40 Best Stops Between Williamsburg and Sarasota (2024)

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100% recommend coming to this art museum! It is FREE and only costs $6 to park. What I like most about this museum is that there is an exhibit for everyone! Everything from Egyptian tombs to traditional paintings to contemporary art and even stunning jewelry and furniture. There is EVERYTHING here! I visited in January and had a fantastic time. I would recommend this place to anyone and plan to bring friends back. This is 100% the best art museum I’ve ever been to. I think it’s even better than the one in D.C. (way less crowded too). There are also tons of clean restrooms and a nice gift shop. You could easily spend 5+ hours here - it’s a spectacular museum.(10th time trying to post this review 🙄)

Amazing museum! Very family friendly and it has a surprising amount of art(50k pieces!). We spent a few hours there and still didn't see all of the art. Admission is free, but I would have paid to visit this place. There are Faberge eggs there! Definitely a must visit if you're in Richmond!

I've been going to the VMFA for 35 years and watching it grow has been kind of incredible. While it has had over the years some interesting and not so interesting shows that cost money to see, it's their permanent collections that really impress. We went on a recent Saturday and it was not crowded at all. We spent 2 hours looking and only got through the second floor in that time. The VMFA has a very varied collection, fine art of all periods, ancient antiquities, an elaborate silver collection, Faberge eggs and frames, Asian and African art, furniture, jewelry and all types of Tiffany pieces and art glass. You are allowed to photograph but no flash. It was free to get in but you need tickets to see some temporary exhibits that are visiting. This is the only place it seems lacking, most of these shows are of limited interest and not anywhere near as impressive as their permanent items. We had no problem with any staff. It would be nice if people visiting a museum knew had to act in public though. Talking loud, laughing, carrying on like they were at a mall and not a museum. Still the place is big enough that you can make the effort to avoid those people. The area around the museum is also very beautiful.

Museum has something for everyone. Great way to spend a day in downtown Richmond. The Faberge section was my favorite but also enjoyed the Egyptian items. Fiance is more into art and to see Picasso and Renoit in person is amazing. Gift shop has a lot of age different items to choose from, and Cafe for the munchies so you don't have to leave too soon. Plan to spend about 3 hours if you really want to appreciate it all. Cameras are allowed just without flash. Museum is free but tickets are needed for additional area such as the Samurai armor.

Great place to attend. New art. I love art. Art is part of me. If it's part of you, then visit this place. You won't regret it. I promise.

Impressive museum with collections from various cultures/time periods including Ancient Greek/Roman, African, American, Native American, European, and East/South Asian. However, what made this museum a little more special for me was the Art Deco/Nouveau section which is rarely part of the main galleries of the art museums.General admission is FREE which is great as you can really take your time and see part of the museum and then come back at another time to see the rest.In addition to the permanent collections they also do have ongoing exhibitions (some of them requires you to buy tickets).Sculpture garden is nice to take a break and enjoy a cup of coffee or have a bite at a nice day.Inside the museum masks are optional.Free street parking nearby or $6 museum parking.Overall an excellent experience - thanks everyone contributing the smooth operation of this museum, your work is really appreciated!

I am New to Richmond. I just moved here from New York. The Virginia museum of fine arts was my first outing as a resident. It was amazing. There is no way to cover it all in one day or even two! There is so much to see. It has so much to offer! I will be going back!

This is a beautiful contemporary art museum. It felt very calming and peaceful as we walked through the galleries. Beautiful artwork and furniture collections from different time periods. Would love to visit again!

This is one of my favorite museums (and I grew up going to the Smithsonian Museums all the time)! I always visit the Faberge exhibit, it is exquisite! The museum also allows and encourages photography, so have fun taking photos!There is also a nice restaurant and cafe if you need food or a pick-me up. And there's plenty of seating in the cafe, but also outside. The grounds of the museum are also worth visiting on their own. There were plenty of people lounging in the grass, working on their laptops in the shade, etc... It looks like the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Richmond.

So much more exciting than I expected! Lots of exhibits, many of which we didn’t get to. Free admission besides the specialty display downstairs. Fine art displays feature world renowned artists and their works. There’s a wide array of sculptures, artifacts, and paintings.

The VMFA is very nice museum , it takes about 3 hours to just look around. Found several my favorite artists artwork. They are amazing! The food there was also great!

Great place to come for some art! Beautiful old building to walk around in and explore all the wings with different types of art. Plus they usually have a special exhibit going on which is always worth checking out. Nice little cafe with some good coffee, various drinks and snacks to eat. The outside patio, garden and fountains on the grounds are great to sit around and relax in. They have a jazz night and various events that bring in the crowds which is a good time if you are looking for something to do. And as you can see from the pictures sometimes you can catch a majestic sunset here.

Highly recommend this art museum. To start off, it’s FREE, all I had to pay for was parking which was $5. Definitely worth it. They have such a wide variety of different types of art from all over the world and different time periods. My favorite piece of art was the Fabergé eggs. Really cool to see the different jewels they used to make them.

I love the VMFA. With over 500,000 square feet of exhibition space on a thirteen acre campus, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has so much to offer. Whether your interest is ancient Egyptian art, Cubist paintings or Russian jewelry, this museum has something for everyone.There’s a cafe on the main level with outdoor seating that looks out over a reflection pond and the beautifully landscaped sculpture garden.The museum gift shop is large and full of all sorts of great artsy things.This is easily one of the best museums in the country. And it’s free!There is a parking garage, which does have a fee, but it’s possible to find free on street parking, as long as you don’t mind walking a block or two.I highly recommend a visit to this museum.

VMA is truly a gem of a museum. It has a top notch diverse collection that is wonderfully spaced out. You can leisurely view all the galleries without feeling overwhelmed or over saturated. The grounds and the outdoor sculptures are equally impressive. This is a must-see if you’re in Richmond.

Beautiful collection with so many unique highlights - the furniture, Fabergé eggs, Tiffany lamps, just to name a few. The sculpture gardens out back are the perfect place to enjoy a coffee or read a book. And admission is free (some special exhibits are ticketed)!

I am giving one star with a heavy heart. I was visiting family and we were all so excited to come visit the museum. Upon arriving we saw beautiful pieces of work. It was going great. About 10 minutes into our visit we were approached by a museum employee who told us to put our diaper bag on facing forward, they explained it was to keep the works safe from being knocked over. That made sense and we obliged. No problem. However, it would have been helpful if we would’ve been greeted at the front and given that information. But no harm. We carried on (diaper bag facing forward) through the galleries. We entered a long hallway area with paintings hung on either side. My niece (who is 1) was wriggling in my brothers arms. Since we were in a space with nothing that could be knocked over - He set her down and off she went, keep in mind she’s 1…so her run is the equivalent of a quick walk. We were on one side of the gallery and from the other side of the hall we heard booming yelling. It was so loud that it echoed and it was hard to hear what was being shouted. My sister in law took a few steps forward and a man appeared, she said to him “I’m sorry, what was that?”. Again, he yelled “NO RUNNING IN THE GALLERY”. We were too stunned to speak - he was so clearly absolutely furious. My brother scooped up my niece - at this point we were terrified to make another wrong move. It was SO deflating. We left shortly after this encounter because we felt totally unwelcome. I’m not arguing that the gallery should be treated like a race track - what I do think is that there was a more kind way to communicate with us. There were some amazing pieces but the staff at the Museum was incredibly rude and we left very disappointed. I have a fine arts degree, I’ve worked and shown work in galleries. I understand there’s certain etiquette - but I also understand how to communicate with kindness and grace. I hope that the staff, and specifically that employee learn and do better.

We went for it first visit and were excited to see works from Matisse, John Singer Sargent. It was wheelchair friendly, high quality art work from a high caliber art museum. It highlighted different artists from the Cubist, Impressionist and The Gilded Age. We will be back, we couldn't complete the museum in one visit. The visit is free, so don't worry about buying tickets. There is a cafe and coat check.

First time visit we had a great time so much to see we're going to have to go back a couple more times for sure. There was art from all up and down the timeline and all over the world I found it very fascinating My teenagers also enjoyed it and that says a lot.

Beautiful, stunning, charming, peaceful, relaxing are just a few of the words that come to mind. Great for the family, great for dates, great just to get away. Kid friendly, wheelchair accessible, clean, well kept. If you are in the area go visit. Did I mention that it is free.

Excellent place to spend quality time with family or significant others. There’s always a cultural event or exposition going on. On weekends they have an event called “Family Day” where you can bring kids to do paintings and other activities. They even give them a “passport” where you can have a stamp for each activity that they completed. And the best part: it’s free, you don’t have to pay. It worth a visit!

My favorite sections were the India artifacts and information and the Russian artifacts (the eggs!!) What an awesome museum. Fantastic art pieces throughout as well... I would definitely go back!Only downside was that I felt American and French items were just paintings (tons of horses and abstract) or furniture while other cultures/countries had amazing artifacts, jewelry and paintings.

What a beautiful experience!!! The art exhibits were well placed and easy to navigate. The museum environment in was well balanced, not crowded in any areas. I even had lunch in the Cafe. I've never had a bad meal in this place. The food is always so exquisite, fresh, and innovative. The staff was friendly & very attentive to my needs and they really go above and beyond to ensure you enjoyed your meal. I can't wait to go back.

The Faberge collection here was phenomenal! I have visited the Armoury Museum in Moscow which contains some Faberge objects which belong to the Russian Government as well as the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg, and I can easily say this was the best collection of Faberge I have ever seen. Not only did they have 5 of the famous Faberge Easter eggs, they had numerous large pieces of Faberge silver as well as many hard stone pieces including numerous carved animals and flowers. All were beautifully displayed and lit and easy to view in uncrowded spaces. They also had a beautiful Impressionist painting collection. And all for FREE! Highly recommend!

This was our first time visiting the museum. My daughter loved that some of it was interactive. She took time to sketch her favorite piece. We found street parking and didn't enter through the main entrance. They don't allow you to wear backpacks on your back you have to hang it off the shoulder or wear it the front way.

I’m such a fan of the VMFA. I have a fond memory of seeing an impressionist exhibit as a high school student here, and it was the first time I realized I enjoyed art. I’m always impressed with the exhibits they manage to secure, and I never leave feeling disappointed. I would recommend getting the membership - it’s just not that expensive and if you see a few exhibits and use their parking garage, the membership easily pays for itself. I went to see an exhibit there last year and was lucky enough to stumble across a fashion show! Loved the energy and the artistry. Check their upcoming events - I feel like they’re always adding something new to the calendar.I wish I had more photos to add…I need to dig some up! It’s a beautiful building and they transform the space to enhance each exhibit.

The VMFA had incredible collections from a variety of artists, periods and movements. Typically I have gone on week days and have never seen it very crowded at all. The museum itself is very beautiful and I would recommend taking some time to spend in the outdoor sculpture garden. Many amazing things to see.

1st time there with my son's school. It was very interesting. Only took a few pictures as we were busy looking at so much. Definitely going back to see the samurai exhibit!

4.8

(8599)

5.0

(3140)

200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

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Beautiful piece of history. I visited the mansion with family based on a recommendation and I enjoyed my visit. The house itself is very dark and moody, but in a very historical way. Definitely recommend making a visit! Especially to see the beautiful Tiffany glass, it’s the highlight of the home.

The staff were genuinely lovely and happy to chat, the grounds were wide-ranging, extensive and easy to get lost in and the house itself was both interesting and well-explained by the audio guide which very, very delicately tried to thread the needle between telling you the history of the house and exquisitely dancing around some of the details of the history of the house, but that's kind of par for the course in this sort of place. Definitely worth visiting if you should happen to be in or around Richmond and looking for a bit of a wander in the open.Just don't trust the guidebook map, because I swear that thing was laughing at me every time I got turned around. ^_^

Maymont is just beautiful- we went in April and everything was in bloom. The grounds are extensive, so plan on a lot of walking as well as taking some steep steps to reach the lower river area which is a perfect picnic spot. Great place for kids too as they’ll enjoy seeing the animals and having numerous fields to explore. Can’t wait to go back!

This is a 100 acre estate run by the Maymont Foundation and greatly supported by visitor donations. This is a grand historical estate with plenty of activities to do. You will burn calories just from walking around this rocky hillside park. The park is open to the public, but suggests a $5 donation upon entry. There are other charged options like the Mansion Tour. The grounds are well maintained and family friendly. Picnics are strongly encouraged. There is an Italian garden, a Japanese garden, an aviary, a petting farm, the Mayont Mansion (which was closed for the season)and a learning center (which was closed for the season). I missed season opening by a few days. At this time, a few flowers like daffodils are blooming. None of the fountains are up and running when i visited. I am sure this park is amazing more into spring. You can easily spend a whole day here. Well worth the stop.

I wish the ponds were clean and at least the ponds have water in the Japanese garden and Italian garden. It was cool to see wildlife freely roaming. Also no bathrooms or benches near the Japanese gardens. Both the waterfall and cascade had no water which was a missed opportunity.

It was beautiful!! It's not very handicap friendly, but I tried to take on the garden. *The garden won. 🤫 I let the girls go. They really enjoyed the beauty of the place. Got a few pictures. It was super nice and cool in the shade. The model was very professional and vibrant!! Our model is wearing a flowing dress and her favorite shoes. I definitely suggest wearing sneakers... and an oxygen tank. A really nice guy in a golf cart gave me a ride back to the entrance because I'm old and fat. I DIDN'T DIE!! I did a lot of praying to make it back to my car. Here's some pictures and my breathtaking model!! Enjoy! I know this review is late because we went on a Saturday. I need time and life-support to recover. They had live music, but that didn't start until 6 pm, and we live in Norfolk!! I'm not driving at night! Trees, sasquatch, and probably aliens come out at night!! Don't act like trees are innocent!! I'll end my rant here. 10 out of 10 will let my husband take the kids back. If I have to go, I'm waiting in the car or near the entrance. GO WILD!

I had a great time visiting Maymont! I recommend doing the audio tour, because the information provided really enhances the experience of walking through the mansion and gardens.The Italian and Japanese gardens are also worth checking out! FYI, there will be a lot of walking down stairs and down hill to get to the Japanese garden, so plan accordingly if you're still recovering from leg day.

Great place to take your kids after school during the week. Great walking views even if you don't interact with animals. Also, a great place for a date. We enjoy Glow Garden in the fall season the best.

This was a beautiful park that is free and open to the public. Certain things do cost money on a per diem basis but to explore the park, walk through the various gardens, listen to music, or participate in the activities hosted by the park are all free. The park is quite large so make sure you bring comfortable clothes, shoes, and water. There were several ideal places for an intimate or small family picnic too. Parking was free where we were, but limited so street parking may be needed. I did not see anyone on bikes or scooters so I am not sure if these things are prohibited or not.

This is one of my favorite parks in the country and I've traveled a lot. I really love this place, I cannot stress this enough. There are tons of terrain options if you like a moderate workout.Wildlife is abundant and easy to observe, most of them will not run away from you in my experience. The park is very large and is a good hangout or picnic spot. Entry is free with a suggested entry price of $5 at the gate. Please donate to keep this park looking great 👍

We spent about $32.00 to walk through the living creature center and the mansion. ($8.00 per adult )… I would totally recommend the mansion was a good hour and half of our time…. The park is so huge and beautiful we petted at the petting zoo. Will return to see all we missed last adventure.

This is easily a must see spot when in Richmond. It’s kid friendly, family friendly, a great place for date and even for book reading! If I went to vcu this would easily be my study place. So much to see and explore here. The farm land is so great for kiddos, they get to feed the furry animals. The Japanese garden is a must see too, with ponds and lily pads and beautiful foliage. If you want to see vibrant flowers head to the Italian garden. There is so much photo ops here! The ultimate plus is this place is free.

The Maymont Garden Glow is beautiful! The lights along the trails are just gorgeous. Food trucks, hot chocolate, and fire pit areas are so good and cozy. Cute things for kids to do and the carriage house was open to view various types of carriages from throughout history.

This is such a lovely place to go. It was so peaceful to walk thru the different gardens. The house wasn't open, as you have to schedule a tour. But it was still very nice and a lot to see for free.

I love this place, I usually go with my grandson he gets to run and climb the trees like we see others doing. There's animals, the Japanese, and Italian gardens to wonder thru, then we find our favorite tree and spread out a blanket, and enjoy a picnic while listening to some music. This will be our forever place to visit. Donations are accepted.

Always a favorite. Walks(exercise) sight seeing, animal sights. If you are craving the zoo, come here, the take donations but it's free. You do have to pay for the indoor aquarium but it's worth it to me. Feed the animals in the children's farm or just walk around and spot the animals along the trails. Fun fr everyone. Sometimes they have vendors here.

4.8

(7614)

4.5

(2101)

1700 Hampton St, Richmond, VA 23220, USA

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I Absolutely Love This State Park! Well Maintained and Clean. The Staff are Amazing... Friendly and Happy to Talk about the History of the Fort. The Fort is a Must See and the Beach is So Beautiful. Can't wait to come back when i have more time and walk the long trail. Definitely a must see if you are in the area!

Went to this park for the first time recently and it is a great park. There are some amazing beaches with nice easy access as well as the first itself. There are also many campsites for both campers and tents however I didn’t camp overnight so couldn’t speak to the overnight accommodations. As for the fort, it’s definitely worth checking out. I’ve been to several historic forts in Florida and this was definitely my favorite. It’s very in tact compared to what I expected after seeing others.

Absolutely love camping here when we can get a spot. It doesn’t matter if you are in the river campground or the beach campground, they are both very close to the beach. Only electric and water at each campsite but the dump station is easily accessible and is not next to any RV sites.Very clean restrooms that are cleaned daily with bleach. Good ventilation so the floors dry. Campground hosts available for any issues.

I love this place so much. The wooded, moss-covered drive to the fort is breathtaking, and the fort itself is absolutely gorgeous and so well-kept! The history is fascinating, and the views are amazing. Kids and adults alike will enjoy Fort Clinch!

If you were a fan of history this is a must visit. Usually the line of cars waiting to get in are heading to the beach and not to the fort. So you can have a great day out with the family at an attraction like this without the crowds. And then when you’re done it’s a short walk over to the beach. Facilities are limited bring your own picnic lunch and water

This state park is gorgeous. The beach is gorgeous, pristine, and has TONS of shells. The fort is amazing to explore and walk through, and their prices are extremely reasonable. We spent hours here and enjoyed all of it. The fort can take hours to explore, and we spent hours walking the beach and collecting shells. I would visit again in a heartbeat and hope to the next time we make a trip down this way. The restrooms were nice and clean, and the gift shop had great prices. I absolutely loved the fort and being able to walk around in it freely. There are some areas not allowed to be explored, but most of it is, and it's so worth the stop. We stopped as it was the first beach in Florida on our way down, and our daughter wanted to see the ocean for the first time. I'm so glad we made the choice to stop here.

We absolutely loved our experience here. We really enjoyed getting to explore the Fort inside and out. The Fort had some really neat brickwork and architecture. There were SO many great photo opportunities! We hunted for shark teeth on the beach by the fort but we didnt find any. We took the smaller nature trail (Willow Trail) and it was very nice and and easy walk. The Egan's look out was nice as well. It's a beautiful 3 mile drive from the gate to the fort. We highly recommend the Fort and park in general for an inexpensive nice day of exploring! It costs $6 to enter the park and $2.50 per person for the Fort. Well worth it!!!

The drive in is absolutely gorgeous, canopied oaks with deer peeking out. The fort itself is a very cool piece of history. Standing beside some of those gun batteries does not make you envious of an assaulting force. Multiple jetties to fish and a ton of coastline battered with shells by the raging Atlantic. The hiking and biking trails are well cut and easy to share, I was on foot this trip. Not far from here you can drive on the beach, in a much more relaxed environment than Daytona ever is. Really. Great facilities, as most of Florida’s State Parks do. Will definitely be a return trip someday!

One awesome experience. Probably my favorite of the 3 forts we have here in NE Florida. It's not only larger then both Castillo in St Augustine and Matanzas, but also located at a beach which you have access to. The barracks are in great conditions and the staff are dressed for the period, and are very knowledgeable. Great views from the Fort and cannons. You can see the FL/GA line too as GA is on the other side of the water. Its really affordable too, at around 2.50 entry per person plus the park charges $5 per vehicle to enter the park. Check the hours as the park stays open later than Fort.

This state park is a wonderful and vast state park that everyone should be sure to visit. It is a long beautiful drive in with smaller access roads breaking from man road leading to campsites and trail heads. At the end of the road there is Fort Clinch. The fort is well maintained with nice bathrooms in the front, a small gift shop where souvenirs or camping needs can be purchased. The fort is an additional charge to visit.

Very easy access and an informative self guided tour. The grounds are immaculately taken care of. The gift shop has a well stocked selection of very affordable items. This is a must visit location when visiting Amelia Island.

This fort was built strong and proud. Those who served here had amenities and thoughtful fort design to live a pretty nice life. Absolutely worth visiting. The drive into the fort was beautiful. Great lighthouse nearby.

I love this park! So much to do! Nature trails, the fort, the beach etc The scenery is so beautiful and we even saw some deer the other evening while headed to the East access beach! Great for finding seashells! One of the best spots for shells I've found yet! Found 2 sand dollars and a bunch of conchs!!

One of the best fort museums I have been to. It's 6 bucks to get a car into the park and another $2.50 per person for the fort. The museum is small but informative. What makes this fort so great is pretty much everything is open to the public. Some rooms were blocked off but you could climb the bastions or walk the walls. Barracks spaces and office spaces were open, too. The view is also spectacular. And once you are done, you are just minutes from a beach to hang out on.

We stayed beachside in spot #9. This park is absolutely beautiful. Deer, tortoises, birds, and amazing sunsets. Park was very well kept with clean facilities throughout. Super impressed!

I am a giant history buff and I usually love places like this but it's a big NO for me. DEFINITELY HAUNTED. 💯 my husband and I were so uncomfortable by the paranormal feelings we were experiencing we had to leave. As we were leaving I did some research and apparently it's one of the most well known haunted places in the area (not advertised that way!!) We had our boys with us ages 2 and 6 and it was absolutely NOT SAFE for them.

My family absolutely loves Fort Clinch.I wouldn’t recommend going in the summer because it’s insanely hot but if you can go in the fall it’s an amazing day trip! You can walk around the beach, there’s a small kids park and there are so many different nooks and crannies to discover in the fort. And if you’re there on a reenactment day it’s so exciting. We also started the junior ranger program for our kids on this trip and they were able to obtain Fort Clinch patches.

Great state park to go camp at. Though if you go during the summer, I recommend camping in the River loop because there is hardly any shade on the beach loop, though being a telescope if you are by the beach, some good night star viewing. The fort itself is also very worth the visit to learn about weapons and history of fort life, they also do a number of reenactments every month so check the calender, they'll demonstrate firing of the weapons including a cannon. Also take some time to bike or walk the nature trails and beaches, as they provide a chance for some solitude and reflection

This park is gorgeous! From towering dunes to ancient oak trees to a historical fort, it is an incredibly diverse location with rich natural resources and broad appeal. As a birder, I was excited to have a variety of preserved habitats. The marshy overlook had great shorebirds and the extensive hardwood canopy was a sure bet for warblers and other passerines. The shoreline was great for seabirds, shorebirds and sharks’ teeth. There is a narrow multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians that runs through the park. During our visit, we only used small stretches of the path to access some of the views, but it looked amazing. The only negative is that this place gets packed, and during peak times, closes to new visitors to limit capacity. There seems to be a lot of zippy traffic on the road and I could never figure out why people are in such a hurry when there is so much beauty even on the main road. If you’re in the area and are a nature lover, this should definitely be on your list!

This was our first time to visit this place. The entrance was very cheap to go in and the site was very interesting. Most areas of the fort can be accessed by the public. They keep on restoring the original site and I can't wait to go back and see you when it's fully done. I think 42 adults and 2 children it costs us about 20 to $25. I recommend checking this place out because it's a good part of American history. There are restrooms at the visitors center only.

Sublime and relaxing. Canopy of trees with Spanish Moss and Palmetto everywhere. Facilities include bright and clean bathrooms with shower stalls, washers and dryers ($2 per load) The fort is a major draw and the river has sandy beach along its shoreline. Plenty of hiking trails. A bike is a good have as the place is huge.

It's a very nice park with several RV camping area and ALOT of shoreline to walk through. There's also Ft Clinch, which is still standing and in fairly good shape. The beach areas were very nice. There's a small gift shop that is surprisingly well stocked. My wife and I enjoyed our visit there!

Wonderful time visiting this fort with our family. Highly recommend this historical site for a visit as the views overlooking the ocean is amazing. Lots of artifacts and history to see and learn.

My husband and I, always eager for a daytime adventure, found ourselves drawn to Fort Clinch State Park during our stay in Amelia Island. We had driven past it a few times and curiosity got the better of us - a decision we’re now incredibly grateful for. The park not only offered excellent campgrounds but also revealed itself to be a historic gem.Upon entering, we were immediately struck by how well-preserved the fort is. It’s like stepping into a different era. The museum-like demonstrations are exceptionally well done. We explored the sleeping quarters, kitchens, latrines, jailhouse, storage areas, and even a store and steelworks. Also several real life artillery and cannons were on display. Each section was an insightful glimpse into the past, making it easy to imagine life during those times. The attention to detail in these demonstrations was remarkable, offering a vivid and educational experience.The most captivating aspect of Fort Clinch is how it immerses you in history. It’s not just about seeing; it’s about feeling the past around you. We spent hours wandering through the grounds, absorbing every detail, and left with a newfound appreciation for the history of the area.Our visit to Fort Clinch has inspired us to plan a camping trip there on our next visit to Amelia Island. The thought of spending a night under the stars, surrounded by such rich history, is thrilling. We highly recommend Fort Clinch to anyone visiting Amelia Island, whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or just looking for a unique way to spend your day. It’s a must-visit destination that offers a perfect blend of education, nature, and adventure.

The park was great to ride our bicycles around. We also went to thevactual Fort at this state park. They had bicycle racks there too. My husband said this was the best fort that made him feel like you could be right there with the soldiers. Very well maintained! Canons overlooking the water. Bunk house with gun rack at the end of the beds for soldiers to put their weapons. Kitchen was set up with huge pots, cooking utensils of the day. Well worth the price of admission!

Must see while visiting Fernandina Beach. Spectacular and amazing site to see. Very well kept and clean! The park entrance fee is $6 per car and the Fort Clinch entrance fee is $2.50 per person. Very much worth the cost. You are able to access most of the buildings on the fort. I was surprised how open and accessible it was.

This was a nice sized fort. It had a lot of cool buildings with what felt like secret passageways. Lots to explore here. If you are on Amelia Island, it's a great place to check out.

4.8

(4793)

4.5

(3653)

2601 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, USA

+29 other lists

After seeing many zoos and rescues while visiting Florida, I will have to say Catty Shack was one of the most refreshing and caring. Staff was funny and the big cats seemed to just love them! The big cats seemed to love and want the attention of staff, and the new enclosures they’re adding speak to their love for the cats at their facility. I went to the midday enrichment tour and loved it!

We loved this place. The only reason that I'm giving it four stars is because the hours that they are open are the absolute hottest times of the day. So it felt like we were unable to see most of the animals as they were all hiding underneath their enclosures to stay cool. That was extremely disappointing. The staff was kind though. If you have any opportunity, I would go during the winter months so that way you have the opportunity to see the animals out and about.

Okay so the first thing you should know is that the park is smack dab in the middle of a low-key cute residential area which totally threw us off. When we pulled up we were expecting a backyard zoo because of the location, but man were we were wrong. They said they have 200 acres or developing, right now I'd say it's probably more like 8 acres that they actually have built up. You can tell that they are trying their best to give the tigers a nice life with waterfalls, swimming pools, toys, cabins. There's a lot more than just tigers here, they've got a very cute black bear, a black leopard, and some other small cats. Including their resident kitty cat that roams fearlessly. We went for the feeding experience and it was absolutely worth it. We got so many amazing pictures, and got to see so many beautiful big cats. This is an absolutely excellent place to come with the whole family regardless of age. Don't forget to buy some T-shirts at the gift shop, or a stuffed animal for the kids because that small places like this, every dollar counts towards keeping it running. We're excited to come back in a couple of years and see all of the progress that they have made. (We live very far away)

Such a fun place to visit! Highly recommend coming for the night feedings. Not only were the animals more active but you also get to speak with volunteers/employees and learn so much more than usual. The shack also has 3 cute house kitties running around that are so sweet too - definitely pet if you see them! Very cool preserve and will be coming back to support in the future.

What a great place! The wonderful staff & volunteers are very knowledgeable, and take lots of time to talk to you. The big cats are very well taken care of and their habitats are clean.Thank you guys for all you for the critters, looking forward to my return visit. I wish I lived closer so I could volunteer and help you guys!

Such a great local hidden gem! If you're looking for a great way to support animals this place is a must see! Beautiful rescued tigers and other big cats. They're a volunteer based organization and working hard to provide these gorgeous creatures with new comfortable habitats to enjoy! A must see !

We took our family here as a birthday present to one of our girls. It is worth visiting at least once. Free mosquito spray available. If it has been raining bring footwear for mud and water. I am not sure the night feeding is worth the extra money to all but we were entertained. Think of it as a donation for a good cause. It took us about an hour to walk around and see everything before feeding time.

Catty shack was BEYOND AMAZING!!!! Not as huge as a zoo but well thought out and a lot of information that definitely makes it worth while! Very clean and well kept! Staff are very knowledgeable, and definitely love their job!!!! Best time to go is when it’s feeding time because let me tell ya hearing a lion eat is amazing! So majestic wouldn’t want to be the food but just amazing to see them! Highly recommend you stopping by and checking them out! Huge thank you to the staff that made me kids day!!!!

This was an awesome experience! It's better than a zoo. They have beautiful cats,a bear,foxes.,many more..a must visit! Well taken care of animals and beautiful property. The show,feeding the animals was amazing to watch..The caretakers,and owners were nice,friendly and very hands on. If you get a chance,visit...great place..and donate to them..they take very good care of the animals, some were abandoned, displaced..

This place was amazing. I was a little hesitant when we pulled up, it doesn't look like it would be very much from the outside. But they have a lot of big cats it nice enclosures. Things are easy to see (if the cats aren't inside napping) and the people are amazing. The volunteers take time to talk to you about the animals and how they came there. You can tell everyone really loves what they do. Definitely a place to go.

Went for their 7 PM feeding tonight. All the staff were great and the guy performing the feeding (I'm assuming he was the owner) was very informative and you could tell he loves what he does.The cats were awesome and it was great seeing them get all excited when it was feeding time.Overall I'd recommend checking them out. Great place to take the kids.

We went to the evening feeding of the animals and it was extremely cool! We loved learning about all the residents and all the love and care they get while living in their new home. You can definitely tell that they are well cared for and loved! I enjoy taking my toddler to help not only learn about nature but gives her a chance to run around outside as well!

I brought my family from out of state and we all had the best time. The volunteers are so knowledgeable and friendly and love to help and answer questions. The cats are so well cared for, that you can see for yourself they are happy and content. They don't just hide and sleep like at the zoos. We will come back for sure.

I have lived in Nassau County and Duval County my entire life and have failed to make it here until yesterday. It was a wonderful experience and I will certainly be back. We did the enrichment tour which was really fun as the cats got really excited about the boxes of chicken and were super active. The volunteers were really amazing and told us all about the cats and their personalities/ why the cats are at catty shack. It was a great time.

Amazing place!! Get to be very up close to all the animals and see the workers interact with them. I've only been once but I got to see one of the workers pet the tigers and lions. The tigers were very active and got to hear them roar! They also have accommodation sunscreen and bug spray. Not a lot of walking, when I went it was very muddy but it has recently rained so I'm not too sure how it would be for wheelchairs.

I really don't know why some people have given this sanctuary such low stars, this is a sanctuary not a zoo it isnt for entertainment! And do you think the places they got these animals from where better ...well that's a NO and we should be helpful that these animals have found a forever home :)The habitats are clean and well kept they are even adding waterfalls/pools to them !The staff/volunteers were so friendly and so informative !Please check out their Amazon wish list to help with items they need. They are a 501c and dont reveive government help !

Go on a cooler day and more animals will be out.We had a great time seeing some exotic animals and walking around the grounds.The people working are knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions.Complimentary bug spray and sunscreen at the front.Info on adopting or sponsoring an animal also at the front.

First time here and loved it! The staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable. They have ongoing construction as they are expanding. Also plan to build sticks and bricks to replace some structures that are trailers. Lots of kids. Reasonable price and worth the experience!

This is hands down the coolest place to go. The knowledge that the staff has and the care that you can see that they have for the animals is unreal. I got to see an afternoon snack for the lions which was so cool. I also got to hear the lions roar which was seriously the most amazing things to hear ever. 20/10 recommend this place to go.

These cats were well taken care of and they had a relationship with the volunteers they were interacting with. You could hear them chuffing & vocalizing with staff & they got excited when they saw them coming. It was educational and they were building even larger enclosures when we visited. The kids loved it! (Except when the lynx tried to back that thang up to spray my teenaged son for taking pictures too close...which made him drop his phone over the restricted fence line 🤣🤣🤣)

We love this place. First time here. We enjoyed the animals. They are well taken care of. Can't wait to come back next year and see the new homes for them. Very nice place to visit. There is a gentleman there,don't know his name, but he was really nice and informative.

It's a really cool place! A non profit big cat sanctuary that is a must go if you're in the Jacksonville area. They do great work for these endangered animals and the kids will love it too!

4.8

(2681)

5.0

(1615)

1860 Starratt Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32226, USA

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4.5

(1002)

Florida, USA

+49 other lists

Tickets were $30 a person for general admission, and we bought ours in advance the night before. Had an absolutely amazing time and spent roughly 5 hours exploring. Got rained out once and it only added to the adventure. Everything here is so well organized and beautifully designed.

Exceptional zoo to visit, where from Michigan and me and my daughter went in 2022 in April and you definitely get the full activity out of the animals then, Took the wife and kids this year in July and the heat sure takes a toll, animals hide the heat wave but one of the best Zoo's I've been too. Prepare to spend around 5 hrs there to enjoy it all.

1000/10! The tickets that you purchase automatically include animal feedings which is incredible. Every single staff member we came into contact with was kind and genuinely seemed to enjoy their job. I absolutely love how when they designed this zoo they did so around the natural wildlife/world not the other way around. The animals were very well taken care of and also seemed to enjoy their habitats. They also did a great job of communicating if there was an animal not currently out for viewing why that was and when to expect them back. Great zoo!

