. Families can swim with dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium or snorkel at the world’s first undersea park at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Southern Florida’s museums provide a wealth of information on art, science, nature, and the region’s fascinating history.

Things to Do in South Florida, from Miami to Key Largo, is the ideal destination for a sunny break from the cold, with attractions to suit visitors of all ages and interests. Call the attractions and restaurants ahead of time to confirm current hours of operation key west.

25 List of Things to Do in South Florida Today

1. Botanical Gardens of Naples

The Naples Botanical Gardens aim to present and preserve a space for visitors to experience tropical plants for greater fort lauderdale. It is made up of 170 acres of beautifully cultivated land and contains over a thousand different plant species. The gardens are divided into seven sections, each representing a different ecosystem. Tours of the Naples Botanical Gardens are available year round at 11 a.m., with a second tour available daily at 2 p.m. from February to November. The space is wheelchair accessible, and it is recommended that guests dress appropriately for the weather and bring a bottle of water with them at florida keys.

239-643-7275, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112,

2. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Visitors to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park can swim, play, and go boating on the Atlantic. Bill Baggs Beach is rated as one of the top ten beaches in America, and with over a mile of picturesque, sandy beachfront, it’s easy to see why it is one of the best thing. The lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is the region’s oldest. It was built in 1825 and serves as a stately and distinct sight for visitors, set against the stunning backdrop of the park and beach at west palm beach at everglades national park. Two times a day, guided tours of the lighthouse and the connected cottage for the lighthouse keeper are available at national park.

Phone: 305-361-5811, 1200 South Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL 33149

3. Attractions in South Florida: Naples Museum of Art

The Baker Museum, which is part of the Artis-Naples center for performing and visual arts, is housed in a stunning 30,000-square-foot space with a glass-dome conservatory. The Baker Museum has 15 galleries that house traveling exhibitions as well as permanent collections at st augustine. The Baker Museum, with an emphasis on modern and contemporary art, is one of the region’s most prominent fine arts museums, housing works by artists such as Albert Paley and Dale Chihuly. On certain days, the public is given free tours of the museum. Continue reading: Things to Do in Naples

239-597-1111, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples, FL 34108

4.Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Southern Florida

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a park, museum, and planetarium, among other things. The Calusa Nature Center, located on 105 acres in Fort Meyers, offers a variety of exciting activities and exhibits for visitors to learn about the natural history of Southern Florida. Guests can interact with some of the center’s resident animals, such as skunks and raccoons, as well as the residents of the Butterfly and Audubon Aviaries, which house birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, and owls. Guests can learn about native Florida wildlife in the museum and then take one of the center’s three nature trails to see some for themselves at gulf coast. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is open daily.

239-275-3435, 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33905

5.Southern Florida’s Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Visitors to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates will find museums and gardens on the grounds of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s adjacent historical homes. Visitors can tour both of these illustrious inventors’ homes, wander the botanic gardens on the museum’s 20-acre property, or visit the Estates Museum to learn about two of America’s most influential men is a best thing. With fascinating and interactive galleries, displays, and exhibits, visitors will learn about their lives, inventions, and influences. The site also houses the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory and the beautiful botanic gardens, both of which influenced Edison’s research.

Phone: 239-334-7419, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901.

6.Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium

Children can learn about science and marine life in a unique way at the Imaginarium Hands-on Museum and Aquarium. The Imaginarium is located in Fort Myers, and admission grants access to over 60 hands-on exhibits such as the Touch Tank, where kids can see and touch sea life such as stingrays, the Dino Dig fossil lab, and the Animal Lab, which contains everything from ball pythons and alligators to prairie dogs and Mexican axolotls. The Imaginarium’s exhibits are both entertaining and educational st augustine, and the museum also provides educational programs and shows where children can meet and learn about live animals, as well as explore their creativity and engineering skills.

239-243-0043, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33916

7.John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in southern Florida

While the views of the sparkling blue ocean and swaying palm trees are lovely, the real draw of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is beneath the ocean’s surface. Pennekamp Park’s boundaries extend three miles into the Atlantic Ocean at delray beach, and visitors can look into reefs teeming with fish and other wildlife from the comfort of a dry boat on a glass-bottom boat tour. The park also offers canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, as well as snorkeling and scuba diving, for a closer look at the water lincoln road. Visitors can enjoy the park’s beaches, trails, and picnic areas once they return to dry land.

Key Largo, FL 33037, 102601 Overseas Highway (MM 102.5), P.O. Box 1560, 305-451-6300

8.Attractions in South Florida: Jungle Island

Jungle Island visitors will get up close and personal with a wide range of animals and tropical plants. This interactive zoological experience features live shows where guests can learn about tigers, primates, and birds of prey and even have their photos taken with them. Guests will learn about the habitats and conservation efforts surrounding some of the world’s most unique creatures while playing with lemurs or hanging out with two-toed sloths. Jungle Island is open year-round and offers various entry packages that include shows, animal interactions, tours, and special programs at disney world.

