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Mar 06,2006
Florida Attractions
by Staff
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Enjoy the many attractions that Florida has to offer. These listings range from Pensacola to Key West. Bars, Museums,Zoos and Theme parks are all included. |
Big Kahunas Water & Adventure Park
1007 Hwy 98,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 8374061
This 23-acre entertainment complex boasts a water park and adventure park. Bustling with activity and peppered with shipwrecks, palm trees and observation areas, the park accommodates both children and adults. Wave pools and water slides are a cool, clean way to splash the day away, or you can test your skills with a putter or a steering wheel.
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Boogies Watersports
2 Hwy 98E,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 6544497
Boogies sits right on Destin Harbor in a pink clapboard building with a green roof, and can be seen easily from Destin Bridge. Its waterside location is a perfect jumping-off place for watersports and cruises of the area. The company rents wave runners and pontoon boats and can also arrange for parasailing adventures for up to three people at a time. Their glass-bottom boat is popular with guests who want to spot dolphins, check out underwater sea life, and see the area's sights and attractions. Rentals can be set up for an hour at a time, full and half-days, and by the week.
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Daniel Webster Clements Cruises
Hwy 98E and Benning dr,Destin Harbor,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 8377245
Replicating a 1920s-era ship called the Julia Delecruz, the Daniel Webster Clements is Destin's only wooden schooner. The 72-foot ship offers dolphin-sighting cruises in the morning and snorkeling cruises in the afternoon. Sunset excursions make the most of the area's gorgeous skies and scenery and are scheduled to accommodate your dinner reservations. Private charters are available as well, as are overnight group trips to Shell Island. If you become completely enamored of the experience, the company also offers 3-day cruises that provide instruction on how to sail and maneuver a small ship.
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Henderson Beach State Recreation Area
17000 Emer,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 8377550
208 acres of woodlands and coast, this state-owned park was first opened to visitors in the early 1980s. Bought from a private owner, the land was undeveloped and remains so today. Swimming and lounging are welcomed along the 6000 feet of coastline, and a hiking trail winds through local vegetation. Bathhouses are available for changing and feature outdoor showers. Picnic tables with grills are ideal for steaks or hamburgers, and 30 campsites for both tents and campers are on the premises, with more on the way.
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James W. Lee County Park
3500 Old Hwy 98E,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (???) ???????
This beachfront park is located right off of Old Highway 98 and is convenient for travelers driving up or down the coast. It has a large bathhouse with changing rooms, restrooms and outdoor showers. Access to the beach is easy via dune walkovers. Covered picnic areas offer a pleasant break from the sun and are great if you've brought a lunch. If not, the Crab Trap restaurant is nearby.
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Old Destin Post Office Museum
Stahlman Ave,
DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 8378572
Across from the library, this little white building houses memorabilia detailing the 19th-century settlement of Destin. It includes photographs of past days and is a tribute to the early beach communities of the region. Although its open hours are minimal, the museum is an interesting glimpse into the beginnings of a community that has transformed itself into one of the top resort areas in the Southeast.
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Sea Blaster
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DESTIN, FL Phone - (850) 6546888
Climb aboard Destin's ORIGINAL Sea Blaster for a fun and exciting cruise with Capt. Larry, searching the Emerald Green waters of the Gulf of Mexico along the sugar white sand beaches of Destin, Florida, for the most playful dolphins. Our seventy-three foot passenger boat carries up to 119 passengers, is the Gulf's largest speedboat, and offers an array of fun for the entire family. The Sea Blaster offers snorkeling and dolphin cruises, beach and dolphin cruises, and relaxing sunset dolphin cruises.
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Emerald Coast Science Center
139 Brooks St.,
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL Phone - (850) 6641261
This interactive children's museum teaches kids about science and nature in an entertaining way. More than 250 hands-on exhibits allow visitors to learn about robotics, health, and the power and impact of hurricanes. Highlights also include a display on wind and flight and the opportunity to interact with live animals. An on-premises gift shop sells toys and games with a scientific theme and doesn't require a ticket for entrance.
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Gulfarium
1010 Miracle Strip P, Okaloosa Island,
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL Phone - (850) 2439046
This facility simultaneously educates and entertains visitors while promoting the welfare of marine life. Some venues feature performances by dolphins and sea lions; the Living Sea exhibit showcases turtles, sharks, eels and other animals, giving guests insight into their behavior and interaction. The complex also boasts penguins, otters, alligators and a touch pool where you can experience sea life firsthand. There's even an opportunity (with advance reservations) to swim with Kiwi and Daphne, two of the resident dolphins. The beachside attraction, which has indoor and outdoor displays, is open rain or shine; a gift shop sells clothing and souvenirs.
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Indian Temple Mound and Museum
139 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE,
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL Phone - (850) 8339595
Situated at the base of a pre-Columbian earthen mound, this museum offers glimpses into Indian civilizations of the past 10,000 years. The mound, which once served as a ceremonial site, was headquarters for the Mississippian Indians and is one of the largest earthen structures in a salt-water setting. A re-created temple, thousands of artifacts, and displays on Indian life entrance visitors to this historic site and museum, which are located in the midst of Fort Walton Beach. A gift shop sells literature and crafts, and a research library is available to the public.
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Okaloosa Island Boardwalk
1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy,
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL Phone - ()
The Boardwalk itself is an entertainment complex with clubs and restaurants, but its beaches are expansive. Lots of people, including military guys and college kids, come to bask in the sun, swim and play volleyball at the numerous local courts. Lifeguards are on duty along the coast, and changing rooms and restrooms can be found on the Boardwalk itself. If the sun gets to be too much, drink machines and snack bars are located nearby.
