12 Outdoor Escapes Only Florida Can Offer You

OMG, Florida has EVERYTHING.

In Florida, you can hang out with manatees in Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Manatees are full-figured, plant-eating mammals. And Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has an underwater observatory so you can see them up close and personal without disturbing their natural habitat. Sea cows FTW!

Or maybe you'd be down to explore the coral reefs of Key Largo.

Key Largo is home to the only living coral reef barrier in the continental US. You can explore the reef by snorkeling or scuba diving, or via a glass-bottom boat tour to take in the underwater world. You don't want to miss this!

How about horseback riding along the prettiest beach you've ever seen?

VISITFLORIDA / Via youtube.com

Amelia Island is 13 miles of pure beauty along the Atlantic coastline. Plan a stop here midway through your Florida vacay and just chillax for a while. Your mind and body will thank you!

Perhaps you'd enjoy a nice stroll through an ancient cave at Florida Caverns State Park.

VISITFLORIDA / Via youtube.com

Fifty-five feet beneath Florida Caverns State Park, you'll find a collection of 12 interconnected caves that house a world of wonders like stalactites and stalagmites, natural limestone sculptures, and the occasional cave bat just to keep you on your toes. It's a little bit creepy, and a lotta bit cool!

You can also go paddle boarding in South Walton...

VISITFLORIDA

The 15 natural dune lakes along the coast in South Walton, Florida are a great place to hone your paddle boarding skills. Then, when you're feeling confident, you can board right out into the Gulf of Mexico!

Or take a high-speed, up-close airboat tour of the Everglades.

An airboat tour is a great way to see some amazing plants and animals, and appreciate the natural beauty of Florida up close and IRL. The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. And what better way to explore it than on a boat with an airplane propeller strapped to it?

Or maybe you're more the "kiteboarding in St. Petersburg" type.

If you're eager to try kiteboarding, St. Petersburg, Florida is the place for you! And even if you're not up for the thrill, it's worth seeing (and photographing) for yourself!

If you like to live on the edge, how about a zip line through the canyons in Ocala?

VISITFLORIDA / Via youtube.com

Soar 155 feet over plunging canyons and sparkling lakes surrounded by pure, untouched Florida wilderness. Ocala is also a great place for other outdoor adventures, like hiking and horseback riding.

How about deep-sea fishing in the Sailfish Capital of the World.

Sailfish are HUGE, faster than sharks, and not afraid of anything. Stuart, Florida is the Sailfish Capital of the World...and now you can get in on the action. You can find sailfish charters and fishing tournaments all year-round in Stuart, so stop by for a quick, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You can also go bioluminescent kayaking near some space shuttles.

VISITFLORIDA

Space Coast (near Kennedy Space Center) is one of the best places in Florida to take in the wonder with an after-dark kayak adventure through bioluminescent waters. How cool is that?!

Why not camp out on the beach for a night or three?

You can take a boat ride to some of Florida's most secluded beaches and camp out, undisturbed, right on the beach surrounded by Florida wilderness. It's the ultimate camping adventure!

Or maybe you'd prefer to just get away from everything for a while in Dry Tortugas.

You can get to Dry Tortugas National Park only by boat or seaplane. It's a great place to leave everything behind for a while and just chill. And when you get bored, you can explore a civil war–era fort nearby, snorkel through coral reefs and shipwrecks, and get some much-needed relaxation.

Additional images via Getty Images

You can do all of these things and more in Florida, so start exploring more Florida adventures today!