Florida is weird, wacky, and home to plenty of both historic and mind-boggling spots. It’s the only state where you can visit an official cryptid headquarters, haunted roads, alligators, mermaids and the oldest city in America — and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are the 29 craziest roadside attractions and activities to find along Florida roads, all not too far from Orlando.
40904 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee
Florida’s very own ever-elusive Bigfoot equivalent is the star of the show at this roadside stop. Here at Skunk Ape HQ, guests can enjoy tons of proof of the animal’s existence, as well as wildlife encounters, camping and a killer gift shop. Credit: via Skunkape Headquarters/Facebook
4533 Solomon Road, Ona
Tucked away in the Florida woods is one man’s dream: a giant medieval castle made of metal. The structure is filled with galleries and artworks by its late builder Howard Solomon, plus the Boat-in-the-Moat restaurant open Tuesday through Sunday. Credit: via Solomon’s Castle/Facebook
1079 Stevens St., Cassadaga
Located in Florida’s very own spiritualist capital, C. Green’s Haunted History Museum offers a glimpse into the spooky world of cryptids, aliens, Voodoo/Vodun, weird deaths, creepy dolls and much more. The interior is much larger than the building makes it seem, so be prepared for an eerie trip. Credit: via C. Green’s Haunted History Museum/Facebook
13700 SW 16th Ave., Ocala
Visit the world’s largest alligator (-shaped building) right here in Central Florida. About 200 feet long, Swampy is the cornerstone of Florida’s Jungle Adventures (a roadside zoo), built in the 1980s by the park’s founder. Credit: Photo via WorldRecordAcademy.org
706 2nd St. N, Safety Harbor
Just down the road from Whimzeyland, the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center is home to all things creative, with art and wacky sculptures on display and regular live music. The spot’s Artery gallery and gift shop proudly features the work of more than 35 local artists. The center is open Thursday through Sunday. Credit: Photo via Safety Harbor Art and Music Center/Facebook
7099 N. Atlantic Ave., Cape Canaveral
This stop houses a sizable collection of visuals, props, replicas and photo ops in a walkable journey all about the Wizard of Oz movie. Credit: via Wizard of Oz Museum/Facebook
5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City
Tampa Bay’s own prehistoric playground is the perfect place to wander around hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs in natural settings. The attraction offers a dino-themed play area, a massive interactive boneyard and a museum featuring a collection of animatronic beasts. Credit: Photo via Dinosaur World/Facebook
10850 Moore Road, Lakeland
Lakeland’s Safari Wilderness offers its guests a drive-through experience featuring plenty of exotic wildlife. Safari Wilderness prides itself on being totally different than a zoo or theme park; its emphasis is on immersing its guests in nature. Credit: via Safari Wilderness Ranch/Facebook
123 N. Highway 27, Clermont
The Presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont offers a history lesson wrapped up in a grand ol’ time. The museum includes displays and models of iconic sites such as the White House, the State Dining Room, the Oval Office and more. It also features life-size models of many U.S. presidents, a mini-Mount Rushmore and a collection of gowns worn by former First Ladies. Credit: Photo via Presidents Hall of Fame/Facebook
4500 Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville
Go classic over-the-top Florida at this roadside stop, where you can hop on an airboat with Kissimmee Swamp Tours for a firsthand look at all the flora, fauna and weirdness that makes the Sunshine State what it is. Credit: Photo via Kissimmee Swamp Tours/Facebook
5705 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, St. Cloud
This Osceola County reptile zoo features more than 75 species of snakes, as well as lizards, crocodiles, alligators and turtles. You can learn a thing or two about native and exotic reptiles, see some critters or even attend a venom-milking show. Credit: via Reptile World Serpentarium/Facebook
1400 Broadway Blvd. SE, Polk City
Polk City’s Fantasy of Flight Museum features all things aviation, including a large collection of vintage aircrafts. The museum is fully open seasonally, with private tours and the complete collection on display, while a “lite” version is open year-round. Credit: Photo via Fantasy of Flight Museum/Facebook
840 Johnson Ave., Lakeland
The largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture exists right here in Florida, on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The college offers guided tours for guests to stroll through and enjoy the iconic collection. Credit: Photo via Florida Southern College
Lake Wales
Spook Hill is one of the country’s oldest “gravity hills,” offering an optical illusion that makes it appear as though cars are rolling up the hill. It’s one of Florida’s pre-Disney World roadside attractions, filled with eerie mystery that’ll (probably very briefly) entertain the most skeptical skeptics. Credit: Photo by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons