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US Air Force Armament Museum
100 Museum Dr,Eglin AFB,
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL Phone - (850) 8824062
Military buffs will love this indoor-outdoor museum located on the world's largest air force base. Displays of aircraft and weaponry chart the American military presence from WWII to the Gulf War. The museum's showpiece is the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, but a variety of other fighter and bomber planes are on exhibit, too. Inside, a video on the history of Eglin Air Force Base plays to visitors, a gun vault features aircraft weaponry, and a gift shop sells military-related items.
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Gulf Breeze Zoo & Gotanical Gardens
5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy,
GULF BREEZE, FL Phone - (904) 9322229
Twenty minutes west of Fort Walton Beach, this zoo, set amid botanical gardens, shelters hundreds of domestic and exotic animals. The wildlife preserve offers glimpses of Gorilla Island, where primates live unhindered in a natural habitat. A ride on the zoo's diminutive train provides views as well. At the Farm, children can interact with tame animals and see how resident newborns are cared for. In addition, visitors will encounter rhinos, giraffes, bears and reptiles. White Bengal tigers, pygmy hippos and zebras also attract the attention of zoo-goers. Adults in particular will appreciate the Japanese gardens and the gift shop, which sells clothing, gifts and artwork.
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Key West Aquarium
One Whitehead Street,
KEY WEST, FL Phone - (305) 2962051
Pet sharks! Discover the undersea world of the Florida Keys. Daily shark and turtle feedings and touch tank offer guests hands-on encounters with sea life. See sawfish, moray eels, tropical and game fish and birds! Guided tours daily. Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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National Museum of Naval Aviation
1750 Bradford Blvd Ste B,
PENSACOLA, FL Phone - (850) 453-2389
Naval Aviation transcends both time and space, from wood and fabric biplanes, to the frontiers of space. The Museum captures Naval Aviation's heritage.
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Eden State Gardens
N State Rd 395,
POINT WASHINGTON, FL Phone - (850) 2314214
Live oaks festooned with Spanish moss surround a Greek Revival mansion that's the centerpiece of this impressive estate. Built in 1897, the home was refurbished in the 1960s and now sports period antiques and furnishings. The gardens were created at the time of the renovation and feature collections of azaleas, camellias and other flowering shrubs. When the grounds are in bloom each spring, the whole area is a riot of color and fragrance. Picnic tables by the Choctawhatchee River provide a great place to enjoy a simple lunch.
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Grayton Beach State Recreation Area
357 Main Park Rd,
SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL Phone - (850) 2314210
Home to some of the best beaches in the area, this state park covers 1133 acres and first opened to the public in 1968. Located near the community of Grayton Beach, it attracts visitors with its unspoiled beauty and abundant wildlife. Swimming and fishing are the top recreational activities, but campsites are great for overnight stays, and an extensive nature trail directs hikers around dunes and through pine forests. Boating is available on Western Lake.
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Ripleys Believe it or not Museum
19 San Marco Ave,
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL Phone - (904) 8241606
Enter a world where one-of-a-kind exhibits, fascinate, delight, and entertain the entire family. See the world’s largest moving erecter model. Open daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (till 10 p.m. summer).
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Adventure Island
10001 Malcolm McKinley Dr.,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 9875600
Adventure Island, right down the road from Busch Gardens. Don't miss the new thrills and spills of Key West Rapids, splash your way through more than 700 feet of twists and turns, water mines and a grand finale plunge into a refreshing pool.
Admission - varies, including combination tickets with Busch Gardens
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African Art Gallery and Museum
1711 W. Kennedy Blvd.,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 2722466
Authentic African artifacts and artwork of leading African and African-American artists are on display at the African Art Gallery and Museum.
Wednesday to Friday: 4:30 - 6:00 pm; Saturday: 11:00 to 6:00 pm
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Busch Gardens
3000 East Busch Blvd,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 9875082
The nation's fourth largest zoo, Bush Gardens is where you can see African animals roaming free and an exciting amusement park featuring its world-famous rides like Kumba and the new inverted roller-coaster, Montu.. Kids will enjoy the Land of the Dragons and the whole family will enjoy shows like Hollywood Live on Ice and Dolphins of the Deep.
Admission - varies, including combination tickets with Adventure Island.
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Lowry Park Zoo
7530 North Boulevard,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 9320245
Features rare Asian animals and a Florida wildlife section, shaped like the state itself. Marvel at manatees from a unique underwater perspective. The zoo's Aquatic Center is home to one of three critical care facilities in Florida for this endangered species.
Admission charged.
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Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
4801 E. Fowler Ave,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 9876100
Over 400 "hands on" displays and science exhibits, including the hurricane room where you can feel what it's like to be in an 80-mile-per-hour wind, the butterfly encounter, and three and a half miles of nature trails.
MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeast, has an IMAX Dome theater, where viewers thrill to magnificent scenery projected on an 85-foot-high domed screen.
Admission charged.
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The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Dr.,
TAMPA, FL Phone - (813) 2734020
Located in the Channelside area of Tampa, during your visit to The Florida Aquarium you can follow the path of a drop of water from the underground aquifer to the deep sea, see birds, plants and sea creatures of all descriptions in near-natural habitats
Admission charged.
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Heritage Museum
115 Westview Ave.,
VALPARAISO, FL Phone - (850) 6782615
Charting the settlement of Okaloosa and Walton counties from their earliest inhabitants, this museum marks the presence of American Indians as well as the area's European pioneers. It features artifacts and memorabilia from all time periods, including items related to the lumber and railroad industries and to fishing and agriculture. Along with these exhibits, there's a research library of historic maps and papers and a gift shop of local crafts. The museum also offers classes in basketry, tatting and quilting, among others.
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