I totally LOVED sharing our 2015 Summer Bucket List with everyone but, after two years and a couple sizes up in the toddler section, partnered with loads of parenting experience, we decided it was time to update the list and add some of our new favorite adventures for all of you to enjoy!
In this bucket list, you’ll find something fun and unique to do in most major cities throughout Florida, from Key West up to the Panhandle and all the way back down to the Treasure Coast! Mark off the ones near you or plan a road trip to find something fresh and different!
1. KEY WEST
Southern Most Point–Shipwreck Museum–Take a Trolley Ride
2. MARATHON KEY
Dolphin Research Center–Turtle Hospital –Snorkel at Sombrero Reef
3. MIAMI
Visit the Miami Seaquarium-Crawl through the Castle of Dream at the Miami Children’s Museum
4. NAPLES
Visit the lazy river and water slides at Hyatt Bonita Springs -Play at the Galisano Children’s Museum of Naples
5. SANIBEL + CAPTIVA
Make your own seashell jewelry at the Bailey Matthew’s National Shell Museum-Have a slice of Orange Cake and take in all the Christmas decor at The Bubble Room–Ride bikes along the trail through Captiva
6. FL GULF KEYS
Collect shark teeth at Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key (Grab your shark tooth sifter from The Green Parrot Gift Shop)-Hit the cold white sand of Siesta Key Beach for the day but, make sure to bring an umbrella
7. SARASOTA
See the 27 foot squid at the MOTE Laboratory and Aquarium and get an up close look at the lab-Eat off of a frisbee at Old Salty Dog and grab a picture with the giant “Unconditional Surrender” statue-Climb the banyan tree in the Children’s Rainforest at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens-Visit The Ringling, a museum dedicated to the world famous Ringling Bros. Circus
8. TAMPA
See the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs-Celebrate Christmas in July at the Rogers House Christmas Village-Visit the Florida Aquarium-Spend the day digging up fossils and taking in the ginormous prehistoric replicas at Dinosaur World-See where the New York Yankees practice in the Spring-Explore the many exhibits at the Glazer Children’s Museum or The Great Explorations Children’s Museum
9. GAINESVILLE
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park–Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History-View the 100+ species of plants and flowers in an abandoned lime rock query at Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens-Learn how to climb a tree with the Canopy Climbers-Splash in one of the many springs of Gainesville (Big Blue Springs, Blue Grotto, Ginnie Springs, Ichetucknee)
10. PANHANDLE
National Naval Aviation Museum-Hike to look down on the waterfall of Falling Waters State Recreation Area-Ride the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise in Panama City Beach-Explore the Florida Caverns-Swim with Dolphins at the Gulf World Marine Park
11. JACKSONVILLE
Visit MOSH and get your science on-Stop by Sweet Pete’s for a special treat-Take a small walk to Big Talbot State Park and climb the fallen driftwoods on the beach-Spot a Leopard Gecko and other reptiles and animals at Tree Hill Nature Center-Feed a Giraffe at the Jacksonville Zoo
12. ST AUGUSTINE
Visit the Old Jail-Pretend your back in time at the Castillo de San Marcos Fort-Embrace your inner Ariel on the rocks of Washington Oaks State Park Beach-Go back to Colonial Times by spending a day at Colonial Quarter-See the Florida Gator at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park-Try not to steal the treasure at the Pirate + Treasure Museum-Get some yummy sweets and take a tour of Whetstone Chocolates
13. CENTRAL FL BEACHES
Grab a freshly made popsicle from Mason Bar, NSB-Climb the winding stairs of the Ponce DeLeon Inlet Light House-Have a lobster roll from Cafe Heavenly-Eat a HUGE cinnamon roll after you hit the salad bar at Aunt Catfish’s in Port Orange-Take a tour on the Cape Canaveral National Seashore (N Apollo Beach) to watch sea turtles hatch-Touch stingrays and hermit crabs at the touch pool in the Marine Science Center-Smell the rubber at the Daytona Speedway
14. CENTRAL FLORIDA
Find the enormous giant cement dinosaurs at the Sugar Mill Ruins-Ice skate in the summer at RDV Sportsplex-Connect with your inner scientist at Mad Science in the Oviedo Mall-Visit the rhinos at the Central Florida Zoo and cool off in the splash pad-Ride the SunRail from DeBary to Winter Park and grab a treat at Peterbrooke Chocolatier on S Park Ave. before heading back-Swim with the manatees at Blue Springs-Eat like a German at Hollerbach’s Willowtree Cafe’ and save room for the gummy bears that come with your kid’s meal
15. LAKELAND
Climb a life-sized spiderweb, play music outside, splash around a desert themed water pad, and find Rapunzel’s hidden tower at Bok Tower Gardens-Create music and put on a show at the Explorations V Children’s Museum-Bring a mini figure to Legoland and trade any of the workers for one on their name badge
16. ORLANDO
Hit up Chef Mickey’s to eat a meal with your favorite characters-Indulge in a Sparkling Chocolate Volcano from the Rainforest Cafe’ during an indoor thunderstorm-Watch knights joust and battle at Medieval Times-Smell the roses at Leu Gardens-Grab a farm fresh meal from Farm & Haus at East End Market-Pick and sort oranges at the Orlando Science Center-Play giant Connect 4 while your parents grab a bite at Sea Dog Brewing Co.-Create your own crayon at The Crayola Experience-Hold a gator at Gatorland-Ride a swan boat in Lake Eola-Take a ride on the Orlando Eye and view The City Beautiful-Plant something in the community garden at Mead Botanical Gardens
17. SPACE COAST
Kayak through a bioluminescence tour with A Day Away Kayak Tours and see the algae glow-Watch a rocket launch or visit Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to feast your eyes on real-life rovers and moon rocks-Swim in a whale’s mouth at the Brevard Zoo-Race a car at Andretti Thrill Park-Volunteer at the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and get an up close encounter with a nesting spot-Get up close and personal with the black bears and a 200 ft alligator at the Jungle Adventures Park-Play on Cocoa Beach -Spend your allowance on a gnarly new boogie board at the world famous Ron Jon Surf Shop
18. BOCA RATON + FT LAUDERDALE
Feed a flamingo at the Flamingo Gardens-Visit the South Florida Science Center + Aquarium-Pop into the Museum of Discovery + Science-Let a butterfly land on you at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek -Hop on over to the Boca Children’s Museum and the Boca Children’s Science Explorium-Get Wet and play at the science playground at Sugar Sand park
19. TREASURE COAST
The Children’s Museum of Treasure Coast -Touch and view model ecosystems and thriving underwater worlds of the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean at the Smithsonian Marine Station–Environmental Learning Center -Go inside the stick huts at the McKee Botanical Gardens-See a different side of Mickey at the Disney Vero Beach Hotel
20. Close to HOME
Visit your local fire station-Build a cardboard box Castle-Make a lava Lamp-Adopt a fish-Grow a windowsill plant-Sing a song at your local senior citizen facility-Paint rocks to hide on your next adventure-Make slime-Paint pottery at your local ceramics spot-Get a group together for a fun paint class
I’d LOVE to know if you’ve marked any of these off of your list! If so, comment below and share your favorite!
See some of our bucket list adventures below!
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