I have to say this was a nice surprise. We decided to try to get in as soon as the park opened, this was a good thing since it was nice and cool out we got to see the cats during their feeding time so they were out and about. I definitely recommend going early. Such a beautiful layout and they’ve done a really nice job with this Zoo!!

Jacksonville Zoo Color of the Wild was amazing!!! A must see for all ages. As you walk the zoo grounds, you will encounter the most incredible lantern displays. From veggies, to butterfly, to safari animal to under the sea, to enchanting Japanese dragons. INCREDIBLE!!!! Probably took about an hour forty five to walk. Wheel chair stroller accessible. Children area to explore and food and shopping. Starbucks at entry. Clean bathrooms throughout. Plenty of parking and attendants kept great flow bringing guest in and out. You can purchase ticket in advance on line. Check weather and dress accordingly.

Pleasantly surprised! Friendly staff, well maintained.Was surprised to find out they don't take cash, you have to order you tickets in advance,even the gift shop only takes plastic, 😏The animals were all out, adequate romping room for all animals The staff were out on the grounds. Ready to answer any questions you have. Wear you're walking shoes place is huge. Expect to spend at least 3 plus hours. Pack your lunch, enjoy your day, bring your bugs spray. You may need it in certain areas. The time we went December wasn't cold, wasn't hot. It was just right. Was not overly crowded either. We had a very enjoyable day

This zoo is PERFECT! Just the right size for a day trip. It’s easy to get from one part to the next. I recommend taking the train as soon as you enter so you can start at the furthest part then work your way in. Everything is priced extremely well. The splash pad is so perfect to just get your feet wet or let the kiddos get full out soaked. The staff was very accommodating and the full experience was well worth it. The animals are well cared for and had great exhibits.

This is a very nice zoo with a good layout. Nice easy walks along paved paths and boardwalks. Very clean. A wonderful assortment of animals, birds, reptiles, etc. most free to roam in large open areas. Restrooms are available in several areas. There were a few different places to grab either specific things like ice cream and sweets, or an order and take your meal to outside tables. Tickets seem a bit pricey and MUST BE ORDERED ONLINE so it’s best, and cheaper, to order in advance. If you buy on the day you go, they add on $5 per ticket. Also an additional $10 per ticket if you purchase the ‘total experience’ as opposed to ‘general admission’. Check out the benefits of that on the website. I purchased a senior total experience ticket the day I was going and it was 42.95. It is a great place that wasn’t too crowded and was wonderful to stroll the grounds and ride the train to the other end of the park and back at my leisure!!

Great day all around. Although the rain was messy, the showers were scattered so it left a fall like temperature and breeze behind. Not too hot. Plus, the animals had been inside mostly due to rain so they were all out moving and stretching their legs for us to enjoy.... quite nice ..... next time.... give a rainy day a try

If you haven't been to the zoo lately, you should go! The newer habitats are amazing! The food at the Trout River Grill has had a makeover and my burger and fries were delicious! The bathroom facilities could use a little TLC and some of the older habitats could use some attention. Overall it was a great visit!

We drive from middle GA to visit this zoo often. Definitely one of our faves! We love the 4D theatre and train ride. The various events definitely enhance the attractions. I’ve done date nights, family outings and girls nights out here and all have been great!

Colors of the wild was amazing. Way better than the normal zoo lights. Great for any age. The zoo signed a 3 year contract so its coming back the next 2 years. Its a separate ticket from the regular zoo ticket but worth it.

This Zoo is huge. The train ride was beautiful and so much fun! Also very informative. There are 2 places to get on and off. Me and my family spent almost 6 hours here, that was getting to see everything and eat. So it will make a day full. You can get closer to the animals than any zoo I have been too. It was really neat. I would say order your tickets online! I'm so glad we did. Also get the Total Experience! It is so worth it!

It's always nice to spend the day with my grandkids. Nice friendly staff and lots of animals to see. Tickets are purchased online only. I purchased the adult total experience for 32.95. Includes 4D Theater, Unlimited Train, Unlimited Carousel Rides, and Animal Feedings (limited). Zoo hours are 9am-5pm

Nice well kept zoo. We visited right before their holiday lights events so got to see some of them in the daylight. Staff was kind. The park was calm and relaxing. Music was delightful. I wish there was a two day ticket option at a discount.

Beautiful zoo. We enjoyed the train ride. The kids splash area was a wonderful perk. My kids enjoyed petting the sting rays, and feeding the giraffes. Wasn't overly crowded. Zoo keepers were all very friendly and pleasant.

You have to buy your tickets online. I don't know if that was just that day or that it is like that all the time. It was easy to pay online if you have a phone and enternet. Feeding the giraffe was the best part of the whole experience. The whole experience package is so worth the extra $10 bucks. You get the train, feedings, and so much more. Water was $5, but that's at any event really these days.

Great place to take kids! This is the first time I went to a reptile exhibit that did not smell. Animals looked healthy and well taken care of. The staff was friendly and super nice. They have a new baby jaguar that is so adorable.

Beautiful zoo! Great spaces for all the amazing animals! We did the total experience. It was a little pricey, but it got us access to participate in all the animal feedings, the 4D 20-minute movie experience, and unlimited rides on the carousel and train that goes around the entire park. Would definitely recommend if traveling in the area! My wife and I loved it!

One of the best zoos I have been too. the staff first of all is Amazing 🤩🤩🤩 EVERYONE was very friendly, and helpful. The animals were all amazing to look at. Very clean and well fed animals. It's perfect to take your entire family for a fun filled amazing outing. My husband,Son and I had an amazing visit... Great for all ages and great prices worth every penny!!!

Beautiful place to go in the evening and see lights display.They really did a great job turning a Zoo into magic place.It's awesome for children any age,as well as adults,very pleasant walk throughout the place with all the light displays of animals, plants,trees along with background music.Price of the tickets are worth going.Plenty of parking available.

I absolutely loved the Jacksonville zoo! The animals were out and about and even the big hollow outs were very pretty to look at! The scenery was so beautiful in some areas I totally forgot I was at the zoo! The only thing I'm salty about is the fact that adults can't ride the animals on the Merry go round🙄other than that I'd definitely recommend going if you are around there!!

We loved the Zoo. Definitely recommend getting the total experience ticket for the train ride and to feed the animals. Only thing I didn't like was the food selection / quality and the restrooms. While they were clean, not a baby changing station to be found.

There’s so many great things to say about Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. This is a wonderful place that the entire family will love, it’s also great for dates or some alone time. All of the exhibits are easily accessible for all. With restaurants and refreshment stands throughout the park, you could easily spend the entire day enjoying the zoo. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. It’s best to purchase your tickets in advance, and you have 60 days to use the tickets after your purchase day.

We love coming here from time to time. You can easily spend the whole day here. On average, we spend around 4.5 hours, including a lunch break. All the animals were out this trip. We personally do not get the full experience pass, and we do not feel like we are missing out. General admissions tickets are okay for us. We highly recommend visiting!

Beautiful zoo, friendly employees! We didn't eat here as we came pretty late, we came about 2 hours before they closed so we didn't really get to see everything but I will say it took about 30 minutes past 5 for the bike security to come and get us out and they were very nice.

Nice zoo. Visited it on my way to Miami mostly because of the great giraffe overlook they have and wasn't disappointed. The "Colors of the Wild" exhibit is great, plants and animal figures are installed all over the Zoo and they look amazing! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to enjoy them in the dark, it must be spectacular.

My wife and I were looking for something to do this weekend and decided to give this a chance, and we were so glad we did . It was so beautiful the lights and all the different types of animals and bugs was just amazing they had a kids interactive area they had several concession stands and 102 restaurants open for food and snacks . The cost to get in was 25 dollars pre person and it was open from 5:30 to 9:30 pm but you can buy a early entry pass for additional fee and enter at 3:30 there is plenty of parking. And it was very crowded. But if you are looking for something to do this weekend or next give it a try you will be glad you did .

We are still here everyone is having a good time there is children, the senior citizens there are plenty of families there are plenty of chairs to sit and eat plus there are booster seats for toddlers I didn't see any high chairs but that doesn't mean they don't have any I just don't see them you can rent a scooter for 27.00 all day and you can rent a stroller for your baby for 9.00 all day. The hamburger was thick and and delicious and the french fries were thick also and delicious.

We had never been here before, came here on vacation. It was amazing. The exhibits were impressive, there was lots of spaces for kids to get energy out and the animal feedings were so cool! The 4d show was okay, but that is the only thing we considered kind of take it or leave it about. The staff was helpful, knowledgeable and kind and we spent a full day here without feeling bored.

4.6

(18410)

4.5

(3288)

370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218, USA

+64 other lists

One of my favorite forts! This location has so many interesting places to walk around and check out throughout the whole fort as you learn so much from every place you look in! I managed to come in for free on National Park Day so definitely take advantage when it happens! Make sure to arrive on some days where they demonstrate a cannon launch! It’s an experience I would never forget! Definitely bring your national park stamp book if you have one to get the stamp!

This was amazing! The fort is so cool and preserved very nicely. The park rangers were happy to answer questions and sharing interesting tid bits. We have a park pass so we got in for free but I still think it would have been worth the price.Lighting was withing the 5 miles or whatever it is when we got in so we couldn't go to the top for a bit. We took our time on the ground level and read all the signs and explored the top as soon as it opened. I wish we could have gone on a night when they shoot the canons off. That would be such an amazing thing to see!I highly recommend going, you won't regret it.

This was quite an interesting place to visit. So much history here. We have a 4th grader so we we’re able to get in for free. You can get into any national park for free as part of a program for 4th graders nationwide. The displays were all very informative and the staff here was super friendly. There is a scavenger hunt game that is great for the kids. The views of the harbor and the Bridge of Lions were incredible. Parking here in the afternoon can get crazy. We had to drive around the parking lot a couple of times to catch someone leaving. You pay per hour to park but we took our time and we’re there just about 2 hours.

As a point of historical significance, the reference and homage pair to this fort by the staff and local community is apparent from the ticket gate. The actors that interact with the public are very impressive with the attention to detail and period knowledge they exhibit and the cannon firing demonstration is a must see.Nearby parking is very limited, but the available public transit and flat walkways make for a quick commute from wherever you can find a spot. The first floor and exterior are accessible to most mobility disabilities; and while a very shallow staircase prevents wheeled access to the ramparts, those with limited mobility in their legs should find a fairly easy climb.

They were closing up when we got there but it was still pretty cool. It was a lot like Fort Independence in Boston so a lot cooler if you haven’t seen forts before. The grounds were very nice and people seemed to really enjoy the surrounding area as well. You can walk around the outside for free or get tickets and go in.

What a treasure! The National Park Service has done a fantastic job to maintain and develop this 300+ year old monument to colonization history. Parking on the grounds is really cheap at 2.50 per hour. It took us 3 hours to see and enjoy everything. The admission was 15.00 per person BUT I used my senior pass and got in for free. Well worth the one time charge to visit all 400 national parks. You can get into many restored rooms and listen to the excellent stories from the park rangers.

If you visit just one place in St. Augustine it has to be Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The history, the architecture, the location. It's spectacular. There is so much to see in every room and a lot of information to read about the history and the lives of the soldiers, prisoners, settlers, etc. The cannons are a work of art. Just to be around something that has been built in 1500-1600's and is still around is incredible. You can easily spend a couple of hours there. There is also a cute gift shop. There are a lot of volunteers that will gladly answer any questions you might have. I wish we had our kids with us, they would have loved to tour it.

This was a very neat place to visit. It’s huge and there’s lots to do and see here. You can’t come to St. Augustine and skip this attraction. Do be prepared for lots of walking, and big crowds to be around. We weren’t there a single day that there wasn’t a massive crowd. I recommend getting there early in the morning to get in line for tickets.

Stopped at this gem on the way back from Orlando. Ended up being my favorite thing on the trip by far.The ambiance of the landmark is spot on. The beautiful, light-blue water coupled with the local Florida wildlife makes for a great sight. In addition to that, the preservation and appreciation for history makes you feel like you’re in the time period. They even fly the Spanish flag - accurate to the period of its founding.The landmark also provides excellent information to truly educate about the fort’s history and founding. You also have quite a bit of freedom to explore; most rooms you can look around and (the best part) you can walk on top of the fortifications.

This place is awesome and great to see where it all started for Central and South America countries and Florida. It is a Federal Monument so Veterans are free along with 4 guests. Parking in Augustine can be a challenge, unless you park in the free public parking garage across the street and it is still within walking distance to everything. It's a tourist area but the shops and restaurants are really good and there are plenty of them. It is a beautiful area!!

A well preserved Spanish fort in St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US. It's part of the National Park system, and for those with a National Park pass, entry to the inside of the fort is free. Also, access the the area all around the outside of the fort is free to everyone. Scenes of life in the fort is recreated in several areas. Various canons and other equipment/supplies are on display. There is a small gift/souvenir shop (National Parks stamps available) just inside the fort entrance. Great views of the city and waterfront can be seen from all around the upper level of the fort wall. Although there is a paid parking lot on the grounds ($2.50/hour) parking can be a little difficult to find at peak times. This isn't a large fort, so one to two hours is plenty of time to see the whole thing. The spaces are large enough for large camper vans and smaller (class C) RVs. Our 22' van fit within the space markings. There are several small spaces for motorcycles . There are no oversized spaces in this lot, but there is a free parking lot for all sizes of RVs just a few blocks to the west (No overnight camping allowed). Overall, if you are interested in military/colonial historical sites, this fort is definitely a place to visit.

My family had a fun time at Castillo to say it was not a planned trip. It was like getting a fun history lesson of the fort. We spent about 1.5 touring the rooms of the fort (this will vary person to person). I would recommend going on a cool day as we did. In summer I assume it can get hot and the crowds of people.

What an amazing piece of history! It is absolutely worth the visit. I recommend bringing the kids to so they can learn some history but also come alone because you can read all the info posted throughput the fort because you realize all this historic time capsule has been through. I am amazed every time I visit this place that it is open to the public and you can walk through such an incredible time capsule.

Wonderful place!A beautifully preserved antique, well-kept and authentic. The love and care of the staff is immediately visible.A very informative exhibition, we walked around for two hours, looked around and read the explanations, just wonderful.It’s good that there are many excursions for schoolchildren, children study real history using real buildings and exhibits, and this is wonderful!You are unlikely to see so many ancient cannons in one place anywhere else.A beautiful bay with Parisian trees and fresh sea air complete the picture.Thank you very much!

This past weekend my boyfriend and I decided to come to st.Augustine for the weekend so I could show him all my favorite places. The Castillo was number one on this list. We both love history, so I knew he’d fall in love with the place as soon as he saw it. I honestly think it exceeded his expectations. He’s already planning for our next trip back! Aside from it being a magnificent pierce of history, it also helped that all of the staff and the rangers at the fort were so kind and helpful, and it really made an impact on him. He was stunned at how informative everyone was and how genuine everyone seemed.. I explained to him that St.Augustine isn’t like all the other “touristy” places. Especially not the Castillo de San Marcos. People here genuinely love this town and it’s structures, and they are excited to show it off to whoever is willing to listen. So thank you so much to everyone at the Castillo for making this trip memorable one for us! We can’t wait to come back!!!

Truly one of a kind. It’s a must-see in St. Augustine! The staff, dedicated volunteers and city have done an excellent job with preserving this jewel and making it fun and educational for all visitors! The view from the top part of the Fort is incredible. This was such an interesting attraction. After leaving this establishment you simply feel closer to history.I’ve visited as a child and now as an adult….and it’s always enjoyable!

I've come here many times since the late 1960's when my father first brought me. I remember having a souvenir Spanish cannon from here as a child and It's always worth the trip. St. Augustine itself is pretty touristy, but it's a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and send yourself back in time to the days of forts, castles, and dangerous adventures. Take your kids so they take away the memory of a lifetime and maybe a Spanish Cannon.

Great historical site that is rather unique. It is $15 for adults while under 16 are free. Military and veterans can get a National Park pass for free with proof; that gets three adult guests in with you also. Nice views of St. Augustine from here. Parking is $2.50 per hour.

Just an absolutely lovely place to visit.The site is steeped in a rich history.The views of the surrounding area and the city of Saint Augustine are beautiful.It’s worth a visit, even if you don’t pay for a tour; you can walk around the property.It’s especially nice at sunset.Grab some ice cream in town and walk the property and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city of Saint Augustine~

An amazing and historical monument in the original and oldest city of Florida. So much depth of history that you need to really take your time enjoying each section. The views are stunning. Park Rangers are very informative. Try visiting on a "cool" day if that's possible! The park also has parking but it's on a first-come first-serve basis. Bring a good pair of walking shoes and water and enjoy!

A truly exceptional monument. The graffiti in the barracks alone are world class social history - Spanish sailors and soldiers, then US, and imprisoned Apaches too! Views are great. Staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The Firearms display is very well done.

Definitely recommend! Learned a lot out the fort and the history. Self guided tour spent about 2 hours here. Money well spent to help preserve such a national monument. We also bought the national park passport too and got our stamps.

Samantha Brown's Places to Love was spot on with this feature attraction. Make sure to add to your list of things to do. Well kept by the National Parks and Recreation. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. It's very scenic. Park staff is very friendly. Must see if you're in the area. Active and retired military discount. They will register you in the database for Gold Star and military membership to visit ALL National Parks.

Definitely worth the admission especially if you can time it around the cannons being fired. But, there are plenty of historical markers if you just want to walk around it. Also a beautiful place to sit and watch the sailboats or picnic on the large lawn. There is limited parking, but a large paid garage is across the street. They have nice restrooms and a small museum.

There is a dizzying number of tour options in St. Augustine, and you can quickly part with a ton of $$ because there’s an entry fee for just about everything. The Castillo is one of two historical attractions that I think are a must see** because of its uniqueness and its long history.Built in the 1700s by the Spanish, it is the largest and oldest “concrete” fort in the US, and it is almost entirely intact. It is fascinating to think about the fact that the fort has been utilized by Spanish, British and American military forces over the centuries, reflecting Florida’s unique and varied history.There is a decent self-guided tour inside the fort, and if you’re there at the right time, you can hear “first-hand” accounts from actors dressed as Spanish soldiers. This believe they also fire cannons on Saturdays, but we were there during the week.You can also walk around the outside of the fort and go on top of the fort to see the cannons in place, as well as capture beautiful water views. This is a truly unique glimpse into one facet of history in our country’s oldest (continuously inhabited) city.(**The lighthouse and museum is the other attraction that I would give 5 stars to.)

My family loved visiting the fort! The history is great and the exhibits inside are informative. We enjoyed seeing how the soldiers lived (my teenage son especially liked the explanation of the toilet system) 🤣The sights of the water and city from on top the castle walls are neat to see. If you have a chance to hang out, make sure to see the cannon fire demonstration. Parking might be tough if the lot fills up, but it’s not a far walk from the parking garage at the visitor center.

Me and my family went here it was amazing. this is my second time here. We got to bring my parents this time for Arkansas they came to visit so we took them here to the oldest city in the United States of America to see the most prettiest fort and Georgetown Road. We got to see some amazing stuff and learn amazing history about this fort. We also got to watch them fire the Cannons at the ships which was pretty cool. It's amazing what people went through. This place is a a must see if you love history.

It was amazing. If you love History it is an amazing place. With it being the oldest military fort in the United States. That's in amazing condition. It's a National Park , So I use my senior lifetime pass to get in. So I'm not sure of the cost.

Amazing!Must see. Well worth the drive.The scenario is Great.Easy accessibility and we'll lit.Parking down the street.Part of historyKid friendlyHighly recommended

Old fort, cool to see they used all natural resources to build it. Go in and out of rooms with all kinds of facts and things ,take your time and read the signs to understand everything that went on there. Climb steps to the top---no elevator watch little kids there is no handrails and the upper walls are low they have signs posted do not sit on walls but there are benches to sit. Price is $14.95 adults kids are less get a coupon book and museums have great discounts

Had family members come to visit us from California, we took them to Saint Augustine—the oldest city of USA. They were so happy to see the fort and to know some history of our country…we got there around 10:00am during the weekday, plenty parking spaces, but saw people were waiting for the spot to park when we got out of the fort, city needs to build more parking spaces. Thanks to the people who manage the monument and keep it nice.

St. Augustine is a charming old town with a plethora of culinary delights. The Castillo de San Marcos is an incredible sight to behold, steeped in history and architectural beauty. One tip I highly recommend is to thoroughly research and plan your visits, ensuring the places you want to explore are open. The castle closes after 5 p.m., so it's essential to schedule your visit accordingly.Visiting during the Christmas season adds an extra layer of magic, as the town is adorned with festive decorations, enhancing the overall experience. Exploring the Castillo de San Marcos during this time truly captures the spirit of the holidays and the rich history of the area. Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in this fascinating destination!

I loved it. The architecture is beautiful, and as someone coming from Chicago, I’ve never seen this technique before in building with sea shells in the walls. The museum does not take long to be seen but totally worth supporting this location. Staff is very friendly as well.

Fascinating history with great displays. Blistering hot day - just like when we visited Fort Ticonderoga in NY a couple of years ago - we seem to pick 'em for those fort tours! Would have been nice to have a guided tour - was tempted to listen in on the guides for the kids' field trip tours.

4.7

(32899)

4.5

(11160)

11 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA

+10 other lists

Nice place for shops, bars & music. One of must visit places.

Beautiful place, it's a colonial street, with stores and a lot of people walking and enjoying the view.

Very cool place with tons of shops and places to eat!!!

A great shopping and people watching pedestrian walkway in the heart of everything.

Great trip with the family. The history is impressive and the shops were fun to browse. Will come back.

Great place to shop and Walk around

Multiple homeless and souvenir shops. We walked down to see what it was about. Saw the oldest schoolhouse. Many restaurants but very expensive. Don't plan to spend too much time. Parking is available at the visitor center for a flat fee. There are parking lots closer but more money.

First time! So many fun shops, restaurants and entertainment!

One of the most famous streets, it is a lively street full of tourists, and it has many restaurants, coffee, sweets, ice cream, and gifts.

Beautiful, clean, safe place for families to enjoy! So much history.

Feels like taking a charming journey back in time. The historic buildings and vibrant shops create a delightful atmosphere that captures the essence of the city's history and culture!

St. George Street is a gem in town, offering a charming glimpse into antique, olden styles. 🏰The street emanates old European vibes, adorned with numerous shops, creating a beautiful atmosphere. 🛍️Since cars aren't allowed, a stroll is a must, and I guarantee you won't regret immersing yourself in this delightful experience. 👣✨

Exciting place abuzz with tourists, good food and tons of shopping.

Great historical street with gift shops and different eateries.

Nice place to go for a walk. Mostly a tourist trap with expensive stores.

4.7

(183)

4.5

(5781)

St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA

+26 other lists

Neat place with lots of interesting historical displays and information about their distilling processes with plaques, pictures, and displays. We did a self-guided tour through the distillery which was quite adequate for our time frame and very informative. If we'd had more time we would have called ahead to arrange for an in-person guided tour, which I'm sure would have been excellent. Staff is friendly and very approachable if you have questions; they clearly take pride in their place of work.The various tasting stations are a nice touch and certainly add to the experience. The varieties of bourbon, gin, and rum, as well as the ready-made mixers are delicious. (Suggestion: Eat something beforehand. The samples aren't huge, but they are fairly potent on an empty stomach! 😉)There is also a store which offers for purchase all the various products from the distillery, with a tasting station so you can sample what you're thinking of buying. All very low-key, there is no pushiness to get you to buy anything, they obviously know just how excellent their products are!The restrooms are very clean and roomy and ever so quaint - worth a visit, too!Accessibility is good and there is ample parking around the building.

This was one of our stops on trolley ride. We opted to pick up the next day and not having to walk around with our purchase.Free samples were definitely a treat. No pressure, just sample, and you can come back the next day. ID is required.

One of the top distilleries that I have visited in the US so far. You begin the tour with signing into an iPad, then you start with your tastings of vodkas, gins and bourbons. Upstairs the bartender Nick was very knowledgeable on all of their products and made great suggestions on what to buy based on my likes.

I recently visited Saint Augustine Distillery and had an amazing time. The highlight of my visit was the free whiskey tasting, which allowed me to sample some of their fantastic products. The employees were extremely knowledgeable and friendly, making the experience even more enjoyable.The staff members at the distillery were not only passionate about their craft but were also well-informed about the various whiskey options available. They were more than happy to answer all my questions, providing me with in-depth information about the production process and the unique characteristics of their spirits.Moreover, the welcoming and friendly atmosphere in the distillery made me feel at ease throughout my visit. The employees created a warm and inviting environment, which added to the overall enjoyment of the tasting experience.I highly recommend visiting Saint Augustine Distillery for any whiskey enthusiast or anyone looking to learn more about the art of distilling. The combination of a free tasting and the expertise of the staff made for an unforgettable visit. I will definitely be returning to explore more of their offerings in the future.

This is a small craft distillery that has only been in operation since 2014. You can do a self guided tour that is free and includes 4 tastings of mixed drinks like a mule. They also offer guided tours for a fee. The advantage of the guided tour is its bourbon forward, you hear the history of the building and the business, and you get to try a pour of two expensive bottles. We have been to 12 other distillery tours and I still learned a few new things. Larry was a fantastic host! We got to sample their flagship bourbon, one finished in a wine barrel, an aged blend, and a single barrel. We also got the keep the glasses! I believe a person in a wheelchair could do this tour because you only move from the tasting room to the adjacent room. We enjoyed our experience!

What a great experience this was! The tour is free and self guided so take as long as you'd like. Each area has a tasting station which have samples that they're promoting. All of the samples were great. Even better is that at the end they let you try whatever you'd like that they sell. All of the staff were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their company. A must visit when going to St. Augustine.

I highly recommend the paid tour, it's only 35 dollars. Patrick(?) was our bourbon educator and man did he deliver some incredible information to us. It was a one hour class on information that we should be aware of when it comes down to picking, tasting, and understanding the complexities of what makes up a bourbon. Great job! The class was not rushed and very well paced. We were celebrating my mother's 70th birthday and the team even signed a card for her. Everyone received a glencairn and was thoroughly educated on how to drink from it. In all, a great day to drink bourbon and thanks for making Mom's birthday a whole lot more fun (she was a huge fan of the port finished bourbon).

The St. Augustine Distillery Spirit of Florida Bourbon Experience was Excellent! We went on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail last year and saw some great distilleries but having this quaint and beautiful distillery in our own state of Florida is fantastic. Melody was our host and tour guide and was very knowledgeable about everything Bourbon related especially when it came to the distilling process. We tasted 4 of their different bourbons and enjoyed each one. The "Saint" was our personal favorite because we love old fashioneds so much. Finishing off this bourbon in a barrel of their own old fashioned mix was truly an amazing idea! We bought 2 bottles of Saint, but know that this was not an inexpensive bottle at $200. (we did get a $35 off coupon for the tasting tour). The tour of this small distillery was informative and fun with Melody showing us the complete process. Of course the gift shop was the last stop and we took advantage of more Bourbon tasting with their version of an old fashioned. We had not been to this distillery since they added bourbons and only knew them from their vodka, rum and gin but were VERY pleased they have added these delicious bourbons to their line of spirits. A Wonderful Experience and Must See if you are here in St. Augustine!

A decent distillery in St Augustine.We came to check them out and were really excited to do a tasting and check out their stuff. Someone in our group did the tour years ago and said it was great.This time there was no tour and the tasting was lame. As someone in our group said to the person who said it used to be great "glad I didn't have to pay for it or I'd want my money back"There were a few mixers to try and you could look at their room where they explain how it's made. You don't actually get to taste their stuff and get information about anything worthwhile.If you have little to no experience or expectations for how it's made you might enjoy it, but as we have been to distilleries all over the world there wasn't enough going on to be worth the trip.The staff were super friendly and they have a nice bar upstairs, but you can drink elsewhere for cheaper with a better variety.Still, a decent place.

Fun place to visit. Great history and very knowledgeable staff. Great setup and tour. Good drinks at each stop and we had a lot of fun as a small group! Definitely recommend stopping by this distillery! Even if you only drink one type of spirit, try them all, it might surprise you!

My girlfriend is a bourbon drinker and booked this tour on our visit to Saint Augustine. We were immediately met by Clark and once in the private room, he proceeded to provide the experience. He did so with a passion and fervor that I haven't seen in a very long time. He spoke intelligently, factually, answered all the questions perfectly. His knowledge and understanding of the process and his use of facts was super impressive. He made this tour very special, welcoming and kept us interested and engaged the entire time. What an amazing experience and I hope anyone that has a chance to visit gets Clark as the experience guide (as he explained it was a combination of tour, history, and facts - an experience). The gift shop patrons were also very welcoming and friendly. What an amazing experience and Clark, thank you for making this one of the great highlights of our trip.

Nice short tour through the Distillery with tastings. If your over 21 make sure you have your ID with you. Nice rustic building to go through. If I were to go again I would make time to stop at the restaurant to try food and more drinks.

Excellent distillery and a very unique way to conduct a tour. The tasting stations with co*cktails makes it a useful tasting and showcases the products. The gift shop is amazing and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Loved this experience and I’ve toured about 50 distilleries, including most on the famous bourbon trail. Top notch!

Yesterday was my sons 32nd birthday so we made a family trip to the St Augustine Distillery for a Bourbon class and it was amazing. I highly recommend it. So much fun as a family. Clark was so knowledgeable on Bourbon and he was funny as well. We also made our own bottle of Bourbon when the class was over and that was an amazing experience as well. You bottle the bourbon, cork it and label it with your signature and shrink wrap the top. I recommend this experience as a gift or fun family weekend trip.

My husband and I went on a day trip to St. Augustine and visited the distillery for the self guided tour. It was a great experience from start to finish! We enjoyed learning the history of the building and distillery plus ALL the staff was absolutely amazing....very welcoming and knowledgeable. The co*cktail samples were a tasty treat with the mule and old fashion above expectations. We were pleasantly surprised when we were able to partake in an experience guided by Clark with The Saint Bourbon and food pairings. Clark did a great job making the experience entertaining and educational. After the tour and experience, we visited the gift shop and indulged in our favorite co*cktails supplies to enjoy at home!

The coolest tasting and educational experience ever! This was my first introduction to bourbon and woooooweeeee I sure felt it! Sarah was a wonderful educator and very informative about the history and process of distillation. The gift shop at the end of our tour had many great items to purchase! Since our arrival for the tour was early, we decided to have a glass from their bar upstairs. Another cool place in the establishment!

St. Augustine Distillery will NOT disappoint and have a memory to last a lifetime. Larry was fantastic for the tour and tasting and KNOWS his bourbon. Nicholas made my one of a kind single barrel bottle pour SO special and was such a blessing to meet him. He went above and beyond to share his passion for what he does, what goes into making bourbon and both men were fantastic!!!A hidden suggestion: Go to the 4pm booking cause it's the last one of the day and they can spend more time showing you stuff, behind the scenes and won't feel rushed.* My suggestion if you can do it 👍🏼😊Thank you and made a 50th Birthday, bourbon 🥃 lovers day a VERY special one ❤️🙌🏼

Had a great time at our guided tour yesterday. Clark was one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had, not just for a distillery but of any excursion or activity I’ve done. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate which made the tour just that much better. Highly recommend the paid tour for everyone. Highlight of our trip to St. Augustine and my wife and I come here once per year for a weekend for the past 5 years. Oh and all the bourbon we tasted were absolutely amazing. Thanks for the great experience

Self-tour. Enjoyed some mixed drink tastings. Great tasting room atmosphere. Old Ice Plant with historical architecture added to vibe. Enjoyed their bourbon and rum. They also make a good gin.

We love to take visitors to the distillery. We brought our guests to the perfect pair tasting experience and had a great experience. Clark, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very personable. Everyone had a great time. We proceeded to the gift shop for additional tastings and souvenirs, every employee we came in contact with was very knowledgeable and you could tell that they loved their jobs. We really enjoy taking guests here. See you soon!

Such a great experience couldn’t believe it was free! You learn so much about the history and the process of a different alcohols! Everyone was very friendly the free samples you got were tasty even their merchandise shop at the end was great. They had plenty of variety to choose from if you wanted to bring home something for yourself too or as a gift, will definitely be back on my next visit to Saint Augustine.

One of my all time favorite places! You can’t beat the experience. These are very nice, award winning, high quality spirits. The staff is very welcoming and knowledgeable. I recommend doing the tasting tour. It’s free and takes 10-minutes tops, but it’s a great way to sample the spirits before committing to a bottle. The Saint is our favorite bourbon and the gin is a close second. Their mixers are absolutely delightful - fresh tasting, low sugar, and wildly versatile - we love the hibiscus and old fashioned. I honestly can’t say enough nice things. Run don’t walk to the best distillery in Florida!

Even though the distillery is small the tour and tasting were one of the best we have been to. My daughter and I have done the entire Bourban trail tour in Kentucky and just about completed the craft tour in Kentucky. Also have ties to Bourbon industry in Kentucky. Anyway our guide definitely showed he is a Bourbon Steward also in giving the history of Bourbon and the standards as well as the brief history of distilling in the State of Florida. I will admit they have a good bourbon product as well as a vodka and rum, my daughter and brother liked their gin, gin is not for me. Everyone we met was more than gracious as hosts. When you are in the area highly recommend you take this tour as well as visit the attached restaurant.

4.8

(2565)

5.0

(8298)

112 Riberia St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, USA

1 list

I loved this place, the attention of all the volunteers who work there was very good and the animals they have there are beautiful. The tour was very good, I highly recommend it. They don't let you take photos, just enjoy the beauty of these animals.

An absolutely amazing way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The animals are so beautiful and the reserve clearly takes great care of them. 5 stars will highly recommend to everyone. The pics are from their website and emails. They don’t let you take pics of your own but don’t let that stop you from going. Just enjoy the moment.

Tours are by reservation only but it was easy for us to find openings. Our group was about 25 people and was the perfect size. This reserve has many cool animals rescued from unfortunate situations. You can tell the animals are well cared for and loved by the staff; our tour guide gave details about every single animal. Enclosures are super clean and well-maintained. Make sure you wear walking shoes and bring water/sunscreen if it’s hot! There’s a golf cart to help those who need it. You can get really close to some impressive carnivores here! No pictures allowed but that helps keep the experience special! A better experience than some larger zoos.

