Here are a few road trip-worthy destinations, many of which are less than a couple hours away from Tampa. So, fill up the tank, grab some Cheetos, and press play on that playlist, it's road trippin' time.
Estimated time: 1 hour 52 minutes. If you grew up watching Gregory Peck portray Penny Baxter in The Yearling, you’ll want to visit the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House, the location where the source material was written many decades ago. Continue your literary journey by skimming your eyes over the filled up bookstore shelves around town and conclude your old-school day by browsing through the wide collection of antique shops.
Photo via floridastateparks.org
Salvador Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
Estimated time: 30 minutes Enter Salvador Dalí's trippy world at this exquisite museum in St. Petersburg. The museum currently houses the largest collection of Dalí's works outside of Europe. This intricate architectured museum also has a beautiful garden, maze, and a melting clock bench that is too good of a photo op to skip out on.
Photo via
Devil’s Den Underground Grotto
Estimated time: 2 hours Devil's Den, right outside of Gainesville, is one of Florida's oldest tourist traps. Take a deep breath and enter the cave that plays host to an underground spring, where you can snorkel, scuba dive, and paddle around the large vat of freshwater. Bring your waterproof camera gear if you dare.
Photo via Cathy Salustri
Dinosaur World
Estimated time: 25 minutes More than 150 life-size outdoor models of dinosaurs rule over a fossil dig, museum and lots of paleontological-themed activities. Dinosaur World is Central Florida’s only dedication to these beasts of the past, set in a lush Florida-centric foliage.
Photo via Dinosaur World/Facebook
Circle B Bar Reserve
Estimated time: 45 minutes This former cattle ranch in Lakeland has turned into a great place to view wildlife, especially Florida’s many bird populations at the 1,267-acre park. Here, you can find yourself wandering through several different ecosystems on a variety of hiking trails and bike paths that will give you an up-close look at Florida’s natural habitats.
Photo via Circle B Bar Reserve/Facebook
