Few places can match the natural beauty of the Sunshine State. From top-rated beaches to stunning vistas and crystal-clear springs, there’s always a new adventure waiting around the corner. Find one near you on this list of the 11 most incredible natural attractions in Florida and check it out!
- Falling Waters State Park, Chipley
floridastateparks.org This 171-acre park features the tallest waterfall in the state by far, at over 70 feet tall. Indian warriors used the sinkholes as hideouts in the Seminole War. Visitors today will enjoy the fishing, swimming and hiking, and ending the day gathered around their famous campfires. For a more impressive visit, come after heavy rainfall.
- Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna
Flickr/stephg67 The Florida Caverns are a natural wonder because air-filled caves are not as common here as they are across the country. Most of our caves can only be explored underwater, which requires special training. That’s why we believe the Florida Caverns deserves special mention, as they are the only air-filled caves in Florida that offer tours for visitors. The state park named for the caverns is in the panhandle, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
- Torreya State Park, Bristol
Wikimedia Commons Although all of our state parks deserve your attention, Torreya is extra special. This scene might look a little unusual for Florida, and that’s because it’s taken from a 150-foot high bluff. This park in Northwestern Florida is also home to the very rare tree for which it is named. Judging from the beautiful colors in this photo, fall is a great time to check it out.
- Everglades National Park
Flickr/simplethrill One of Florida’s most treasured places is also the largest tropical wilderness in the country. This delicate network of wetlands and forests is home to unique plants and animals you won’t find anywhere else.
- Crystal River
Flickr/benji2505 Most Floridians feel a special affection for the gentle (and in our opinion, adorable) manatee. Crystal River is the only place in Florida you can legally have a guided up-close encounter with the playful and curious marine mammals.
- Big Shoals State Park, White Springs
Flickr/B A Bowen Photography Big Shoals is located approximately a mile east of White Springs, FL, and home to the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. If thrill-seekers come at the right time, they can kayak down the Suwanee in class III whitewater rapids. It’s also a terrific hiking spot.
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo
Flickr/Matt Kieffer John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the best places in Florida to see our living reef and all kinds of marine life. Even if you can’t or don’t want to get in the water, it’s still possible to explore this magical world with a glass-bottom boat tour.
- Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Flickr/Rain0975 Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville gives guests the opportunity to hike into a 120-foot sinkhole with a mini-rainforest, small waterfalls, and lush foliage.
- Blowing Rocks Preserve, Hobe Sound
Flickr/Clinton & Charles Robertson Large rock formations are not what most people think of when they think of Florida beaches, but we do actually have some rocky coastline. The formations found at this preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound are the largest of their kind on Florida’s east coast. The ocean spray hitting the rocks can be sent up to 50 feet in the air, which is how they got their name.
- Fairchild Oak, Bulow Creek State Park, Ormond Beach
Flickr/Rain0975 You will be in awe of the size of this mighty ancient oak. At more than 400-years-old, the Fairchild Oak at Bulow Creek State Park is one of the oldest live oaks in the South.
- Devil’s Den, Williston
Facebook/Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring Devil’s Den has an ethereal beauty that reminds you how lucky we are to live in our state. This unique prehistoric spring is covered by a karst window that lets in a stream of sunlight, like a spotlight into the clear, blue water below. Visitors must be scuba diving or snorkeling to explore here.
How many of these natural attractions have you seen for yourself? What are your favorite natural wonders in the Sunshine State?
floridastateparks.org
This 171-acre park features the tallest waterfall in the state by far, at over 70 feet tall. Indian warriors used the sinkholes as hideouts in the Seminole War. Visitors today will enjoy the fishing, swimming and hiking, and ending the day gathered around their famous campfires. For a more impressive visit, come after heavy rainfall.
Flickr/stephg67
The Florida Caverns are a natural wonder because air-filled caves are not as common here as they are across the country. Most of our caves can only be explored underwater, which requires special training. That’s why we believe the Florida Caverns deserves special mention, as they are the only air-filled caves in Florida that offer tours for visitors. The state park named for the caverns is in the panhandle, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Wikimedia Commons
Although all of our state parks deserve your attention, Torreya is extra special. This scene might look a little unusual for Florida, and that’s because it’s taken from a 150-foot high bluff. This park in Northwestern Florida is also home to the very rare tree for which it is named. Judging from the beautiful colors in this photo, fall is a great time to check it out.
Flickr/simplethrill
One of Florida’s most treasured places is also the largest tropical wilderness in the country. This delicate network of wetlands and forests is home to unique plants and animals you won’t find anywhere else.
Flickr/benji2505
Most Floridians feel a special affection for the gentle (and in our opinion, adorable) manatee. Crystal River is the only place in Florida you can legally have a guided up-close encounter with the playful and curious marine mammals.
Flickr/B A Bowen Photography
Big Shoals is located approximately a mile east of White Springs, FL, and home to the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. If thrill-seekers come at the right time, they can kayak down the Suwanee in class III whitewater rapids. It’s also a terrific hiking spot.
Flickr/Matt Kieffer
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is one of the best places in Florida to see our living reef and all kinds of marine life. Even if you can’t or don’t want to get in the water, it’s still possible to explore this magical world with a glass-bottom boat tour.
Flickr/Rain0975
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in Gainesville gives guests the opportunity to hike into a 120-foot sinkhole with a mini-rainforest, small waterfalls, and lush foliage.
Flickr/Clinton & Charles Robertson
Large rock formations are not what most people think of when they think of Florida beaches, but we do actually have some rocky coastline. The formations found at this preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound are the largest of their kind on Florida’s east coast. The ocean spray hitting the rocks can be sent up to 50 feet in the air, which is how they got their name.
You will be in awe of the size of this mighty ancient oak. At more than 400-years-old, the Fairchild Oak at Bulow Creek State Park is one of the oldest live oaks in the South.
Facebook/Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring
Devil’s Den has an ethereal beauty that reminds you how lucky we are to live in our state. This unique prehistoric spring is covered by a karst window that lets in a stream of sunlight, like a spotlight into the clear, blue water below. Visitors must be scuba diving or snorkeling to explore here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