Fantastic place, they are doing wonderful work. The entry fee goes directly to support he wildlife, and the staff clarly provide wonderful care for these animals. The tour was fun, informative, and I was quite close to the animals. The staff were helpful, and the tour was very well organized. Well worth the price, and really worthwhile organization.Staff bring you right up to the animals, discuss each one, and answer any questions. They fed them during the visit, so it was very interactive. Some of the keepers have worked with individual animals for decades, and this allows them to interact with them closely.

This is a great experience in St. Augustine. Forgive my lack of photos for the review because photography is not allowed on the tour.You must schedule your tour in advance so keep that in mind. They have a variety of wild exotic animals, like lions, bears, tigers, birds and more. They are all very well loved and cared for. There is a good variety of animals.It’s a walking tour but it’s a small facility so not too bad. They have a golf cart that follows the tour for those that can’t stand very long.The facilities are well kept and clean.

Highly recommend visiting!! I was within 3 feet of wild cats, bears, wolves, hyenas and more. Saw some of the most beautiful rare cats, hyenas getting their teeth brushed, felt a porcupine quill, heard the lions roar, the wolves howl, and so much more. The staff is fabulous and so knowledgeable. Their love for the animals there can not only be seen by their interaction with them, but it can also be felt. Absolutely amazing experience.

What a beautiful intimate reserve. The relationship and respect the staff has with the animals is amazing to watch! Took a group of residents on a private tour and it was awesome. Will be 100% retiring with the family. Water front tiger condos LOVE IT

A special place, exceptional people, an amazing experience. You are so close to lions, tigers , panthers.. like no where else that i have been.. the staff interacts with the animals. You see their personalities. These animals are loved. It is a staff of mostly volunteers. These carnivores are all rescues. I love this place

Such an amazing place. Tons of different animals. All private tours and not overly crowded. Price is perfect. Non-profit and everyone is well taken care of. The keepers and volunteers obviously believe in the mission and have great friendly interactions. Amazing enclosures. Will definitely be back. And love the newsletters we get now that we’re back home!

I am very much pleased with this facility! What stood out to me the most was it’s cleanliness. The cages were spot clean, smell free and even the animals did not smell. The staff were very friendly and our tour guide was very knowledgeable! I wish we could actually see the wolfs howl. There is something different about this wild reserve, we always had a golf cart so that people can take a break. There is at-least one other staff member to keep an eye an people and especially if kids wander off. Definitely a must go!

Amazing place, you can get a really close look at the animals if they're feeling "sociable", and most of them were. The group for the tour was pretty big, yet there was no problem getting a chance to see everything. We got to see how some of the animals interacted with their favorite volunteers, so cute! While you're waiting for the tour there are a ton of peaco*cks and other birds you can check out, so it absolutely isn't boring.

This was a well organized, educational tour. All of the volunteers were extremely nice and knowledgeable. The animals were well cared for and their enclosures were well maintained. Highly recommend this experience to people of all ages. They were very accommodating to those who needed shade, a ride on their golf cart and offered free water to all.

Really excellent, informative tour! We booked the 1.5 hour walking tour and enjoyed learning more about each of the animals at the sanctuary. The volunteer keepers and guides were super knowledgeable and also provided water and cool towels for us during the tour which were amazing on such a hot day.

Amazing vip tour! Great staff! You can tell the animals are very loved + cared for! Saw lots of different animals up close: lions, tigers, jaguars, panthers, wolves etc! It was interesting to hear their rescue stories and learn about these incredible animals.

Up close experience with numerous jaguars, tigers, lions and other exotic animals. Great explanations of the animals and well laid out small park. Great activity for any type of vacation. You must book the tour ahead of time as there are set times to visit.

Incredible experience. Fantastic tour and guides. The caretakers treat the animals with kindness and respect. The homes for the animals are well designed and large. The animals look very healthy and well fed. I’ll return there many times.

A great experience. The guides took their time and offered a lot of background information for each animal we saw. Listening to the lions communicate with each other was remarkable. I've never heard anything like it. The work being done to offer these animals sanctuary after a hard start to life is admirable. You can see that these animals are loved and well cared for. Highly recommend, and encourage anyone visiting to consider bringing donations (a list of useful/needed items can be found on their website)

This is a must do! The tour guides are so knowledgeable and you can see their heart for the animals immediately. Was an amazing experience so close to the the animals! You have to put away your phones once entering the gates, but it helped keep our focus on the animals. It was incredible just seeing and hearing the roars/ purs/ howls and everything in between. Posting pictures of the entrance with birds before the cat exhibits.

This was an awesome experience!! You can see how much the volunteers enjoy their jobs and care about the animals. You are able to see the animals up close and they interact with the volunteers. We had a large family reunion there and we all enjoyed ourselves. I highly recommend it.

I hate zoos and I like this because it’s a proper reserve. The animals are active and seem happy. The staff is very knowledgeable and eager to answer questions. The tour is more like a well oiled machine vs your average guided tour. While we didn’t have young children with us, I would hesitate to recommend taking your kids along. The staff have your safety in mind and that’s evident. The big cats are incredible. Some of the most beautiful animals I’ve ever seen in person.

We really enjoyed our tour of the park. Animals were beautiful and look well cared for. The guides were very helpful and informative. Our tour group was large and they handled it well.

4.8

(568)

5.0

(2314)

5190 Farm Creek Rd, St. Augustine, FL 32092, USA

1 list

The actual Fort is accessible only via the Ft. Matanzas Ferry, and under guidance of a park ranger. It is off limits to kayaker and others who happen to be out and enjoying the area.There is no entrance fee, however, and the ferry ride is free. Best to arrive early, as ferry tickets go fast. Under the current pandemic guidelines, ferry capacity is reduced.I think everyone would enjoy a visit here. Tip: watch for sea turtles and other aquatic life while you're out there.

Great piece of history and a hidden gem. Entrance is free but you need to arrive before 11am or there won't be any tickets available for the ferry ride to get to the fort. Parking is also limited so you will more than likely ride around waiting for a spot or park down A1A and walk to the park. Definitely worth the wait and walk, was a great experience for the kids.

I've always loved coming here. One of my favorite places in St. Augustine and a good little hidden gem. Tickets are free and include a beautiful ferry ride to the island. The fort is smaller than Castillo de San Marcos but somehow feels like it has more charm. There is a trail you can walk after. Remember to wear sunscreen and pack a water bottle!

The grounds at this park were nice. It is a well maintained facility with clean bathrooms. I only gave it three stars because I missed the main attraction of this park....the fort. If I ever get back here I will update my review. They have six ferries that leave out every hour beginning at 9:30 and I think they may fill up fast. We got there at 3:20 on Saturday afternoon and the last boat was full...bummer. But there is a a nice little hiking trail. Oh, and they have vending machines. If your in the area and can get to the fort it's probably worth a visit.

Very friendly staff, knowledgeable, and willing to help you , find your way. Show up early to get tickets for the boat ride across. This will ensure that you could go at the time you want. This boat ride is free. The whole park is free. And the tour is free. How amazing is that in today's time. Take your time to have a nice walking trail.

Last ferry leaves out at 3:30, I'd suggest getting there early to get free passes bc they run out quickly and space is limited. There's a nice nature trail that will take about 30-45 minutes to walk before or after your tour. And btw, no pets are allowed on the tour/ferry.

What a great stop. Age 15 and under are free. $14.95 for those 16+. Lots to do to spend an afternoon walking around. Cannot imagine having to man this fort in August back in the days of use. It was an amazing site to see.

What a great adventure. Everything was great. From the boat ride to the fort itself, it was so nice and well maintained. And to top it off, Ranger Caroline was just superb. She gave a great presentation with lots of facts and knowledge and did so in an exemplary storytelling fashion. Very entertaining and informative.

This is my third time visiting. I brought my daughters and in-laws for a fun family outing. We saw all kinds of wildlife. People often do not realize that you can go down to the water where the boat docks while you wait. Fun, free, and educational. And afterwards you can drive across the street and check out the beautiful beach.

The grounds are nice, but I made a HUGE mistake. I didn't realize that I should get ferry tickets in advance, or at least be there early enough to get a (free) ferry ticket. When I got there the all ferry rides were full.I did mark this as five stars and DO plan to return with advance tickets in hand, because the park I was able to see was very welcoming and the Ranger was helpful and did not make fun of my faux pas!

My favorite beach! Fishing is fantastic here. Caught a huge red in October and March. Good place to go to see the sunset!

Short quick tour. Boat ride across the river to see and learn about the fort and get some cool pictures. First tour leaves at 9:30am. Fun for something quick to do if your staying near by.

This is a great fun little side trip if you’re spending the day in the area, even little kids will find some interesting things to see and do. The fort itself is small and they give you about a half an hour or so to check it out, lots of authentic gear there as well. The ferry you have to book in advance, it can fill up quick on the weekends and holidays. It’s a short, maybe five minute ride across the river to the fort. The rangers are enthusiastic, friendly, and filled with knowledge per usual, all in all it was a great way to kill an hour or two. There is a small winding shady walking trail next to the parking lot, which leads out to A1AA1A, where you can cross over to the beach.

The Fort is free and is reached by an equally free ferry provided by park rangers. The whole thing is just over an hour, but a great use if that time. The 500 yard crossing is very attractive and can have a wealth of bird life on view, including ospreys. I loved the atmosphere of the little Fort. Note that it is first come first served. Ferries go on the half hour and if you are not ticketed by 20 past, expect it to be full. There is nothing to do for the hour if you miss the ferry except go to the nearby very exposed beach. There are a visitor centre (more a little bookshop really)and rest rooms though.

This free tour was so informative and so much fun. We arrived at 10:10 and got tickets for the 10:30 tour. You are able to talk down to the water while you wait on the boat. Our national park guides were so lovely. The fort is beautiful and the boat ride to and from were good.

Beautiful and historic free park - really friendly, helpful staff and knowledgeable rangers!The short boat ride and tour of the fort are quick, so don’t worry if you don’t have a whole day to spend here - you could do it all in under 2 hours. There’s also a short nature trail to Matanzas Inlet - another free, cool spot nearby.We also saw some dolphins and typical cool Florida birds. Oh, and a lot of jellyfish actually.Tip: get your tickets early even if you want to do to the tour later - it’s not uncommon for all tickets to be given out by the middle of the day.Great time - we’ll be back.

2024-03-23: Fort Matanzas National Monument is a well-kept piece of history. The fort was built in 1742 by the Spanish to protect against enemies from using Matanzas River to enter St. Augustine. The fort contains relics, cannons, and the Spanish flag is flown. The National Park Service ferries people via pontoon boat to the fort for a guided tour. Be sure to get tickets early due to limited capacity. Trips are hourly from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather-permitting.

Loved it! We didn't realize the ferry goes only once per hour on the :30, so we showed up 5 mins before. We went to the office and they only had 1 ticket left. So, we were bunmed and walked toward the water, and the ranger there asked his buddy in the boat if there was room for 2 more. He said yes!!! Thanks, Rangers!Ferry ride was 5 mins, and the fort, though small, was really cool! If you're physically able, I'd suggest climbing up the ladder and going on the top of the fort. Nice views and fun! It's a 45-min round trip excursion and I thought it was great!

It is free and pretty nice. A short safety before gettong on the boat is given. Then off you go. The 5 minutes ride is smooth and when I went it was a beautiful day. There were dolphibs but I didnt get to see them. The fort is small and when we got there a short history talk was given. We had abput 10-15 mins to explore and gwt up to the watchtower. It was a extremely short time and felt rushed but that may be because they are trying to preserve the structure.

Cute but short stop for a fort. Fort is accessed by a ferry which is free and ran by the National Parks. It was running every 30 minutes when we visited in Oct. We did not go out to the fort due to time constraints but I'm happy we stopped. Small gift shop on site and restrooms are near the parking lot. Lots of outdoor space including picnic tables and some trails to explore, one trail was closed during our visit due to construction. Birds were around and even saw a turtle. Mosquitos are everywhere too, bring bug spray.

Pros:*Free entrance*Kid-friendly*Free ferry ride to the watchtower*Excellent, free guided tour(great humor and really helped us to immerse ourselves in the time period)*Not too long! The ferry ride is about 5 minutes. The tour of the watchtower was about 45 min.*Excellent photo ops with cannons*A dolphin was spotted!*Several birds were pointed out(blue hering, osprey, pelican)*Jellyfish were spotted during the ferry ride.*Junior Ranger program earned my kids a fun badge with the fort's name on it. Just ask, and they will provide your kids with a free book/pencil to complete the assignment to earn the badge. It was a fun activity for them to complete on the ferry ride there and back.Cons: Ferry tickets are free, but they are first come, first serve and only available in person(not available online or over the phone). We came yesterday, but all of the times were full. So we came first thing this morning and had our pick. If you come from out of state to see this, make sure you arrive when they open to secure a ticket.You can bring an umbrella if it rains.Thank you to all who provided a wonderful experience for our family!

The fort is very small and the ferry ride is very short over to the fort. The visitor center is also very small. They have nice restrooms near the parking lot and huge beautiful old oak trees and a picnic area. There is no grounds to explore around the fort. You have about 45 minutes to see the fort and can take the ladder to the top to see the roof but it’s a very narrow opening at the top of the later. Must be able to navigate the tight opening. We had a 5’10” ish 190lb 65 year old grandpa with us and he was barely able to get down the ladder. The rest of the fort is accessible to everyone by stairs. There is a small beach area you can explore but full of oyster beds so are only able to explore the shoreline.

Our little guy loved the splash pad! We went on a weekday so it was not super busy, but I imagine this place does get a lot of foot traffic. The beach access is convenient, they have family restrooms, outdoor showers and free parking.

FREE ENTRY.FREE FERRY RIDE.This monument is very cool. You get to go on a ferry ride across the way to the monument. Our guide, Caroline, did an amazing job explaining the history and relevance.We saw dolphins and other wildlife on our way over. Definitely kid friendly. Not wheel chair friendly. Steep stairs and ladders.Definitely climb to the top, up the ladder, and look out. It’s amazing something built in the 1700s is still standing today.

4.7

(3899)

4.5

(2176)

8635 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA

2 lists

Been coming here for 40 plus yrs. Still amazed at the size of this beach. It's never crowded, anytime of the day. It's a gradual walk into the water, no drop off. Perfect for kids. Lots of places to stay and eat. The pier is so much fun on a Saturday night.You can't beat this place!

Save your money not worth it.. unless you bring everything there is nothing to do here. The water is nice and the beach is relatively clean but other than that it's not worth it. It's packed and loud, no shade or any attraction, not really any where to get food. and despite the fact that on the website it says there are designated areas where you can take your dogs there are none and you will get kicked off the beach, after they take your money and let you on it

Miles of old worn-down and poorly-aging condominiums dot the highway. The place needs a major face-lift and more recreational and modernized dining options. Some of the high rises are so close to the waterline, it looks like they are about to fall in. In December, this place is a ghost town.

The ‘Worlds Most Famous Beach Daytona Beach’ sign is nice and all but really the beach is pretty good and totally worth a visit; don’t just snap the sign and leave. Mostly blue water, light sands and great to see everyone social distancing. waves looked fairly gentle, a lot of fishing and a lot of families having good times in the sun. Beach umbrella rentals doing a roaring trade when I was there.

Awesome views with great beaches. Very convenient to drive on beach and park not having to drag coolers, umbrellas, etc.

A beautiful beach ⛱️ it was worth stopping g by and swimming 🏊‍♂️ in

If you are planning to visit this beach, do not search “Daytona Beach” we got confused as Daytona beach is a city name. You need to search by including “World famous” in it, and it’s for a reason! You can drive in your car around the shore for $20. The beach is very clean and calm. If you have enough time do spend an evening there, you will never get bored of this calmness. We saw all kinds of people having fun, camping, dancing, modeling and making best of their time. There are limited parking outside the entry gate, it’s better to take ticket and drive at the shore. A must go if you are around Orlando

Very clean beach, never crowded and the water is always fun to play in. If you are lucky enough, you can catch dolphins swimming near the shore in the morning.

Daytona beach really surprised me! I loooved getting to spend time in the water and just relaxing. Very chill and family vibes. The sand is white and the water is clear enough for me. I would definitely go again and visit!

Came by to walk the pier and check out the food. The whole beach smells like smoke and garbage. It feels super dirty so you won’t have an appetite. The beach did look like a great spot to play in the sand and had great waves.

I normally avoid this are of Daytona, it is where the party seen is. Although I went today seeing how last minute we decided to go watch the sunrise so we did and then hung around the beach for a few hours. The beach was dirty the people that go there to party unfortunately do not clean up after themselves! There was a man passed out in the sand as well, clearly from the night before and yes I made sure he was alive and gave him some water and he went back to sleep without a care in the world. Do your part and clean up your trash.Otherwise it was a great trip. We enjoyed the sunrise and we spent a couple of hours getting some vitamin D. Kudos to the workers on the beach they where out early picking up the trash and emptying bins doing their best to clean it up so BIG THANKS for that. I would advise going further away from the boardwalk for family’s just my opinion but as always we had a great time.

Driving on the beach is a different experience. But other than that, nothing special about the beach. Very congested place. Unclean beach. No easy access to showers or washrooms. People blasting music with loud speakers and smoking everywhere. Can’t even breathe fresh air at the beach due to the cigarette smell. Jacksonville and St.Augustine beaches are so much better. Daytona is an overhyped place.

This area (experiencing a high rise construction boom) has become run-down, with little variety in cheesy souvenir shops, T-shirt shops and bars predominant. Everywhere we walked we inhaled the secondhand skunky-stink of pot smoking tourists. Ugh. The beach itself was a mess with trash - tossed cups and food rinds littering the sand. Sidewalks are grimy - City of Daytona Beach, you should be ashamed..! Hire people to rake the beaches and use pressure washers on those sidewalks.! Disgusted by the condition - we will never return here..!

4.6

(2253)

4.5

(4750)

838 E International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32118, USA

+51 other lists

I got great seats and the fanzone experience but it wasn't the VIP I truly wanted. Drivers don't sign autographs for kids anymore. That was kinda disappointing. Race was great. Prices not bad at the concessions.

It was an excellent experience to go to Daytona and be inside the most famous track in the world, we went to the Jeep Beach festival, it is a “crazy pod” the volunteers and everyone who was there were happy, the vibe was spectacular!!! Daytona here I go again

Posting review late, we visited here on September 17, 2023Highly recommend coming here, either for a race or to experience the tours! I was a little kid in a candy store, this place is amazing if you're a race fan! I recommend doing the tour, lots of great information that I never knew about!If you don't do the tour, definitely go visit the museum! They don't just have Daytona cars in there. They have a little bit of everything! Very cool! I wish we would've had more time to see everything in the museum though, we had to catch our tour bus by a certain time. The gift shop has something for everyone, so don't leave without stopping in there. Overall, I'm very happy we came here even though it wasn't race day! We'll be back though!

This place is more organized than my local school district, amusem*nt park, and boyscout troop combined. Everyone is so incredibly nice.Our experience is a memory for a life time.

They've really improved the fan experience over the years here. You can't have a bad time at DIS even when the weather isn't optimal. We had the coldest weather for the Rolex 24 and I'm not a cold weather girl but I braved it and had an awesome time with my Mom!

This is the closest racetrack to us. I like to go here for the several car shows they have during the year and for the museum. This is the best time to visit as there is plenty of spaces to park then. If they are having a race make sure you get there early as it will fill up quickly. The museum is real nice and you can see the history of the track there as well as some of the cars that raced on it. This is also the place to buy your souvenirs.

My grandsons and I took the tour of the Speedway. It was awesome! They are big race fans and enjoyed being able to get on the track. This tour is worth the $25 tickets. It also includes the museum.

This experience was awesome. We got the tickets to take our boys to see the museum and take the tour of the track. It was well worth it. Our kids had so much fun, and we were so happy that they enjoyed it. It was a bit pricey, but honestly, it was worth it, especially seeing my kids' faces.

A must for car enthusiast! The tour is awesome!! Our guide was very knowledgeable, got to see most of the track, even had some cars going round the track. Lots of great auto racing history in the museum

I loved attending the Rolex 24 race! I've also taken the Speedway tram tour a few times and really enjoyed that experience as well! I don't even know anything about racing.😉 The tours are a little different every time depending on what is happening at the track. Always plan ahead because tours can sell out. I highly recommend any activity at The Daytona International Speedway!

This racetrack was much bigger than I thought the pictures don’t even give it justice! I was supposed to attend the Daytona 500 this year but because of the rain they had to postpone it till the following Monday so I had to go home. However, even though the Xfinity race and the Daytona 500 race was postponed because of the rain, I still enjoyed my time and got to see race cars up close and got to see how they land in their positions. It was an awesome experience. Will come again when the weather gets better.

I won a chance to drive my own car on Daytona International Speedway through a loyalty rewards program called Marriott Bonvoy. I drive a Suburban daily, so I did the only sensible thing I could think of, I rented a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3LT with every bell and whistle on it Chevy has and had the time of my life! We were supposed to only get four laps each on the track, but a few of us got lucky and got five in! It was something I'll never forget. All of the employees went out of there way to make sure we were all having a great time, top notch from start to finish!

Went to Daytona 500. What a wild ride. We had 2nd row seats and it was intense. I wanted to experience the most intense experience and we got it. However you will have a better viewing experience from the top rows.All in all I really enjoyed it.Once in a lifetime experience don't care to go back. It's far more enjoyable on TV.But it was an intense and insane experience in reality

Truly a cool place for all gear heads and car enthusiasts. Enjoyed attending the Turkey Run car show. So much to see, all on the inside of the track. Really cool getting to walk on such a famous track racetrack! Didn't have to pay for parking either.

One of the best experiences I had on my Florida visit! Most people are not aware that you can actually buy tour tickets that will take them directly on the actual race track (near the start finish line!) which is super cool as you get to experience the track by being actually on it!

First time to a race. It was cool ! I loved the seats we were in it was a great view. Bring your own snacks and drinks its pretty expensive to buy food.Fun day except for the accident. 😬

The tour guide was very knowledgeable. He gave many opportunities for pictures to be taken. Staff even assisted everyone with picture taking.We got to see a handful of cars do laps around the track. The facility as a whole is very well kept.The only downside is that I felt a sense of "bait of switch" with the supposed photo that was noted to be included in the tour.Multiple pictures ARE taken,and you have the opportunity to choose whichever you like at the end of the tour.HOWEVER, you get presented with different options of your pictures to PURCHASE 😬. If you don't buy it,they give you a card with a QR code to SCAN and download/upload..🤯 The advertising clearly says that a picture is included..but they didn't specify as to HOW..so fyi..but despite that, I'd return there hands down. Oh and the guide gave helpful advice about attending when actual events are happening! That itself will be helpful for anyone 🥳.

The Nascar experience was incredible. If you can really try and pick a package that is longer than 8 minutes. I did the 32 minute package and don't regret a single thing! All the people helping you are professional and friendly. The ladies running the souvenir booth are awesome.

My husband and I took the tour. You get so much more for your money. The people are so nice and helpful to answer all your questions. It is so much to see, and you get your picture taken. They can print it there, and they also give you a card to scan and order it.

We visited for the Magic or Lights. Our family really enjoyed it. It seemed much longer than other displays we have visited which made it a good value for the money. The staff was friendly, and the picture ops very nice. We will definitely be back next year and hope it's a little different each time.

One of America's most iconic sports venues. Attended the 2024 Daytona 500 but spent the day before at the museum and on the midway. My son and I had SO much fun and thoroughly enjoyed race day! But you can go to the museum and to take a tour when there are no races and learn about racing rich history, not just NASCAR. I will be back!

I just happen to be traveling and working in the Daytona Beach area on Bike Week so I decided to shoot across the street from where I was working, to the Daytona Speedway to check out all the vendors and awesome bikes. I commend the event for all of the signage and barricades that they put up. Everything was easy to navigate and there were NO QUESTIONS on where you could and couldn't enter or exit at. It was quite the awesome sight and experience! Everyone I met or spoke to was super cool and approachable. (Yes..even some of the bikers that were a little long in the tooth...they were all awesome people!) Good energy, good vibes, good people, great bikes, great times! Everyone should experience this, even if you don't ride...you'll enjoy it!

Went with friends to take the tour. We had a great tour guide “Dave”. Very knowledgeable. Made the experience worth going. Sold us all on the sport and we will be coming back for a race. Thanks Dave !

For all the car enthusiast out there this is a once on lifetime experience if you get to go to Daytona 500 even if you’re not a big NASCAR person it’s really cool to see the speed and the culture at this racetrack. The track is beautifully maintained and the grandstand is well built where everything is very visible at the venue is also extremely friendly

Went for the Daytona 500 and will for sure go back. Track is huge. Lost of different levels for different views. Seats were honestly not bad. Free wifi was pretty fast to be honest. Really good connection. Bathrooms were clean. Parking is obviously madness but it’s expected with events of that size. Entrance was super easy. 10/10 in my book.

Fantastic experience, fanzone tickets a must, signed start line. Live bands, food amazing. Atmosphere unbelievable. Definitely need ear plugs. Daytona 500 book well in advance. Great day, but be prepared to stay in the area a few days after as they may change the day of race depending on the weather.

If you’re a NASCAR fan you need to visit the Daytona Speedway at least once. This place is massive. Don’t sleep on seeing a concert here or catching any race including the Rolex 24 hour of the Daytona 500. If you’re ready for more than take a few laps in a stock car at 150 miles per hour +

4.7

(25247)

4.5

(3774)

1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA

18 lists

We venture to discover new places here in Central Fl, so a time ago we saw this lighthouse from far and i wanted to find this place, i have been many times in Daytona Beach but never exploring the area. This place is a well maintained jewel, affordable we paid just$20 and we are 5 members, excellent for family with kids and you can learn more about this enigmatic place..Definitely i loved the experience but be ready to dare to go 203 steps inside the lighthouse..Beautiful site and views my kids have a blast here. 100% Recommended.

My family & I have been here twice since living here & both times we have really enjoyed it. The kids love climbing to the top of the lighthouse & the views are exceptionally breathtaking. The history & artifacts are interesting as well. Overall, this is a great place to stroll and look around w/ your family.

One of my favorite places on the east coast of Florida. Beautiful lighthouse w historic museum at the base. (Dont miss it, very interesting). The walk up the lighthouse will be rewarded with a marvelous panoramic view of the inlet and ocean. Then enjoy a walk on the beach... My favorite time is at night when the red color of the lighthouse shines as a bright beacon against the backdrop of the ocean waves and salty sea air. Later, take a walk down the jetty which can be absolutely breath-taking when stormy and waves thunder against the rocks.

The historic lighthouse, standing 175ft tall, has guided ships with steadfast certainty till the present day. There are many well-preserved artifacts and buildings, whispering tales of rich maritime history. Ascending to the top rewards you with mesmerizing panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and sprawling landscapes. A perfect destination for a family outing or a day trip, the friendly staff add to the experience with their informative insights and warm hospitality. The museum ticket window closes at 5 pm, so plan your trip accordingly.

Very lovely ladies "manning" the gift shop. They were knowledgeable and helpful with an outstanding sense of humor. The property itself was very well maintained. The exhibits were informative. Clean bathrooms added to the positive experience. Lastly, if you can make it up 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse you will be rewarded with a beautiful 360° view of Florida's finest waterways. Admission was reasonable and military service is honored with a discount. Please consider donating while walking the different "museums". It's definitely for a good cause.

I love lighthouses. I live in Florida, and I am visiting as many lighthouses as I can. So far, this is one of the best ones, although I like all of them.The lighthouse is in amazing shape, and the grounds are also in great shape. The lens museum is one of my favorite exhibits, but there are so many different ones in the park.There are 203 brutal steps up to the top, but it is worth every single step. After the 1st 2 levels, we started resting at each level, catching our breath and letting our leg muscles settle down. Going down is much easier, but the angle of the staircase keeps you going slow.The employees in the gift shop are very friendly and love to chat and share lighthouse stories and information. Their knowledge of the lighthouse and it's history is amazing. This is both a very enjoyable and historic place to spend a day. I highly recommend it.For photographers, you get an amazing view from the top of the Atlantic Ocean, two inlets, the surrounding area, and you can even see Cape Canaveral on a clear day.This entire park is funded by donations only. I hope if you visit and love it as much as I do, you will donate if you are able. A little bit can go a long way.

If you are in the area - the lighthouse is absolutely worth the trip. Pay the money and go to the top for a great view from this operational lighthouse. It's a couple hundred steps but can feel like more if you're in shape. If you have a problems with heights you'll find it to be great therapy. I'm a lighthouse fan and one of my life-long fantasies has been to live in a lighthouse. I've been here many times going back to the late 70's.

This was a cool museum and there is other stuff to do here if you don’t want to climb all the steps to the top of the light house. There is a lot of cool history on the ground level. It’s really simple to find this place from Daytona, you just drive south until you can’t no more. They stop allowing guest at 8pm but shutdown at 9pm which makes this a perfect spot to watch the sunset. There are a lot of steps to the top so if for some reason you are even REMOTELY hesitant about if you can make it, don’t do it. The only was down when at the top is down the stairs again and they are steep. When you are at the top they did a good job of making it where you would have to really try to fall so I personally felt comfortable with my 4-6 year old but I don’t know if I would want to go up to the top with someone younger.

Very nice experience with a lot of history. The walk to the top was rough but the view was well worth it. Would definitely go back. Nice place to just sit and enjoy the quiet, peaceful silence.

The tour was awesome. The lady at the register was so sweet. We walked up the 205 steps and enjoyed the views. A lot of history. Totally worth it.

I visited back in January and had a nice time there! I arrived a little bit after opening and had bought my ticket the night before on their website.This is the first lighthouse I climbed! And it made me want to climb as many as I can.There is so much to learn about on the property. I love history, so I really enjoyed that.It was quite busy and there is no control on how many are going up the lighthouse, so it was a little loud and crowded.I wish I would have climb up the lighthouse a second time but it just became a little over stimulating for me. I hope to come back again in the future and arrive earlier in the day.

While climbing the lighthouse is lovely and definitely the highlight, I don't know if I wanted to pay that price (for 2 people it is 13.90) and the tour is self guided. The history was very interesting to read and see, but maybe $5 would be better. They do provide you with a map and their are restrooms available.

I really enjoyed this visit. 203 steps very hard but the view was so worth it. We had 90° weather so it was challenging. $6.75 to go in, you can also visit the lighthouse quarters, is a museum and so interesting. Plenty of parking and very nice at the gift shop.

$7 per person for the perfect cloudy day activity. The drive to the inlet alone was charming, just wait until you get to the lighthouse! You must enter through the gift shop and purchase a wristband before you reach the campus. Once you are in the campus, you are free to roam. The grounds have several houses turned museums, a building that displays the lighthouse lenses, a tiny nature preserve, a few other misc buildings as well as the lighthouse itself. I highly recommend visiting on a weekday when there may be less traffic. This will allow maximum enjoyment and time taking. You can climb all the way up the lighthouse which is the 3rd tallest active lighthouse in the U.S! There was a lot to learn about the history of the lighthouse and of the native Americans who once occupied the land. All of the staff/volunteers were super friendly. I’m so grateful that I was able to visit while I was in town. This place is a gem to be active and preserved generation after generation.

One of the most memorable places that my family and I went to during our stay. The climb wasn't bad, the view was totally worth it. I bought a beautiful compass at the gift store. It was a great memory to share with my family!

This place was a pretty cool spot to walk around and explore on site. The price is perfectly fitting for what there is to do. The walk up the Lighthouse was really cool as well. They are not joking around when they say you should be in somewhat good shape to climb to the top, cause it is a lot of stairs. The view at the top though is well worth the sore legs one may get from this trek to the top.

The walk up is a bit intense and not handicap accessible, but it's beautiful at the top and well worth the hike. The views were lovely and the trek down was much easier. The other buildings on the property were filled with interesting artifacts. In particular, we loved the room with all the old lights. Worth a stop!

Small little historic outdoor museum and lighthouse.Lighthouse is almost 200 steps. Very cozy at the top!Easy parking. No water bottles. Leave at desk.

Fantastic lighthouse, grounds and museum! It's a climb to the top but well worth the view and it's the tallest lighthouse I've been to. So happy to add another stamp to my lighthouse passport book. We visited in October during the Fall Homeschooling day so it was busy, but there were a lot of employees and volunteers around. Gift shop is pretty big and has a lot to offer. Bathrooms and parking are on site. Visiting during the weekday, we had no problem finding parking in the back lot.

Great experience here! We learned so much about the history and working of the lighthouse from guides all over the place (on the top of the lighthouse and within each of the buildings. I am not sure if this was normal or if it was a special day, but it was fantastic (we went on a Saturday). Very responsibly priced in comparison to other lighthouses and it is the best!

Hands down the best preserved well kept and restored lighthouse we have ever been in. This lighthouse is 175 ft tall and has been fully restored. What Justice nice is the fact the grounds are well preserved with the lighthouse keeper and the two assistant homes in good condition. There are some great displays about the time. How they lived and just looking at the houses along with where they stored everything was very informative. You can go up to the top of this lighthouse but be ready for a good hard walk it will get your exercise for the day done.

The lighthouse museum & gift shop were a great place to capture some history. The lighthouse is open & one can climb to the top to catch an amazing view. The adjacent veteran's memorial park was extra special; a wonderful tribute to the local veterans 💙. One can easily spend an entire day here. It is most enjoyable & a great place for a family outing.

If you love American history, this place is a unique part of our history. The museum is comprised of 6 buildings where the Lighthouse keeper and his family lived and worked. Make sure if you are physically capable to go to the top of the Lighthouse. Awesome view!

Easily accessible from the Main Road, about 12 miles from downtown Daytona. It has plenty of free parking including for Handicap accessible Vehicles. The Museum and Grounds were immaculate and the Staff were Friendly and Knowledgeable.Restrooms are available and clean. There are also multiple drinking fountains.There is a fee of $7.00 per person to visit which was very fair.There is plenty to see besides the Lighthouse walk up, which we didn't find difficult as they have landings every so often if you need to rest.Finally the Gift shop is very nice and has plenty of items.If you like Lighthouses and History don't pass this up

What a great place to visit! The light station and the museum were so interesting and the building with the Fresnel lenses was AMAZING... absolutely spectacular.Also, the 'Hidden Treasure' restaurant, not too far from the lighthouse, was delicious with fantastic views of the inlet!