Phone: 305-400-7000, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132

9. Southern Florida’s MDC Museum of Art and Design

The Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design is housed in the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower in downtown Miami. The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) houses over 1900 works of art in all mediums, including photography, painting, sculpture, film, and many more at coral gables. Visitors to the Museum of Art and Design will see works by well-known artists as well as emerging and student artists at central florida. They will also come across works that have had a significant impact on the world of contemporary art. Every third Saturday of the month, the museum hosts a children’s program called GOGO MOAD!, which is held in various locations throughout Miami.

Phone: 305-237-7700, 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

10. Southern Florida’s Miami Children’s Museum

Every exhibit at the Zoo Miami Children’s Museum is designed with a specific learning goal in mind. Kids will enjoy the variety of exhibits that promote not only learning but also play, from the Construction Zone to the Ocean Odyssey to the Music Makers Studio at dry tortugas. The museum was created in collaboration with real school curriculums, and its mission is to transform classroom lessons into real, lasting experiences for children. The museum’s many layers of learning and fun will appeal to children of all ages.

Phone: 305-373-5437, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132

11.Southern Florida: Miami Seaquarium

Miami Seaquarium is a marine-themed entertainment park that emphasizes education and conservation as well as family fun. Guests can swim with dolphins, learn about penguin habitats, and see endangered manatees and sea turtles at the Miami Seaquarium. The Seaquarium has eight unique and fantastic animal shows where visitors can watch dolphins jump and flip high in the air and laugh at sea lions’ silly antics day trip. Each show is intended to educate its audience about the animals they are watching as well as conservation efforts in which everyone can participate. The Seaquarium recommends that visitors allow at least four hours to fully enjoy everything the facility has to offer.

Phone: 305-361-5705, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149

12. Southern Florida’s Murphy-Burroughs House

The Murphy-Burroughs house, located in the heart of downtown historic Fort Meyers, is a beautiful piece of Georgian Revival architecture that was built in 1901. The home is open for guided historical tours and is located on a beautiful property overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. Visitors can relax in the tranquil gardens and listen to the soothing flow of the river, or they can explore every room of the house and learn about the history and stories of the lavish social events that once took place within its walls is a fun thing. Public guided tours are available with advance reservations.

239-337-9505 2505 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901

13.Discovery and Science Museum

Visitors to the Museum of Discovery and Science can dig for fossils, fly in cockpit simulators, meet alligators, iguanas, and a 12-foot snake, among other things. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located in Fort Lauderdale and is designed to teach science and nature to children and adults of all ages through a variety of interactive exhibits and shows at daytona beach. Families can experience hurricane winds, interact with adorable river otters, and ride the Everglades Airboat Adventure at the EcoDiscovery Center. Other exhibits will teach visitors about the power of the human body, life in the Everglades, and becoming more environmentally conscious.

954-467-MODS, 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

14. Bonnet House is a South Florida attraction.

The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens was built in 1920 as the historical home and studio of American artist Frederic Clay Bartlett. The Bonnet House, located in Fort Lauderdale, now houses a large collection of art as well as the personal belongings of the Bartlett and Birch families, all of which can be viewed individually or as part of a guided tour. Bonnet House is built on 35 acres of a beautiful coastal barrier island, and its grounds and gardens allow guests to explore Southern Florida’s natural ecosystem, complete with native wading birds and even manatees.

Phone: 954-563-5393, 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

15. Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park 

The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is situated on land that was originally intended for a condominium development but was instead preserved because it contains more West Indian tropical hardwood hammock than any other location in the United States clearwater beach. Over eighty species of protected plants and animals can be found within the park. The park is teeming with wildlife, from wild cotton to the American crocodile, and its trails are ideal for sightseers, photographers, hikers, and cyclists. Self-guided tours are available via a series of informational signs located along the park’s six miles of trails, and ranger-guided tours are also available by appointment.

Key Largo, FL 33037, County Road 905, Mile Marker 106, Phone: 305-451-1202

16.Southern Florida: Naples Zoo

The Naples Zoo began as a tropical botanic garden in 1919. When the space was re-purposed to house animals, great care was taken to preserve the historic garden setting. The result is a unique and beautiful space filled with not only exotic animals but also rare tropical plants and trees that have grown in the Naples Zoo for nearly a century at sanibel island. The Naples Zoo has a mile-long paved walking path that takes visitors through exhibits with lions, bears, and giraffes, as well as primates, reptiles, and some rarer creatures such as fosas from Madagascar.

Phone: 239-262-5409, 1590 Goodlette Road, Naples, FL 34102

17. Fort Lauderdale NSU Art Museum

The NSU Art Museum, located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, just a short walk from shops and restaurants and a short drive from both Miami and Palm Beach, offers access to a wealth of exhibitions and programs depicting all aspects of visual art throughout history. The NSU Art Museum of Fort Lauderdale aims to educate its visitors through a diverse selection of art, with over 6,000 items in its permanent collection and seasonal or traveling exhibitions on display ocean drive.

