Aug 02, 2023 BY Mark Pawlak
For many people, Sunshine State adventure holidays consist of Disney, beaches and roller coasters. But beneath its obvious attractions lies plenty of fun outdoor activities. So we’ve pulled together 5 new adventures in Florida, to help keep you get off the beaten path.
The longest coastline in the US – one side facing the Atlantic, the other the Gulf of Mexico – gives visitors to Florida all the beach sports they could ever want. But don’t think that’s all there is on offer…
Florida is a favoured tourist destination for United States activity holidays. It’s home to the Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the US and Biscayne Bay, where fresh and saltwater meet. With huge expanse in which to roam, adventures in Florida are varied and rewarding.
If visiting Florida it would be a real shame to only do the obvious activities. Be sure to explore its national parks, waterways and remote beaches. Once you’re done you can chillout at an all inclusive holiday head to Disney, visit Sea World, take in Universal or Escot etc.
There are 14 theme parks in Orlando alone. But this doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find discounted tickets for Disneyland and other theme parks, to make your Florida adventure budget-friendly as well as fun for all the family.
So to help you get adventurous in a different way, here are 5 less obvious adventure sports to try in Florida. As things are always changing we’ve added a sixth to the list.
With much of the county at low elevation, you’d be fooled into thinking the adventure racing scene’s not that interesting. Well, you’d be wrong! It’s tough going with several ultra-distance events running long into the night.
We spotted the South River Adventure Race in Halpatiokee Park. Plus there are other run, bike, paddle, navigate through swamp and trail adventures in Florida.
Stand Up Paddleboarding is not just for the sea. It’s an ideal way to discover the mangroves and backcountry flats of the Florida Keys. You can even have a go at SUP fishing.
Check out the Cowkey Channel between Stock Island and Key West. No motors, no noise, up close and personal with nature. A must during Sunshine State adventure holidays.
Head to Miami-Dade county and to the interestingly named Amelia Earhart Country Park (Amelia Earhart: first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic). The pick of attractions is the Miami-Wakeboarding Cable Complex.
There’s a 91-acre lake here and the the complex is ever growing. Open seven days a week on spring-fed freshwater, you can also water ski, wake surf and knee board.
In case you get any bad weather, which is possible despite Florida living up to its title as ‘The Sunshine State’, you can enjoy quality indoor climbing. Just outside of central Miami, toward Richmond West, is the The Edge Rock Gym Miami.
More routes than you’ll ever need and great facilities for lessons, it’s prime indoor rock real estate.
In Florida there’s trips to dive or snorkel with manatee. Huge, friendly beasts, the West Indian Manatee prefers the warm water temperatures of inland rivers, some of which are spring fed and at 72F.
The main sites are Crystal River and Homosassa River (Winter). And best of all you don’t always need dive experience.
Foiling with a kite, SUP, surf board or windsurfer has been growing in popularity the last few years. While the introduction of winging has added a new way to be powered by the wind. Combine the two and you have wing foiling – as new adventures in Florida go they don’t get much more exciting.
Check out Florida Wingfoiling, who operate out of Key West to get started. You can rent the gear and book a lesson to take up the new sport taking Sunshine State adventure holidays to the next level.
From scuba diving to skydiving there are many better known adventures to be had in Florida. So check out our Florida adventure travel page to find out more.
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