4.8

(10048)

4.5

(3507)

4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127, USA

20 lists

I have taken both the Xmas guided tour and the Historical tour. The Xmas tour is fun for those who enjoy decor. It’s very thought out with a lot of fun items to find. There are always different themes each year. But the best tour in my opinion is the Historical tour which is sadly coming to an end in a couple of weeks.The Historical tour takes you through the by history of the Stetson family, interesting facts about the home, and a discussion about his work as a hatter. Our most recent tour guide, Jo Ann, did an amazing job taking us from room to room and answering every question that the group had. At the end of the tour we purchased both books to take home and continue learning about the history of such an amazing home.The only downside of the tour is that you cannot take photos inside, but being that this is a private residence, and is only funded by tours, it is understandably why they ask for privacy.

We took the guided tour and I highly recommend it. Our guide was such a delight. She truly loved the place and gave us so much detail on the planning and history of both the house and the Stetson family. Plus her descriptive narrative was riddled with humor which kept us interested and made the tour more pleasurable. The 10 decorated rooms were amazing. Each room had a different theme from the others and from years past. We were delightfully impressed and I believe will make this tour an annual Christmas tradition.

A must see! Beautiful house. They still had holiday deco up so I want to see it without all of the decorations to get the real feel of the house and architecture. It was tastefully done though.

Lovely restored mansion with some nice Florida history. Go for the unique original architectural features. Plan on going for the spectacular Christmas decor.

Visiting the Stetson is always a treat, but especially at Christmas to see JT's talent on display! Beautiful decor highlights the historic home & is a joy. We took the guided tour & were treated to a heartfelt story from JT in the dining room about what Christmas meant to him & his family. Our guide for the rest of the home was knowledgeable & entertaining. Photos aren't allowed inside, but trust me when I say you won't be disappointed!! It's a sight to experience 🎄

We visited the Stetson Mansion today for the Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tour and it was fantastic! Highly recommend the guided tour with JoAnn to learn more about the decorations and a little history about the house. Her infectious personality and storytelling made our visit even more enjoyable.Each and every room, even the kitchen and bathrooms have a dedicated theme. The attention to detail and the creativity behind each room is truly amazing. I especially loved all the inspirational sayings sprinkled throughout the house. Definitely a must visit and our family will surely make this an annual holiday tradition.

Fabulous Christmas decor and a surprise pop-in by JT the owner who does all the decorating. Try to go to the 7:00 p.m. guided tour as it is special. Each room has its own decor starting with angels and cardinals in the Grand Staircase in the entry, Department 56 layered on a tiered tree, Snobabies filling up a bedroom and the kitchen dedicated to military heroes, just to name a few of the rooms. Such a beautiful sight it is still racing through my mind two days later. A must tour in the central Florida area as it is also one of Florida's most historical homes and the first to have electricity installed by Thomas Edison himself.

An amazing beautiful home with the most wonderful Christmas decorations anyone could imagine. It’s said that it takes 3 months to decorate the home and the passion and love shows.The only downside is that there is no photography allowed inside the home.

My sister and I took our mother as a Christmas present. She absolutely loved it, she had to use her walker to get around. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful getting her though it because we had to take our time to get her through. We would recommend it anytime.

The Proprietor spent 3 months decorating this home in a Christmas theme. Each room was intricately decorated, and we participated in a delightful guided tour. The Proprietor himself even came to visit and gave us some heartwarming background stories about the mansion and some of the decorations. Southern Hospitality at its best--when I had to take a break from walking and standing, the other Proprietor brought me a picture book of the mansion rooms, and I was able to scan the QR code to get my very own audio tour while sitting comfortably on the beautiful front porch. :) Truly a stunning home!

We did the Christmas Tour! Very much worth it! Beautifully decorated for Christmas! Kim was our awesome tour guide.

We came to the mansion because it was on a haunted house list. When we arrived the house was locked but the gate was open. There was a sign outside that says scan for self-guided tour. We went to the door to see if it was unlocked and it was locked. We walked around the house a bit and found a staff member. Explain to her that we were interested in seeing the inside of the house because it was on a haunted tour list. She was not happy that it was on a haunted house list and did not seem very friendly with us. She didn't explain that the self-guided tour was the Christmas tour and was $35 per adult and $20 for children. We felt that was a bit high. We took some pictures on the outside and when we went to leave she had locked us inside the property by closing the gate up and locking it. The staff member came to the gate to unlock it for us because we were sitting in front of it and there were people outside trying to come in for the tour. I think this property could be ran better than how it is being run.Follow us for more great reviews ™

Great tour at Christmas time for sure. Kim was a great host and gave us lots of good info. We would like to back outside the holidays to see more of the super cool house. Thank you for sharing your home, the rooms were decorated one better than the next!

Absolutely Amazing tour of this beautifully restored mansion, but to personally see the amount of Christmas creations strategically & thoughtfully placed in each room, nook & cranny was such a treat! It's a highly recommended must visit, & we plan on coming back again to experience the artistic joy w/ our visiting family. Great surprise!

It's expensive, but we really wanted to go to see the over-the-top Christmas decorations that this place is known for. We signed up online a couple weeks ago and paid then. Yesterday, the day before our visit, we received an email that revealed some things about our visit, set for today. It recommended using restrooms off property before arriving. The mansion's only restroom facility the public could use was a portable outdoor unit out in the parking lot. The other thing the email warned against was arriving more than 20 minutes early. It said parking was limited and the gates would only be opened at certain times. This was not an issue as we were early and parked easily and without hassle. We assembled briefly on the porch and started touring the inside of the mansion. Photos were prohibited inside (also stated in the email). We moved from room to room on the mansion's first and second floors as we listened to the tour's audio on our phones, which were browsed a lnk provided in that email. The audio program was the owner's own narration of the decorating job that he took the past 3 months doing himself. We thought the decorations were spectacular and captured both the Christmas spirit and the Stetson family history. Also there was a nice patriotic salute to servicemen near the end. It was all so well done and made us glad we visited the "mansion that hats built" today.

Wow!!!! Came here for the Christmas decorations and got so much more! The mansion by itself is unbelievable, the time and dedication it must take to maintain this beautiful historic home is beyond comprehension! The Christmas decorations what can I say WOW! Each room has a unique style and theme to it. Hard to pick a favorite room or design! We crossed paths with JT the owner and designer of the displays. He is a very talented artist and designer. He took the time to chat with us about his experience in making this come to life! This one of a kind place is very special from the architecture of the house to the Christmas display. I wanted to say thank you for sharing your home and your talents with the public! It was amazing!

Absolutely Beautiful Christmas Displays! Amazing historic craftsmanship. And if you get the honor of meeting the owner/creator of this holiday spectacular he is very amicable and a delight to chat with.

4.7

(628)

5.0

(5524)

1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720, USA

18 lists

This place is awesome! The butterfly garden is the best part. They have a discovery room for young children as well that has all sorts of neat things. The best part is the main museum is free. If you want to see the butterfly garden or the current extra exhibit there is a charge but it's totally worth it. 😀 Check their website, they have discounts on tickets for certain things.

Butterfly Rainforest had a nice large enclosed patio area full of beautiful butterflies and Luscious Landscaping. It was also a little bigger then I thought it would be. I didn't realize it had a full Museum inside until we arrived and I saw the sign for the museum. The museum was great it had a lot of different displays and was very informative. This is a great place for young & older children alike. Heck, I'm middle-aged and love it!!..

The environment was clean and well cared for with a great variety of plants and butterflies! Visitors are not allowed to touch or feed the little birds and butterflies that roam the environment. Photographs are welcome as well as sitting on the benches throughout to enjoy your day.

Amazing place! We took my 14 month old there and he loved it! It’s very children friendly; there’s a discovery area where you can sit and watch your children play and explore around, plus breastfeeding room and family restroom.The butterfly rainforest was amazing! You can see the butterflies up close. It was beautiful and relaxing. Definitely recommend for a family trip.We paid $22 for 2 adults.Parking was $4

If heaven was a place, this would be it. They have an incredible variety of butterfly species in here. It's absolutely fantastic to be able to see them all fluttering around. They provide them a large variety of pollinator plants so no matter the species, they are happy. They clearly care about the health and safety of all their butterflies and it's just magical to be able to witness it. I had to walk through twice just to be able to experience it again. 10/10 would recommend 💛

Beautiful butterflies, birds, and flora. They were not difficult to see, as they were very numerous, fluttering everywhere and not shy at all. We even watched a couple emerging from their cocoons. It was well worth the visit. It was a bit hot the day we went, but it's just that time of year.

Amazing exhibit! I could have stayed there all day. You go at your own pace along a path and you're surrounded by beautiful butterflies, flowers, and plants. There's even a small waterfall and a bench to rest or take photos. The butterflies sometimes land on you (one landed on my kid's face!). And when we went, there were also a few birds. The place is one big photo op for some awesome and memorable photos. A++

We had an amazing experience here at the butterfly garden! Seriously can't say enough good. We got a couple dollar discount on admission because of being FL residents.The indoor portion was very informative and educational. Also very well laid out and organized.The outdoor area, actual rainforest garden, was beautiful! Water fountains, birds, butterflies and beautiful plants. We enjoyed walking and taking it all in. Can easily spend a couple hours here. We enjoyed being able to observe all the nature up close in a safe weather proof environment.The Florida museum is right next door. We did not visit that today, but it was quite large and looked to be a full day.Parking was $4 and in a lot right next to museum. Restrooms available and a nice fair prices gift shop and penny machine at entrance.

This is probably my FAVORITE place in all of Gainesville. The Butterfly Rainforest does not disappoint. They are so active and you get to sometimes see them follow you through the garden. Love the flowers throughout the paths. Lots of parking available on campus.

Do not miss the butterfly garden if you are in Gainesville! It is inside the Florida natural history museum and is beautifully maintained by the staff. The garden is an enclosed space with hundreds of different butterfly species and is hardly a 5minutes walk inside. But you will surely take your time to observe these butterflies with their beautiful patterns and texture!

First time for me. It was very hot 🔥. Approx. 100 heat index. It was absolutely beautiful. Full of information. Did I say beautiful 😍. All the plants and butterflies. The girls had a good time. The blue ones are huge. There is a po d with fish and a turtle. We saw quail skittering under the bush. We went on a Saturday. Lots and lots of people. The Spider exhibit can be purchased in combo. We just did butterflies. Then after you can tour the free exhibits. There is a children's area with lots of seating for us older kids. 😀 worth every cent.

Butterfly Rainforest is like stepping into a page of a fairy tale book. Though compact in size, it bursts at the seams with vibrant life and natural beauty. A favorite among children, the venue is a testament to the idea that sometimes the most magical places come in small packages.From the moment you enter, you're greeted by a myriad of fluttering wings, as countless butterflies dance around, making it a delightful spectacle. The vivid hues of these delicate creatures contrasted against the backdrop of lush greenery and radiant flowers is genuinely a sight to behold.Speaking of flowers, the Rainforest is a paradise for botany enthusiasts. The curated collection of flora not only serves as nourishment for the butterflies but also provides visitors with a sensory treat of colors and scents. Each petal and leaf has been meticulously cared for, showcasing the delicate balance and harmony within this micro-ecosystem.The addition of the serene water body dotted with colorful koi fish adds another layer of charm to the place. Watching these graceful fish move through the water, almost in a rhythmic dance, is both calming and captivating.Though it might not take a whole day to explore, the Butterfly Rainforest leaves a lasting impression. It's a testament to nature's beauty and a gentle reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful things are found in the smallest of spaces.In conclusion, if you're looking for a quick escape into a world of vibrant colors, mesmerizing creatures, and tranquility, the Butterfly Rainforest should be on your radar. It's not just an attraction; it's an experience - one that both kids and adults will cherish.

Very enjoyable, a helpful, friendly staff, and wow the butterflies!! I visit each year, and the display changes each time, and many species are always present, and each time I visit there are new ones to see for the first time. I recommend going on weekdays when plentiful parking is available, and the crowds are less likely, and pick a sunny day when the butterflies are active for the best display :-)

We had a great time exploring the museum and the butterfly gardens. I did think the price was a little high for what was offered, but hey, the museum is free. The quil that run around are super cute!

Lots of butterflies! It was a bit crowded, but still manageable to get around inside with others. There are many different types of pretty butterflies and little birds that roam free or fly. This was a fun experience and they will land on you if you stand still or wear bright colors.

Very neat experience the butterflies, quail and finches were all very fun to see. Large showing Koi in the creek and beautiful fauna! The museum was equally impressive!

The Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum is remarkable. They have an unbelievable collection of butterflies and small birds in a beautiful ecosystem. It’s possible to get within inches of these guys for photos. The environment is also lovely, so peaceful that we could spend hours.

Absolutely a wonderful place for someone who loves butterflies. Although it was not a sunny day, we managed to see many beauties.We bought the package that also included the dinosaur museum and it is a wonderful experience.

By far the coolest attraction I visited while in Central Florida. So many butterflies, birds and even fish. Helpful and knowledgeable Staff. It was pretty busy but not overcrowded. Really enjoyed our stroll.

Lovely educational experience with kind staff. What a dream. We liked going to callaway gardens in South Georgia for their butterfly experience, this is awesome as well! Quail, koi & finches roamed & butterflies 🦋 soared & perched to rest. Waterfall & a hatchery. Neat museum and great visit and affordable

Amazing place. I was floored. So many butterflies, about 150 species. The exiting docent was awesome and informative. The ticketing people were cool for advising me of a good time to visit. I bought some fun socks on the way out at the gift shop.

Had a wonderful experience today at the Butterfly exhibit. So many colors, sizes and shapes. Love the birds in the exhibit as well. Price was very reasonable. Could have spent 2 more hours there, we loved it so much.

4.8

(2095)

5.0

(1255)

3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

+33 other lists

Cool water on a hot summer day! Nothing better! Mother Nature provides her own lazy river. Our family goes at least once a year. We love this place more than any beach. The wildlife is also incredible.

What a beautiful spot! We also got a break in the weather, the temperature was just right. But most of all...our guide Gina from Adventures in Florida was spectacular! She was the perfect combination of knowledgeable and friendly and funny! Pointed out so much wildlife including a ton of birds, some alligators and a bunch of manatees!

Very nice state park close to Orlando, about 45 minutes drive to get there. In December we are not able to swim but the beautiful spring kept many manatees, it was great time to see so many of them! Kids love them.

Gorgeous park! We had a great time tubing and walking around appreciating the scenery and wildlife. We were within 2 feet of a momma manatee and her calf that swam by and stopped to say "hi"! The restroom facilities and gift shop were both well maintained. We enjoyed our day here.

Plenty of things to do for everyone be it swimming, kayaking, hiking, boat trips. We went in mid November when we were unable to go into the water because of the migrating manatees but just to see them in their natural environment was well worth the tripAmazing place!

I love coming here all year round. During the summer you can get in and enjoy the cool crystal clear water, and during the winter you can walk around and enjoy the wild life. There is so many manatees that visit each year, it's really amazing to see. There's also a boat tour that you can take but you have to get tickets in advance. There's a nice playground area for the kids, and there are also cabins for rent. And did I mention that the entrance fee per car is only like $6.

It was beautiful! We saw several manatees. The picture is of a mommy and 3 babies. There's a $6.00 per car fee to enter. There's trails and rentals. There is a campground, store and lovely walkways and viewing areas of the crystal clear springs. Beautiful park.

This is an absolutely beautiful park! We went in the beginning of April and it happened to be firefly season. It was absolutely magical. I would recommend it to anybody! We'll be coming back next winter when the manatees are there. Can't wait!

Love it every second. My husband and I rented a kayak for 4h. We were able to spend 2h only as I was not expecting to see so many alligators 😅... the park is amazing and the manatee is so cute. We were able to see one only, but it was great. If you are looking for some time with nature and quietness here is your place to go. Arrive early, and don't forget to do the boat tour at St. John's river, it is breath taken. Will definitely come back for more adventures... be very careful with the gators of course 😅🙈 they can come quite close 😉

Wonderful time with friends. Manatees, gators and bird oh my. Beautiful day, went on the boat ride. Best time in a long time. They knew what they were doing. The lady knew her animals and their stories as she picked them out and the gentleman knew his boat to get close to the animals as he could get. Great team. Then we went to the swimming hole and saw more manatees and they had a guide to make sure nothing harmed them. Swimming hole cold but, refreshing.

It was awesome! Cold, but that was expected for a spring. The water was pretty and a nice clear sea green color from the algae and spring floor. There were so many fish! Including alligator gars. I got lucky and came when a group of rescued manatees were being monitored to see how they adapt to the habitat. I got to see them up close and it was such an experience! The camping was really fun too. For my first time it was really really nice and tranquil. It felt good to escape civilization for a few. Recommend this park to anyone. Reasonably priced too, imo.

An absolutely gorgeous river fed from an easily accessible spring. A wonderful opportunity to see much aquatic wildlife, from gar fish to manatees!The water is crystal clear in most spots, making snorkeling equipment a must. The lazy pace of the spring-fed river is perfect for tubing as well.There are full amenities at the park including a bathrooms, shelters, and a store.

It is truly awe inspiring. The amount of wildlife, chiefly manatees but also gators, big ones at that, in close vicinity is really special. The water is so clear that you can easily spot all of the different fish species including gars. The park also offers picnic areas and if my memory serves me right restrooms and vending machines for water and sodas. The boardwalk throughout the park is also a perfect way to get around to the upper ponds and to do some bird watching while exploring the area. I will definitely return.

Camping review. Love the campsites here. Plenty of woodland coverage feels like all alone. Restrooms clean and hot water for a shower. Easy walk or bike ride to the spring. Lovely 73 degrees water, and two manatees swam by while we were swimming. Excellent bike/hiking trails and deer everywhere.

Had a fabulous time! Rented a canoe through Blue Springs Adventures doing the unguided option and it was worth every penny! Only spent the 6$ for park admission and it was around 34$ for a 4 hr 2 person canoe rental (they also offer kayak rentals). Lots of wild life; birds, turtles, manatees, snakes, and gators! Oh my! 10/10 do recommend and will do again! After we finished our canoe trip we went down to the springs to cool off which was the icing on the top of the cake!

The park was kept clean, the water was great. We were able to swim with the mantees while we were there they swam near the head of the spring. You are not allowed to touch them though, and you have to stay 20 feet away. There’s somebody who stays on a kayak and kind of follows the manatees to make sure people are leaving them alone. And that’s a good thing. It was nice to see some wildlife in the water with us. you can scuba dive here so that was fun to see the scuba divers going down into the hole. The current is very strong coming out of the hole so for younger children it could be difficult. I was able to walk through the old house of the person who used to live there, that was pretty cool. And they have a nice park for the kids, kayaks you can rent, lockers and tubes for rent. Now there’s not a lot of picnic tables so if it’s a crowded day that could be tricky if you’re trying to catch a table… But it’s not bad it’s very pretty lots of open grass to lay a blanket out if you wanna go picnic style. There is a decent amount of bathrooms probably about 8 to 10 stalls. I would definitely recommend !!!

Blue Springs State Park is stunningly beautiful. The crystal clear water, the Manatees swimming, fish galore, turtles sun bathing on logs near the water, all amazing sites. Spanish moss hanging over the water is so pretty. Anyone visiting will not be disappointed. Gift shop, picnic areas, kayak rental.

Amazing!! So many manatees! And great trails, lookouts, bathrooms, museum, giftshop, etc. we did wait a while in a car line to get into the park, but it was only $6 per car. Like $2 for pedestrians, and more for bigger vehicles. Didn’t need a lot of time, not a whole day experience. An hour or two to walk the trail and watch the manatees. There’s picnic benches, lawn, and a lunch bar I believe too!

It is a fantastic place to bring kids and family out for family activities like picnics while enjoying God's beautiful creation. It was ONLY $6 per car at the entrance. They have a gift shop and a Kayak for rent if you like to roll around the lake. Beautiful area! 🥰❤️

Marvelous geologic experience of a fresh water spring and boil, easy walk with concession stand and restrooms. Mostly shaded. Fair entry price. Great way to experience natural Florida without having to worry about being in the water with the alligators! We had no wait to enter the park and found convenient parking without a problem. Very nice.

Beautiful state park with crystal-clear spring water. We visited this state park twice and both times in the month of December. Hundreds of manatees gather here in the spring from mid of November to March, and it's such an incredible sight.

Exceptionally beautiful spring and spring run. The boardwalk is also an easily accessible path which you have the potential to see so much wildlife from. One of the best places to see manatees as well during the winter. The park staff do a great job with maintaining this park. There’s also a hiking path inside the park accessible from the lower parking lot called pine island trail… east but long and very little shade In Some parts. I love visiting this place and have done so many many times!

My mom and I went here to check out this beautiful Spring. We hiked a little, walked the boardwalk along the spring area and did a 2 hour cruise on the St John's River. It was so peaceful and wasn't very crowded when we went. You can swim, tube, snorkel and dive the area. The water is so clear, but 72 degrees, its a little to cold for me. We saw a few manatee, but during winter time this place gets over 700 manatees coming in. Beautiful place and recommend. Great seeing undeveloped areas.

I've been to Blue springs quite often through the years yet it is only getting better with time. The rain kept the crowds down so the experience was even better. As you can see from the photos, the turbidity of the water was very good. Crystal clear in most places, so as to be able to see the plethora of wildlife. The source of the spring I found was the best place to enjoy swimming and the clearest water. As you travel downstream you begin to see a tremendous array of fish, birds, turtles, etc.Definitely was a wonderful day at Blue spring State Park 🏞️.

Awesome place to go kayaking and swimming. The kayak rental station hands out the last batch of boats at 3pm and you have to be back at 4pm the latest. The park closed at 7pm that day.Very clear water in the spring and we could spot some Manatees.

This is such a picturesque spring.I had an amazing time swimming with the manatees (at a safe distance) and taking in nature’s best.Tip: When paying for parking online you have to go down the list and select the right location. :) (You might have to pay again at the gate if you select the wrong park.)

Went with my boyfriend to see the manatees and there were so many there! I know they look like rocks in the water but watching them swim around with their babies was so cool. A really good time, highly recommend.

Very cool place to check out.. unfortunately we didn't see any manatee, but we did see lots of fish and cool birds. Nice little walk and playground for the kids. Will definitely come back.

One of my favorite places in the world. The amount of joy I get from seeing manatees flock here every year is beyond comprehension. There are always such dedicated and passionate volunteers there fielding questions about the park, manatees, the nature there, and engaging with kids and visitors alike.I’ll miss not swimming here this year as they undergo construction to help the shore erosion, but, I’m so glad they’re maintaining this space for years to come.

Such a beautiful place! Water is so clear you can see all the fish and there was a huge variety of them. We were there towards the end of the manatee season but were able to see one manatee that had been rescued with a tracker on it. There was a volunteer there that was very helpful and informative and answered all of our questions about manatees. The walking trail is easy with several overlooks of the spring. Restrooms were very nice and clean. This place is a must see!

Went right during prime time. So there was a line up to get in. The rangers kept the line moving quickly. We were lucky to find parking. The main walk is paved and boardwalk with overlooks. The day we went the manatee count was 482. There were a lot you could see from the walkway. Was an amazing sight to see them. The water was clear and kept getting clearer the closer you got to the spring.Highly recommend visiting!Restrooms, gift shop, and small snack stands on site along with kayak rentals.

Lot of construction, but still super cool. Ton’s of alligator gar, catfish and other miscellaneous fish. Water was super clear. We also saw a momma manatee and her baby, as well as others. Handicap accessible.

This place is magical. It was so cool to see all the manatees hanging out staying warm. When I went, the count was at 146! Earlier in the week, they had the record for almost 1k!!! This park is beautiful and I wish I would've packed a picnic.

Such a great place to visit to see some manatees. There were almost 300 there on the day we visited so the water activities cancelled but we weren’t planning on doing any anyway. I can imagine it’s very cool to do on a hot summer day. There are also some nice trails and plenty of bathrooms and food options.

A lovely park with plenty of activities. If you time your visit right, you can see a lot of manatees and other wildlife. There's also setups for kayaking and diving so you can explore the area a little better (not available during manatee season)There's a historic house with some educational material available, but it's very focused on a colonial mindset, with little information available regarding the indigenous people who resided here originally.

Blue springs State Park was beautiful. My fiance and I were incredibly happy with the camping site. Lots of shade level ground easy access to water electricity it was great. The only thing that we didn't care for was the fact that the Blue springs was closed this year all year and they don't tell you till you get to the little house to pay. Nothing on the website nothing on the gate as you're coming in. We stayed anyways it was still fun lots of critters squirrels deers possums raccoons. Well go again but maybe we'll wait till the springs are open.

A visit to Blue state Park will not dissapoint. They have regular boat trips, just check that they are running on the day you want. All done on-line. We went early May, so all the manatees had gone. Plenty of fish to see! We saw an American Bald Eagle. Lots of other birds too. Even saw some deer and the prize of the day was an Armadillo! Lovely board walk that offers plenty to see. This walk is wheelchair friendly too. There are restrooms there and a small shop for souvenirs and to buy cold drinks. If visiting for the day just make sure that yiu have enough water and food as it can get very hot!

4.8

(15166)

4.5

(2089)

Florida, USA

+30 other lists

Silver springs is absolutely beautiful. Went there for the first time for our 6 year anniversary. The glass bottom tour was amazing. It was so cool seeing all the different springs like that. The river is so crystal clear it's amazing. Definitely recommend to any first timers. It was very worth it and a truly unique experience. Definitely plan on going back when it's cooler to kayak!

What a fantastic place to just forget about your troubles. We rented kayaks for two hours and started at 9am. I recommend this time or earlier if you don't like crowds or are new to kayaking. We also did the boat tour, which was awesome, and our captain was very friendly. Don't forget to tip them. 😉 They are going through some renovations which are expected to be completed in the fall so no gift shops or Cafe. You will not be disappointed going here.

Our kayak trip was amazing! We did the 2 hour float. The water is crystal clear, and pictures do not do it justice. The staff was super friendly and well organized. We showed up a little early for our reservations, and they let us go a little early. The clear kayaks we reserved were out for repairs unfortunately. They refunded us the difference and apologized for them not being available. We still had a ton of fun! Would highly recommend this trip!

Definitely the glass bottom tour was worth it. We went during December Christmas break and there were plenty pf manatees . We could spot a number of them when they sneak peek above the water. As they were swimming and having their breakfast under water , the visibility was low around them so it was hard to spot them through glass bottom but our captain of the boat was so sweet that he tried to get us a glimpse of it under water and we did, a big one swam just under the glass bottom. It was a great sight. We did see a alligator basking in the florida sunshine ☀️ and number of beautiful fishes. It was so crystal clear and there were several springs which we toured above. It was overall a great experience. Definitely a must do on a clear sunny day. One can also take a glass kayak/canoe and spend their own sweet time in these waters.

The springs are beautiful. We’ve gone paddle boarding here many times, renting and bringing our own. The loop is easy and can be made in less than an hour, if you’re in a hurry. The long trip down the river is so fun and the gators, monkeys and all the fish and birds make the paddle so fun. This is definitely something worth doing a few times.

Did this trip last year with 2 others and had a blast. Decided to come again with 5 others. Had an absolutely wonderful experience both times.There was a short wait to check in and pay and then put the kayaks in the water, but it wasn't too bad. The River Patrol was very helpful with information and directions.Highly recommend anybody to come and experience this. If you don't have your own kayak, you can rent them.Looking forward to next year!

Found this beauty while exploring the area on a business trip to Ocala. The most beautiful blueish green water. They have clearly defined trails and a beautiful boardwalk area that loops you through the forest. Didn’t get to take the boat tour but it looked awesome with the clear see through bottoms! Lots of parking, well maintained restrooms, and reasonably priced to enter! A must see if you are in the area!

Really nice outdoor activity to do with family! We were hoping to see a manatee but we didn't, unfortunately! Maybe next time. We brought our dogs, and they loved sniffing around. Lots of new wildlife to see and hear. Wish we had more time to kayak. Such beautiful water here! The boats looked fun, but we didn't go on a tour. The front lady was so nice and spoiled our dogs with loves and dog bones!

An extensive and beautiful natural park with a couple of shops/restaurants and one can also explore it by boat/kayak/canoe. The boardwalk encompassing a rich forest area has several shaded spots. For me the highlight was watching the wildlife in crystal clear water and seeing a pretty good sized gator from a safe but close distance. Parking is not a problem, lots of free spaces. Well worth returning to.

We live pretty close to Silver Springs and we try to go every morning for our walk. The staff are great every question you have they have an answer. The grounds are well maintained and very clean. If you come at the right time you will see the monkeys, once you spot the first one it's easy to find the others. You will also see all kinds of wildlife alligators, big fish etc... I could go on and on. We see something different every time we go and that's 4 or 5 times a week. It's a great place to come just to have coffee and enjoy the nature.

There is lots to see why paddling around on the water. You can do a short trip or spend a day there. They have third-party kayak rentals, or you pay the park fee and can launch your own.

It's about 2 hours north of us but we've been several times this year for paddling. The shuttle service is great and worth the price. So much gorgeous scenery and wildlife and it is a very relaxing ride down. Would recommend to everyone to go at least once.

Beautiful place to kayak if you have the chance. It can get pretty busy on the river, so it's best on a weekday first thing in the morning. Highly recommend! We came across a wide variety of wildlife during our time down the river. Manitees, alligators, turtles, monkeys, various birds, even jumping fish!Piece of advice, if you kayak/canoe make sure you utilize a waterproof cell phone bag that FLOATS! Almost lost my phone for good if it weren't for someone with a net coming by just by chance.

Beautiful place a lot of trails a garden out of mates. We did the kayak we bring our kayak you can rent in the place you have a beautiful trail with the kayak. You can see all the kind of animal birds, monkeys mates and if you already pay for the campground, you don’t need to pay for the park And also if you don’t want to go today park you can just bring your own kayak and put in the water and start the trail. It’s very beautiful place quiet and it was not out of people. The water temperature is 72 but you cannot go inside the water in this place, very recommend! Enjoy your trip

We love Silver Springs. It is amazing to kayak. You see birds, manatees, alligators, turtle, fish, sunken ships and several springs not just Silver Springs. We have not been on the glass bottom boats but have overheard the boat captains and the seem quite knowledgeable. It is $5/kayak to launch your own kayak but parking is free. We have been here in December and saw several manatees and in April and saw the birds in their estuary, amazing both time frames though I think I'm my opinion the Spring was a little better because of all the birds. However, I don't think you can go wrong any time of year.

A beautiful nature gem in Silver Springs Florida.As soon as you enter the park, you can start seeing the fauna and flora within the park. The parking is ample and free.The entrance to the park is only $2 and kids under 6 are free. Senior discount is also available. You can have glass boat excursions for an additional $12.The persons attending the booth are superb. They make you feel welcome.The park has many walking trails for you to enjoy. The fauna and flora are all well kept and beautiful.We took the glass boat excursions and saw a lot of enchantment that Silver Springs has to offer.If you are lucky, you may see turtles and alligators during the trip. The captain was a blast. We were laughing from start to finish.Highly recommended.

We have been to Silver Spring State Park twice so far. It's so enjoyable. We have done the glass tour which is a great experience and also you get a lot of information from the captain of the boat while on it.The canoes / kayak are a must, you will get the opportunity to enjoy at first sight the marvelous ecosystem of this spring, the clear water, the music of the sound of the birds and if you are lucky enough you will see manatees, alligators and turtles. There are also trails and camp grounds.The have some spots to buy food and also have clean restrooms.We are very looking forward to come back soon.Please respect the environment and keep the place clean.

Amazing experience!! Didn't get to explore the hike as we arrived late. But glass boat tour was awesome and kayaking in rain was wonderful. Clear waters were so freaking clear

Beautiful & wild. Pristine river as nature intended to be. Amazing clear spring water. Well worth visiting. The glass bottom boats will provide you with a unique and mesmerizing experience .

Such a beautiful place to kayak at! We paid the entrance fee and launch fee and brought our own kayaks and paid 12$ for two people, we chose to paddle back and not get out at the Ray Wayside Park which was a little bit of a challenge but definitely do able! We seen fish, turtles, so many birds, a decent amount of alligators and some manatee! Would highly recommend for a nice relaxing float down the river while searching for wildlife!

We canoed the river and springs in our own boat. What a beautiful place with white sand on the bottom, the sink adding makes the water look aquamarine. We saw dozens of turtles, almost as many Anhinga and Cormorants, Ibis and Blue Herons. Also we spotted a couple of alligators and maybe a dozen Manatee in several small pods, plus a couple alone. Just wonderful. We did the small loop which only took about 70 minutes.

We love kayaking here at Silver Springs State Park! Not only is the water beautiful, but you can see Manatee, alligators, turtles, and some beautiful birds. After kayaking we enjoy a nice walk along the trails. My husband was excited to see an original suit from his favorite movie Creature From the Black Lagoon on display.

Staff was argumentative and cranky. Lots of crowds! Would not recommend if you have your own kayaks unless you are patient and can maneuver through all the renters and the glass bottom motor tours to find the nature and peace/quiet-beautiful once you do. (Also did not see any monkeys)

Very beautiful place to visit.. it's about 1.3 hours from Orlando but it's definitely worth it if you need some nature time! The water is beautiful.. you can rent kayaks or go on a boat tour.. it's very clean and well kept. There are several monkeys close to you when hiking around, definitely will be able to see them and get a good picture of them.. They do not like dogs so be mindful of that..

Kayak rentals where a bit pricey ~($45/$60) and line was long to get shuttle tickets but it is definitely worth it to kayak this river it was gorgeous and see-through the whole 5 mi downstream trip the shuttle cost 15 additional dollars to get back to your original parking spot. We saw tons of monkeys, river otters, alligators, birds and other wildlife. It was beautiful and shaded/had tree cover approximately half the trip so I did not get sunburn even though I forgot my sunscreen. Took about 3 hours to go down all the way down stream.

Beautiful but very crowded at the start, partly because the Fort King trail was closed. Really caused a snafu at the put-in. But otherwise lovely! Be warned, if you are an average paddler, definitely turn around at the big orange arrow! It's easy to go farther than you intend and end up paddling against the current on your way back. We were dog-tired when we finished!!

Our group took the 90 minute boat ride down the river & it was a great day. We had a lot of folks who had never been there before I& we were able to see all kinds of wildlife. The river is so beautiful and unspoiled and clean. Well worth the price. It is dog-friendly, with a lovely gift shop, cafe, and welcome center. We saw monkeys, gators, manatees, all kinds of birds and fish. We had a great boat captain

We visited on a Saturday in mid March and it was packed! Almost no parking when we arrived close to 1 pm. We hadn’t made a reservation for the kayaks but we were able to get one for 2 people without problem. We did a 5 mile trajectory on the river and took us about 2h. The shuttle took us back to the entrance. We saw manatees and monkeys!! Then we hiked for the blue trail and yellow trails. It took us about 1:15h but wasn’t very scenic. There’s not a lot of shade so keep it in mind. We would definitely go back! Beautiful.