954-525-5500, 1 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

18. Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum

The Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum includes a historic 1907 house museum as well as three additional historic houses and structures from 1905. Visitors to the New River Inn History Museum can view artifacts from the Seminole Indians, early pioneers of the region, railroad workers, and military movements in the area. The Ivy Cromartie Schoolhouse is a detailed replica of an 1899 schoolhouse, complete with period-appropriate desks and teaching equipment, and the King Cromartie House is the painstakingly preserved home of two pioneer families. During operating hours, visitors to the Village & Museum can take a guided or self-guided tour of the property.

Phone: 954-463-4431, 219 Southwest Second Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

19. Miami Pérez Art Museum

The Pérez Art Museum, located on the stunning waterfront edge of Biscayne Bay, exhibits contemporary and modern art, with an emphasis on international art. Visitors to the Pérez Art Museum can explore the galleries on their own or as part of a free guided tour. The Pérez Art Museum is located in Museum Park, which also houses the Miami Museum of Science. The Pérez Art Museum’s visitors will also enjoy the park’s hanging gardens, the museum’s gift shop, and the delicious dining at Verde, the museum’s waterfront restaurant. On Wednesdays, the Pérez Art Museum is closed. On the second Saturday of each month and the first Thursday of each month, admission to the museum is free at st pete.

1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132, 305-375-3000

20. Stonewall National Museum and Archives

The Stonewall National Museum and Archives aims to highlight the proud culture of LGBTQ history and its global impact. Among the 30,000 items in the Stonwall National Archives are pulp fiction, LGBT ephemera, oral histories, and personal records. The Stonewall National Library is the country’s largest of its kind, with over 26,000 books and DVDs. Visitors can learn about the history of the LGBTQ community and culture as we know it today, as well as the role it plays in modern society, at the Stonewall Museum Wilton Manors Gallery. The museum is free to enter, but a $5 donation per person is suggested.

Stonewall Museum Wilton Manors Gallery is located at 2157 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305, and can be reached at 954-530-9337.

1300 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, Phone: 954-763-8565

21. Stranahan House in Southern Florida

Frank Stranahan was the city of Fort Lauderdale’s founding father, and his home, built in 1901, is the region’s oldest surviving structure. It has been used for a variety of purposes over the years, including a post office, a trading post, and the Stranahans’ home. Daily guided tours of the Stranahan House are available at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm and last 45 to 60 minutes to have a coconut grove. Each tour will transport visitors back to the days of historic Southern Florida, when Fort Lauderdale was little more than a small frontier town. Stranahan House is located on 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, just off Las Olas Boulevard, on the New River.

Phone: 954-524-4736, 335 Southeast 6th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

22.South Florida Attractions: The Bass

The Bass, located in Miami Beach, is a regional hub for contemporary art. The Bass showcases international contemporary art by emerging and established artists and aims to represent the culture and spirit of Miami Beach through a variety of mediums such as fashion and architecture in addition to more traditional art mediums. The Bass IDEAS initiative uses art to inspire creativity in its community through a series of educational and outreach programs for art lovers of all ages and levels of experience. Visitors will find a rotating display of works from the Bass’ permanent collection as well as a rotating schedule of temporary exhibits within the museum.

Phone: 305-673-7530, 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

23. The Kampong 

The Kampong, which was once home to Dr. David Fairchild, one of the most famous and influential horticulturists in the United States, now houses a vibrant collection of flowering and fruit-bearing trees and plants. Cocoplums, peanut butter fruit, and more than 50 varieties of mango are among the rare and exotic fruits grown on the property. Visitors will be amazed by a Tanzanian baobab tree that weighs nearly 50 tons, and they will enjoy the scents of flowers and plants that they may recognize from favorite perfumes. From September to June, the Kampong offers self-guided tours with an informational brochure and map, as well as guided tours by reservation.

Phone: 305-442-7169, 4013 Douglas Rd, Miami, FL 33133

24. The Wolfsonian Institution

The Wolfsonian’s collection contains over 180,000 objects dating from the Industrial Revolution to the period immediately following World War II’s end. Furniture, ceramics, paintings, and textiles are just a few of the items on display at the Wolfsonian Institution, which is known for depicting life in a bygone era through these objects and exhibits. The Wolfsonian Institute seeks to educate visitors about the future by studying the past. The Wolfsonian is open to the public for free.

Phone: 305-531-1001, 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

25. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Southern Florida

Vizcaya, a subtropical version of an Italian villa built in the early twentieth century, was once the winter residence of James Deering, one of Miami’s founding fathers, and is located just south of the city on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The gardens at the house are among the most beautiful in the country, reminiscent of Italian and French gardens from the 17th and 18th centuries. The hedges, fountains, and mazes in the tiny tropical paradise will enchant visitors, who can also enjoy the main house’s 34 lavishly furnished rooms. The house and gardens are open for audio tours and guided tours.

Phone: 305-250-9133, 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129

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