445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park
This attraction remains a less touristy sight well worth seeing (although specialists and collectors visit from around the globe). The Morse Museum houses the most comprehensive collection of the works of stained glass pioneer Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world, including the masterpiece that is the Tiffany Chapel. Credit: via The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art/Facebook
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located right here in Orlando, along South Orange Blossom Trail. The spot was founded 73 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, and has ever since been a wildlife adventure and adventure park. Credit: via Gatorland/Facebook
5395 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
Orange World is just what is sounds like: one big orange-themed extravaganza. Inside, road trippers can find kitschy gifts, treats and all things Central Florida citrus. Credit: Shutterstock
6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
Florida: the only state with very, very real mermaids and an iconic state park to visit them in. The springs also offer a great place for swimming, kayaking and all the other Central Florida watery fun you can imagine. Credit: via Weeki Wachee/Facebook
101 SE 1st St., Mulberry
This may be Florida’s most niche museum, but here we are. The Central Florida town of Mulberry is home to the Phosphate Museum, dedicated to the history of the phosphate mining industry. The museum features tons of fossils, memorabilia and exhibits to get you really hyped about prehistoric chemical compounds. Credit: Photo via Mulberry Phosphate Museum
141 S. Highway 27, Clermont
The 226-foot-tall structure in Clermont was originally built in 1956 to allow visitors to observe the miles of surrounding orange groves. It was once among the Orlando area’s most famous landmarks, but now it’s home to a boutique coffee company, and you can still take a ride to the top for $11 for an adult ticket. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales
When the first Spanish conquistadors arrived in Florida in the early 1500s, they brought with them a small herd of cows and horses, now known as Florida cracker cows and cracker ponies. The herd grew and eventually turned into a concentrated population you can visit today in Lake Wales. Credit: Photo via FloridaStateParks.org
13700 SW 16th Ave., Ocala
Opened in 1984, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing chronicles the history of the sport and houses plenty of vintage memorabilia. About 90 racing cars can be seen in the Drag Race building, while a further 50 vehicles are housed in the Antique Car building. Credit: Image via
11 Magnolia Ave., St. Augustine
The allegedly youth-preserving waters of St. Augustine’s Fountain of Youth have drawn tourists and locals to this 15-acre park for decades. Visitors can enjoy a paper cup’s worth of the mysterious elixir, but be warned: It tastes just how you’d imagine really, really old water would taste. Credit: Shutterstock
999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of Florida’s oldest continuously running attractions, with a little something for everyone. Visitors can get up close and personal with more than 20 species of crocodilians, as well as a variety of other reptiles, mammals and birds. Credit: Photo via St. Augustine Alligator Farm/Facebook
31 Orange St., St. Augustine
With more than 160 sculptures covering a wide range of real and fictional figures, including politicians, entertainers, horror characters, historical personalities and athletes, Potter’s is definitely a (maybe kind of creepy?) sight. Credit: Photo via Potter’s Wax Museum/Facebook
1206 3rd St. N, Safety Harbor
What started as an eclectic collection of art and knickknacks turned into one of Florida’s most recognizable local landmarks. The totally decked-out “Bowling Ball House” called Whimzeyland is covered with recycled materials, art projects and, yeah, bowling balls. Credit: via Whimzeyland/Facebook
3301 Lake Cypress Road, Kenansville
If you’re looking to really dive into the Florida roadtrip essentials, Wild Florida probably has something to ignite your excitement. This massive wildlife park and outdoor experience offers drive-through exotic animal sight seeing, airboat tours, alligator-handling shows and a petting zoo. Credit: via Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park/Facebook
510 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs
First opened in 1968, Spongeorama Sponge Factory is Central Florida’s one-stop shop for all things sponges and nautical history. Pay the factory a visit to learn a thing or two about the town’s ties to sponge retailing and walk away with an absorbent souvenir of your own. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
300 E. Monument Ave., Kissimmee
Built as a symbol of American unity after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Monument of States was created with donations of stone that came from around the world, including a rock from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Credit: Photo via FloridaMemory.com
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Chloe Greenberg
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