We went here for a stop going back to Michigan. It was well worth it.I believe it’s $2 to walk around d$15 each for boat ride.We went in March and we were told the Manitees were all gone.We saw a mother and baby!Several alligators.All 4 springs. He gives all the history on.

4.7

(10097)

4.0

(2106)

5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488, USA

+49 other lists

Pretty fun! I think it’s a great place to experience maybe once. If with small children, maybe more fun but it’s a once and done kind of thing for me personally. The park was very cool and fun to walk through! Attractions and rides were mostly visual ones, where you sit and it virtually takes you through a ride - so it’s not like a normal park with big, outlandish rides. Very family friendly and not bad for an amusem*nt park overall. Would recommend especially if you have younger children!

Had a great time despite the hot weather and roller coaster being down for 75 percent of the day. It's a little pricey in gift shops and food but thats too be expected.. If you have teens I'd go for island of adventure.. Still a great experience either way.

Phenomenal experience with the different immersive rides you can take. Plenty of water fountains and lockers for the rides that require it. You should definitely bring a small bag that can fit and a bottle of water. There is a good amount of shade but a hat and sunscreen will make your life easier. You can get wands and cast spells to activate different water features which is pretty neat. Go early in the morning when it opens.

First time to universal and it was a lot of fun. It's not just for kids. It's a lot of rides that are very interactive and entertaining, even for adults. They have a large variety of food which is great because you're going to want to be there all day. The food is a little pricey for what you get but it's decent quality. I would recommend checking it out and will definitely come back for another visit.

Orlando Florida. Awesome. Loads to see and do. Great rides, great food, a lot of shops to do your shopping. Harry Potter biggest attraction at this location. Kid friendly. We went on Thursday - it was pretty busy but average waiting time for rides were 10 minutes. Great place to visit with your family.

I loved Universal, I haven’t been there in the last 6 years because I thought my kids were to small for the rides but I can tell you that I was wrong because they really enjoyed the parks and they are 7 and 6. We as a family ditched Disney after this trip to Universal, we even bought annual passes. They came with a lot of benefits, like fast passes after 4 PM. Universal parks are less crowded than Disney’s plus I don’t like the path Disney has gone, especially for my kids. This visit was on Thanksgiving week but we return on Christmas week because we had an awesome trip and the kids wanted to return.

The best time EVER! Going as adults is even more amazing than going as kids. Hubby and I had an absolute blast. Yes it is pricey but the details in the attractions can't be beat. The food was great and the water refill stations around the park was a huge plus. Highly recommend!

This place is peak culture! We took our girls to Disney last year and really no one had a great time. My fiancee and I were in Orlando on our own so figured we would check it out. She had already been a few years ago and thought I would like it. Can’t say my teen daughters would absolutely love it but we did! This place is so nicely done it’s crazy. Of course food and drinks are high but not insane. Tickets are a bit high but everything is these days so whatever. This place is more for thrill seekers than Disney, which is me! I think I rode most or all of the roller coasters and they were a blast. I didn’t really care for the simulation type stuff as it makes me nauseous but they definitely have some cool stuff. All in all I personally would rather spend a few days here than Disney, until I have grandkids one day or something.

Always a great place to spend the day! Lots of food choices, definitely will cost a good amount of money to eat while there. If it's feasible, bring a bag/backpack with some basic supplies such as water and snacks. Small lockers are free and will definitely not fit a backpack, and the larger lockers that will accommodate backpacks you can rent for a short period of time for $2. The Rock It roller coaster is intense, absolutely love it!!

Okay, let’s admit it you are going to go here regardless of how many stars this is rated. But I need to be honest. There is the endless walk from the car to the actual park. Then you spend half your day waiting in lines. That is unless you buy the express pass on top of the already insanely priced ticket price.We enjoyed taking it slow. This does not mean we did not get annoyed at times.It is Florida. It is hot. Don’t forget your sunscreen. I can’t tell you how many people were hurting with sunburns. Also, it rains. When it does, some rides shut down. They shutdown even when you think they shouldn’t. Your opinion of rain does not matter. This can be frustrating when there is a 60 minute wait and you are 45 minutes into the wait!Some lockers are free, some are not. The ones for the water rides are NOT!Everything is expensive, but the water fill ups are free.BONUS!!!! You can find gluten and dairy free options in many of the restaurants. Just ask. It is best to get to the restaurant before the crowds so you can ask for their options.

Every time I visit Universal Studios in Orlando, I have an absolute blast! The level of attention given to every detail truly impresses me, and it's a delight for any fan to experience.The staff and characters at the park are incredibly friendly, adding to the overall magical atmosphere. The attractions themselves are absolutely fantastic!Universal Studios Orlando is a place that captures the imagination and leaves visitors with unforgettable memories. Definitely, the perfect place for all Harry Potter and Marvel fans!

2 adults in August from the UK.What can I say? It was expensive but worth it. We had 14 days at the park, so we didn't need to rush or buy express passes-there was simply no need.Many wait times aren't as long as they say.The rides were great, the food was good and the staff were excellent.

I really enjoyed the street dancing at Universal with their cast members in beautiful costumes, hair and makeup. The minions attraction having a stand only section for an infant to still be inside and see it was an accommodating touch for youngsters! The “real-life” talking transformer was super cool. Lastly, the shopping was fun! My grandsons looked adorable in their matching minions shirts 😊

This is a great place to visit. Be sure to give enough time to get it all in. There is a lot of walking between islands of adventure and universal area. If you like roller coasters, don't miss Hagrids motor bike. You can get express passes for a single day and get them all in if you plan it out some. The food is not cheap but never is at theme parks. There are plenty of clean bathrooms and friendly staff to help you out with your questions. Character meet and greets. Lots of 3 d rides are amazing. Don't skip the shows they are great as well. The monster makeup show was super funny and would recommend you see. I was very happy overall and would do again. 10 out of 10 Park.

Taking the kids to Universal (Island of Adventure) for their first time was definitely a wonderful experience. We all had a great time, enjoyed most of the shows, and literally spent the whole day at the park. At night, the show was beautiful to too. Everybody was waiting for the Harry Potter castle to light up, and when it finally happened, the crowd went crazy specially the kids, like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. I would definitely go again soon and also visit the other parks as well. But overall, Island of Adventure is my favorite Universal park.

Came here to add more fun family time and excitement for a special 21st birthday celebration. We focused more exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter because we're huge fans. You can explore both worlds in a day, but it felt a but rushy because of the closing hours of the parks. Other then that you can expect a crowd no matter the season (*my family and I were there mid January). The places to eat or grab a treat at the park/parks is endless. Since we focused venturing the Harry Potter Worlds, the restaurants, treat shops, etc were all super tasty and delicious! We had the best time ever. I wish Universal would extend their park hours so visitors don't feel rushed to explore more. But... you bet we'll be definitely going back soon! The rides are thrilling and fun!*Tip: expect to pay $2 for bigger lockers. This is for big bags/backpacks on some rides. Using your ticket barcode you can get a small locker free. (Ex: Small lockers fit smaller items like small bags or mini backpacks)

Universal Studios Florida exceeded my expectations. The park is massive and I barely made it through the whole thing by the time they closed. The walk from the garage is equally as big, so prepare to do a lot of walking when you go. Like Disney World, there are many family friendly things to do here, however, some of the rides are a lot more intense. In some of the rides you rattle so much you almost get a concussion and have to walk off the headache before you get on the next one. I definitely recommend spending the money, if you can, on the fast pass. The first ride that I went on was without it and the wait was about 45 minutes, and then I got a fast pass and immediately got on it again, as well as the rest of the rides that day. Harry Potter world was amazing, I felt like I was in the movies. The Hagrid ride was my favorite, which the fast pass unfortunately did not work on, and the wait was around an hour. The smaller rides are okay, but I'm sure kids would love them. I can't wait to come back here again.

I had a wonderful time at universal as it was my first experience an overall seamless and exciting time. Our main focus on this trip was the Hogwarts express and the entire Harry Potter experience. Great photo ops and Everyone was in full character. I thoroughly enjoyed reliving My childhood experiences with the books and movies. The Hogwarts express, although the lines are pretty long, it seemed to move along fairly quickly and orderly, the hogsmade experience was truly spectacular , especially visiting honey Dukes, and dervish bangs. The lines are pretty long for the three broomsticks and getting butter beer but well worth the wait. Everyone was polite and in full character. Of course there’s a lot of walking, but there are accommodations for those with wheelchairs and children strollers. Be sure to wear your good shoes. I like that the parking was so organized however, of course this is Orlando so the traffic was insane and it took about 30-45 minutes just to get into the park after getting off the highway. Overall, a great experience and definitely will return.

We were here on a Thanksgiving weekend and it was fully packed, which we expected. There was a huge wait for Harry Potter and Minions rides. But, other than that, the lines moved fairly quicker. This was our first experience with 3D rides and we just loved it! The Vertical Roller Coaster is one hell of a ride. So as the Revenge of the Mummy. Transformers, Minions, The Jimmy Fallon show and Simpsons and the parades were all fun. It's a very happening place and covering everything in 1 day may be a bit tight. Plenty of Food options available. But they are priced high as one would expect in any amusem*nt park. There's a plenty of walking to be done. So, be prepared for it. Overall, it's a great place which one should visit and experience at least once.

We had the most awesome time! We will def be back next year, maybe even a 2 day ticket! Love the shade they have for when you need it and wait lines are somewhat short and are shaded or air conditioned. Parking was a breeze and not a far walk either. So many great attractions and shops. This place really was fun for our whole family

Very nice and agreeable attraction park with a diversity of rides mostly based on special effects and movies, such as Transformers or Harry Potter. The parade and fireworks were very good during the Christmas 2021 holidays. Recommended to anyone looking for attractions during holidays.

I love USO. It's so much fun. I took my 2 teens there and loved it. We did the mouse house when they were little. They loved that place too but wanted more thrill, and USO did not disappoint! We stayed on property, which made it even more enjoyable

First time back in many years. They took some notes from Disney and it is a much happier place now. Staff were all excellent across the board during our 3-day stay. I will advise that the fast passes are not fast. Or express. They just cut the line wait time in about half. It still means waiting 30-40 minutes for the more popular rides. If you really want to take all the rides, take one of their VIP tours. Well worth it.

Had such a great time here more positive than negative points. The best time to visit would be week day non school holidays.Queue times for the rides were not too bad when we visited. It seems the place has been designed to keep everything cool, and fans and light water is sprayed in the air, making it much more comfortable than Disney.Negatives are there are not many places to sit down and relax it is go go go all the time which is fine being young and healthy. But some may want to take some breaks which could prove difficult.There are very minimal food outlets to grab something on the go, I imagine this is intentional to prevent littering, etc. Unless you fancy bakery goods or Starbucks, there's nothing else really unless you want to go for a sit-down meal, which in 30 plus degrees isn't great. Sometimes, you'd prefer a light snack.I was surprised that the city walk area where all the food outlets were very small and queue time was crazy.I thought America was all about fast food, but there was absolutely nothing fast or friendly about the service here, which was surprising, really.But non the less due to it being a quiet period, it was manageable. I dread to see what it's like in a high season.

Excelent!!! It is very funny and great park specially when you go with you little one and take him the place you have been when you were a kid and see him get amazed the same way when you were a kid. We enjoyed even if we couldn't get in many rides because the park was pack and some rides had delays. We got our annual passes so we will be able to come back soon.

Amazing place we had so much fun. Definitely bring a poncho, it rains pretty much everyday unless you want to buy a $20 poncho inside. I recommend spending a day to each park. You cannot do it all at one day. The one with rides and the water park is definitely our favorite. Buy the pass for the rides, all rides have long lines

Incredible place to visit with the family. Amazing selection of attractions for all ages.. if you’re a Thrill Ride fan Universal is Perfection. Any Harry Potter fan would be in their glory. A bit pricey but that’s to be expected. If possible, invest a bit extra to get the express pass.. it really helps with the lines, saves you quite a bit of time and really lets you hit the main attractions. Without the pass you’ll be 75 minutes plus for the main attractions.Enjoy 🤘🏻

Universal Studios was satisfactory. The scenery was amazing and really transports you to another place. Probably a cool place to take children. For thrill seekers however, there aren't too many rides worth the trip. The island of the adventure side is better for thrills. The main downfall is it's just so expensive; Parking, entrance fee, lockers, food, optional express pass, ect.

A great theme park with rides for the entire family. The different themed areas are very nostalgic. The staff is friendly. Like most theme parks, food and souvenirs are expensive, but it's expected. If you have the pass that allows you to travel between the different parks, you get to travel on the Hogwarts Express which is super cool. Definitely a much bigger park than Hollywood with 3 different parks on the campus. Gringot's Bank was such a fun ride.

We had a great time at the Universal Studios, one of the three parks. Didn’t check out the Islands of Adventure and Volcanoe Bay. Came on the first Tuesday of May, everything was walk on and wait time was very short. You can safe yourself some money by skip the Express Passes. We loved every ride and every show. It was a well staged park. We paid $328 for two adult one park and one day tickets. Parking was $32. Food was average $20 a person plus $20.22 freestyle cup with unlimited refill. It was an expensive trip, but fun!

Visiting Universal Studios in Florida for our honeymoon was so much fun! From the adrenaline rush of the rides to the magical atmosphere of the world of Harry Potter, every moment was filled with excitement and joy. Exploring the park with my wife made it even more special, creating memories that we'll always cherish and remember. It was the perfect way to kick off our new life together, surrounded by fun and feeling like a kid again. Highly recommend for couples looking for an unforgettable experience!

Their website is thee most confusing thing I have ever paid my eyes on!! I bought what I thought to be entrance tickets for two parks with fast passes. The total was $1,300!! So, I thought surely that was what I needed for my husband, my two boys, and myself! NOPE! I got to the gate, only to be told that I had only purchased fast passes to skip the line on rides 😳 I paid $1,300 to skip the line?? I then proceeded to the ticket booth to be told that entrance tickets are $250/person for EACH PARK!!! I ended up paying the money for the 2 parks we intended on visiting because we planned our whole trip around visiting both, but man was I seriously disappointed 😞 The lesson I learned was to never, AND I MEAN NEVER, visit Universal Studios during spring break!! NEVER EVER!! The one positive thing was how amazing our hotel was!! We stayed at the Double Tree by Hilton at the entrance to Universal Studios!! Amazing hotel all around and the price was even better!! $155/night compared to $250-500 a night to stay at a Universal Studios resort/hotel!!

A lot less crowded compared to Disney, so the wait times are a lot shorter. This Park has more rides suitable for younger children (Check height restrictions), compared to the Islands of Adventure. Some rides require you to rent a locker to store your backpack, so I would suggest to bring a small one that fits in a small locker, which is free. The bigger one cost $3. It's best to buy the Park to Park tickets, so you can ride the Hogwarts Express Train between the Parks. You can video a friend walking through the wall to Platform 9 3/4

We visited for spring break and had an absolute blast. The park is amazing, detailed, and clean. The crowds were not bad. I do recommend the express pass, even tho the cost is up there, not having to wait was more than worth it. We will definitely be back.

The Non-Private VIP experience is worth the extra amount you pay. The ability to see parts of the park you would not otherwise see, you are fed two full meals (breakfast and lunch - these are quality meals presented in professional and friendly manner ) and there is reserved seating to watch the parade at the end of your tour, are just some of the reasons this tour is worth the money. You also get 10% off throughout Universal for the rest of the day, which is nice too, since you have been eyeball shopping through the day as you toured the park and rode the rides. Our Tour Guide Jen was fantastic! Friendly, joyful, knowledgeable, funny, energetic, and all around she just seemed to really love and appreciate her job. We were able to ride all the major rides with little to no wait time and when Jen discovered that one in our group could not do the rides and was looking for more of a Universal Hollywood experience Jen, Jen's supervisor, and a colleague of Jen's went the extra mile to accommodate the guest. Jen was intentional about understanding the likes and dislikes of our group and to see that each person had a special, individual moment during the day. Our last ride of the day was the ET ride (which as someone who was born in 76' I had a full appreciation for this ride and it was a great way to wind down an otherwise exhilarating day) and Jen had ET say bye to each of us by name! It was terrific and such a nice personal touch. After this experience, you aren't going to want to do this any other way than the VIP way. You can easily spend the same money on food and souvenir in a day, this way gets you on the rides, without waiting, with meals included, designated space for the parade, and 10% off throughout Universal...it's worth it.Date of experience: December 2023

In my opinion, Harry Potter world is the best part of Universal Studios. We bought the park to park pass for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which we loved taking the Hogwarts train to and from. The staff are so friendly. There is such a variety of food and themed items, all of which are enjoyable. We stayed in one of the Universal resorts, which was so beneficial to have access to the park early and to take the shuttle bus from our hotel to the park. I absolutely loved my experience and can’t wait to go back!

Amazing and really fun place! It was really BIG! There were so many corners around the area and so much to explore. I was literally struggling to move after an entire day at this park- and there was still stuff I have yet to explore! Lots of different places to visit and lots of fun, chaotic (in a good way) rides. I had especially a lot of fun on The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man! It felt so realistic, even though it was just a 3D experience. Honestly, it had more action than most of the roller coasters I rode in my lifetime! The food (inside numerous restaurants, cafes, etc), were also pretty good. They ain’t the best, but it gets the job well done.Honestly, to conclude, I guess I’ll suggest which parks to go and buy tickets for:Volcano Bay is great if you love water rides or not. That place is practically full of these rides! If you don’t like water rides, consider Island of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida.Island of Adventure has a lot of thrills (as in roller coasters) and kid friendly rides. In my opinion, this park is probably the best park for people seeking thrills or have young kids with them.Universal Studios Florida has a lot of 3D experiences. It has a good amount of thrills (roller coasters, droppers) too, and they’re usually a lot more intense than the ones in Island of Adventure. If you don’t like roller coasters and hate heights but also want to experience the adrenaline, Universal Studios Florida is the one for you. I think this park is best out of all 3 parks because they have consistent amounts of each type of ride.WARNING: It’s just a heads up, but the lines for these rides are very long. However, that’s probably really normal for a branded theme park anyways. Have fun if you decide to go here 😊!

I personally love Universal Orlando over any of the Disney theme parks, hands down. From the staff, to the food options, prices overall to the holiday perks…it is an amazing experience. We live in VA and are season pass holders because we love it that much. Best Halloween Nights by far compared to any park I’ve ever been to.Plenty of places to sit and rest your feet and shady spots to find. Indoor locations have great ac And they have rides of all thrill levels. I personally love Suess Land. 🤣

I love this place ❤️I can't even begin to describe how awesome Universal Studios is! 🌟 The moment you step foot in there, you're transported to a whole new world of excitement and adventure. The rides are mind-blowing, like seriously, your adrenaline will be pumping like crazy! And the attention to detail in the park is just insane. It's like you're walking through the sets of your favorite movies. Plus, the staff is super friendly and helpful. They really go above and beyond to make sure you have the best time ever. I totally recommend checking out the Harry Potter section too. It's like stepping into Hogwarts! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

4.7

(137320)

4.5

(41360)

6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

+25 other lists

The experience was phenomenal!Came with the family and we all enjoyed it tremendously!The staff were very engaging with us and respectful.The food and drinks were pricey (understandably) but very good!Will definitely come back again except with a multi day pass!

We loved everything about this place including the food and butterbeer. We made sure to stop in every shop and check out all of the rides. This was for sure a large part of wanting to come to Universal for me, but even my husband and the kids were excited about it.So much of it looked like it was taken straight from the movie set, and Olivander's was a magical experience. Three of us got wands to use the interactive displays and it was such a cool place to visit. We are still talking about when we can go back, and our visit was four years ago.Thank you so much for making this Harry Potter fan so happy!

Growing up in HP, all I can say is that I love this place. All the shops and buildings just give you all the good feelings. This is my 3rd time around, and everything was still exciting.The staff are generally nice and helpful.The bathrooms' cleanliness is a hit and miss.The rides and eateries are fun and exciting.For Butterbeer, I suggest getting a frozen one from HogsHead and also a shot of Bailey's (if you're over 21).The downside is when you try to do magic around the park, and the sensors are really hard to work with. It's really difficult to make a spell work, and oftentimes, there is an out of order sign behind the spell shops. If they can only figure this out, then the experience will become truly magical.Highly recommend express passes to avoid hours of wait time. If you are staying at the hotels, your unlimited express pass is included.

If you love the world of Harry Potter, you will love this. They recreated the world of Harry Potter done to the last detail. The land is so immersive and life like. From the feel to the buildings, to the food including butter beer and all the magic wands, the rides and the fire breathing dragon.

Looks of stuff to do, the rides were amazing with decently short wait times on weekdays. Lots of different food and drinks to try from. Butter beer is a must try. Lots of places to shop for Harry Potter themed stuff. They definitely got pretty much every detail on point. Would definitely recommend this place if you are a fan of Harry Potter or even just visiting universe studios. Will definitely be back.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter then this is your place. It is pretty magical. I would spring for the fast passes but be warned they don't work for every attraction especially the sought after o es.

The moment you walk into this place you feel like you've stepped into another world. The atmosphere feels totally different because of the effort they put into making this place. Ever part of it feels magical and leaves you wanting to explore more and more of the place. The butter beer is great and tastes delicious. The various little shops in the area all have great souvenirs and other fun stuff to purchase.

Wow. This was a really cool experience. For any Harry Potter fan, this is a must see if you’re at Universal. I really enjoyed all the little Harry Potter references and the attention to detail. It was crowded of course, but it was still an excellent time. The butter beer was better than expected. We also enjoyed Olvander’s wand shop. It was like a mini-show built into going into the wand shop. Totally fun and worthwhile without being a big wait.

The park is nice, but the lines all forever, you can spend all the day there and just get into 2 or 3 rides. Do not start the day with the Hadrid Ride, because you will find more line and the others rides has less. Not all the rides are good, so choose wisely. Starting in island of adventure and then taking the train to the universal park is a good start, the most newest and exiting ride are in island of adventure. Avoid vacation time and if you can go during winter, will find less people and a nicer weather.

Bought online a 1-day, 2-parks pass to visit Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade specifically. We were sent on a “mission” to look for wands for our 3 boys knowing full well, “The wands pick the wizards,” not us! Must get there as early as possible because that’s the only way to take pictures without being crowded out.The two parts are surprisingly compact sharing a total of 5 rides. We took 4/5 with our express passes. It did not apply to Hagrid’s which was intense but the best. The ones which need 3D glasses are ok but bothersome.For HP fans and non-fans alike, the detailing is quite amazing and impressive. People watching is a bonus especially the legion of fans dressed up like wizards and waving their wands to “activate” their spells at the various Interactive wand spots. Rather amusing when you see them struggle.So much HP merchandise to buy and they are expensive. F&B is expensive too. But it is after all a bucket list destination so bring lots of money for a once in a lifetime experience (applies to foreign tourists only LoL!)

We got a 3 day pass Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We got there early and wasn’t too crowded. If you want good pictures I’ll recommend to do the same. There is so much to see and do in the wizarding world. If you can visit in the morning and at night. It’s worth the view.

Honestly, I am not typically the type of person who gets excited by amusem*nt parks, but the Harry Potter experience at universal is unbelievable. Not only is it meticulous in its attention to detail, but it’s really accurate to the movie. There are ways to explore all kinds of moments, like the train to hogsmede, which actually takes you there, but down to butter beer, and a range of Easter egg activations you can use your sensor wand to play with. The rides are excellent. Also, as a London native, I appreciate that they don’t totally screw up the references to the UK. It was raining when we went, which added to the authenticity!

Out of this world this place! The magic is real. Amazing atmosphere and the butter beer is to die for! We will definitely be going back again & again

4.8

(16768)

5.0

(41332)

6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

+34 other lists

Took the family of teenagers. Lots of options of rides: thrill, virtual, water, etc. The favorite was velicicoaster which was awesome. Loved that they had water fountains while in line.Like any other amusem*nt park the food was expensive, $35 for two personal pizzas and a single fill drink. The good was good with a good variety.The staff was very friendly and helpful.The app was also helpful with the map and wait times. We didn't buy the express pass and got onto all the rides in a relatively decent time frame 65 min bent the longest.Really my only gripe was some rides require you empty everything from your pockets and pass through metal detectors. I'm sure lawsuits are to blame, the gripe is the locker process isn't that great. Free inside of 30 min but the rides such as hulk take much longer than that to get on🤷🏻‍♂️.Overall a positive experience.

Very, very, very expensive! But we had the most fun here versus Disney World. The expensive part was just the admission and getting the express lane option with the park hopper pack which I'm glad I got. If you're spending a week here and get one of their deals where you pay for 2 days and get 3 days free for a total of 5 days, then sure you probably don't need the express lane, but you're going to spend majority of your time standing in lines, especially for the popular rides/attractions...We were able to go on just about every ride and even went on some twice. The express lane pass really benefits you if you only have 1 - 2 days to spend here. I was almost about to get the 5 days, but then I thought how that's going to be 5 days of mostly standing in line. Most lines were 50 mins or longer.. There was some that was really short, but that's because the rides was really bad, looking at you Fast & Furious...That fast and furious ride needs to be taken out or updated. All the bad guys in it are now good guys and it was ridiculous. It wasn't even over the top fun like the movies, it was bad.... definitely the worst and weakest ride...Didn't really experience the food, we mostly were on a mission to ride as much as we could because we really didn't get that at Disney...This theme park definitely had more and better rides than Disney, but if you have going kids then I can see why Disney might be more appealing and it is cheaper, but their lightning pass is a scam, it's not unlimited like universals express pass...I was wanting more of the "tour rides" that we've seen in countless movies, like Jaws coming out of the water. I guess I'm just old and those have been retired or not at this location? But I was looking more for those type of rides and there wasn't any. The Kong ride was the closest, but it was the Peter Jackson King Kong. It wasn't the new Legendary Kong that's part of Godzilla vs Kong movies, which the advertisem*nts kind of made it seem like it was, but it was still fun...I do feel for the people though that wait an hour or more for a quick 3 min ride, if that. They do seem like they should be longer, especially the video 3d rides...But overall it was the most fun at a theme park and a great end to a week long vacation in Florida... Well, little over a week...

I loved everything about islands of adventure. Didn't have long to wait for most rides. Where ever we had food it was very good and the prices were ok. It seemed to have a much better vibe and seemed more fun than any of the Disney parks we visited. We popped in and out of the park with ease during the 5 times we visited over the space of 8 days. It's also great that it within a short walk of universal studios and city walk too. I would definitely go back when I can.

Fantastic park, only complaint is the crazy queues even on a weekday in early Nov. This is the best Universal Park for thrill seekers. Good variety of rides and fantastic details and special effects. Park is super clean and staff is very friendly. Obsessed with the Velocicoaster!!!! Express pass expensive but worth it, or try riding the singles lines everywhere. Be prepared to walk a lot!

The park is really cool, it's huge and has a lot of extreme attractions, I think the Hulk roller coaster and the velocicoaster are super cool. The park is for those who really like fast things. The food is delicious and the experience of being there is unique. If you have the chance, take advantage of it!

Outstanding park experience from entrance to exit. The staff as you move through the entrance to food and parks was fantastic. Signs to get around were very helpful and clear to follow. The restaurant selection outside and inside the park are amazing. You can find a nice restaurant and also many regular fast food options. The cleanliness of the park and the staff maintaining was top notch. The people working as spider man etc.. extremely friendly and enthusiastic with people. An outstanding family day for is.

My first experience at this place was more than I had ever expected. Each themed section is nicely set up that it literally feels like you are transported to that world. The rides are even better when you step foot into the buildings. Even before the rides you are immersed into the character's world while waiting to enjoy the ride. Do visit with friends and family at least once. The one time is worth it!

It's a very fun tour accessibility is great for you to get to the place it's very easy accesses are well facilitated ample parking and very easy to park. The problem is the price is $27, but it's still for the whole day, it's not for an hour inside the fun is complete because there are many attractions and toys that cater for all ages, you'll have fun alone with friends and your girlfriend or with the family, this tour is really worth it, even if you take it for just one day, it's still worth the queues inside. They look great but they still ride well and it's worth the wait. I recommend in all senses.

Love this place! Fast pass done right. Real rides and roller-coasters. My kids loved this park best out of Universal Studios and Disney Magic Kingdom. Disney needs to redo their fast pass. As it is right now I would say not worth the money. Universal fast pass is definitely worth the money. Would we go back? Yes we would.

It had been over a decade since my last visit, and nearly everything was different! I was happy to see the Cat in the Hat ride still there, and so well maintained! Everything, honestly, was in excellent condition, and I loved the entire Harry Potter area! It was SO well done and had so many hidden surprises. It did not disappoint!

Lots to do and see. While the rides are awesome, my friend doesn't like rides, but there was so much to do and we didn't need to stand in any lines. It's a great time either way, riding the rides or enjoying everything else the park has to offer. It was like we entered the movies and it was a fun time taking a break from reality.

There is so much to do here! I can't even begin to start with one ride or section of the island that was better than another. We definitely felt this island was a bit more interactive for a family and more fun involved than at Universal Studios or Volcano Bay. Highly recommended to visit but be prepared to wait in long lines for rides. We purchased express tickets on top of the park pass and it was definitely worth it! Because of having an express pass each, we were able to experience more rides and more fun than waiting in line for hours and only be able to ride a few rides. We will be coming back!

This was our first time to this park. It was Thanksgiving week, so it was busy as I expected. I have 2 kids, 14 and 12, this park was fun for them. We enjoyed going through Dr. Seuss area and we even did some rides.We loved the Spider-Man ride. The water rides were fun, the big round tube in Popeyes area, we were entirely soaked from head to toe, so you will definitely get wet. Even with the plastic coverings it does not protect your feet, shoes, and butt from getting wet. We were fine getting wet, but I definitely got wetter than I thought.My kids favorite ride of all was the Harry Potter Motorbikes. Harry Potter area is the most packed of people compared to rest of park. At night the castle had a lightshow for Christmas, very cool, but people everywhere!!!The Grinch show was very cool even for my kids who were thinking it wasn't going to be.There were definitely a bunch of places to eat and drink everywhere. We had a great week, we hope to return again someday.

Universal island of adventure is so adventurous. If you like crazy coasters along with many other ride this is the best place.We love the King Kong ride, spider man meets to blue reptiles Harry Potter water ride.And meeting to avenger and comic characters adds more fun.Place is the dream to visit we all love it thanks universal.

Absolutely one of the best theme parks in the US I had so much fun here, if roller coasters 🎢 are your then, then you should absolutely go for islands of adventure. Get ready to do a lot of walking though. I would also recommend you get the four day pass, because it’s almost impossible to see everything universal has to offer in just a day. If you can afford it, get the express pass because it makes your wait time so much shorter. Have fun 🤩

Best trip ever!! We had a blast. The lines were long but moved very quickly. The staff members were nice and appeared to really love their jobs. The Spider man ride is a must!! We spent 3 days there and still didn't get to do everything. Yes it was costly but my children enjoyed every minute of it

Great experience! I actually found that i liked it better than Universal Studios. Islands of adventure have more extreme rides and adult rides which i found way more fun. Also, i really recommend to buy the express pass, it might cost twice to three time the ticket. BUT I was able to do all the rides I wanted and all the most popular ones (i did like 7-8 rides) from 10:00AM to 3:30PM. That would be impossible without the express pass..

We had a FANTASTIC time! We stayed the week and had the park Hopper passes. Even as adults we felt like kids again and had sooo much fun! Everything is so well themed at Universal! The amount of detail put into every attraction is just amazing!!- there was always something you didn't see previously. At the eateries, the food was good but you can't get that kind of ambiance anywhere else!

I couldn’t imagine being any happier. This place is so magical. The crowds were insane at points but it seems the deepening into the park you go the less people are around. Also, the velocicoaster is so insanely fun. Secret tip, go tell them what you’re celebrating and they will give you a button to wear and ask for some fast passes to celebrate and they will more than likely oblige.

Bought 2 days pass for two parks and got 3 days for free. Cost was $300. Visited Aug 2023. Weather was 110F. So planned evening visits and that really made a difference as wait times were shorter and we were able to enjoy all the rides and shows. Highly recommended specially for families and kids

I typically don't review these type of things however I wanted to point out that this was by far the best Park we have ever been too! Clean as can be, everything was organized and ran perfectly. Fans in all the lines to keep you cool and once inside the building the A/C was a much needed add on to our waits. We went on a Friday during the day (Arrived at 9am). Parking was a breeze and only ($30) and from there it was smooth walking and entry into the park. We chose Islands of Adventure since we had been to Studios multiple times before. We honestly didn't wait on average for longer than 30 minutes per ride. Again I can't state how clean and nicely ran this park was. I would choose Universal over Disney parks 10/10 times! Keep up the great work and we'll see you again soon!

We went here one night on our trip to Universal Studios in Florida and had a blast. This place was a lot of fun for me and my boyfriend. I really love the theme and architecture of the entire place and there's so much to do. I wasn't even bothered with having to walk a lot during the trip as it was so nice being in the park. It was absolutely beautiful and the rides were so much fun. We had a lot of fun here, at the regular park, and at City Walk, which are all conveniently connected. Getting in with our tickets was a much easier process than I thought it would be, even without having fast passes. I would highly recommend this park for anyone planning on going to Universal Studios in Florida.

Super park! Both me and my child really liked it. Cool rides, especially the motorcycle ride. However, the queues are crazy. We came specifically out of season, on Monday. And still there were huge queues. We had unlimited fast passes, I highly recommend buying them. Otherwise we would have been waiting for an hour. The bad thing is that the fast pass does not apply to the coolest attraction and you have to wait up to 2 hours! Oh, are you crazy? Make an electronic queue! As in all normal places. Why do you think that being forced to stand in line for 2 hours is normal?? Ugliness.

Wow, customer service is #1 at Universal Studios Orlando. Every interaction with staff, from shop workers to food service to ride attendants was beyond positive. Everyone made you feel so important and special. The park is so well maintained and beautiful. Rides are amazing, you can ask the staff for a breakdown if nervous. You can leave the line at anytime. The stores all had unique items to purchase based on the rides. The experience is highly enjoyable.

The Harry Potter parts are EPIC!!! So much fun. I'm not even a huge fan of the books or movies (but I DO like them). The Butterbeer was EXCELLENT!!! The atmosphere is amazing.The entire park is great. We went to Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, & Volcano Bay. They are ALL FANTASTIC. I enjoyed Universal even more than Disney World!!! ♡♡♡If you plan on going more than a couple days, I recommend buying the Annual Pass (OR booking in one of their hotels - LOTS of perks!!!).

