Things to do in Florida
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Daytona Beach Dolphin & Manatee Kayak Wildlife AdventureA 2-hour kayaking adventure on the Halifax River near Daytona Beach puts you on the water with dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, bald eagles and other wildlife in their natural setting. Kayaks, paddles and lifevests are provided; a live English-speaking guide leads the paddle and shares the history of the area, including a stop on a sandbar island. Children from age 4 are welcome.Is it for me?The guide speaks English throughout the paddle, so you'll hear the history and wildlife details as they happen—a setup that works for families with children from age 4 and for anyone who wants to understand what they're seeing rather than paddle in silence. If you're paddling solo or with a group that speaks another language, confirm the guide's language at checkout.
West Palm Beach: Half-Day Deep-Sea Fishing & Rod RentalYou board a Coast Guard-certified vessel with rod and tackle included, fish waters 20 to 40 minutes offshore where dolphins and sea turtles are common, and have your catch filleted before you leave the dock. Two daily departures from Riviera Beach near West Palm Beach require no advance booking.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to fish without owning or renting gear, and don't want to plan around a booking window—the twice-daily departures and no-reservation policy mean you can fit it into your day without calling ahead.
Amelia Island: CraigCat Boat Tour & Cumberland Island WildlifeYou’ll drive your own CraigCat boat from Fernandina Beach with a small group, led by a local guide who knows Amelia Island’s quirks. Expect salty air, possible dolphin sightings near Cumberland Island, glimpses of wild horses at Dungeness Ruins, and stories you won’t find in any brochure. It’s equal parts splashy fun and quiet wildlife moments.
Key West Sunset Sail with Open Bar, Live Music & Hors d'oeuvresYou board the Sandie Cat, grab a drink from the unlimited bar, and settle in for two hours as the sun drops over the water with live music playing and appetizers circulating. No planning the drinks, no choosing a restaurant, no worrying about timing—just sail, sip, and watch the famous Key West sunset happen in front of you.Is it for me?Right for travelers in Key West who want the sunset without arranging dinner or a bar—the open bar and appetizers mean you're not hunting for another spot after. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early for check-in, and know that this is a social cruise, so the boat will have other people on it.
Orlando: Clear Kayak Silver Springs & Manatee Wildlife TourYou paddle a clear kayak or paddleboard through Silver Springs State Park's turquoise spring-fed waterways, spotting wild monkeys, turtles, native birds, and seasonal manatees with a local guide. The tour includes all equipment, a dry bag for your phone, and a relaxed pace that works for beginners. It's a short drive from Orlando and takes up most of a morning or afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see manatees and monkeys without arranging transport, equipment rental, or wildlife spotting on your own — the guide handles the route, the timing, and knows where to look.
St Augustine: Live Music Sunset Sail & After Dark CruiseYou board a catamaran at Vilano Beach and choose between a two-hour sunset sail with sails raised or a 90-minute evening cruise after dark. Either way, you get live local musicians, complimentary drinks (beer, wine, champagne, margaritas), snacks, and views of the Castillo de San Marcos and Bridge of Lions. The sunset option catches the city's golden hour; the After Dark cruise trades that for a more intimate, quieter evening on the water.Is it for me?Pick this if you want live music and drinks on the water without arranging a separate dinner or entertainment—the catamaran and the musicians handle both, and you just choose whether you want to chase the sunset or the quiet of night.
Tiki Boat Cruise Tampa: BYO Drinks on Hillsborough RiverA 90-minute cruise on a floating tiki bar down the Hillsborough River in Tampa, piloted by a USCG-certified captain, lets you bring your own alcoholic beverages and food while drifting past downtown landmarks, the Riverwalk, Amalie Arena and the Straz Center. The boat includes a cooler with ice and a Bluetooth radio so you can play your own music; children age 6 and up are welcome.Is it for me?If you've got a free afternoon or a couple hours before a game and you're tired of paying bar prices for drinks you could bring yourself, this boat removes the markup and the land-bar wait. The captain handles navigation and safety while you control what you drink, what you eat, and what plays—the only floating tiki bar in Tampa where that's actually possible.
Fort Lauderdale Sailing Charter: 2 & 4-Hour Private Boat ToursYou choose your Fort Lauderdale sailing charter's length (2 or 4 hours), route, and activities—swimming, snorkeling, learning to sail, or just relaxing—with Captain Dan adjusting based on weather and your group's preference. The boat holds up to six people, includes safety gear and onboard refreshments, and departs from a private residence on the New River. Semi-private or all-private options available.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a sailing day that actually fits what you want to do—not a fixed route—and you'd rather have a licensed captain handle the boat while you decide whether to swim, snorkel, learn to sail, or just relax. The small group size and flexible itinerary are what make it work.
Miami Everglades: 1-Hour Airboat Tour & WildlifeYou board a semi-private airboat and spend an hour moving through shallow Everglades channels where alligators, wading birds and fish live. The guide points out wildlife as you go, and the flat-bottomed boat lets you reach areas deeper tours can't access. You get water included, and the whole experience is wheelchair accessible with advance notice. Book if you want to see the Everglades from inside it rather than from a visitor center overlook.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Everglades from inside the ecosystem rather than from a boardwalk or visitor center — the airboat's shallow draft gets you into the channels where the animals actually are, and an hour is enough to move through several habitats without the day becoming a full expedition.
Miami Wynwood Walls: Skip-the-Line Street Art Museum EntryYou arrive with your digital ticket, scan directly onto the two-acre campus, and spend two to three hours moving through 38+ outdoor murals, three indoor galleries, and 12 sculptures at your own speed. You get three minutes with a real spray can, free Wi-Fi, and access to the shop. No lines, no guide, no surprises about the weather — it's open either way.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see Miami's street art collection without waiting in line or following a guide — the direct entry and self-guided format let you spend as much or as little time as you want on each mural, and the spray-painting add-on gives you something to actually do, not just look at.
