Florida’s Most Underrated Tourist Destination May Surprise You

Florida’s most underrated tourist destination may be surprising to you. This comes from a website named StudyFinds, where they looked at the seven most underrated tourist destinations in the United States of America. The way they came up with the list is they consulted 11 travel and tourism sites to find underrated spots.

So, Florida's most underrated tourist destination is St. Augustine according to this list. To me, this is a little surprising. I have been there as a tourist and I know multiple people that have been as well. I do understand that there may be more appealing places in Florida like Orlando, Miami even right here in Tampa, than St. Augustine. There are more things to do in those bigger cities, but the history of Saint Augustine should make it a great tourist destination.

Here is what the website says about St. Augustine, "Many travelers choose other destinations around Florida such as Orlando and Miami, but St. Augustine’s rich history makes it a lovely destination for a peaceful, warm-weather getaway."

The study goes on to say that St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States dating back to 1565. Additionally, they say that when you visit you’ll love the Spanish architecture and that there are many things to see while you’re there. Including the Marble Bridge of Lions, the original Ripley's Believe It Or Not museum, and the old St. John’s County Jail.

I'm surprised to see bigger cities on this list like Buffalo and Cleveland.  There are things to do while you are there, but I just wouldn't consider them underrated.

Looking for some new experience to try this summer? There are many experiences here in Florida, but there are four that made the list of the best in the nation. The list comes from Tripadvisor, which put together the list of Best Overall Experiences in the United States. What's really cool about this list is that is Traveler's Choice Awards. There are a couple of the experiences on the list that are right here in the Tampa Bay area.

Here is what Tripadvisor says about the list, "We award Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best to experiences and attractions with a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from our community over a 12-month period. Each winner has passed our rigorous trust and safety standards. Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel."

Some of the experiences on the list range from going on a snowmobile adventure, to zip lining in Hawaii, to whitewater rafting. The #1 experience in the United States is a full-day tour that takes you all around Oahu in Hawaii. We know there are many adventures to have here in Florida. There are four Florida experiences that are some of the best in the nation. Check them out below.

Specifically, swimming with manatees in Crystal River, Florida. Crystal River is located about 80 miles north of Tampa on the Nature Coast. Swimming with manatees comes in #8 overall in the United States.

This experience comes in #13 on the list. Cocoa Beach is on the east coast of Florida and is located just south of the Kennedy Space Center. Tripadvisor says, "Paddle through mangrove tunnels in the lagoon making sure to keep your eyes peeled for manatees and dolphins that reside in the area."

Shell Key is located right here in the Tampa Bay area in Tierra Verde. This experience comes in at #14 on the list. Instead on riding in a regular kayak, you can ride in a clear one and get a different view of Tampa Bay.

This come sin at #17 on the list. This is an experience to put on your bucket list. You will be able to see dolphins, stingrays and possibly sharks on this experience.