Theme park, as you would expect from an organization of this caliber, the attractions and organization are top-notch. Unfortunately, so are the prices, with an entry fee of nearly $500 for 3 people (day ticket), I wonder how accessible this park is for an average family of 5? Also, keep in mind that a water attraction is truly a water attraction, at the end of the ride, you'll be completely wet! Top attraction was King Kong (IMO), most beautiful setting Harry Potter), best roller coaster "Hulk".Why only 4 stars? Prices inside the park, 50 dollars for 3 hamburgers? Come on…

Amazing rides and very well maintained washrooms. The wait times on some rides can get very long, but that is also bypassed most of the time by getting an express pass. Worth visiting, especially in the off-seasons as the crowds are more manageable then.

I love this place. Yes, it is usually packed with people. Yes, all the best stuff has a long wait time, but there is so much to look at and do. Like the Universal park, they pay such amazing attention to detail to completely immerse you in each world. Plan to wait in lines. Food is theme park prices, but good. Running into characters throughout the day is a fun perk!

Great place. I wish I had more time to enjoy the park but unfortunately came when during spring break. The park was very packed, and the wait time on rides was 60 minutes minimum. Was only able to go on 4 rides.

Great rides, let down by the not as friendly as they can be staff. The thrill rides are certainly a plenty here and are great fun. They insist on putting cell phones in free lockers before getting on big rides which given how fast and thrilling these rides are is no surprise. The lockers are small so you won’t fit a regular back pack in, they provide paid for lockers for those. Usual theme park pricing so do not expect a cheap day out.

This park was absolutely awesome. The rides were amazing and very interactive. We were able to get on everything we wanted to get on and the creativity in this park is as good as Disney. The food was great and me and my daughter enjoyed the shows as well. I will say that Harry Potter is quite busy, but amazing. The food options were great! You were able to find anything from fried food all the way to fruit cups here, and this is not common at theme parks. The staff overall was great and accommodating. I highly recommend this theme park to anyone visiting the Orlando area, I have not seen much like it and you will absolutely love these rides. If your a hardcore comic nerd-this is the place to be, absolutely awesome.

One of my favourite parks in Orlando.The one downside compared to Disney parks is the costumer service quality and the reason for only 4 stars. Some employees are not passionate and not willing to help. One example was at the ticket booth where we asked for help with the one and two day park tickets and the price difference if buying online. We ended up spending 45 minutes on our own figuring it out.The new rides take 75 minutes wait or more so be prepared to wait or to spend more money with fast passes.

Universal Islands of Adventure is an absolute thrill-seeker's paradise! From the pulse-pounding rides like the Incredible Hulk Coaster to the immersive worlds of Harry Potter, every corner is filled with excitement and wonder. The attention to detail is phenomenal, making you feel like you've stepped into your favorite stories. The staff are friendly and helpful, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you're a hardcore theme park enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out with the family, Islands of Adventure delivers an unforgettable adventure every time. Highly recommend!

100% prefer this to the actual Universal studios Park. Less walking between rides, more rides are tall/heavy friendly, and more cool stops between rides. Although Universal has all the famous movie stuff and has to be seen once, but as far as Island of Adventure, I would definitely come back again and again.

Honestly one of the best parks I've been to. This place is Awesome! We went during spring break and the crowds were not bad. From Hogwarts to Jurassic Park to Dr Seuss this place has it all. Hagrids motorcycle ride is a must do and I can say Velocicoaster is breathtaking, rode it 3 times. We didn't want to leave.

If you are a Harry Potter fan this is an absolute most on your bucket list! The park has incredible thrilling attractions. Compared to universal studios, islands of adventure is a bigger park and has more rollercoasters. Both parks offer different experiences depending on what you’re looking for. I’ve gone to this park at least four times and every time is so exciting and fun. Hopefully next year I will be able to go to the brand new Super Nintendo world which is under construction right now. If you’re in Orlando definitively do not miss visiting this park!

4.7

(93932)

4.5

(52378)

6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

5 lists

This was such a lovely place. Very kid friendly too. Definitely bringing chairs and a few games (balls, bubbles, etc.) for the kids is a plus. Felt like being in a backyard with extended family around you. All the wines were delicious but I need to take this opportunity to give a shout out to Olga which greeted us at the door and made us feel very welcomed after mentioning it was our first time. She kept the same energy with every guest that came in. This place is VERY lucky to have such a great person with such amazing energy as the face of the winery. Will absolutely recommend this place to anyone and will be back with no doubt.

A nice vineyard and winery. They offer free tour and free tasting. Their wines are good and have good prices. If you go during the weekend, there's live music and food vendors. Nice parking lot.

If you want to spend a relax day in a beautiful picturesque hilltop! This is Theo la e to be. We enjoyed live music, free wine tasting and tour. They also have food on the weekends. Very well recommend.

I really liked the free tasting/"tour" through the winery but I didn't really like any of the wine. I know it's a personal preference thing but the "wines" grown in Florida are way too sweet for me. And the wines they cultivate from California just don't hold up to California bottles around the same price. At all. I do think the FL wines are fairly priced though and I think the extra/reserve tastings were a very good price, as were the cheese trays (though I wish they were curated and not just out of a boar's head box).The store is the best part about the place though! So many unique gifts and food/wine stuff that I've never even seen! The concert venue outside was nice as well, though it's weird that if you buy a bottle in the winery you can't enjoy it on their lawn.

Great experience, we have a stroller and the staff is very helpful in accommodating us because there's a 2nd floor tour. Lovely place! Reasonable wine prices for both in bottle and case. I surely love all of it. Will definitely come back.

Lakeridge Winery is just a great time! Awesome people enjoying a nice landscape and some delicious wines. Learned a lot of the craftsmanship in making these wines. You learn a sense of how massive the operation must be to keep up with the quantity of grapes. The tour was well done and made the group laugh a good deal! Definitely worth a try if you're nearby. Love the southern red and white wines personally.

Free tasting and tour! What more can you ask for? The tour experience itself was really fun. Our "tour guide" was very funny and energetic.Personally, the sweet wines made from the muscadine grapes tasted better than the dry ones. I saw many people taste testing pouring out the dry flights. They should just focus on the sweet ones where they grow the grades themselves instead.

Visited this winery on my birthday and I have to say it was a 10/10 experience. They have offer a great tour which by the way is FREE , great staff that’s knowledgeable about the winery and any questions you may have. It’s such a beautiful property and must experience. Although I’m a sweet red wine person trying all the other wines they offer was also a great experience yes at the end they offer FREE wine tastings definitely worth it. Definitely will be back in June.

Very busy, but we did go on a Saturday afternoon and it would be a wonderful way to spend your afternoon we chose just to check it out. The free wine tasting is neat, a no hassle mini tour. They gift shop has an extensive array of goodies and of course the wine you can buy by the bottle or by the case what ever you want. Tha staff were extremely helpful and welcoming. I hope to come back again and enjoy the outdoor venue, music, and the delicious smelling food booths. Bring your lawn chair and have a relaxing time.

We dropped by to check it out. The personnel was welcoming. Nicely kept grounds. We bought wine and a sherry at fair prices. Sherry you was very good. We were pleasantly surprised to see florida “hills” 😊

Lakeridge Winery has a great location in the hills of Central Florida. I’m not a fan of the Muscadine grape, so I felt the wines were quite biting and acidic. But if you like the Florida grape, try this out! The staff was informative and pleasant. They do allow dogs and have free wine tastings after the facility tour.

We absolutely loved it! The second we walked through the front doors we were treated like we were family! All the staff made us feel right at home! The staff was very knowledgeable and we learned so much from them while we were there. Everything was very clean and organized, the bathrooms were immaculate. The tour was free, and the wine was delicious! We can't wait to go back in the summer to see the vineyards in full bloom.

Amazing experience! We did the tour/tasting and our girls took us on a tasting journey. So much fun and so full of friendly energy. If I lived closer I would spend way too much time in the loft, hanging out and overlooking the vinyard working on my laptop all day... such good vibes here. Love almost all of the staff and almost all of the wines! Try the mulled and be ready for flavor explosion!

My family and I really enjoyed this winery. It’s one of the best we have visited. The tour and tasting were complimentary which makes it even better. They do yours all day long so you can show up with out reservations. You will walk up stairs to a room to watch a video on the history of the winery. Then walk around and see where they make the wine at. If you want to see the vineyard in full bloom it’s best to go during the summer time. We can’t wait to return to check out their weekends at the winery! Very great place to visit with family from out of town that love wine!

Absolutely amazing visit !! Free parking and tour .Guided Tours and Tasting are offered 7 days a week starting at 10:00 am each day, with the last tour offered at 4:00 pm. Tours usually run every 30-40 minutes and begin with a 10 minute video presentation, which guides you through the entire wine making process and the history of Florida wine.

My husband and I enjoyed the complimentary tour and wine tasting here. Our guide was knowledgeable and fun. If we hadn't had a flight in two days, we definitely would have bought some wine or other goodies! Definitely a nice place to stop if you're in the area.

Fun afternoon!! We went on a Monday so there was probably more going on during the weekends but we walked right in and jumped into a free tour!! Tour guide was super sweet and gave some great tips on wine. We got a few things at the shop and roamed around a little. Cute spot!

4.7

(1585)

4.5

(858)

19239 US Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34715, USA

LOVE LOVE LOVED our swamp tour!! We took two kids and they were very accommodating and friendly. Our guide was very knowledgeable and made it fun! We saw LOTS of gators and other wildlife. We were so excited to hold the alligator!! Josephine was SO sweet and the staff did a great job with her and helping us. We also shopped in their gift store 3 times (we stayed at Idlewild)! I love how they had ice cream treats and a few inexpensive items. Thanks swamp fever!

The Swamp Adventure Tour was awesome! We had parents who were apprehensive about them going. I'm so glad they went. It was safe, and the captain was professional, funny and informative. We were able to touch and hold the alligator as a part of the package. The place also had cabins. We didn't stay there but everything was clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. We have about 15 people in our 6 mixture of kids and adults.

We made reservations in advance. The staff was ready for us when we arrived. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The ride was great. The kids loved it. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. We saw lots of gators, birds and turtles. The views were breathtaking and so beautiful. I would highly recommend this tour.

We came to Florida to visit with family and we decided to take this tour. We had a blast! We saw a few alligators but even if we didn't, the tour itself as well and all the fast turns was worth it! Then we were surprised at the end and got to hold Luke the baby alligator! The staff was so knowledgeable and very friendly. Highly recommend Swamp fever airboat adventures! We will definitely be taking another tour when we come back to visit.

Captain Steve and the ladies were knowledgeable, and like their jobs. Steve explained pretty much every plant and animal as the tour went on. He also is prideful of the eagles, as well as the rest of the birds in the area. We saw quite a few gators, from a foot long to eight footers. Great for all ages.

Absolutely AMAZING!!!! We started off checking in at the office and the staff was truly lovely. We then went to the pavillion where Steve brought out and alligator named Josephine and told us all about her. We then joined Captain Kyle for a 1 hour ride through the lake and saw a ton of gators, birds, turtles, and fish. Captain Kyle made multiple stops and told us all about the wild life in the area and answered a ton of our questions. He was so very fun, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. The ride itself was SO much fun, zipping through the lake! I cannot wait to go again!!! Highly highly recommended!!

Great tour this morning! Our guide, Kyle, was terrific. Saw loads of baby gators and mama gator. My husband got to hold a 35lb gator at the end of the tour. So much fun! Highly recommend it. Side note, It was only 70 out this morning and I am grateful I brought a jacket because once the boat was moving fast it was a little chilly!

Awesome experience on our airboat tour. Loved getting to hold a real alligator and the boat tour was exceptional. We saw lots of alligators and turtles. The driver was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the education on local wildlife and trees. It was a great time overall!

Our group had a blast. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable.Captain Sam gave us an amazing tour with some background on gators and the area. Our tour ended with Wyatt an 8 yr old gator whom we all took turns holding. He is a sweet gator. Jess and Heather were great handlers and gave us some a world of info on Wyatt. Heather sorry in Advance for adding the little frog in pictures!!!Highly recommend choosing Swamp Fever for your Air Boat Adventure. (Back story- my father held same gator 7 yrs ago) we had no idea. (My dad passed 5 yrs ago) so was even more special!!! Thanks again for a memorable day!!!

This boat trip was awesome!! My family and I enjoyed it so much. The staff was so friendly and informative. We did see some baby alligators and a mama and some birds, a ton of turtles and fish. We wish the ride was longer but it was totally worth it, every minute. Holding Josephine in the end was a great highlight for the kids too!

My dad has always wanted to go on an airboat ride so my husband and I were excited to join him. All of us enjoyed our adventure! The staff is welcoming and knowledgeable. We got to meet a baby alligator and Dad got to hold Luke. The boat ride was a lot of fun. It’s obvious that the captain really enjoys his job. Highly recommend!

My family absolutely loved this Airboat Ride. The gentleman that gave us the tour was super friendly, courteous and kind. He answered any questions we had made this experience very fun and entertaining. We will definitely visit again, when we're back in Florida.

Had a great trip with Swamp Fever. Drove out from Tampa and it was well worth the effort to see another side of Florida. Beautiful location, educational and entertaining. Would highly recommend the adventure if you are looking for something a little different to do with your family.

I am no airboat expert, but I have done 3 prior with other companies - and this place was hands down the best. Captain Steve was funny, informative, patient (he made sure we all saw what he spotted) and had an eye for finding alligators. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and when we visit again, will make sure we ask for Captain Steve! Thank you again for a memorable trip.

We were headed to Disney and saw the sign for Airboat tours. I googled the name and loved the detailed website so I booked my family (5 yo, 3 yo, 7 month old) a trip for our ride home. A bucket list check off for my boy to ride an air boat! It was an amazing trip. Life jackets and ear protection were provided. We saw birds, fish, and all size alligators. Our captain was very informative and accommodating to our kids. Once we got back we were surprised with the opportunity to hold Wyatt the alligator. This too was very informative and accommodating to all of our gator obsessed kiddos!

This was my second adventure. Recommend it. Price includes cost to hold a healthy 40 pound gator for pictures.Staff are all very pleasant and informative. Got to see a few smaller gators, lot of turtles and fish in the swamps.Of course the fun is the speed and turns of the air boat ride through the marsh. It’s about an hour adventure. Worth it.

This is my 2nd time with Swamp Fever, brought family this time and it was just as spectacular as the 1st time! Got to see some gators and babies along with beautiful nature! We even got to hold a 30lb real live gator Josephine. Everyone is so friendly and helpful! I will definately be back!

Loved this tour! All the staff was so friendly even the guy helping to dock the boat. They were well organized, stayed on time and the guide knew so much about the swamp, you could tell he loved the area. Some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. We saw alligators , turtles, baby alligators, fish and so many incredible birds. The guide knew each animal and their habits. The office staff was also very friendly .

We went for my daughter and nephews birthday. We had a group of 12 people ranging in age from 70 to 7 including a non verbal special needs child. We had an AMAZING time! Captain Sam was brilliant and everyone was so friendly and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions. We really had such an amazing experience, everyone should do this! Everyone agreed it was better than going to Disney!

We had the best time today. Great tour and very clean boats and facility. Loved holding the sweet little girl gator as well. Staff is wonderful.Thank you

Quick trip to visit family down here in Florida, and they suggested we go on an alligator tour... We went to the right place! The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and yes, we saw alligators; big ones, medium and babies. Even if we hadn't seen all of the alligators we did, the scenery was worth it.. what a great tour! I wish I could add the video of the swamp… it was “wow!”💚

There are a lot of options for airboats in this area, but this was in my opinion the best. The captain was very knowledgeable and the team was super friendly. I was very impressed. My students had a great time. We saw a few alligators and got to hold one. I will be coming back.

My first time on an airboat and very happy we chose Swamp Fever for this adventure. Saw lots of gators of all sizes from babies to large mom and dad as well as a ton of birds and turtles. Our driver/guide did a great job of pointing out where to look. Finally, the lake itself and the offshoots from it with all the cypress trees is beautiful. One more thing, you get to hold a baby alligator at the end of your trip. Highly recommend

I would definitely do this again. It was so beautiful. Was hoping for more wildlife but it was a little chilly that day so animals were not very active but that's no one's fault. We enjoyed our trip very much. Getting to pet/take pictures with the little gators was awesome too. Everyone was very nice and helpful.

Absolutely amazing experience!!! I have lived in Florida 25+ years and this was first time on an airboat ride. Jessica was super sweet and informative. She was great with my two young boys! Sam, our captain was incredible. He was so thorough, fun and hilarious! The grounds where it is located is soooo peaceful and beautiful. I will definitely be coming back!! And recommending them! Book it- you seriously wont regret it.

This was my first time in Florida or even on an airboat. I had a blast and great time. I also loved holding the younger alligator at the end and seeing younger and older alligators as well. I also saw birds, turtles, and fish. It was a beautiful day, and it was an experience that I won't ever forget. I would recommend this to anyone who loves wild and water.

4.9

(1185)

5.0

(849)

4110 NW 42nd Pl Lot 1, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538, USA

4 lists

We had a great time here with the kids. This was our first visit to a Disney park since we were kids ourselves so there was a lot that we didn’t know.First off, the parades and shows throughout the day are incredibly well orchestrated and the kids loved it. There’s always something to see which is nice.We didn’t go for the photo pass which turned out to be a good choice because all the photos they took of us sucked. We did however buy the genie+ pass that allowed us to book rides ahead of time. If you’re going for only a single day definitely get this to optimize your time.The rides are a little more dated feeling than at Animal Kingdom but the kids didn’t notice.This is the most important thing to know heading in…EVERYTHING COSTS A FORTUNE.Here’s what you should consider bringing with you or buying elsewhere and the Disney prices for each.Portable fans ($30ea)Poncho ($10ea)Water ($3.50ea)Minnie ears ($30ea)Lunch ($15-30ea)Lots and lots of snacks.Have fun :)

They say this is the happiest place on earth... and I fully agree with them!! I have never been happier in my life! All the cast members were super friendly and helpful when I needed them! The characters were all great, sweet and so amazing! All the food here is divine and not to badly priced for a theme park. The rides and attractions are fun and you don't always wait to long, but if it is a long line then they have covered walkways and fans! You can ask almost any guest service or food place for free water if you can't find one of their water fountains. The stores are beautiful and well stocked with a lot of merchandise! I am already planning my next trip! It is well worth it!!

Great park in particular for families. You can ride almost everything with kids older than 5. Only Tron might be something for older kids. But it is also a hell of a ride, highly recommended. Stay of possible until the end, the fireworks are really impressive.

Out of all the parks, this is the one where the cast members and rides feel the most magical. I really enjoy how the parks are back to their old vibe and the cast members truly add to the experience, unlike when they were staffing the park with only college program due to the pandemic. I also noticed that this park is the only one that balances the ratio between lightning lane and Standby Lane when feeding a queue to an attraction. This makes the wait time to be more accurate, if not faster than what's displayed. We attended the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and it was worth every penny. Had tons of fun.

One of the classic parks! Disney parks always deliver.Tron was an amazing ride. Highly recommend it. Really cool structure and recreation of the Tron aesthetic, the weird position you’re in makes for a different and interesting roller coaster experience, and the parts where you go outside was cool.The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was good too. Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are always fun. The Space Mountain here is one person per row unlike the one in Tokyo Disneyland which is 2 ppl per row.We also went for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party where you could be at the park until midnight, get free cookies and hot chocolates at a bunch of places, see a bunch of shows and parades, and interact with cast wandering around. The projection mapping on Cinderella’s Castle was fun and spectacular. Christmas vibes were super cute. Space Mountain had Christmas lighting on l and it was cool to see the inside for the first time.

i had so much fun! this is my third time here, and every time it never ceases to amaze me. spacious, and lots of fun rides for everyone. lines got sort of long (especially weird for a weekday), so we got the genie + passes, which let us ride many rides and even the bigger ones we rode multiple times. you have to join a line queue for the tron ride- it’s so cool!

Incredible place to take the kids. There is a lot to see in this park from rides to attractions. Many options to meet the characters which was a lot of fun. The Magic Kingdom's Starbucks took 45 minutes to get our order; that was a bummer. Magic Kingdom had the most amazing fireworks I have ever seen; they were amazing. Great place to visit with the family just remember to have patience while walking the park.

Magic isn't only for your children. Adults can live the fairytale too!I proposed to my wife here! We took the back stage tour, we have been on every ride, but we keep finding new things to do and ways to experience the magic!The food isn't healthy, but it is feel good food.A fun way to spend time with friends or family. A great way to make some core memories!Also, the call them fireworks for a reason... 🔥

This is truly a magical place for kids and adults. We spent a day here and had a great time. If you stay at any Disney resort, you can enter the park 30 minutes earlier than the general admission. Download the Disney app to help plan your day at the park.

Great experience to have with family and friends. Best place to take if you have kids but I went with adults and we had a lot of fun. Prepare for long lines and a lot of walking but the parades were amazing, and the castle was magnificent. 9pm showcased the fireworks and that was pretty cool. Definitely recommend!

Visited as 3 adults for the opening Mickey's not no scary Halloween party. Having travelled from the UK and not doing the Disney parks this year it wasn't to be missed for a first time experience. Last visit was 7 years ago and it didn't disappoint.Arrived at 4pm, you don't have to make a reservation for special events and rode Haunted mansion, Splash mountain, Big thunder mountain and pirate's of the Caribbean with little to no queue. The event start at 7pm and managed to ride space mountain in the dark and the tea cups with a spooky theme.The check up points for candy were everywhere and you collected tokens to exchange for allergies.Enjoyed the magic of walking down Main Street and soaking the atmosphere all in. Whilst most of the shops were shut to prepare for the event still managed to get some goodies.As for a day in the it's perfect for little ones, adults or those with any additional needs. Plenty to do for all.The event queue for merchandise was hectic so I recommend waiting until later on in the evening if you wish to purchase anything.Don't forget to collect your free print on the way out and if it rains the parade or show may be delayed (which is what we experienced) but wait for it! It's worth it 😊 characters are about in costumes but be prepared to wait for over an hour for some. Elvis stitch, Winnie the Pooh and friends were especially popular. Jack and Sally are in the main theatre and they tend to be the busiest due to the event.

Despite a downpour that push the fireworks until 22:00 the “Happily Ever After” show was amazing. The day was enjoyable with the family despite the 95 deg F temperatures. The highlight would have to be TRON. The night ride in the front seat was outstanding! It was a unique coaster experience on the light cycle.

"Most magical place on earth," still remains true. The entire day was hot & the lines were long at times, but we had a blast at this theme park! We were a bit lucky with the weather because it rained; however, it was still humid it's Florida. Still, there are plenty of air conditioned places for a cool off, water, & other needed supplies. In our opinion, you will not need a lightening lane pass. Those lines were long too & even though some rides said 45/75 minutes on the myDisney app, we never waited longer than 45 minutes. The entire kingdom is clean, staff are always in character, variety of options to shop & eat, & an overall great family experience. Stay for the fireworks show. Place yourselves close to the monorail to see them - thank me later :)

Magic Kingdom is a realm of pure magic and wonder, where dreams come to life and the heart is forever young. Stepping into this enchanting kingdom is like entering a storybook brought to life.The iconic Cinderella Castle stands tall, radiating a sense of awe and anticipation that sets the stage for an unforgettable experience. The attention to detail in every corner of the park is nothing short of extraordinary, creating a world that feels both familiar and utterly fantastical.The attractions are a symphony of thrills and imagination, catering to guests of all ages. From the nostalgic charm of classics like "it's a small world" to the heart-pounding excitement of Space Mountain, every ride promises an adventure that lingers in your memory.The parades and fireworks displays are a spectacle of artistry and emotion, leaving guests with a sense of wonder and awe. The dedication and talent of the performers are evident in every dance step and soaring note.The staff at Magic Kingdom are the true heart and soul of the park. Their boundless energy, friendliness, and genuine passion for creating magical moments elevate the experience to a level beyond compare. They're the real-life fairy godmothers and wizards, ensuring that every guest feels like royalty.Magic Kingdom is not just a theme park; it's a place where joy knows no bounds, and every corner is infused with the spirit of dreams. Whether you're reliving cherished memories or creating new ones, a day at Magic Kingdom is a day well spent. I can't recommend it highly enough, and I'm already counting down the days until my next visit to this land of enchantment!

It is a huge, very beautiful park with a giant castle as its main attraction. There are some roller coasters and many ways to be entertained. The food is very good and the fireworks show at night is the best thing in the world and a unique experience. You You need to visit it someday, period, because just as the name says, it brings a unique experience for you and all the visitors there. You can also take a photo with several characters that you love.

Magic Kingdom was amazing for where my kiddos are at the rides, and attractions were great. I've heard it is a bit less enjoyable for the older kids as the majority of the park is geared for a younger audience other than Tomorrow Land. Which I can see, however, it is still such a great place to visit and see the location. We loved every minute.

It's always a magical place. A most see with the family. The experience is amazing. ThePrice is starting to become a factor. 200 a day per person to wait on long lines and hopefully enjoy 3 rides during your day is definitely something that needs to be addressed. Also, charging for geni and only being able to choose one t8me slot at a time instead of being free and choosing 3 at a time definitely does not help.

The absolute best park in all of Disney! So many iconic rides and things to see. Recently came here for the Christmas party for the first time and it was amazing! The park really lights up and you get the real Christmas feel. Love when it snows it’s unlike anything you’ve seen and a must see!

We loved it! It definitely brought out the kitten all of us!It's been roughly 20 years since I've been, but it was wonderful to go and show the experience, experienced it as a child and then again as an adult. It was good to see you that some of the stable rides were still standing. It was hard to get on trying no matter what we did. Mountain was awesome! Magic Mountain never disappoints. I would definitely have to take the baby on the teacups and small worlds for good measure. The lines were ridiculous so the genie plus service definitely helped them in some situations but not on all the rides.It's a dry park though, so be forewarned, it's not like the other parks in that regard.King was pretty easy. Just remember where you parked. You can save that in app or on your phone and remember how to get to your tram section.

This was our first time taking out toddlers to Disney. I love the fact that we were able to bring in our own snacks and drinks in our travel cooler. It wasn't that crowded and the Disney Genie Plus Lightning Lanes help cut down our wait for some ridesnot the popular ones though. I would definitely suggest getting familiar with the app prior to your trip. Make sure to also bring an extra charging pack for your cell phone because you will be using it all day for the app. We only had to order lunch once since we came prepared with our own snacks. The rides we were able to get on with our toddlers were pretty good and they enjoyed them. We loved the shows and parades throughout the day. I am glad we did not get the photo pass and would not suggest getting one. Almost every picture they took of us was awful. You will be better off taking your own photos. Our best photos were taken when we offered other families to take photos of them and then they take one of us. My toddlers had a great time and all in all we enjoyed our time here and will definitely be coming back.

Simply W O WI was here with my wife and our little daughter, having been here once before as a couple a few years ago.An absolute experience for which a single day is hardly enough. There is so much to see here. Starting with rides to different parades, countless restaurants, shows, etc.Simply breathtaking.However, the truth is that the park is not only incredibly large but also incredibly expensive! The Preferred Parking alone costs $50. So we have spent for the one day including tickets & food a total of more than $ 500 - our little daughter had to pay no entrance fee.However, the glow in the children's eyes was absolutely worth it!To see as much as possible, I can only recommend to activate the Genie+ service in advance. It makes planning your day a lot easier.The absolute highlight of the day was definitely the Meet&Greet with Mickey&Mini.

This is the classic Disney park. From the moment you enter and walk down Main Street there is a different feel than any other park. There are endless great snack and food options all over the park and cast members that are present to make your day magical. The mix of old classic rides with newer technology rides like tron is great. The shows are outstanding and the evening show happily ever after is one of the best there is.

Magic Kingdom truly is the most magical place on earth. From the attention to detail throughout the park, right down to the cast members - it’s a wonderful experience.There are lots of food/drink options throughout the park. Some restaurants will take reservations - save yourself a wait and make one in advance if there’s a particular time/place you’d like to dine.Crowds are generally large, however manageable. If you’re not big on waiting in line, I would recommend the Lightning Lane pass (Genie+) and you’ll be able to pack in more and not waste your day in queue.Disney is expensive and that’s a fact. You can bring snacks and empty bottles in and refill with water inside the park to help cut costs. Merchandise prices can vary. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking.Overall, wonderful experience for the first time or the fifth time.

Taking the kids to Magic Kingdom for their first time was definitely a wonderful experience. He all had a great time, enjoyed most of the shows, and literally spent the whole day at the park. At night, it was beautiful to see the castle light up. Everybody was waiting for it to light up, and when it finally happened, the crowd went crazy specially the kids, like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. I would definitely go again soon and also visit the other parks as well. But overall, Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney park!!!

The magic kingdom park is really magical. The whole park transforms into a virtual reality where you are in Sindbad at one point and in princess world at other. There is something for everyone ; The various thrill level rides, fireworks, parade, meet and greet, the ferry/train ride to enter the park, food, decor!The wait times during holidays are high and may be there is a way to better manage the lines. The app offers interactive games to engage while waiting your turn, but some other interactive acts in the waiting room would be ideal. The park was open until mid-night during the Christmas break so in all we managed to avail much more than we anticipated.Much better than the Animal kingdom. If contemplating where to go first then this is it.The genie plus pass for fast lanes is definitely worth it and pretty reasonable at $30 per person.The park requires physical ID unless the tickets are added to the wallet. Plan accordingly. Ample restaurants and souvenir shops for each attraction.Recommend Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion amongst others.P.S. They do not have the laser show like Disneyland at LA.

My daughter and I went for a weekend getaway. We had a blast. All the cast members were very helpful. The weather was beautiful. We are exhausted from having too much fun. We rode every single ride. We had a truly magical time. See ya again real soon, Disney.

Magical indeed! The park did not disappoint. Although, I do wish we could have enjoyed more rides. But the lines got so long it was impossible for us to wait for hours with two little ones who have very little patience. We spent literally all day there and enjoyed as much as we could.

Magical place for firework!20 + years ago we came to Magic kingdom with toddlers and babies. Now we come back with grown kids and it’s totally different experience.Lots of fun, but it is way too crowded.Some rides were still the same (it’s the small world and few other rides). We enjoyed 7 dwarfs, space mountain and big Thunder mountain rides.The parade was fun to watch and brought us all the memories we had with family.Even after the firework, the park was still crowded so we went on few more rides and left the park after 10 pm. Definitely a magical park that’s worth going to, even with crowds.

Going to Disney “magic kingdom” it healed my inner child- however the crowds were horrible, staff were very rude, and food was nasty and overpriced. But for a person like me - I did love the experience- watching the parades and seeing the show at 8:30 was great 😊- everything else pretty mediocre- I still however plan to go to other Disney parks- no need to visit this one for a second time.

Truly the most Magical place on Earth. My four year old was in shock from the moment she saw the castle. We loved every single second of our trip. Will definitely be back. Buy tickets in advance

The Magic Kingdom is definitely the Happiest place on Earth. No matter which one you visit, here or in another country, the park staff are nice and helpful. The prices are a little high for stuff but you can find things that are priced reasonably. If you are having a birthday some food vendors will give you special birthday gifts, things from a birthday cupcake to stickers. They are perfect for the child in you. The food options are great, whether you are a meat eater or vegetarian or vegan, they have excellent options for everyone. Some lines do fill up fast some ride the least popular rides first then go to the more popular ones later in the day. Shaded areas are available around the parks and are a welcome spot to sit or stand while you're waiting for someone to get off a ride. No matter how old or how young you will find adventures around every bend.

Not my favorite park but it's still a fun place that I like visiting just because of the rides, food and the castle!Pro tip: Stay hydrated and cool during the very hot days. The FL heat sucks. Make sure to take some mini fans to keep yourself cool since there will be times that you have to wait in line for a very long time. Also, try not to bring a lot of things to carry (if possible). Just bring the essentials if you can. This park can get packed and it should be a good idea to feel comfortable during these times.

Incredible... love to come to disney every single time. Don't expect thrill rides, expect quality and a fabulous family experience. The food, the fireworks and iconic views of the castle... its all amazing. The cast members are amazingly kind and helpful. Build memories and come to the parks. It's not cheap is the downfall.... bring your own water bottle for drinks to fill, bring your own poncho for the Florida rain. Recommend to stay on property, many locations and budgets to select from.

We had a blast, we went to eat at the Crystal Palace and saw Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger. The price for Park Hopper was reasonable. We stayed and watched the fireworks and it was awesome to watch. We rode on just about every roller coaster that they had, and the wait times to get onto the rides were reasonable. We also went to Disney Hollywood Studios and we had a blast there as well. Even the wait times for the rides there were reasonable. I would highly recommend Disney World to anyone who comes to visit for a vacation to go there.

A truly magical place for the young and old. This is our second visit after many years and it's still fun. More rides, parades and character meets than shows at this park. It can get hot when waiting in the queue, so keep water handy. Use the App to see the current waiting times, ordering food and paying for goods. The Lightning Pass was costly, so I did not our purchase it. The fireworks are worth staying around for.

The park is exceptionally beautiful, offering an awe-inspiring experience for visitors. It is truly an incredible destination to explore. Despite its vast size, it stands as the most frequented park within Disney, resulting in bustling crowds and lively activity. However, the park's expansive array of activities and attractions effectively accommodate this influx of visitors. While there may be slightly longer queues in some certain areas and at certain times, they do little to detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience.The park's attractions are remarkably entertaining, catering to a wide range of interests and preferences. While it may be particularly appealing to children, adults are also sure to find plenty of excitement and enjoyment throughout. The nightly show is a highlight not to be missed, featuring captivating performances and stunning visual effects. It's worth the wait to witness its splendor.Like other Disney destinations, the park maintains its facilities to the highest standards, ensuring that restrooms are consistently clean and readily available throughout. Additionally, there is a plethora of dining options to satisfy any craving, along with a variety of beverage choices to complement the experience.With its unparalleled beauty, diverse attractions, top-notch amenities, and vibrant atmosphere, the park promises an unforgettable adventure for visitors of all ages, making it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking magical memories at Disney.

