What to visit in Florida after you buy a property there
If you plan to live in Florida, we bet you’ll find something in this article you haven’t experienced before. Buckle up, we’re going on a road trip!
Miami
Wondering what to do in Miami? Get your culture fix at the Rubell Museum, one of the top private art museums in the nation. Donald and Mera Rubell have been collecting contemporary art for the better part of the last 50 years gathering over 7,700 works in the process. Museum’s permanent collection showcases a myriad of established and emerging artists from Jean-Michel Basquiat and Anselm Kiefer to Cady Noland and Rashid Johnson. Must-visit if you’ve ever wondered what 1,100 six-packs of Budweiser stacked in one room looked like.
Another Miami landmark, Joe’s Stone Crab, is a seafood restaurant that’s older than the City of Miami Beach itself. It all started back in 1913 when a Hungarian-born New Yorker Joe Weiss moved to Florida to (quite literally) catch a breath. Now thanks to Joe’s asthma we all have a chance to enjoy not only seafood of the finest quality but also steaks and fried chicken that gained somewhat of a cult following of their own. Get a lobster roll with a side of creamed spinach and thank us later.
Understandably, city life can get quite exhausting. The quickest way to enter another dimension is driving 90 minutes west of Miami to explore Everglades National Park, the largest and most biodiverse tropical wilderness in the United States. Take an airboat, which is basically a hammock on cable, to gawk at gators from a safe distance; mark off pelicans and storks in your favorite bird-watching app; and kayak through the mangrove forests to take a close look at manatees and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Make sure to douse yourself in mosquito spray before stepping foot on the grounds of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Florida Keys
Skip Miami’s South Beach for breathtaking views and crystal-clear waters of Key West. Get there via the Overseas Highway for the most spectacular scenic drive you’ll probably ever see — miles of turquoise water seamlessly merging with the sky. Then, drive straight to the Southernmost Point to take it off your bucket list, and visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum a few blocks away. Even if you don’t have any particular appreciation for the Nobel Prize laureate, the house alone is worth stopping by — this French Colonial-style residence was built in 1851, 87 years before the highway connected Key West to the mainland. Hemingway wrote some of his best-acclaimed work in this house including To Have and Have Not, a novel about a fishing boat captain from Key West, which was later adapted into a movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
On your way back from Key West, stop by Bahia Honda State Park to enjoy its pristine beaches and many water sports Bahia Honda Key offers. Swim, sunbathe, kayak, or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, hike nature trails through coastal habitats, and enjoy panoramic views of the iconic old Bahia Honda Bridge.
Tampa Bay
Although Miami is considered an art hotspot of Florida, the west coast of the peninsula has a few notable art museums of its own. St. Petersburg’s The Dalí, a Salvador Dalí Museum, is not to be missed: the collection includes over 2,400 of his works from various life periods, including sculptures (the lobster phone!), drawings, photographs, and paintings from the eccentric mind of the artist. The museum recently added an AR experience that offers ‘a deeper understanding of the meaning behind the complex imagery’ and a more immersive experience of Dali’s world.
Tampa is a great city to explore by foot, so take advantage of it and try one of many walking tours around downtown. Learn about Tampa Bay’s rich Cuban history and its cigar-making heyday, pop into local shops, and maybe even catch a live flamenco performance while walking around the historic Ybor City neighborhood. Foodies will enjoy a culinary tour savoring local cuisine from Cuban sandwiches to fresh seafood and stopping at unique spots that’d be easily missed on Google Maps. If you’re not huge into walking, take a short one-hour riverfront history cruise conveniently wrapping around the bay and get your history fix while enjoying a warm breeze and some refreshments.
Orlando
Are you looking to take a break from the overcrowded theme parks with unnecessarily expensive junk food? Look no further than Kennedy Space Center: you can expect an out-of-this-world (pun intended) adventure as you step into the shoes of an astronaut on a journey through interactive exhibits, immersive simulators, and awe-inspiring displays that showcase the past, present, and future of space exploration. The exposition includes a real spacecraft, the iconic Space Shuttle Atlantis, and a virtual reality experience of a rocket launch with simulated space missions.
And if you’re into theme parks with a bit more relaxing vibe, perhaps Discovery Cove may be up your alley. This all-inclusive day resort with unlimited complimentary snacks, beverages, and a delicious lunch, offers a true mermaid experience of swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with tropical fish, and relaxing on white sand beaches. Talking crabs and seashell bras not included.
Jacksonville
First things first, head to the iconic Maple Street Biscuit Company for Southern comfort food with a bit of a modern flair. Founded in 2012, this beloved eatery has become a local institution known for its fried chicken and mouthwatering biscuits smothered in gravy or sweet toppings like cinnamon butter and blueberry compote. Pair your biscuit extravaganza with a side of hash browns and a cup of freshly brewed coffee for the ultimate Southern breakfast experience.
If you only have enough mental capacity to visit one museum in Florida, let us introduce you to Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens — a hidden gem tucked away on the banks of St. Johns River. Feel the unbearable lightness of being while wandering through the lush gardens with sculptures, fountains, and blooming flowers, before exploring the museum's diverse collection of artworks spanning thousands of years, from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces. Explore the art of Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, and Norman Rockwell for an ultimate great American art experience.
There is truly no other family bonding activity like fishing. Pack your gear, some dad hats, and a lunch bag, and head out to Big Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville’s prime fishing spot. There you’ll have an opportunity to catch one of many kinds of fish inhabiting the area including bluefish, striped bass, redfish, flounder, mullet, sheepshead, and even trout. Not to mention there are also miles of scenic trails winding through maritime forests, salt marshes, and dunes, as well as immaculate beaches with unique driftwood formations. Keep your binoculars close for a chance to observe painted buntings and ospreys in the wild.
Tallahassee
The capital city of Florida is a prime destination for exploring some of the political history of the state. Start with the Old Capitol Museum housed in the historic former state capitol building which offers a glimpse into pivotal moments in the state's history, from the Civil War era to the Civil Rights Movement through artifacts, documents, and multimedia presentations. Brace yourself for some not-no-shiny episodes of Sunshine State's past that are still very important to understand and learn from.
Wrap up your Floridian adventure by ordering a drink at Bar 1903 located in the historic Walker Library. You’ll be transported back to the early 20th century before the prohibition, the Great Depression, and both World Wars when life was easy, and liquor was of outstanding quality. Try Sazerac, the American South creation, or a crowd-favorite Mundo Perdido with rum, Calvados, cinnamon syrup, and lemon juice. Don’t skip the food, either: it complements the cocktails very well turning a casual night out into a very enjoyable dinner date. Cheers to that!
