By Abigail Cattell
There's so much more to Florida
than theme parks! So if you've done Orlando and you're looking for alternative
fun, read on.
Best for…. Animal Lovers
Swimming with dolphins is so 2008! Instead jump in the water at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and spend some quality time with a manatee. Sea cows, as they're also known, are gentle mammals thought to be as intelligent as dolphins, which drift slowly around Florida's warm, shallow waters munching on vegetation. They're an endangered species, as they are frequently injured or killed by motorboats but in this 46-acre oasis they're protected. You can learn more about these gentle giants both in the water and afterwards at the Manatee Education Centre.
Best for…. Shell Seekers
Picturesque Sanibel is one of more than 100 barrier islands that line Florida's
sun-drenched Gulf Coast.
What makes it particularly special is the astonishing variety of shells which
are scattered along its beautiful beaches. More than 400 varieties of shell
have been discovered gently washed up from the bottom of the wide offshore plateau
that sits off the coast at this particular point in the Gulf of Mexico. You'll
probably end up with the famous 'Sanibel stoop' as you wander along the waterline,
eyes peeled for pristine starfish, conch and sand dollar shells.
Best for… Petrol Heads
Daytona
is famous for its International Speedway race track where the iconic Daytona
500 race takes place every February. But there are many other exciting NASCAR
races throughout the year and tickets cost as little as $40. You can also take
part, well, in a simulator anyway, at the Daytona 500 Experience, which has
three motion simulators, the 16-second Pit Stop Challenge and the winning Daytona
500 car. Daytona is also one of the few places in the world where you can drive
on the beach. Along 18 of its 23 miles of hard-packed sandy beaches you can
pay $5 and pootle along at 10mph with nothing but sea and sand around you!
Best for… Trainee Astronauts
NASA's famous Kennedy Space Center is only a short drive east from Orlando,
and offers an unrivalled experience. Not only can you tour the official launch
areas, walk the astronaut Hall of Fame and see a variety of historic space craft
and other memorabilia, but on the Shuttle Launch Experience you can feel what
it would be like in a space launch in the scarily realistic simulator, as well
as meeting an astronaut and getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Michael
Jackson fans will also be pleased to know that you can also experience a virtual
moon walk…
Best for… Culture Vultures
Did you know that the world's most comprehensive collection of Salvador Dali works is in St Petersburg, Florida? The Salvador Dali Museum is home to 96 oil paintings created by the celebrated surrealist from 1917 to 1970 including works in both Impressionist and Cubist styles. There are also more than 100 water colours and drawings, graphics, photographs and sculptures. Every Saturday there's a family fun day here where kids can paint their own Dali-esque pictures. Just down the road is the St Petersburg Museum of History and Fine Arts, which has paintings by Monet and Georgia O' Keeffe.
If Florida sounds like the perfect holiday for you and your family,
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Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust, The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury.