All the United States Florida

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Florida

434 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Florida

Updated March 6, 2025

Come for the beaches, stay for the live mermaids. The glare of Florida canʼt hide itʼs panoply of wonders, from a coral castle built by one love-stricken man to a fort that eats cannonballs. The Sunshine State really seems to attract visionaries.

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Bartow
  2. Big Pine Key
  3. Bradenton
  4. Captiva
  5. Carrabelle
  6. Cedar Key
  7. Clearwater
  8. Clermont
  9. Coral Gables
  10. Crawfordville
  11. Crystal River
  12. Dade City
  13. De Land
  14. Estero
  15. Fort Lauderdale
  16. Fort Myers
  17. Gainesville
  18. Gotha
  19. Homestead
  20. Homosassa
  21. Islamorada
  22. Jacksonville
  23. Key Biscayne
  24. Key Largo
  25. Key West
  26. Kissimmee
  27. Lakeland
  28. Lake Wales
  29. Marco Island
  30. Miami
  31. Miami Beach
  32. Monticello
  33. Naples
  34. New Port Richey
  35. New Smyrna Beach
  36. North Miami Beach
  37. North Port
  38. Ochopee
  39. Orlando
  40. Ormond Beach
  41. Palm Beach
  42. Pensacola
  43. Pensacola Beach
  44. Ponce Inlet
  45. Port Orange
  46. Punta Gorda
  47. Sanford
  48. Sanibel
  49. Sarasota
  50. St. Augustine
  51. St. Petersburg
  52. Tallahassee
  53. Tampa
  54. Tarpon Springs
  55. Titusville
  56. Venice
  57. Vernon
  58. Vero Beach
  59. West Palm Beach
  60. White Springs
  61. Williston
  62. Winter Park

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

From Cigar Boom to Culinary Gem: 10 Essential Spots in Ybor City

Sponsored by VISIT TAMPA BAY

In Ybor City, the past and present blend like the perfect café Cubano—rich, bold, and impossible to resist. Situated just northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, the enclave was founded when Cuban cigar entrepreneur Vincente Martinez-Ybor opened a factory here in the 1880s. That one business move created a boom for cigars (at its height, Ybor City had more than 200 cigar factories), prompting an explosion of lodging, restaurants, shops and nightclubs. Today, it’s still a haven for vibrant cultural touchpoints that blend its Cuban roots with Floridian, Spanish, Italian and global influences from farther-flung locations. On its charming streets, guests will find Cuban eateries ranging from traditional to creative, and cigar shops (and even a working factory) that retains the spirit of its past. From picadillo to hand-rolled cigars, Ybor City has plenty of treasures to offer. A word to the wise: Come hungry for discovery.

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in Florida

See All 434 Things To Do in Florida

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Florida

See all 23 Places to Eat in Florida
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Plan Your Trip

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Florida

433
Museums 53
History 42
Architecture 41
Animals 40
Art 31
History & Culture 30
Architectural Oddities 24
Collections 23

Florida Leaderboard

Recent Florida Activity

Stories About Florida

An elkhorn coral shows signs of bleaching on the coral reef of Sand Key in the waters south of Key West.

Florida’s Iconic Corals Aren’t Having Babies Anymore

A recent baby bust has scientists alarmed—it's a bad sign for the future of a reef that's already struggling.
by Benji Jones
Do humans have comb jellies to thank for our own through-gut and anus genes?

The World’s Oldest Anus Has an Unexplained Glow in Florida

Scientists are studying its bowel movements, its dazzling sparkle, and its relation to us.
by Lina Zeldovich
The shallow waters of Windover Pond yielded rich archaeological finds from Florida’s Early Archaic Period.

Bog Bodies Lay Hidden in a Florida Pond for More Than 7,000 Years

In the 1980s, archaeologists uncovered 168 ancient skeletons from the peat at the bottom of Windover Pond.
by Nicky Nielsen
A mother manatee and her baby swim through the water in Crystal River, Florida, where manatees can be found year-round.

Florida’s Manatees Are Relative Newcomers, According to Historical Research

These beloved sea cows were barely recorded in the area before the seas warmed in the late 1700s. Now their habitats are at risk.
by Atlas Obscura
See manatees, Florida’s signature gentle giants, at the seven-mile-long Crystal River in the west central part of the state.

Aquatic Adventures: 7 Spots for Diving, Snorkeling, and Wildlife in Florida

Discover the amazing underwater world that can be experienced only in the Sunshine State.
Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA

Podcast: Floating Along with Florida's Gentle Giants

Meet Florida’s unofficial mascot: the manatee.
Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA

Destination Fruitopia: 7 Places for Fruit Fanatics in Florida

Taste your way through the Sunshine State’s juiciest, most delicious flavors.
Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA

7 Places to Let Your Family’s Imagination Run Wild in Florida

Discover wonder and whimsy in the Sunshine State.
Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA

Lists Featuring Florida

The boardwalk through a mangrove tunnel.
View of the Soutwest side of Monkey Island on Homosassa River.
A white pelican with a bump on its bill is pictured here standing next to the brown pelican, a state symbol, which are often only a third the size of white pelicans.
Posing for the pictures.

18 Unexpected Natural Wonders in Florida

Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA
18

Including Clam Pass Beach, Monkey Island of Homosassa, and White Pelican Island

Christ of the Abyss
Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival
Clear waters in Manatee Springs State Park.
Venetian Pool

13 Unbelievable Underwater Wonders in Florida

Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA
13

Including Christ of the Abyss, Underwater Music Festival, and Manatee Springs

The performances include a rendition of ‘The Little Mermaid.’
The Manor
Some visiting Amish at a nearby beach, approximately 7 miles away from Pinecraft. Picture is of either Siesta Key, Lido Beach, or Longboat Key.

The Best of Weird Florida

America's strange has sunk to the bottom and settled in these Floridian places.

41

Including Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids, Manor Professional Wrestling Dinner Theater, and Skunk Ape Research Headquarters

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