wcw SEPTEMBER 2022

Offbeat Attractions Across Florida
10 experiences for travelers who think they know everything about Florida
Martin County: Hobe Sound
Lake Country: Showcase of Citrus
Jefferson County: Victorian Haunted History Tour
Miami: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Florida is the top
destination for
American travelers,
but there’s more to the
state than its beaches
and major attractions according to
VISITFLORIDA. Theme parks and
watersports are always popular, but
many travelers want to experience
something they never imagined.
Statewide, offbeat experiences and
rarely-visited attractions await those
who are willing to dig deeper into what
Florida has to offer. These 10 contenders
may not have made all the top ten lists
previously, but they are some of the best
kept secrets in Florida.
Martin County: Hobe Sound
embodies the definition of small beach
town charm in Martin County. Consider
staying at the nearby Jupiter Waterfront
Inn for a dose of “Old Florida”charisma.
Imagine a wine tasting experience
at Case del Vino, followed by an
afternoon of exploring the quaint
downtown shops. Hobe Sound is also
home to Jonathan Dickinson State
Park, Southeast Florida’s largest state
park, where visitors can go horseback
riding, kayaking, fishing, hiking, cycling,
camping and more.
Jefferson County: Ghost
stories aren’t just for October. In “The
South’s Most Haunted Small Town,”
Monticello is home to a Victorian
Haunted History Tour. Visitors will
wander the streets, including the old jail,
to hear about the ghostly apparitions
that haunt this corner of Florida.
Pensacola: While Pensacola
is hardly off anyone’s radar, nearby
Perdido Key often goes unnoticed.
Home to the iconic Flora-Bama and
picturesque hikes, this area is a
favorite for locals and a must-see for
savvy visitors. One of the best ways
to enjoy a sunrise or sunset over the
Gulf of Mexico is one
of the picturesque
hikes leading to Perdido
Key. The trail winds
over the salt marshes,
maritime forest, sand
dunes and breathtaking
views over the Gulf.
Vero Beach: Families
and adults alike will be enticed
by the many famous shipwrecks
off the coast of Vero
Beach, where they’re transported
back centuries, with
submerged remains still there.
Treasure hunters salvaged
millions of dollars in gold
coins and valuable artifacts,
much of which is on view at local
museums. On Sea Grape Trail Beach,
a wreck is so close to shore that after
storms you may find treasures washed
up on the beach. One wreck sunk with
70 pounds of emeralds on board, with
only three pounds recovered to-date.
For a closer look, scuba divers, snorkelers
and paddle boarders can easily
reach these wrecks.
Florida Sports Coast: It’s
not easy to say its name, but Zephyrhills,
home to “Skydive City,” is certainly an
offbeat trip for any visitors to Florida.
Professional skydivers from all over
the world regularly visit the area due to
its ideal jump conditions and specialty
aircrafts, marking it as a premier drop
zone. First-time jumpers can enjoy these
supreme conditions and learn why the
area earned the title “Skydive City.”
Clay County: For visitors
passing through, Clay County boasts
the centerpiece of Green Cove
Springs’ Spring Park, located along the
banks of the St. Johns River. While it
may appear that the park’s pool is just
another pool, that couldn’t be farther
from the truth. At 135,000-gallons, it is
Vero Beach: Famous Shipwrecks
spring-fed with the spring water flowing
into the west side of the municipal
swimming pool, and then flows out the
east side forming a stream eventually
emptying into the St. Johns River. The
water comes from below at a rate of
1,346 gallons per minute, at a constant
temperature of 77 degrees, making it
a popular spot for locals and visitors
during the summer months.
Jacksonville: Jacksonville’s
reef system provides a unique
experience for divers looking to
sample the Sunshine State’s unspoiled
waters. With 22 miles of beaches and
the most shoreline of any Florida city,
Jacksonville is home to more than 100
artificial reefs with hundreds of colorful
species of marine life off the Atlantic
Coast shore. Boats, planes and culverts
have been placed, or in some cases
found, along the continental shelf to
form Jacksonville’s reef system. These
sunken objects placed in the waters
provide food and shelter to marine
life and in turn, have created beautiful
spots for divers.
Lake Country: With 1,000
lakes and communities filled with
historic charm, there’s plenty to keep
visitors entertained. The Citrus Label
Tour stops at attractions like Showcase
of Citrus, Citrus Tower and the Howey
Mansion. Travelers learn how the gilded
age citrus growing industry impacted
these towns. A guided kayak trip heads
down the Dora Canal while a seaplane
ride offers a view of the lakes from
above. It even boasts the oldest hotel in
Florida: the Lakeside Inn.
Miami: Though Miami is full of
well-known attractions, not everyone
visits Vizcaya Museum and Gardens,
a National Historic Landmark. Built
between 1914 and 1922, as the winter
home of farming manufacturer James
Deering, Vizcaya is one of the most
intact remaining examples from this era
in the United States, when the nation’s
most successful entrepreneur-built
estates were inspired by the stately
homes of Europe.
St. Augustine: Florida is
covered in history, but none quite
like Fort Matanzas in St. Augustine.
The offbeat fortress dates back to the
18th century, and is constructed of local
materials including rock-like materials
created by seashells. It’s a little bit of
history that whole families can enjoy
exploring together.
Happy exploring! To learn
more go to visitflorida.org.
SEPTEMBER 2022 WEST COAST WOMAN 19