Florida Hidden Gems Vol. 2: The Weird and Wonderful

RegionCentral & Gulf Florida

Best SeasonYear-round

Cheapest GemRainbow Springs ~$2 swim

Don't MissWeeki Wachee mermaids

Heads UpRainbow Springs needs a reservation

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This is the second round of Florida hidden gems — the strange, beautiful, real Florida hiding a couple hours off the theme-park highways. Five spots, free to luxury.

Five Gems, Four Ways

Free Tier #

Two of these cost you nothing but the drive.

✓ Cedar Key# — One of Florida's last true Gulf fishing villages — walk the waterfront and the sunset for free.
✓ Bok Tower Gardens Grounds # — A 205-ft pink-and-gray marble Singing Tower rising over one of peninsular Florida's highest hills.

Budget Tier #

A few dollars each — where the real magic hides.

✓ Rainbow Springs State Park # — A crystal 72°F spring with little waterfalls; swim the headsprings for about $2 per person. A day-use reservation is now required — book at reserve.floridastateparks.org.
✓ Weeki Wachee Springs State Park # — Live underwater mermaid shows since 1947; a state-park ticket gets you the show, a river-boat cruise, and (warm months) the water park.
✓ Bok Tower Gardens Carillon # — Inside the gardens, a 60-bell carillon plays real concerts rolling out over the treetops.

Mid-Range Tier #

Turn these spots into a full day out.

✓ Rainbow Springs Tubing # — Grab a tube and a tram upriver, then float the crystal spring run; about $10 to $11 per person including the tube and shuttle (seasonal).
✓ Weeki Wachee River Kayak # — Paddle the spring-fed river past turtles and, in cooler months, a real chance at a manatee.
✓ Coral Castle # — A castle of giant coral-rock gates and thrones one small man carved alone in the 1920s and never explained.
✓ Cedar Key Seafood# — Fresh clams and grouper right over the water as the sun goes down.

Luxury Tier #

Stay the night in a place most people only drive through.

✓ Cedar Key Waterfront Inns# — A little inn perched over the water — wake to marsh birds and zero traffic.
✓ Rainbow River Bed & Breakfast# — Springs-country lodging near Rainbow Springs and the Rainbow River, all at Old-Florida pace.