Like other Disneyland park, it is filled with fun and joy for kids and adults. They have strollers and wheelchair rental for those who need it.Majority of cast members are amazing. Of course there will be some who could do better.They have special nights and such, so ensure to check on the app for special hours. Genie + is a must in my opinion. It is a bit pricier, but hey… it really helped in saving time!Food options are most American and quality is meh, but oh well. It’s a grab and go type of thing. Some of their sit down restaurants are great - Cinderella Royal’s Table, Be our Guest etc.

Had an excellent time. The lightning pass is huge, and use it wisely. They have water everywhere for the hot days yo buy and drink. Everyone there is helpful and kind to you. The last time I was there was nearly 40 years ago. Things changed a bit lol. If you can watch the fire works at night. Amazing they can pull that off every night.

Perfect weather and ride times were well managed by the teenagers who used the app to find optimal choices based on wait times.The Tron virtual queue needs to be tightened up. Once it was our turn, we still waited 70 minutes to board. Great ride, though

Magic Kingdom is, well, magical. Lots of characters to meet, lots of rides. The fireworks show is amazing, don't miss it if you only have 1 day at the park! The cast members, all the ones I've met have been extremely kind and helpful.Genie+ is more useful here than any other park due to the sheer number of rides available. We love coming back again and again!

4.6

(220751)

4.5

(69448)

Bay Lake, FL 32836, USA

+12 other lists

I have visited several times Disney World before the pandemic and really enjoyed it. Very Beautiful and lot of activities for Kids and Adults as well. Our recent visit was a little disappointment . We went there last spring break and the park was very busy. It took a long time to get into any rides or activities unless you pay more for the fast lane. Also 2 week’s before the spring break all the parks except EPCOT were fully booked. We’re lucky we’re still able to Book EPCOT because on the start of spring break all the parks were fully booked. Also you need to get a park reservation in advance in addition to your pass tickets to enter the park. And it cost $25 to park your car inside the park. I advise that you install the My Disney application to help you navigate the park. The application gives you update in real time how Long the wait for each rides in the park as well as schedule times of each activities in the park. You can also use the application to buy tickets and park reservation .The fireworks at EPCOT was amazing. Overall still a good place to visit probably better if you go there on off season..

It is a lot of walking and not for the weak. Take your water bottles to refill to save on spending.Overall we had a GREAT time. There are Lightning Lanes available to get on rides faster that cost $20 (like a fast pass). First day was Hollywood Studios then last half of the day Animal Kingdom. Day 2 we went to Magic Kingdom and it's so spread out we did not make it to Epcot. I recommend the Magic Bands because you can basically use it like a pay app on your wrist. We lived it up and used the Magic Bands and charged everything to the room. We liked the Monorail system and took the Ferry Boat back to parking.

Oh my gosh this place is nuts. So many fun things to do. The rides, the food, the merchandise. Everything here is so fun and just a great experience. The first recommendation i have is the Magic Kingdom Park, this place is literally magical just like the name says. The next stop is Disneys Animal Kingdom Theme park. And also check out the Epcot Presentation because that is some really cool stuff they’re gonna be doing with the Epcot center

Disney does a great job at keeping the guest happy. It is the happiest place on earth. The rides are fun, and the shows are great. If you can make it, I'd recommend going at least once. It's my favorite amusem*nt park that I ride the majority of the rides. Bring good shoes and rain gear. It rains a lot in Florida.

Disney World is the pinnacle of family entertainment. There's something for everyone. Every detail is carefully selected. Live music is phenomenal. Food choices galore. We ate lunch in Morocco Pavillion--Outstanding!Buyer beware! Disney is spectacular but exceptionally expensive.

We got to visit WDW, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure for a recent family Vacation. While our single-day Disney Park visit itself was pricey, incredibly packed, and loosely planned, the park itself was fun. Was fortunate to ride Space Mountain but sadly the fast passes did not quality for most rides we wanted to go on, plus having been sold out for a week beyond even our date of visit.Food was very expensive, but tasty. The Magic Kingdom Parade was really awesome to see as well as the evening castle stage show. Other family members also enjoyed the rides they went on.If you really want to see and do everything at even just the Magic Kingdom, be sure to spend extra for Fast Passes far in advance; otherwise be prepared to wait a bit in line as expected. Even then, with how busy it was, multiple days might be considered to ride everything.The Genie App, while useful, does also have a hamburger menu to show the full list of shops, restaurants, etc., while using it. Also, keep in mind nearly every boutique focuses on take-out ordering so you'll want to make sure you get orders in at least 45 minutes in advance if not more if you're planning meal times - there are to-order lines of course, but you might wait awhile as both on-premises and to-go orders are being processed. It worked well enough - just not the most ideal method for handling crowds in the tens of thousands or more.Overall, still a fun time. Still magical. Not quite the same as being there when young but still had a good time.

The most magical place in the world. Have the best time here, staff were very friendly. The rides were really fun but you do have to wait quite a bit for them which is understandable. Meeting the Disney characters was a wonderful experience. The whole atmosphere is very nice but be prepared to walk a lot. Overall it’s a great place, 10/10 would recommend

We stayed at the Coronado Springs Resort. Father’s Day and our 9 year anniversary and we celebrated in style. It is a lot of walking and not for the weak. Take your water bottles to refill to save on spending. Overall we had a GREAT time. There are Lightning Lanes available to get on rides faster that cost $20 (like a fast pass). First day was Hollywood Studios then last half of the day Animal Kingdom. Day 2 we went to Magic Kingdom and it’s so spread out we did not make it to Epcot. I recommend the Magic Bands because you can basically use it like a pay app on your wrist. We lived it up and used the Magic Bands and charged everything to the room. We liked the Monorail system and took the Ferry Boat back to parking.

Beautiful resorts. We stayed at the Dolphin for a few days and then transferred to Animal Kingdom Lodge for the rest of our stay. Loved them both. We also spent time visiting the other resorts. Each were unique and offered something different. There are several free modes of transportation as well. Boat, monorail, skyliner, and buses that can take you to each of them.

Absolutely thrilled to share my enchanting experience at Disney’s Magic Kingdom! From the moment I stepped into the magical realm, I was whisked away into a world of pure delight. The attention to detail in every corner of the park is truly astounding; it's as if fairy tales came to life! The heartwarming character encounters left me feeling like a kid again, and the exhilarating rides were a true adrenaline rush. But what truly set this trip apart was the impeccable service – from cheerful cast members to the meticulously clean and organized attractions. Every moment was like stepping into a dream. Disney managed to capture the essence of joy and wonder and transformed it into an unforgettable reality. This trip was nothing short of a spellbinding journey, and I'm already counting down the days until I can experience the magic all over again!

THE HALCYON IS THE GREATEST DISNEY EXPERIENCE OF ALL. I was a guest on the Halcyon. Hands down the single greatest Disney experience we have ever had. Worlds above any other. We wanted to book another Halcyon cruise immediately but found out they were closing. A huge loss. So many of our friends had not heard of the Halcyon and would have liked to go after hearing of our experience and seeing our photos. The cast was excellent. Every member of the crew was cheerful, attentive and helpful. The rooms were spectacular. The food wonderful.

We absolutely loved it here for our first time the staff and characters were all nice and friendly my son got to meet Cinderella and the actress was so patient with him and extremely kind knowing he had autism….I’m still gonna 5 stars my only complaints was every including food and drinks are crazy expensive my hubby bought to regular size soft drinks andIt cost him near $10 for just 2 sodas….. my other complaint would be the guest services didn’t give me the correct information

Amazing! The pictures do not do justice to how much detail and effort goes into these parks! Always clean, staff is easy to find for questions and transportation between parks is super easy! Had a blast at 4 of the Disney parks!

Disney World is a favorite vacation spot, it is such an incredible experience! You absolutely get what you put into it. There are crowds so remember to pack your patience and to dress comfortably, and definitely consider buying the Lightning Lane passes, it can help streamline the day a bit.

Absolutely enjoyed every second spent here. Who said Disney’s not for adults, I could tell you, it sure is. Awesome spots for food with various choices and a lot of places to choose from to shop. From was one of my favorite rides.

Wow. Just wait. We absolutely loved our visits to Magic Kingdom. It truly is the most magical place on Earth. The staff are very friendly. It's kept very clean. Prices are typical of the type of theme park. The selection of rides is very good. I'd recommend the Barnstormer. It's very good for those that meet the height restrictions. We cannot wait to come back again.

I recommend going prepared to walk and remember to drink plenty of water. Everything is very magical and beautiful. The food is not tasty and total fast food!!so don't think you're going to eat well.The parade at night is worth staying to see the end of the fireworks but I advise you to leave 10 minutes before it ends because the queues to get out of the island get huge.

Walt Disney World Resort is comprised of multiple theme parks, each with separate entry costs. I truly believe that everyone - from all around the world - should visit each park at least once to experience the magic that has been created there. Multi-day and multi-park tickets offer incredible savings for multiple visits, so definitely plan your trip.

It is one of the best places in the world! Am so in love with the multiple parks and the ease of hotel access between the parks with shuttles. Great packages and heaps of fun. Have always loved being a pass holder, and the water parks are an added bonus.

The rides and atmosphere is fabulous. Food at quick service is too repetitive. Very few gluten free choices in quick serve. Chefs are great trying to help. Dislike seeing Starbucks and other chains within the park. Please consider Colonial period correct clothing. Dresses were wrinkled and ill fitted. Disney should represent the USA in a more dignified manner. Landscaping is very nice, too.

Our family has loved Disney World through the years. As the kids have grown up we have found new ways to enjoy the parks. On our last trip we stayed at the newly renovated Grand Floridian. Excellent vibe. Nice to have options to getting into the parks: boat, monorail, bus, and walking. Well worth the extra expense of staying at a nearby Disney property.

Went in 2021.It's definitely worth it for kids.Make sure to go when the ☁️ is nice. It started to rain halfway during the day, and kind of slowed everything down. But, the views of all of the structures are fantastic.Purchase tickets ahead of time.Rides are mostly for kids.Make sure to take the ferry ⛴️ to arrive at the theme park.It's free and a better experience.

Disney, magical encounters with beloved Disney characters and special seasonal events. (Please note that character encounters and seasonal events are subject to change or cancellation.) And starting in April 2023, this will be where Walt Disney World's latest attraction takes place.Knowing the behind-the-scenes and close-up experience of the other part of the reality of this place, we can be aware of things that go beyond our natural perceptions and understanding. It's really magical! Disney's reception is AMAZING.I can experience one of the most incredible and memorable experiences in my life.Knowing behind the scenes and experiencing up close to the other part of the reality of this place, we can be aware of things that go beyond our natural perception and understanding. It's really magical! Disney's reception is AMAZING.

We had an amazing experience that surpassed our expectations. We loved the genie + option that ensured us a place once a day on the rides we wanted every two hours. We loved the innovative 3D and multi-sensory seats, animations, props in the queue. The rides surprised us and thrilled us enough for my 10 and 13 year old. We also enjoyed the shows, fireworks, characters and even the Disney Experience App. The food treats were delicious and refreshing. We appreciated the storage area for our bags during our rides and the cleanliness. It is definitely a magical experience. I understand why people go multiple times.

It is pricey, but after experiencing it we have zero regrets! Disney World is simply exceptional, and there’s honestly nothing else like it. There is literally endless fun to be had! The food, the rides, the shows, the decor, the cast members, everything is amazing :) Even their lost and found program. I filled out their online form, and they found my stuff within 30min. This place is Magical

Amazing. We did Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios.The rides range from "omg I can't believe this is real" to "this is kind of boring."That was our reaction. Some rides blow you away with how much detail or how realistic the simulation feels...and others are a ride with TV screens. Luckily, the underwhelming rides typically have shorter wait times so you don't feel screwed.My personal favorite ride:(S tier ride is Guardians of the Galaxy. We did this twice in our 5 day pass)Animal Kingdom(Avatar was amazing, make sure to do safari)Hollywood studios(shows were great and rides are awesome)Magic Kingdom(most rides here are really aimed towards kids. Tron was fun for adults and kids alike.)Epcot(cool trip around the world with some awesome rides).A great experience for all at the end of the day. Disney is very efficient with managing the mass amount of people, but that being said, wait times are intense! If you are traveling to visit, you have to get Genie+ and learn how to use it properly!Almost every line, especially ones with long wait times have air con.Photographers are in all parks ready to snap pictures of you and your family!

Walt Disney World is perhaps the best theme park around. We visited during September of 2023, although I feel like I need to share my experience even now.For starters, there's 4 theme parks (not including the water parks), and many things to do. Our favorite park was Magic Kingdom, with Hollywood Studios as a close second. There's plenty of things to do, whether you're an adult or a child.The last time we went before our trip last year was 2015, so it was our first time seeing Toy Story Land, the new EPCOT and Magic Kingdom rides, as well as Pandora. The highlight of the trip by far was Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT: this is a must do. We stayed at the Grand Floridian, which I would not recommend at the price point, especially due to ongoing construction. There's plenty of more affordable hotels that have a bus directly to all 4 theme parks. The one thing we found nice about the Grand Floridian was the walkable path to Magic Kingdom. It's about a 10 - 15 minute walk depending on how fast you go, and leads directly to Magic Kingdom. I don't recommend walking during the afternoon as it gets pretty hot (unless you go during December - March), but it's definitely nice early in the morning or late at night. Since our trip, they've limited how strict park hopping and reservations are, but be aware this still exists, and can be annoying if you want to park hop earlier.If you've made it this far, I want to talk about the cons now. For starters, we have noticed a quality decline in the parks since our last visit. This was anywhere from rides being broken down more frequently, to actual quality issues on rides such as Pirates and Small World. For the amount you're paying, it's clear Disney is not upping their investment in keeping the parks as clean as they used to be. I mean, the Aladdin Carpet ride in Adventureland was making literal squeaking noises as it went up and down. While these may be small issues to many, if you're paying tens of thousands of dollars to go here, you expect the same level of quality for as much as you're paying. Last example I'll give (there were many more) was EPCOT. It seems to be fine now, but during our trip, there were construction walls everywhere due to them redoing the center area of the park. It was very hard to walk around the park due to practically every path being limited by some sort of construction wall, which made crowd levels in these already small paths really bad.Overall, I would give our trip a 4/5, with 1 star taken off due to our hotel experience, and an obvious degrade in quality over the years. Still, this is one of, if not the best theme park you can visit.

In one word, Expensive! That said it was lovely, our room was nice. Grounds were nice. Park was great. Nice transportation from area to area. Amazing staff. Food was good in upper tier restaurants, not so much in lower tiers.

Fabulous experience at every park @ Disney (including the water park). Super organized, efficient, good food options and great rides for the entire family.I recommend Genie+ to hit all the attractions in a day.It was a great experience all week (with the exception of the day we went to Universal)

First time here and a time was had. I was solo and not to do what I wanted (well maybe not all cuz of the wait times 😅) but I had fun. Will definitely be back and plan better. Also need better shoes for all the walking

We have the annual pass for Disney parks and it is truly a beautiful experience every time we go with our kids.On weekends, we take advantage of the waterparks, especially on the warmer days. You have to stay and see the fireworks in the evening. It’s definitely something magical 😊

I have been to Disney about 4 - 5 times in my life. The food is great and if you know how to plan around the wait times you will be set. I do recommend splurging and getting Genie+, it helps a lot. Art of Animation is a great hotel with a lot of fun colors and an amazing pool.

It's getting back to what it should be before they got greedy. Love going to all the parks. We we skipped AK this time due to weather but with annual passes we can go a different time. EPCOT'S festivals are amazing & you go near the end of one you can catch both with the flowers.

I hadn't been in 11 years, and it was just as fun as back then. Great experience. Staff is amazing! I actually went around the world twice! It was the Flower & Garden Festival while I was there, and if you haven't seen it, it's an absolute must!

4.7

(245903)

4.5

(34203)

Florida, USA

4 lists

Pandora was mind blowing, a floating mountain over your head! Wow. Really impressive, well done Disney. Tree of life is always amazing, wish the food was better. Also pretty crowded and we went on a weekday in May. Didn’t have a chance to get on any rides, and we were at the park at 8 o’clock. We’re not willing to wait an hour for a ride, but apparently lots of people are. We had perfect weather, so didn’t feel the need for AC. Several of the animal habitats were being cleaned, so we didn’t see tigers or antelope. Overall a really nice day

Great place to experience all types of animals, ants, culture, and great rides! The Yeti is one of my favorite roller coasters, the view before the drop is amazing! Pandora is a BEAUTIFUL area, the rides are very fun and definitely raises all senses. The area in within itself is exquisite, especially at night. The safari is the most interesting aspect, to have the ability to see such animals up close is so cool and we all are so fortunate to have the opportunity to experience this. Animal Kingdom is overall a great place to bring kids and photo ops!

Absolutely great experience. If you can wait a bit, Avatar ride is by far the best experience I've ever had. The expedition to Himalaya is fun too as well as the Safari. The park is smaller than Magic Kingdom but definitely recommended.

If you are planning a big Disney vacation this is a good kingdom to start with as a warm up. I highly recommend the fast pass and lighting lanes if you don't want to wait in long lines. This park isn't as crowded so it was a good way to learn how to schedule rides and plan out your day. Pandora was really beautiful and my son made himself into an action figure! Lion King show was really amazing. I get motion sickness really easy and I could handle all the rides fairly easy. It did rain almost every day so bring a pair of flip flops and a poncho. We put our sneakers away when it would rain so they wouldn't get wet. If you like nature and animals this is a great park to visit. Lots of food choices. We brought water bottles and protein bars to cut on some food costs.

Went on a Sunday in September.Easily, my most favourite park! Got there for 8am solo with genie plus activated. Got my shaking Jamaican and walked on and off every ride. It was great. The music, the atmosphere, the food, the authenticity of the countries. The jungle juice is super underrated! The safari ride was amazing, as we got to see a elephant taking a bath (apparently, rare). If the park was open later and had the light show, I could have stayed the whole time just staring at the architecture. The cast members are very nice and helpful to get where you need to go.I wasn't a huge fan of the corn on the cobb. I've had better.

I recently revisited Disney's Animal Kingdom Park after a few years, and it was just as magical as I remembered, if not more. The park has made some new additions that are absolutely fantastic. The Avatar ride, in particular, is a standout – it's so impressive! The rides throughout the park are great fun and there's something for everyone, no matter your age. One of the best parts of the park is the variety and quality of food available at the restaurants; they really add to the experience. And of course, seeing the animals roam freely is a joy. This park truly offers a bit of everything for everyone, making it a perfect destination for families or anyone looking for a fun day out.

Our first visit here and it was amazing! The tree of Life is a gorgeous sight to see and the wild birds flying around the area brought the place to life among all the people. Wish the park was open later as we could have stayed much later than the 5pm close time as there is lots to see especially if you or the kids enjoy nature/animal watching.The scenery in each section of the park is a spectacle and the Avatar themed Pandora land was what I couldn’t wait to explore. It’s unreal being there and Flight of Passage had to be my personal favorite ride of all 4 parks.This park stands apart from the rest connected you feel to the plants and animals throughout and although there are less rides overall, it’s well worth the trip because of what they offer.Bonus: huge Starbucks with quick service to give you a cool boost to battle the summer heat!Disney world is definitely a magical place and this park carries on that theme just as strong as the others!!

It was lush and gorgeous everywhere we went! Even the places where we waited in lines were interesting and well-kept. We loved the bug show inside the big tree, the jungle safari, and the Pandora river ride.

We had an amazing time! We love this park. My only complaint is the crowd levels. It's always packed, so be prepared. I'm very excited to see the updates coming to this park. The rides are all amazing. I really enjoy the safari too. Just all around was another fantastic day. Also, I love seeing the pin boards back out and all around.

Great time! Highly recommend if you have little one’s. There is plenty to see and do that everyone has fun. A few playground areas are scattered around the park too so you can sit and watch your kids play or join them in the fun! We did a few rides, but mainly enjoyed the ambiance and the animals. Again it was perfect with our little guy!

Perfect weather! We went to all the islands, the Pandora ride left me completely speechless, really was a lot of fun. Got drenched in Asia, the ride was nice but it seemed like I took a shower! Safari was great, got to see many of the animals (pics included). Did not sit down for one minute.Is n exciting place

An amazing weekday experience at the Animal Kingdom. The lush landscape and beautiful wildlife makes it all worth it. Entertaining shows and highlights like rides and attractions are the cream on top. It was my first experience and surely one to remember. I think you need a few days to get the full experience but it was certainly something incredibly memorable for the kids and adults.

Animal kingdom to me is the best park by far. I love the animals and all the different things you can see and try their. Perfect for taking photos too in various places! I highly recommend the festival of the lion king show! Took scout with me my lion character.

Really awesome place to visit for the family. Must see area in the park is the avatar area! Lots of good places to shop and eat. Rainforest cafe was great. Definitely go on the Safari to check out all the different animals in the park. Park ride lines were not to bad unless you are waiting for avatar. Overall great experience and would recommend checking this park out.

Each Disney park has a unique look and experience but animal kingdom is one of the most unique looking and feeling places out of the 4 parks. Plus they have the Avatar attraction! Kids loved the park! It’s especially nice during the time they have Christmas decorations up as well.

Amazing! This is the best park of the four if you like more chill stuff. There are rides for all ages and it is extremely fun! I recommend the feathered friends in flight show!

Had a great family visit. We especially enjoyed the safari. Everything is expensive, but if you know that coming in its saves some frustration. A lot of walking covering a lot more area than anticipated. Nice playground for small kids provides a good break.

Had a great time there. The lines were insane long next time we will get genie+ and get lightning lane passes. I feel it's worth the money. We spent more than 2 hours in line for avatar flight of passage.The ride was amazing tho. Me and my gf loved it. It's a technical marvel. Was awesomeSecret for this ride is to get in the middle. Know you really don't have a choice but if you can figure it out... sit in the middle. There's a little bit of visual distortion on the outside seats.We go lucky seated in the middle

Amazing experience however roller coaster was down.But park was clean, was easy to wander, nice rides and experiences. The safari was amazing to see. Variety of food choices.Some Longish waits for rides but I think that’s normal.

Animal Kingdom is hands down the best of all the Disney Parks. It's stunningly beautiful. The lines move fast and are amazing! The food is so good. So many awesome animals and photo opportunities! Also a ton of places to sit in the shade! We had a wonderful day, and since we gate dropped we did a ton of stuff and even managed a lightning lane for Flight of Passage!

So not the best park for rides if you don't like avatar or animals but if you do this is awesome. We love Avatar and this park has been a long time bucket list. Flight of passage, and river journey are both great rides and have lived up to expectations. Recommend getting genie+, there are not a lot of rides here but it's worth getting just to do those 2. Ride times for them never got below 1 hour the whole day we were there. Pay to ride Passage and book lightning lane for journey. Also Recommend going to Nomad Lounge at 11 when they open to put your name in for a table later in the day. We got in line at 11:20 and got a table at 2. When we came back at 2 they were booked for the whole day. There drinks and small plates are so outside of normal park eats and they are a real treat. The best ice cream sandwich was in Dino land USA, at Dino bites. It's a great dessert and really helps cool you off.

Some of our best Disney magic photos or in this park. It was our first time visiting the park and it was worth it. I would say that if you're planning a Disney trip, you can do this one in particular and under a day. It was not my favorite park, but they've done a wonderful job putting it together. If you're into the hole Safari thing and avatar, this is the place for you.

The experience with in the park was awesome and educational in areas. There are boats that go around the river in this park with characters and bands. The rides were fun and I highly recommend the Pandora area for the flight ride.

It was my first time going here since I was very young and don't remember, so it felt like my first time going here. I had high expectations considering it was Disney, and I think it still exceeded expectations.Some of the views are amazing between Pandora and Mount Everest, and the Yeti ride is up there as one of the best rides at Disney.

Beautiful place but I think it has very few attractions inside, one day will be more than enough to do everything and get time to rest.We went with our little girls and they got in love with animals and shows ❤️Service as usual was good and helpful.We enjoyed it a lot

Very clean park with a great safari and very nice shows but not my favorite Disney park. We were there at rope drop first thing in the morning and the Aviator ride Flight of Passage was already at a 50 minute wait time by the time we ran to it (I was unable to grab the lightning lane tickets). Not as many rides but their animal exhibits were nice. The Lion King show and both bird shows were awesome. I will say because it's a smaller park it only takes a half day so it's easier to park hop.

Love Animal kingdom! Been there multiple times and every time we had so much fun. At safari ride, you see different animals.I love going to Gorilla Fall. Baby gorillas have grown up quite a bit since last year, and teenage boys were moved to different locations.Best part of the park is Avatar ride! Regardless of long line, it’s worth waiting.Lion King show is a MUST!This is the first time we saw the show and were blown away! The costumes, quality of show was comparable to the Broadway show in smaller scale.My daughter went to the river raft ride and got soaked but had so much fun. When you get tired, you can sit on by the water in Asia, have ice coffee and pastries from Joffrey.Whether you want to see animals and stroll around the park or want to get on fun rides, Animal Kingdom has everything you can imagine and much more.

We went to animal kingdom on springs break with my son 5 years old and my teen age daughter. Both had a lot of fun. I recommend to go early morning and start with the avatar theme park. Don’t miss the safari ride. Do it ether on the early morning or the end of the day for the waiting time. Download the app it will help you a lot with the waiting time and with guid your trip.

The park boasts breathtaking beauty and offers an extensive array of attractions and amenities. Its aesthetic charm is truly remarkable, evoking the enchanting ambiance of movies seen on both TV and the big screen. The attractions are meticulously designed to provide boundless entertainment, catering to individuals of all ages (it's virtually impossible for anyone not to relish this park experience!). Furthermore, the park's infrastructure is tailored to ensure visitors enjoy optimal convenience: the restrooms are impeccably maintained and conveniently located, a diverse selection of food and beverages is readily available throughout the premises, and lockers are provided for storing belongings securely before embarking on any rides. Additionally, the park staff are exceedingly attentive and helpful, further enhancing the overall guest experience. Whether you're seeking thrills, relaxation, or simply a day of family fun, this park undoubtedly exceeds expectations, leaving a lasting impression on all who visit.

It’s my second favorite park other than magic kingdom. It felt absolutely amazing inside it. All the nature sound and atmosphere, the animals and the attractions. Disney totally killed it for this one. Looking forward to come back again next year!

Phenomenal experience. Escape from Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, Na'vi River Cruise, Flight of Avatar are all top notch attractions. The Pandora section is breathtaking, especially after dark. One year we'll spend more than just a day here to experience everything this place has to offer. So many themed shops and eateries and they're all so well done. And in typical Disney style, everything is just perfect, from the attractions, stores, eateries, to the garbage cans and the bathrooms.

IMHO...Best family fun through out Disney. All the wildlife and plants give it a warm, comfortable feel.The bug show is only 10 minutes, but recommend doing this when when you want comedy and excitement.The Lion King is also a must as it blends acrobats with a good story, and fun, familiar music.Recommend purchasing a separate lightning pass for Avatar...to say it is a 4D simulator does not do it justice. The separate pass does not interfere with the regular lightning pass.

My personal favorite park. As an animal and nature lover it doesn't disappoint! My personal favorite is an event they do called birds of flight they do in the center view of the big tree. A whole bunch of parrots fill the sky and come down around everyone and they're gorgeous birds. It's also home to my favorite coaster in all the Disney parks, Everest. Avatars area is incredibly detailed. Plus, it's practically like visiting the zoo!

This park was so much fun! We took my stepson, baby girl, and my parents. The safari ride was amazing! The kids loved seeing all the animals up close and personal. It was my first time as well, and it was a great experience. We went to the Avatar area, and my daughter loved it. She was only 9 months old and was allowed to ride in the Avatar River ride. The food was great, even though it was expensive, it was worth every penny. Lastly, we ate at Rainforest Cafe and it was thoroughly enjoyable!

Animal Kingdom was one of the three parks my family and I visited during our Disney Trip, and despite my very much looking forward to visiting, I was really disappointed.If you don't get Genie+ ahead of time and don't get the park super early, go ahead and expect 45 minute plus waits for almost every major attraction. We did get to do the safari and a few other minor rides, which was fine, but it simply felt like there was nothing but an absolute mass of people any which way you turned, even on a weekday. We still very much enjoyed ourselves, and I always enjoyed the food and snacks in this park.Just beware that all the shaded spots will constantly be unavailable just due to the sheer amount of people in the park. Next time we come, I might just skip Animal Kingdom this time around.

This had some of the best visuals of the park. Disney has done a really great job here. Between Avatar, It's tough to be a Bug, Expedition Everest and River Journey you will have a busy and fun day.

First time visitor to Disney Animal Kingdom. It was fantastic. The "Tree of Life" is spectacular. We went on the private tour (14 people) of Behind the Scenes Elephant area. Cora, the baby elephant was there. Elephants roamed freely in a very large, open area.Our Guide was enthusiastic and well-informed. Learned a great deal about Elephants, the Disney live animal philosophy and the profile of a Disney Guide. Guides seem to love their job. They're tenured employees with years of experience.

4.7

(125624)

4.5

(34831)

Bay Lake, FL 34747, USA

1 list

We absolutely LOVE this place! We did the boat tour on Saturday at 9:00 am so we arrived around 8:20, plenty of parking spaces (by 10:00-11:00 am was completely packed) and we checked in and waited until our boat arrived. Beautiful views, boat is pretty noisy, but tolerable, we saw a couple of baby alligators, which was awesome, and a lot of birds. The captain of the boat was knowledgeable and nice. I think his name was Bobby. After the boat tour we were allowed to go to the park and see the different exhibits and animals.We fed alligators, we even hold a baby one (with permission and supervision obviously). We pet baby goats, and a tiny pig , they were adorable! . All the staff are super friendly and nice!! For sure we’ll be back soon . 100% recommended!

This place is amazing! Came for our 5 year anniversary and the drive through was stunning, we seen so many beautiful animals that look very well cared for and happy. We seen some little deer jumping and running and some water Buffalo going for a dip in the water even got to see some zebras come right up next to our car and an ostrich that wanted a taste of our car lol plus so many other beautiful animals, we seen animal in the map that they give you at the gate.Wonderful experience and we will definitely be back.

What an awesome day we had at Wild Florida. Even being native Floridians we learned a few things. We were fortunate enough to have lunch with “Crusher” the resident 13 ft alligator. What an amazing experience. The staff and trainers are very knowledgeable and courteous which made our experience that much better. I highly recommend visiting the park to anyone. We will definitely be back.

Took my 12 year old daughter on a whim for something to do on spring break. I’m SO glad we did! She loved seeing all the animals so close, and feeding the giraffe, Walter! We even got to see a Watusi delivery a brand new baby calf, watched momma clean her baby, and the whole herd, including a bison and 2 camels come to see the new baby! It was such a joy to be a part of! The park was great to see and then seeing new life come to be and all the animals so excited to see the baby made it even better! Thank you for letting us in to be a part of that!

Wild Florida is a great place. It was a lot of fun. It is not a full day unless you want to spend a lot of money. We did just an animal interaction & just walked around. If you want to do the air boat ride & drive through safari you can spend a full day. But even if you want to do even one of those things, I definitely recommend it. The staff is super friendly & zoo keepers speak very highly of the place. The food is well priced, good quality, & the corn bread is fantastic. We bought more on the way out. Definitely worth the trip & we will be making another this year.

We did the safari and some of the Gator Park only because it was 100°. Safari was beautiful! Feeding the giraffe was great! Gator Park is nice, looking forward to going back when it's not so bad of weather.

Fantastic evening airboat ride. Saw a few alligators and Eagles plus lots more that we wasn't expecting. So peaceful and amazing to see when we stopped in various areas. The tour guide was great and pointed out loads to us with some amazing facts. The Gator Park was very good staff all friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit.

They lock the gates 10 minutes after closing make sure to get to car with enough time to get out. Also there is no lighting on the paths & once the sun is down it was hard to see to get out of the park. More don't touch a snake if you see one instead of an exit signs. Lots of gators. We had a nice time. The trails were mostly dirt. Like most animal parks you need to watch out for wet walkways.

We had such a good experience. We pet and fed the porcupines. Fed the alligators. Went on an airboat ride. And finally drove through the safari. There were so many baby animals! I was driving and didn't get the chance to take a lot of pictures. A recommend buying your tickets in advance for any of the animal encounters.

Just finished this adventure and I must say it was well worth the money spent. A first class operation all the way.Air boat captain (Kevin) did an outstanding job of showing us bald Eagles , alligators an other marsh wildlife.The wildlife park drive through was an extremely pleasant surprise. A large variety of high plains wildlife and at a very close up look. One of the best we have been to.

We couldn't have been happier with the sloth encounter that my daughter went to. She is still smiling days later. The woman running the encounter was great. She was friendly knowledgeable and made the whole experience enjoyable for everyone involved. If love animals and want to get up close this is a great place to visit.All of the animals encounters are booked separate from just an admission to the park. I highly recommend booking encounters in advance.Unfortunately we did not have time to explore the rest of the park, since we had other plans we had to get to, but we did get to see some of the other animals on our way to and back from the sloths.It's not the place to go for a whole day, but that doesn't mean it's not worth the trip. I would definitely return next time we are in the area, to check out their other attractions.

Great time. Went when it was summertime, but was still doable. Would recommend early in the day, or cooler time of year. Did the Safari, and really enjoyed it. Plan on 60-70 minutes for the Safari. This includes admission to the Gator Park. Overall, would plan on around 4 hours to see everything. Did not do the airboats.

The safari drive was so fun. There are 2 options, going a long 2.5 mile route or a shorter option if you just want to get to the zoo. We saw many animals who were very close to the car. The zoo was much larger than I thought and we spent about 5 hours here. There’s a petting zoo with goats and pigs which was cool. We were lucky enough to catch some shows as well. I will definitely be back

Wild florida is a great day out for all of the family.We started our day with a trip on the air boats where we saw alligators and bold eagles in the wild.We then walked around the zoo section and saw loads of incredible animals, saw a couple of shows, and got to hold an alligator.We then went around the drive through safari and finished the day by feeding a giraffe.A great day out, I would highly recommend it.

Great family experience. Loved the freedom of taking our time through the drive through safari, many animals came right up to the car for some cool pictures. The gator park was eventful as well, so many animals to check out. Few shows to check out as well, we missed it.

This place is Florida's best kept secret. This was an amazing experience and was a great way to get away from the crowds at Orlando parks. We paid around $170 for five people abd we had an absolute blast. They offer so much for such a low price. The safari comes with a walk through Zoo and optional animal encounters for additional costs. This will be a Florida to do staple for my family and I moving forward.

