7 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Florida This Year
Florida is one of the most scenically charged states, along the Gulf of Mexico and the open Atlantic Ocean. The humid subtropical climate that you compartmentalized as ideal for beach lounging is a green light to discovering the diverse ecosystems. Lean toward an atypical escape to cap off the year with a natural wonder.
From underground springs to some of the world's most impressive reefs, each is a rarity in the state you think you have gotten a "handle" on. Can't rob your heart of a beach escape? In lieu of "beating the crowds" along the Panhandle, you won't be able to tear your eyes off the beach scenery on this island. From Caladesi Island to Everglades National Park, uncover the best natural wonders to visit in Florida this year.
Caladesi Island
In a state full of pristine islands, Caladesi's iridescent beaches and unforgettable oceanscape need no filter. Whether you take the first ferry from nearby Honeymoon Island and depart aboard the last or spend the night on your boat at the marina, every minute on island time stretches into bliss. Just remote enough off Florida's Gulf Coast, the tropical paradise removes you further from society in mind than in body along the beaches and beyond. Many enjoy kayaking from the "tailhead" by the park’s marina and café.
The twisty tunnel of branches casts shadows in the water beneath the shaded canopy. You can feel your stamina rise, paddling away at the crystal-clear depths along the shaded path under the hypnotic effect of the swooshing sounds. The trail exits into shallow seagrass flats and winds back around the edge of the mangroves. Hover among turtles, wading birds, and osprey diving for fish, or take the longer 3-mile loop through an extensive mangrove forest, past the Scharrer Homestead Ruins from the early 1800s.
Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring
This atypical diving site in Florida is just 30 minutes southwest of Gainesville. Whether you are a seasoned diver with an underwater camera or along for the ride, the tranquil beauty of Devil's Den Spring is an unforgettable experience in itself. Reservations are required to snorkel in the den. Blue Grotto Dive Resort is an essential stop for beginners—think gear and instructors for snorkeling and scuba diving. Comprising a 120-foot-wide cave, Devil's Den is as mysterious as its name implies, with a subterranean natural pool.
At a constant 72-degree water temperature year-round, the spring is blissful to soak in or explore the crystal-clear waters. It paints a rich natural Florida history along the karst walls, with rock formations, stalactites, and ancient fossil beds from the Pleistocene Age. There are tent and RV campsites for starry nights, plus four individual cabins, each of which sleeps four. Expand onto wonders next door at Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, with water features, picnic spots, and dog-friendly trails along diverse flora and resident birds.
Everglades National Park
There is no comparable miracle in the US, dubbed the "River of Grass" for the fluidity of land and water entangled by the colonizing roots of mangroves. Established in 1947 for its biodiversity, there is no wrong way to explore this vast subtropical wilderness in southern Florida, but the Tamiami Trail, open since 1928, should be on your 'gator radar. Scaly gators sun along the canals through the 720,000-acre Big Cypress National Preserve and roam the swamps along the 25-mile Loop Road off the main highway.
Gumbo Limbo Trail is closest to Miami in the southern section. It is a real "walk in the park" to glimpse into a tropical hardwood hammock ecosystem. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary features a two-mile boardwalk through the planet's largest stand of old-growth cypress trees. Reaching 135 feet in height and 40 feet around, these living giants tower over the primeval landscape barely outside of Fort Myers. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park is another western gateway, known for panther sightings.
Falling Waters State Park
Just over an hour from Tallahassee, Falling Waters State Park is a refreshing site in the state that loves its sunshine. Just a few miles south of I-10 in northern Florida, it is among Florida's friendliest wildernesses, listed in the Great Florida Birding and Trail. The state park's gently sloping landscape makes for a popular hiking destination. There is something for every wildlife enthusiast, from the easy Terrace Trail to the nearby Falling Waters State Park Campground, a fully equipped site amidst longleaf pine and dogwoods.
Huge trees line fern-covered sinkholes along the Sinkhole Trail, with a boardwalk to Florida's highest waterfall. The stream-fed waterfall drops 73 feet into the nether of a 100-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide cylindrical pit in a picturesque frame of wilderness. Between the wooden staircase access to enjoy the view and the nearby two-acre Turtle Lake with a white sand beach, the park is an ideal place to get in touch with nature, take a refreshing dip, and roast marshmallows by a cozy fire, with wandering resident deer, fox squirrels, and turtles.
Florida Caverns State Park
Just north of Marianna, Florida, the Florida Caverns are a real rarity in the state's northwestern corner. Boasting otherworldly depths, these stunning caves are thousands of years in the making, with some of the nation's most impressive underground rooms and rock formations. The cool air and the sound of dripping water enhance a sensual experience to meander among a hypnotic array of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and draperies. There are also resident mice, bats, salamanders, and cave spiders.
The caves offer daily tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with history and insights into some of the most unique geological features. The chisel marks were made by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1930s, who enlarged the passageways by hand, so you can stand upright today. Admission is $5 per car of up to 8 passengers, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, and $2 for walkers, extra passengers, and bikes. Miles of multi-use trails wind through surrounding hardwoods and a flood plain of the Chipola River.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Named after the founder, who was also a journalist and conservationist, the first undersea park in the US is a jet-set to the adjacent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The only living coral reef in the continental US extends for almost 70 square nautical miles of pure aquatic wonder. The coral reefs and their marine life draw scuba divers, snorkelers, and everyone in between for the ecstatic experience. Hover over via glass-bottom boat tours or explore the surrounding mangrove via canoeing and kayaking.
Located in the Florida Keys, minutes along Highway 1 from downtown Key Largo, the visitor center features a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium auditorium. In addition to camping in the tropical hammocks in the park's uplands, travelers enjoy designated fishing areas, short walking trails, accessible picnic spots, and beaches like Cannon Beach on Largo Sound and Rowell's Waterfront Park. The park is handicap-equipped with wheelchair-friendly glass-bottom boats and snorkeling vessels.
Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest encompasses 430,447 acres over 600 lakes, rivers, and springs for hiking, camping, and water sports like swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Once home to one of Florida's earliest tribes, the Timucua Indians, this wooded preserve in the heart of Florida is one of the oldest national forests east of the Mississippi. Whether you are in for a refreshing weekend escape or a relaxing day trip, it is an ideal alternative to exchange the beach scene and crowded theme parks for a tranquil oasis.
Travelers enjoy easy access from four sides, with two highways splicing through. Highway 19 in the eastern section takes you past the vast Lake George, and the smaller Lake Kerr is in the northern section. In winter, the cooler forest temps feel unmatched along uncrowded trails, like the beautiful Florida National Scenic Trail. Alexander Springs is a famous crystalline spring at a constant 72°F for year-round swimming, snorkeling, and canoeing, with a campground and recreation area for eco-adventures.
Natural wonders breed in diverse ecosystems throughout the Sunshine State. From the highest waterfall to coral reefs and underground caverns, including an unlikely scuba-diving experience, saddle up for an adventure that will transform Florida in your eyes.
The Everglades boasts recognition as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. Each drastically diverse from the last comes with a range of experiences to keep everyone engaged in scenery that disarms.
