Ah yes. Weeki Wachee Springs, the quintessential Florida roadside attraction. This has Florida written all over it; kitschy, tacky, delightfully weird.

Welcome to DINOSAUR WORLD. Home of over 200 life size dinosaur sculptures. Paths meander throughout the grounds, sidled by low vegetation, palm trees, tall pines, and dinosaurs.

Opened in 1982, Lettuce Lake quickly became an important and diverse center for outdoor budget activities. Just $2 for a vehicle to get in, includes boardwalks over a hardwood swamp forest, wooded picnic areas, playground, a hiking trail, fitness course, and more.

The Glazer Children’s Museum boasts 170 hands-on exhibits for the kiddies, a downtown Tampa location next to other attractions, and a free admission night to boot.

Like most men, I’ve always dreamed about embarking on an African Safari. Following native guides down footpaths, stooping low in tall grass, overlooking large and dangerous animals feeding on the plain.

I found the unmarked entrance off of 52 after doubling back. It was marked only by a sign that said: “R/C Flying Field—Home of Bay City Flyers.” I pulled in and was greeted by a closed gate, luckily, there were parking spots to the left.

So Max did his usual thing and fell asleep the moment we pulled into the parking lot, and since he didn’t sleep that well the night before on the campgrounds, we decided to let him get his nap; which, of course, left us in a little conundrum.

The Sunken Gardens is a botanical treasure hidden among the bustling city of St. Petersburg. Its history stretches back 100 years to a simple plumber who dreamed of owning his own garden.

One of my favorite animals in the whole world is the penguin; so I was undeniably thrilled when I had the opportunity to visit Sea World’s new attraction Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin and explore their interpretation of the “bottom of the world.”

Welcome to The Florida Aquarium, a 250,000-square-foot water wonderland located in Tampa’s Channelside District. It is chock full of aquatic plants and animals, fun exhibits, and even has a 2 acre splash-pad just for kids. So don’t forget the swimming suits!

Every winter, manatees congregate in the Big Bend Power Station’s discharge canal for its warm water temperatures. To burgeon people’s interest, Tampa Electric built the Manatee Viewing Center, a series of boardwalks and piers overlooking the gathering manatees, and it is all FREE.

Given Florida’s warm year-round weather and great jumping conditions, it’s only natural that skydiving would reign supreme. Add this adrenaline rush to your next Florida trip and I guarantee it’ll be a trip you’ll always remember.