27 beautiful Florida destinations you probably didn't know existed

Ancient Spanish Monastery
16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33160 | (305) 945-1461
Originally built in the 12th century, the Monastery has been brought to Miami one beautiful brick at a time. Gorgeous gardens decorated with colorful flowers remain virtually untouched by the beach city it neighbors. Stone statues, wooden-cast doors and stain-glass windows will ignite your imagination about the history of this Monastery, or at least earn you a good Instagram pic.

Photo via ludmilacc/Instagram

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach, FL 33446 | (561) 495-0233
You’re definitely going to want to take your time with Delray Beach’s super detailed homage to Japanese art and culture. Find your inner serenity while walking through the bamboo forest or sip on a steaming cup of green tea in the teahouse. Round out the whole experience at the Cornell Cafe with a dragon sushi roll and Manju ice cream.

Photo via morikami.org

Anna Maria Island
You're just a bridge away from living the private island life at Anna Maria Island. This 7-mile strip of paradise is perfect for when you need to put the flip flops on and lay back. You'll definitely want to rent a surf board or boogie board and catch some waves here. Kowabunga!

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Apalachicola National Forest
Stateroad 13, Bristol, FL 32358 | (850) 643-2282
The largest forest in Florida, Apalachicola is home to some of the state’s most pristine streams, rivers, lakes and natural springs. The scenic landscape includes displays of wildflowers in the open prairies near the Apalachicola River, caverns and sinkholes in the Leon Springs and vast tropical grasslands of the Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway.

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Venetian Pools
2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134 | (305) 460-5306
If anywhere will have you feeling like you’re Italian royalty, it’s the Venetian Pools. They’ve got an epic stone waterfall that waterfalls into the coral rock quarry, so go ahead and jump in. And who needs a beach when they’ve got cave grottos, right? Note: Venetian Pools is closed until Summer 2016.

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Big Shoals State Park
11330 S.E. County Road 135, White Springs, FL 32096 | (386) 397-4331
Go for a hike on Big Shoals’ 1-mile Yellow Blaze Trail and reward yourself to a breathtaking set of rapid waters on the historic Suwannee River. If you’re feeling particularly daring, give whitewater kayaking or canoeing a try at Big Shoals.

Photo via lauraandtheriver/Instagram

Coral Castle
28655 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033 | (305) 248-6345
After his beloved Agnes left him a day before their wedding, early 1900s sculptor Ed Leedskalnin took 30 years to handcut gigantic pieces of stone into the works of art that you see today at Coral Castle. The whimsical shapes and designs made from rigid stone are perplexing to say the least.

Photo via happy_less/Instagram

Blowing Rocks Preserve
574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, FL 33455 | (561) 744-6668
Get the camera ready for some epic wave pictures, brah. During high tide the water will trickle under the massive rock formations causing waves to spurt up wherever there are holes. It’s like Florida’s very own Old Faithful.

Photo via ninoskalovett/Instagram

Captiva Island
Get ready to get captivated by Captiva Island. The bright white sand will have you walking for days, but the real draw here is the breathtaking sunset. Captiva Island is well-known for its shelling, so get clean out the shell bucket, explorers.

Photo via sanibelstar/Instagram

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 | (305) 451-6300
Establish in 1963, John Pennekamp Park is the country’s very first undersea playground. The park covers 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove swamps, all teeming with a wide variety of wildlife. The Christ of the Deep statue is one of the park’s biggest draws, which you can see by taking a snorkel tour.

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Carlin Park
400 Florida A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477 | (561) 624-0065
Load up the car for a sunny day of recreational goodness at Carlin Park where you’ve got your choice of basketball, baseball, tennis and of course, the beach. Fill a cooler with all your favorite foods to heat up on the grills provided or bring some cash to spend at the cafe. There’s also a dog beach here for your furry best friend to frolick in the sand.

Photo via kate_makowski/Instagram

Devil's Den
5390 NE 180th Ave, Williston, FL 32696 | (352) 528-3344
Thanks to a small circle of land collapsing over this subterranean river a long time ago, we now have one of the most beautiful cave diving spots in the country. Shades of green, blue and orange line the rock walls of the cave while the heated pools aboveground sooth divers looking to relax after their descent.

Photo via nia_ale/Instagram

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653 | (352) 955-2008
Follow the stair trail 120-feet down to one of Florida's oldest limestone sinkholes. Researchers have found fossilized remains of extinct land animals at the Devil's Millhopper, so check out one of their hiking trails and go looking for some hidden treasure.

Photo via naturepursuit/Instagram

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
3266 N. Sailboat Avenue, Crystal River, FL 34428 | (352) 563-0450
The warm waters here make it perfect for an afternoon dip. Hop in a kayak or canoe and prepare to see a school of manatees-- Florida's pride and joy. For a closer look of these underwater furry pals, give snorkeling a try.

Photo via f8inmemphis/Instagram

Falling Waters State Park
State Park Rd, Chipley, FL 32428 | (850) 638-6130
A 73-foot waterfall surrounded by natural forestation cascades into a sinkhole making Falling Waters State Park truly a thing of wonder. Pack a basket for a picnic by the lake or go for a hike down to the butterfly garden where you’re sure to see a myriad of native and migrating butterflies.

Photo via chrisg7989/Instagram

Fern Hammock Springs
10863 E. Highway 40 Silver Springs, FL 34488 | (352) 625-7470
This big, shallow pool has 25 sand boils scattered on the bottom making it look like there’s a bunch of little personal pools. Walk over the bridge to ensure you get the best picture of this clear spring water that’s varies between sky blue, turquoise and sapphire.

Photo via codieannie/Instagram

Florida Caverns State Park
3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446 | (850) 482-9598
Spring white lilies are just now starting to bloom, but let’s be real, you came here to see the glorious cavern that you never thought could exist in Florida-- sea level and all that. Limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones and draperies are painted with warm red, orange and blue tones that’ll put any caver in a trance.

Photo via timabbey/Instagram

Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S, St. Petersburg, FL 33715 | (727) 582-2267
Five interconnected islands make up the 1,136 acre Fort De Soto park system. Guests can kayak among the natural mangroves and wetlands or experience the natural wonder of sea turtle eggs hatching during the months between April and September.

Photo via vspc/Instagram

Fort Jefferson
Key West, FL 33041 | (305) 242-7700
Grab a ferry and travel into Florida’s past-- Fort Jefferson, which served as a federal prison during the Civil War. Unlike many forts, you can actually camp here, so pitch a tent ‘cause you’ll want to soak in the royal blue water here with as much snorkeling as possible.

Photo via danielericmadrigal/Instagram

Seacrest Wolf Preserve
3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428 | (850) 773-2897
Packs and packs of playful wolves and arctic foxes are waiting for you at the Seacrest Wolf Preserve. Don’t worry, Orlandoans-- these furry friends are tamed and have been living in the preservation since they were pups, so they’re accustomed to hangin’ with human. The workers at this non-profit preservation also take the time to educate visitors about the importance of wolves.

Photo via tgi_eman/Instagram