Amelia Island: Lofton Creek Kayak Tour with Local WildlifeYou’ll paddle calm blackwater on Lofton Creek with a local guide who knows every twist of the riverbank. Expect close-up wildlife moments—turtles surfacing, woodpeckers drumming—and plenty of easy laughter along the way. Kayak, gear, life jacket and photos are all included so you can just show up ready to drift into another world for a few hours.
Panama City Beach: 2-Hour Dolphin Swim & Shell Island SnorkelYou board a boat with five other people max, motor out into the Gulf where an experienced captain locates wild bottlenose dolphins, enter the water with snorkel gear, and watch them interact in their habitat. After the dolphin portion, you snorkel around Shell Island before heading back. The whole experience takes two hours and includes all safety equipment and water.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins in their natural habitat without arranging your own boat or worrying about safety equipment — the small group size (six max) and experienced captain are what make close observation possible without the chaos of a larger tour.
2-Hour CraigCat Sightseeing Tour in SarasotaA 2-hour sightseeing tour on a CraigCat catamaran—a compact, dual-control powerboat for two—takes you through Sarasota Bay, past Lido Key and Bird Key with an operator guide. Life jacket, waterproof bags, dry wind jacket, cooler with water and fruit cups are included; you must arrive 20 minutes early for water safety instructions and be at least 5 years old. The driver needs a valid license and, if born after January 1, 1998, must pass a quick online boaters test before booking.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to pilot the boat yourself rather than sit as a passenger—the dual controls mean you and one other person both steer, which is what makes a CraigCat different from any other catamaran tour in Sarasota. It's built for two, so it suits couples, close friends or parent and child who want to share the helm.
Sea Screamer Clearwater: Dolphin Watching Speed Boat TourSea Screamer is a one-hour dolphin watching speed boat tour departing daily from Clearwater at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. The 73-foot vessel reaches speeds over 20 knots and covers more of the Gulf of Mexico than standard tours, with dolphin sightings guaranteed. The boat includes two bathrooms, a licensed Merchant Marine captain, and a crew trained in first aid and CPR; the entire tour is safe for families of all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see dolphins without spending half the day on the water—the speed boat covers more of the Gulf in one hour than slower vessels do in twice the time, and the guarantee means you are not paying to search.
Miami Little Havana Food Tour: Calle Ocho Eats & Cigar RollingYou’ll taste your way through Miami’s Little Havana with a local guide—warm empanadas in hand, fresh guarapo juice on your lips, and domino games echoing around you. Watch cigars rolled by masters, stroll past classic cars and murals, and end up full of food and stories you didn’t expect to find.
Panama City Beach: Jet Boat Thrill Ride & 360 SpinYou board a twin-engine jet boat and experience high-speed turns, sudden nose dives, and a full 360-degree spin powered by 700 horsepower. The ride is short, intense, and you will get wet. No long waits, no tour narration — just pure speed on water. Minimum height is 38 inches; dress for water.Is it for me?Book this if you want pure adrenaline without a long boat ride or tour narration — the short, intense format is what makes the speed and the spin feel as extreme as they do.
Orlando: Blue Spring Manatee Kayak Tour with Naturalist GuideYou’ll paddle through Blue Spring’s clear waters alongside a Florida naturalist, spotting wild manatees swimming right beneath your kayak. Watch birds fishing on Snake Creek and listen for local stories along the way. It’s peaceful but never dull — you’ll leave feeling like you’ve really met this part of Florida face-to-face.
Egmont Key Ferry from Fort De Soto: Dolphins & Island ShellingYou board at Fort De Soto Bay Pier for a 45-to-60-minute ferry ride where dolphins and sea turtles often appear. Once on Egmont Key, you get three hours to swim, shell, explore Fort Dade, or watch for gopher tortoises. The ferry includes onboard restroom access and runs daily spring through summer, nearly daily the rest of the year.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a half-day island trip without arranging your own boat or managing timing—the ferry schedule and three-hour island window handle both, and the dolphin sightings on the ride there are what make the journey itself worth the ticket.
Gulf of Mexico: Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Dolphin ViewsYou’ll feel that salty Gulf breeze as you set off from Cambria Hotel docks, drink in hand if you want, watching dolphins play while music drifts over the water. With a friendly captain and good company, you’ll catch golden sunset light across famous homes before cruising along the beach after dusk—one of those evenings that lingers long after it ends.
Private Shelling and Dolphin Tour: 10,000 Islands, FloridaA private shelling and dolphin tour through Florida's 10,000 Islands lets you watch wild dolphins up close and gather shells on secluded barrier islands, with a live guide explaining the mangrove ecosystem and local history. The 2.5-hour trip includes buckets, bags, bottled water and ice; you choose between daily or sunset departures.Is it for me?Book the daily excursion if you want the full afternoon to explore and collect without time pressure, or choose the sunset departure if you prefer to experience the islands in evening light and end your day on the water.
Destinations
- Boca Raton›
- Cape Canaveral›
- Clearwater›
- Cocoa Beach›
- Crystal River›
- Daytona Beach›
- Destin›
- Everglades National Park›
- Fort Lauderdale›
- Fort Myers›
- Gainesville›
- Islamorada›
- Jacksonville›
- Key Largo›
- Key West›
- Miami›
- Naples, Florida›
- Orlando›
- Panama City Beach›
- Pensacola›
- Sarasota›
- St Augustine›
- St Petersburg›
- Tallahassee›
- Tampa›
- Vero Beach›
- West Palm Beach›
