8 Florida Experiences Even More Magical Than Disney
Despite this post’s title, I am not here to knock Disney. Disney is great in its own way, but if you’re like me, you may prefer exploring the magic of earth’s natural w0nders. Here’s a list of some of my favorite magical locations and experiences in Florida that are even better than Disney World. For more information, click the title to be directed to official websites.
Devil’s Den should be on everyone’s bucket list. Every time I think about it, I kick myself for not getting much footage from my visit. It was one of those instances where I got so caught up in enjoying myself that I forgot to document it! Devil’s Den is essentially a sink hole/cave filled with clear water, fish and even bats. It’s very reminiscent of Mexico’s cenotes. The way the light rays danced in the water was one of the most magical things I have ever seen. Snorkeling is by appointment only and full snorkel gear is required for entry and available to rent on site.
~ Fern Hammock
Fern Hammock was my very first ‘favorite place ever’ when I started visiting the springs a few years ago. The bridge is adorable and the area reminds me of an illustration from a page in fairytale. The water here is bright blue, with big sand boils, lots of turtles and fish. Just remember, there is no swimming here.
~ Rock Springs at Kelly Park
In my opinion, this is the most beautiful head spring. The rock formations and bright blue water could easily be mistaken as a tropical location. I suggest visiting Rock Springs early on a winter morning to enjoy the views unobstructed. Otherwise, this area fills up with kids carrying giant unicorn floats as this is the entrance to the lazy river. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about how to find the head spring. It is NOT located near the swimming area. You have to go to the right of that area and down a flight of stairs to get to the head spring.
~ The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Rainforest
What could be more magical than butterflies? Inside this 6,400-square-foot screened exhibit you will find an array of beautiful plants, birds, turtles, fish, waterfalls and hundreds of free-flying butterflies. What I love about the butterflies here is that they are not shy and will allow you to get close enough to get some great shots while they are feeding off of flowers, resting on leaves or eating from one of the butterfly feeding stations. Be sure to check the museum’s website and calendar for scheduled butterfly releases and cold weather closures.
~ Bioluminescent Waters
Yes, this photo is awful, but they all came out like this. 🤷🏻♀️ Did you know you can only see bioluminescence in six places in the entire world? This glowing phenomenon is created due to a chemical reaction that causes cone jellyfish and bioluminescent plankton to illuminate anytime the water is disrupted. The coolest part was seeing fish appear as blue lines darting underneath the water’s surface and sometimes jumping out! It’s so dark out there you can view the stars, Milky Way and planets.
~ Cedar Wood’s Lake and Gardens
This is my favorite botanical garden in Florida. The multi-level trails are lined with endless flowers, statues, bridges and waterfalls wrapping around this central pond. Complete with cats, swans and koi fish, Cedar Woods and Gardens has it all. It’s actually located right next to Devil’s Den if oyu wanted to make a day trip of it and walk around the garden and then cool off in the spring.
~ The Fairy Doors at Leu Gardens
Every fall Leu Gardens hosts their annual fairy door art display. Over 20 fairy doors are displayed throughout the garden. They are easy to locate as a map is provided with the locations of each door as well as the story of the fairy behind it. This was so fun to take Scarlett, (5), to. Just remember to look up, down and all around because some doors are in very clever spots.
~ Rainbow Caverns at Florida Caverns State Park
Most of this park was destroyed by recent hurricanes. Luckily, the caverns are still accessible by a guided tour. The underground cave system features many different rooms and lighting set-ups like the rainbow effect pictured above. It was really interesting to learn about the history behind the discovery and formation of the caverns. It’s not every day that we happen upon caves in Florida that aren’t accessible only by diving. Just make sure you arrive early to book your tour in person.