Wild Florida is a gator park and much much more. It is about 30 miles south east of our Blue Heron 1806 rental condo.Wild Florida also has a 'drive through Safari', Airboat tours and wildlife park featuring gators and an assortment of animals from around the world. The park has a great swamp walk, petting zoo and bird house in which you can feed the resident animals and birds. You can even arrange an alligator feeding experience and walk through a swamp. All their attractions are very reasonably priced and they even have Florida residents rates. We highly recommend Wild Florida. It is well worth the drive! Don't forget to get a picture holding Fluffy the gator!

We Absolutely loved it! A nice fun trip to see some animals we've never seen before. The pricing is great and very affordable. Every staff member we met was extremely helpful and nice and answered all our questions. Also they have snacks and drinks which BONUS they are not expensive and crazy prices like most places weve gone in florida. They have multiple shows going on we had the most fun at the gator feeding show. They have a petting zoo with goats and pigs. We did not get to do the air boat ride but I'm sure it is excellent. I highly recommend checking this place out for some family fun time!

Great experience on the water. The temperature was a little on the chilly side, so be sure to dress accordingly. Our boat captain was great and really knowledgeable about the lake and the different animals and birds we saw. The boat was comfortable, but definitely wear ear plugs if you sit near the back.

I'd go just for the delicious ice cream! We had a great time during our visit. It was remarkable how close we were to alligators and other wildlife. The sloth encounter was a delight. Staff were welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly.

This was a spur of the moment trip and it was an excellent day. The Safari and the gator park were just what we needed. The Safari took about 90 minutes. Spent another hour at the Gator Park. They have Florida resident discounts which is always nice.

4.7

(6009)

5.0

(2276)

3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville, FL 34739, USA

21 lists

This place is beautiful. We spent half a day there walking around and looking around at all the beautiful plants and trees. It was amazing to walk around and check out the grounds and old buildings. The tower is amazing and we stayed for the carillon bells. I can't explain the beauty at this place, just spectacular. The food at the Cafe is delicious, great salads and sandwiches. I really enjoyed this place and recommend, so relaxing and a place to de-stress.

Great family friendly location, awesome museum and tourist center with an 8 minute video explaining the history of Bok Tower. Cafe had awesome food, kids loved it. Awesome scenery. Great children's playground. We will definitely come out again, the kids loved it!

Seriously beautiful and worth a visit at least once. The singing tower is stunning and very well maintained. Also enjoyed a good portion of the general gardens walk, lots to see! Make sure to take in the views around the tower itself, the elevation is a rarity in Florida and so nice to see.

Definitely worth visiting these gardens over 200+ acres. Incredible variety of plants and exotic vegetables. Great play areas for kids. Incredible musical tower with bells, called Carillon, popular in Europe.

This is definitely one of Florida’s hidden treasures. Unspoiled by man’s forward progress, this sanctuary features some extremely beautiful trees, plants, flowers, and foliage. And of course, the main centerpiece is the Bok Tower Bells. If you want to avoid crowds and screaming children, and screaming adults, this is definitely worth the visit. It’s about 45 minutes or so from the Walt Disney World resort. It’s definitely worth the drive.

Just back from a visit to Bok Tower Gardens and I've got to say, if you're someone who loves a bit of nature and history, this place is a must-visit. Nestled in Lake Wales, Florida, the gardens are a creation of Edward W. Bok, a Dutch immigrant who really gave back to his adopted country. This beautiful spot isn't just about the lush landscapes; it's also home to a stunning 205-foot tall Singing Tower. The sounds of the carillon bells ringing through the gardens are simply majestic.We went for Mother’s Day and it was the perfect setting. The tower, the music, the expansive views—all contribute to a peaceful, yet exhilarating experience. They even play a mix of top 100 hits, adding a modern twist to the historic backdrop.For anyone looking to spend a day surrounded by beauty and calm, I can't recommend Bok Tower Gardens enough. Bring a picnic, enjoy the koi fish in the reflection pool, and just let the beauty of the place wash over you. Whether you're a history buff or just someone looking to unwind outdoors, this place has something for everyone.

Absolutely loved it! So much so that I purchased a membership, which grants you either free admission or 50% off admission to about 50 gardens or history centers throughout FL. A regular annual membership is $60 but it’s only $30 for students.Bok Tower Gardens is well-kept, with a wonderful variety of greenery and plenty of places to sit & enjoy. There were a lot of people picnicking and napping. Definitely worth the trip. Bring some snacks and a blanket and you can easily spend a few relaxing hours here.

Definitely worth the visit. The entire grounds is kept so nice. Everywhere you look there are hidden areas to sit. We enjoyed walking up to the tower and getting to listen to the bells, it’s an experience unlike any in our area.We were specifically blow away by how nice the childrens area is. It’s very thought out, and the creativity that was put into it should be celebrated. Overall we had the most amazing day here.Can’t wait to come back and explore some more.

Being there is better than these few photos. While we were there it was almost on going bell's ringing in a musical way. So beautiful and peaceful. Another of history and surprised of who created this place and the people who were involve had an effect even in D.C. .

This was a really lovely experience and I would love to come back. I feel like they offered everything I would have ever expected or hoped for as far as gardens or estates go, and they did it well. Between the gardens themselves, the introductory video, the museum, the cafe, the tower itself and the gift shop, everything was top notch.

So glad we got the chance to explore the Bok Tower Gardens. This place is massive and so beautiful. Be prepared to walk-around and really take in the beautiful flowers and serene landscape. I even got a chance to grab some of the plants from the gift shop. Reasonably priced and happy to have something to remember the time spent there. This is a great place for a stroll, picnic and some good exercise.

Beautiful garden. Trails were paved and mulched, well kept. Bathrooms were cleaned. I enjoyed the walk through the garden. Looking at the map, I thought it was a lot bigger but after walking, it fell just right. Not too short, but also not too long. Perfect for younger kids. As you drive in, you pay at the front gate, then drive to the parking lot.

This day across the board was perfect! Weather impeccable for our day out at the Bok Tower gardens!The cafe had very friendly staff .Food was very fresh when ordered!The staff in the information center were thrilled to help us learn about the garden as well! Beyond pleased to have spent a peaceful day here ❤️

We had a great time walking around these gardens on a quiet Saturday morning. I particularly enjoyed the endangered plants garden and outdoor kitchen. Walking around here for a few hours brought us peace. It was nice to escape from the busy city and take some time to enjoy nature. Hopefully we will be back again one day soon.

We love the many incredible Botanical and Natural Gardens that Florida offers for visits, at the “top” of our list is Bok Singing Tower. On this particular visit we had a goal to hike their trail system along with the Garden. We ended up doing over 5 miles including a variation of terrain. It is no easy feat to hike a grade of significance in Florida.The bonus was the large number of Azaleas in bloom. The music from the carillon echoed in the hills as we traversed the sand and clay terrain. The gardens transported us to far away places with strange sounding names. Then we inadvertently crashed a wedding where the theme from Jurassic Park brought in the Groom and Bride’s entourage. And you know… in that setting it worked.

Visited 4/16/2024 and had a great time. All the staff we met were friendly and helpful. The grounds are immaculate. We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed time by Bok tower as the carillon played. There are lots of small secluded areas to enjoy time together in a peaceful outdoor area. The tour of El Retiro is worth it and brings you back to a time long past. We did stop in the cafe, where they have a selection of beers, food, and ice cream among other things. All were excellent. I'll be back!

The landscape is so diverse and well maintained. There were so many portions of the gardens to explore. The tower was really neat, the bells have a beautiful sound. The Old Florida is very interesting and fun to explore. We would highly recommend a visit, plus it's out in the country. This is an opportunity to get away from all the crazy traffic of a more densely populated area

Loved everything about my visit today from the super friendly helpful staff, to the well thought out and maintained gardens. The short movie with the historical information was helpful. Bathrooms located throughout the grounds. Ate at the Cafe on site which was convenient and good to refuel. Saw fish, turtles, snakes, all different kind of birds. Spent 4.5 hours there and still did not see everything. Definitely will be back!

My family and I went here for the first time yesterday and we loved it! There was plenty to keep them entertained and lots of space to run out some energy! The grounds are beautiful, especially around the tower. We will definitely bring a blanket and have a picnic out there next time. We ate at the cafe and it was delicious.Definitely would recommend bringing the whole family here!

What a wonderful experience! While visiting friends in Cocoa, FL, we planned a day trip and drove to Bok Tower Gardens (something they'd talked about doing for a long time and just hadn't been). The grounds, gardens, the home on the property- El Retiro- were all beautiful! And the main attraction- THE SINGING TOWER!!! oh my goodness!!!! It was stunning. It looked like we were in another country or maybe we'd walked through time??, into Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings). I hope to visit again, soon! It was just a perfect day!

Lots of beautiful areas to walk around even with small children. Lots of shade and there are many outdoor children activities behind the eating and gift shop area. It's much cooler in the summer and before 11am is perfect in the winter.

Undeniably beautiful. This garden is enchanting, well laid out and stunningly kept. I would love to be able to climb the tower. The water features and children’s area is also well thought out. This place is almost 100 years old and was a gift to all Americans from Mr. Bok. This place is a true treasure and gift. A must see place

This is now my favorite place in Florida. BEAUTIFUL. Well taken care of, tons of different plants and flowers, so many different trails. You can easily spend a couple of hours just exploring around this beautiful place, but at the same time, everything is close so it’s not an exerting walk by any means. Ironically, although the tower and music are gorgeous, it was everything around it I would go back for. Loooved it.

Wow! Gorgeous! Beautiful! Are words to describe this beautiful part of Heaven on earth! This park is beautifully laid out to enhance the natural beauty of its flora and landscape.

Amazing gardens to wander around. Peaceful and relaxing. Make sure you get there for 1:00 pm to hear the recital. You will need 2 to 3 hours to see everything properly. The kids garden is a lot of fun for adults as well. Reasonably priced cafe with friendly staff.

Beautiful gardens and paths. The bell tower was gorgeous. Loved the history lessons in the visitor center. There are lots of interesting plants to see, and everything was well labeled to learn as you go. Educational and fun!

Wife and I were at a wedding in the adjacent neighborhood. Decided to give it a try. Looks very cool from a distance. Very quiet and serene. Neat plants and ponds. We were there in the early morning. A few other folks. We took a walk around. The background story is neat. I really enjoyed our time there. Not many places like it anywhere else.

We recently purchased a duo membership and it's already paid for itself. It's such a peaceful and beautiful place. Plan for a couple of hours of walking the properties. It's stunning and there's so much to see! Cute cafe and shop and you can buy plants to bring home!!

Beautiful and peaceful gardens with many rare native Florida plants and excellent walking paths for all levels! Carillon bells played from the tower are so relaxing! Video screen area with bench seating to watch the artist playing. Highest point in FL and amazing views of countryside! Short historic movie at visitors center! Annual pass includes many other gardens across the country. On site restaurant is delicious and reasonably priced! Amazing gift shop with gardening gifts and environmental options.

This place is AMAZING. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Such beautiful grounds with vistas from the top of the "mountain" 😂The cafe has excellent food with beer and wine. Gorgeous gift shop and the tower is WOW! Concerts at 1 and 3pm. We took our dog and it's very dog friendly. Because we went last minute, we didn't bring a picnic lunch, so if you go, definitely pack a blanket and lunch and eat up by the tower on the beautiful lawns under the massive oak trees. Serene and peaceful retreat. 💚Admission is $20Dogs $10 - totally worth it!

Well planned area. The area to park in had trees lining it so obviously for Florida your vehicle wasn't hot. The people were friendly. The different plants were awesome. We even saw a snake gardener snake it was all good. All the plans were really nice and like I said the setup but everything even when you were walking lots of shade there was a good Breeze we've really enjoyed our time there

Magnificent!! I was here many years before all the gardens were added. Such a huge variety of flowers and plants, vibrant colors, the winding paths with groups of plantings artfully designed - with many to attract bees and butterflies, plenty of places to sit after much walking, exceptionally clean... And then there's the tower itself. Beyond words...exceptionally well maintained, looks new.And add to all this a perfect sunny cool day with a nice breeze -- we were in 7th heaven. We will definitely be back.

This is one of the best botanic gardens on the whole east coast of the USA.Great walking paths, well labeled plants, duper staff, interesting varied environments.Add to that a great kids area and a carrollon that plays every half hour and you have an all day to multiple day stop.I highly recommend seeing this site.Good for the whole family, even rover.

Bok Tower is an expansive garden where the centerpiece is a giant bell tower. You can enjoy a well-manicured garden while listening to the captivating sounds of the bells. Admission is $20 per person which is a bit expensive. There is a cafe and gift store on campus, along with a theater and visitor center which displays some history of the Tower.I saw several groups of people having picnics and enjoying the warm March day.

4.8

(9931)

4.5

(2449)

1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, USA

22 lists

Great park about 1 hour away from Disney ( out west). This is a great park for small children, not so much for teenagers. You can bring your refillable water bottles as they ah e refill stations for ice, water and soft drinks even if you don’t buy their cups. You should buy their cups to refill fountain drinks though. I went Labor Day weekend, the lines weren’t long at all. The most I’ve waited in line for a ride was approximately 15 minutes. Bring a change of clothes or towels for the rides that involve water. The food isn’t that great. Tickets are approx $100pp. I found a great deal online. Pay for 1 adult and kid goes In free plus paid for parking $22. I paid $268 for 4 tickets. Google search “ kid free with adult ticket” ( Honest Kids)

The service has been immaculate. They have a lot of staff members and all have been very kind and helpful. The free buffet breakfast has lots of options to every age and diet. Is it the best buffet? No, but it’s good for what it is. The themed rooms are a big hit with the kids. And every day they get a new small Lego kit they get to put together and keep. The castle hotel has a playground you can hop over to and utilize during the day. The Lego building play areas have been really fun for the kids. It’s been an all around great fun experience. The downside; all guests 48in and shorter, no matter the age are required to wear a life jacket in the pool area. Even if they know how to swim. I don’t think much older than that would have much fun.

Excellent theme park for kids, specially for toddlers. Many attractions for all ages and with a best in class decoration. You really feel like you’re inside a Lego toy.Food is not that special, but enough for spending the day.

The best theme park we have been to! The hotel rooms were well decorated. The buffet skillets for breakfast and dinner were amazing. Great place for all ages but in order to ride all the rides you have you be 48” tall. We loved all the Lego made characters throughout the park. Each area is decorated to its own theme. My kids rode their first roller coasters here and are hooked to ride more!!! Very clean, friendly staff, reasonably priced food and gifts. We can’t wait to come back and stay longer! No I’d also suggest the pontoon ride on the lake. The Captain is very knowledgeable and easy going and super kid friendly.

If your child is into Legos this is a MUST! Pay the extra $ and stay at the resort as well. You can't beat the convenience of having your hotel room steps away from the theme park.The rides were great for my almost 5 year old. He loved all of them and especially loved the building stations they had throughout the park. I think his favorite thing to do was build the cars and race them with other kids at the Imagination building.Every staff we encountered was so nice and helpful.The park was clean and kid friendly.We had dinner and free breakfast at the resort and it was surprisingly very good! Service was great. Room was great!

As a “Lego Nerd”, wife’s words, I was excited to take my ten year old son. We had so much fun going to all the exhibits and rides. We went in the middle of the week and there was little to no wait for most rides. It is definitely geared more towards younger kids, or adult kids 😆, than teenagers. I do like the fact you can bring your own water bottle and fill it all over the park. We have been twice so far and plan on going back a lot more.

Legoland Florida was SUPER FUN! We went on almost all the rides in one day, the wait times are pretty short. They also have a water park. Regular parking was $20 and preferred parking was $50. My favorite part was Mini land USA. Legoland is an awesome, extravagant, amazing place to go on the weekends or weekdays. I would recommend bringing tons of water too. And coming on a weekday.

Legoland was better than I expected. There were plenty of rides and activities for my young kids to do. We spent an entire day there and didn't get bored. There were refill stations for drinks at the park. I wish there were places for mist or outside fans as it got really hot, but we took breaks as needed.My kids enjoyed every area of the park that we went to. We tried the pizza and pasta for lunch, and I do not recommend it. It is pricey for food that doesn't taste good. I really enjoyed the 4D movie. It was very interesting and short enough to keep my kids' attention also long enough to cool off.I dreaded going to legoland, but I am glad I went. Highly recommend.

Great place for families with young kids. The park is small and easy to get around in a few hours. Food choices vary and are a little pricey for what they offer, but they do allow small coolers in. Young adults and teens will enjoy the park, but only a few rides are available to them

This was our very first Legoland Trip and we drove about 13 hours for it with a 9 & 7 year old and it was well worth it. We stayed at the hotel and went to the parks. The hotel was incredible. It was so much fun, it had so much to do and was really cool to look at. The rooms were a little smaller than I thought however they were perfect. My husband and I had a blast along with our girls. They had a dance & pajama party every single night and a party elevator although the music wasn’t working on the elevator but my girls still sang and danced in it and enjoyed themselves. The park had plenty to do. We had 3 days at the park and we got to see and do pretty much everything. You could stay a entire week or more and not run out of things to do but for the Legoland part of our trip those 3 days were perfect and they got to do everything they wanted. My husband and I also love legos so it was really neat to see everything built in Lego. My camera roll is more full from our Legoland stay then our beach portion of our trip. I definitely recommend visiting Legoland instead of Disney. It was a really cool experience!

We visited the place a week after new year. We only purchase 1 park ticket which is the Legoland itself. The weather was cold. There were less visitors. Most of the food carts were close. few rides. children will definitely enjoy the park. In terms of souvenir items there were not much to choose from. I was looking for architectural lego design but there was none.

So much fun there! We conquered the whole park in 3 hours - two adults with no kids. Some of the rides have about a 40 minute wait. Spots to go indoors and get out of the sun throughout the park. Very clean and organized. Only wish they had more "healthy" food options in the park. A ton of great photo op spots and most of the employees will take your photo with characters that appear.

We got our annual pass back in December 2021, it is well worth it. Been here already 3 times and my little one loves it. We have $299 pass , we love it, no need to pay for parking ( we park in preferred parking) , we are allowed to bring 3 guess per pass in the year. We have use some already. I must confess it is a great park, lines for rides at the most 20 minutes and not all the time.

Legoland is a great park for the kiddos ages 3-10. Especially if they love building with Legos. The coasters and rides are all appropriately themed and exciting for that age bracket. I have 3 boys and they LOVED IT! As an adult I enjoyed the large Lego builds. I would recommend this trip to anyone who comes to Florida with young kids. The wait time for all the ride were very reasonable, 5-25min per ride.

We really enjoyed the craft at the Legoland theme park. I was just amazing. We really enjoyed miniland and we actually started there must of our visit. The best part for us was to see our hometown in the mini city. "Miami Beach". But, all the Lego craft is just amazing. It a must see to believe scenery. 👀😯👀😯👀😯👀

This was my families favorite vacation! I wish we would have come here sooner. We stayed in the Legoland Hotel (pirate theme) and my kids loved it! The room was cleaned daily, housekeeping was great! The free breakfast at Bricks was awesome, we did it everyday. We also ate at Shipwreck in the Pirate Hotel, it was good but very expensive. Both restaurants are family style. We went to the pool and had it all to ourselves for an hour, best time to go is around 11. It was very clean.The park was a blast, so much to do and so many places to cool off. The wait times were not insane like Disney. It was definitely less crowded during the weekday vs weekend. My kids road everything they wanted to multiple times. My only regret is not coming here sooner!

This park is specially designed for children under 12, but it's fun for all ages. The wait time was short at an average of 5 to 10 minutes per ride, with the exception of the cypress boat ride that had a 25 minute wait, I suggest going on that one right when the park opens before the line gets long. Buy the tickets online directly from Legoland for a secure purchase and to receive the best discounts. The kids love all the interactive attractions and rides, Legoland got the formula right, it really gets the kiddos involved like no other park!

WOW !!! What a great place to take your family. We made the trip on 10/29/23 and it was worth the 90 minute drive. Our daughter had a blast and their Team is absolutely Awesome. Halloween was in full swing and passing out candy from 2pm to 7pm, and not skimping on it. We had so much fun that we have decided to purchase season passes on their program. And the food was delicious and very reasonable!!!!

Pros: when the park isn't busy, it's a pleasure to be there. We went on an "off season" day and it was perfect. No lines, kids were able to ride almost all of the rides other than the rides that were undergoing "annual maintenance". Overall a really great trip and the kids had a blast.

I went with my kids today, and in my opinion, it is not worth the price for the amusem*nt park. Regular fair rides are way better than this park, and it's over hyped. The only advantage is that 4 year old kids are allowed in all adventure rides along with an adult, which is not feasible at Universal and disney.

First visitors. Familiar with all Orlando parks and we live here, so went with family and a 2 year old. Rides are per typical of a county fair and over very quickly. Grounds dirty. Rides that were supposed to be open until 4pm (the pirate boat ride is the picture with my watch) were closed early.But the ABSOLUTE WORST THING THERE WAS THE FOOD. The all you can eat pizza and pasta buffet was something straight from your nightmares. SUPER EXPENSIVE and all food bars empty all the time. They were adding ONE pizza at a time, while 15 people waited. When you did manage to launch yourself , Hunger-Games-style, to fresh food, it was absolutely awful. No co*kes in any soda machine at all. And did I mention trash everywhere?Finally, rides for a tot are SO minimal. Even super safe rides (like floating boats) they can't ride.The only redeeming things about this place (still not worth the price point though) were the Cypress Gardens area, and the mini Lego land.Been here, done it, and if you have an option - recommend that you pay a little extra and go elsewhere.

So let me start by saying this place is nice for the kids and they loved it BUT the prices are just outrageous for what you are getting. Yes they get a little scavenger hunt in the fully themed rooms and they get a free small Lego pack and a juice but does that really justify the prices? I don’t think so. Otherwise it’s just a regular hotel. They do have the little play area in the lobby but the lobby is small. Perfect for the kids but the prices are ridiculous. Our kids did enjoy every minute and I’m not regretful but they should consider lower pricing so more families can enjoy the experience. That being said they do have a full bar downstairs where you can watch your kids play and have a drink and food. The breakfast was a family style all you can eat which was included in the price but still not super spectacular for what we paid. The breakfast was good though. The aesthetic and the decor is perfect and the kids thought the elevators were so much fun. Bathrooms are a little scrunched but the room overall was nice and it accommodated our 3 kids perfectly.

This place is a ton of fun, especially for younger kids, but even the bigger ones can get in on the excitement. The Lego creations are simply incredible and truly captivating. The rides and attractions offer a good time, and there are indoor rooms for Lego building, complete with air conditioning and seating for a much-needed break from the sun and walking. While things inside can be a bit pricey, it's par for the course with most theme parks. Overall, we had an absolute blast!

Excellent for 6-9 year olds! 48" can pretty much ride everything. 44" can ride with another kid who is 48"+.Not a lot for toddlers under 34-36" but we went for the older kids. My 2 year old could do 3 rides. This was our 2nd trip and we just discovered the red schoolhouse building with the childcare center inside. It was great for an air conditioned break. Small indoor playground, kid's restroom, several lactation rooms, fridge & sink, many changing stations. Our toddler was able to nap in a lactation room with the lights off while my husband took the older kids through the park.

BLESSED to be a Polk County resident for annual family passes for our 11 year old son. He will soon "out-grow" much of the rides, since going at age 2½. The Water Park is the BEST for local FUN during Florida heat. The atmosphere and remaining Cypress Gardens, Ski Show, and Holiday Events are FUN for All, and returning visits. A 20 minute drive to Family FUN for Children is a Luxury; since, other families have to get on a plane, pay for a hotel, and book well in advance. And; Mom got a Discount, and Preferred Parking. NO Lines to get thru to Parking. I only went to get my PASS and purchase a "Gift Card" for The BIG Shop or LEGO Factory Store. They do not offer "Gift Cards". I did not go further into the Park for visit. Other Guests have more thorough REVIEWS and Beautiful Photos. ENJOY🤗

I went with my wife and an adult friend (no kids) and was shocked at how fun Legoland actually is. There is a LOT to do, including some really fun rides and excellent theming. There's also a HUGE section of Lego cityscapes with realistic 5-6 ft tall buildings depicting the Vegas Strip, Florida cities, San Francisco, DC, and more. I spent about an hour just looking at all of that... Almost like a Lego museum. There are also fun Lego building options like the new Ferrari build-and-race where you build your own Lego car from scratch and literally race it like a soapbox derby.For the coasters... The wild mouse (Great Lego Race) was maybe the best wild mouse model I've been on. Dragon is extremely well-themed with tons of Lego animatronics and a decent family coaster at the end. Coastersaurus is bad. Rough and forceless with TINY cars very difficult for adults to fit in.Non-Coasters... Ninjago was disappointing. It was the first ride (I think) with the AR hand-motion shooting but the sensors were not calibrated well and there were no physical sets at all. Just screens, screens, and more screens without an interesting story. So if the only point is shooting for points it would be much more fun if it was properly upkept. The queue was very cool though. (In general I LOVE the idea of putting places to build Legos IN the queues so kids can handle longer wait times.)Lost Kingdom Adventure was good in concept but again, not calibrated well. I like that when you shoot targets it activates effects. I feel like this one would be better without the guns at all. Just let us go through the "not-Indiana Jones" story with all of the effects happening for everyone.The LEGO Movie Masters of Flight was a cute concept for a ride and is basically a better version of Disney 's Soarin' ride (but not close to as good as Avatar: Flight of Passage). I liked that the ride had a story as well as most and scent effects.Pirate River Quest was disappointing. The wait times were outrageous for not that many people in line (a general problem at this park) especially because they were only running 3 boats on a 20-minute ride. And they only hold up to 8 guests each. So ~70 passengers per hour. And for most of the ride I wished I wasn't on it. It's mostly just a pirate telling you to count gems then giving you the answer before you even pass by all of the gems. And most of the figures are not made of Lego and are stagnant. Not nearly enough animatronics for a "pirate battle." The parrot talking got really old really quick too. I did like the last part sailing on the open water but I'd rather just walk through the Gardens next time. Because I chose to do the ride I didn't have time to walk through Cypress Gardens which is included with admission.Mia's Riding Adventure was the only true thrill ride in the park, being a big disco-style spinner ride. I thoroughly enjoyed it.Coast Guard academy was basically go-karts but in boats. Super fun but the wait was ridiculously long because they weren't using over half of the boats.NFPA Rescue academy was a super-fun competion to put the fire out the fastest. A slight workout!Most of the rest of the rides are kiddy flat rides. I think you need a lot of kiddy rides in Legoland BUT too many of them are just the same flat track with different ride vehicles and scenery. Would be nice to have a really solid kids' dark ride along the lines of Ratatouille at EPCOT or Small World at Disneyland/MK.The park was clean enough though the bathrooms weren't great. The rides and experiences were a lot of fun. The only negative is that the operations on the rides are TERRIBLE and it's mostly not the employees' fault. It's because the ride's capacities are akin to fair rides but the park is built to attract thousands per day, causing lines with literally 20 people to take 20+ minutes. Most theme parks have ride capacities around 600+ per hour per ride and this one is about 15% of that.Also know that AAA Gives good discounts if you're a member.

Compared to Disney Theme Parks, Legoland is a bit far to the city. But it has its unique themes since visitors can see lego characters, animals, and famous landscapes everywhere. It is amazing to see the mini city around the US to the world. They are all beautiful. There are many rides at Legoland and waiting time is so much better than at Disney World. Kids seem so excited there as they can see, touch, and take pictures with their Lego characters. Kids and adults can join the rides and most of rides there are mild and experience for kids.

4.4

(27446)

4.0

(9221)

1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884, USA

+24 other lists

A super good fun to be had sort of place. It's really the employees that put this over the top, as far as I'm concerned these employees are genuinely cheerful and not just putting on a show. The building itself is very well cleaned and laid out so one's not having to walk from end to end in search of a co*cktail or a hot spot in which to feed a roll of quarters.The food is never bland or nondescript. Fresh salads and fabulous bar burgers are always a part of a diverse menu.Next time you're looking for a get away weekend, it's not necessary to leave the greater Tampa area, just head over to Hard Rock and a great time will be had by all .

The Hard Rock Casino is a really cool and fun place to go! My dad always said to me to only bring what you're willing to lose because if you win and walk out with more money then you came with, then that's great, but there's always a chance you will spend everything you brought. There are so many different and newer slot machines, different card games, and the hotel rooms are beautiful! Just make sure you are having fun because even when I walk out with less money, I usually still had a great time. The food is amazing no matter which restaurant you go to! The staff makes sure you are safe, and if there's a problem, go to a blue shirt staff member and they will take care of you.

This place was very nice inside an out. The employees where very nice an helpful to any services we needed. I lost my phone while in the casino an after finding the lost an found which was a trick (until a gentleman lead) the way I was able to get it back. They said 95% of lost phones an 85% of other items are turned into the lost an found. Which is awesome there team an security keep a close eye on everything to make it safe for their guest and their belongings .. But over all everything was great . kinda pricey but nothing less expected being a casino..

Liked the Casino as they have non smoking areas which I prefer. It's large enough and have all the games I enjoy except for Stadium Blackjack. The rooms were really nice ,comfortable and clean. There are a few nice shops to help you spend your winnings...if your lucky. The restaurants we went to were good and I am looking forward to my next visit.

Beautiful casino...VERY TIGHT MACHINES! $1200 Dollars in a hour and a half...25 cent machine's. Didn't see a server for 45 minutes. However after we got service...they were more frequent and very pleasant! I would like to have seen more nickel machines, to stretch out playing time. It would have been more fun if the machines would have let us play. Still a lot of fun!

This is my favorite place to retreat to when I need a break from my immediate world I mean for me it's like visiting an adults playground they have it all and your always welcomed with a smile no matter what time you choose to come rolling units 24 hours so I like to avoid big crowds my usual arrival time is between 3 and 5 am and I get out of there by noon the very latest I have gone all different times as well as stayed for a week strait utilizing the hotel portion and they do st times pack on the players I never thought it was too packed to enjoy oneself but just prefer off hours so 8 can roam around and not worry bout how I look or getting hot on usually no conversations more playing is best for my taste and just cuz it's slow no worries you may still win they don't set any time restraints on jackpots just in case anyone may have questioned their abilities 24 hours of fun fair playtime. ... Come whenever you are feeling lucky

I’m no casino frequenter, but at least three or four times a year. I’ve been to all the local ones in South Florida, but my first time here. I’m kind of surprised, it’s a nice and peaceful casino in a beautiful setting. Make time to go outside to the stands for the horse track and look over the infield and see the link flamingos, they are easy to see. The casino floor is actually quieter than any casino I’ve been to, it’s not overly loud machines blaring. This place is definitely nicer than Gulfstream Casino, by a lot.The food options looked reasonable, if unimaginative. Fair pricing. And where else can you get a Cuban coffee for $1 these days. If you like slots (I did see they have a poker area but didn’t go there), definitely give this place a

12/2023 .. 1) I didn't come to gamble, but will say that they have Many slots. I'm guessing around 500+ machines. Blackjack, poker, no craps yet but coming, sports book, I didn't see roulette but they may have it. My partner says the slots don't pay as well as the Native casinos out west but maybe she wasn't having a good day. 2) Eats: they have quite a few eateries and bars, but the hours vary and somehow I find it difficult to find anything I really want to eat here. The Council Oaks fine dining room is the only place that takes reservations and they were booked full weeks in advance so couldn't eat there. 3) Hotel leaves a bit to be desired considering the price. Pretty nice rooms but room and especially the hallways smell a bit stale. Good hot showers. NOTE: I booked direct, but I notice that there are rates offered on this site that are more than a hundred dollars less per night than we ended up paying, so you might want to shop more carefully or call them to see if they will match those lower rates.4). Parking: Free. There are three parking garages and it can be hard to find your car until you get familiar with the layout, so you will want to make note of which garage, floor and section you park in. Parking gets crowded at certain times of day but I was always able to eventually find a space. 5) The displays of instruments and stage costumes are interesting. They permit photographing these. 6) Cleanliness and disinfection: Excellent. No trash laying around and several two person cleaning teams are working 24 hours a day rotating through the gaming floor and common areas cleaning and disinfecting.7) Every staff member I saw was friendly and courteous, going out of their way to help you have a good time. 8) BEWARE: the jewelry for sale in Rainmaker and labelled "Native Made by Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni craftsmen" may well be Native made but I believe it is made in a sweatshop in Gallup and IMO is made using reconstituted turquoise and inferior metals. Grossly overpriced for what you get, IMO. 9) Live entertainment: nonexistent. There may have been a band in the Council Oaks restaurant but that place was booked full weeks in advance. There is a concert venue separate from the main floors and concerts there carry a significant additional cost and seem to happen only occasionally. 10) Smoking: this is a smoking establishment. Smoking is permitted everywhere except for a relatively very small nonsmoking gaming floor tucked away upstairs. That being said, the air was pretty clear and I never found the smoke level especially objectionable. 11) Wheelchair friendly throughout as far as I could tell.

One of my favorite places to gamble! Huge selection of games, and I have won more here than anywhere else I play. 4 jackpots in the last year. I also think that the Unity rewards program is excellent. Lots of great offers and flexible ways to use your points.As for the rest of the resort, it's top notch. Great rooms, lots of great restaurants, nice pool area.

Second visit and it never disappoints. Friendly staff great music 24/7. The food is good, I really appreciate the small food court with food for everybody, but I have to say in my experience the room service is superb. The meatloaf with mashed potatoes were heavenly, also the grilled chicken sandwich was excellent. Hotel was packed and the food took less than the actual call to the desk. Prices were pretty good considering the awesome place and how full the hotel was.The Casino was exciting and extremely fun. Hotel is near malls and other places.We came for the Billy Joel concert and we also went to a Lighting game.If you conning to Tampa you just consider seriously book here.

We only go for day play. No overnights. Valet parking is ridiculously priced. $30. Large casino. Lots of machines. They pay decently. Clean. Very little smoke smell. Pleasantly crowded on weekdays.

Had a great time. Ate at the noodle bar, the hard rock Cafe, Rise, and also used room service. All were very good with reasonable prices. Casino had good variety of games. I won some and lost some but it was fun. Parking easy. Not so good were cigarette ashes on some consoles and the smell of cigarettes permeated the whole casino. Bring an eye shade if sharing a room. For some strange reason there are windows from the bathrooms that cast light into the bedroom at night whenever your roommate goes to the bathroom. Not cool in the early morning hours. Beds were comfortable and clean. Nice decor. I would recommend a stay.

Truly enjoy my first night at the hard rock within 30 seconds. I want $533. I was so happy staff are awesome. They greet you with a smile in their voice and with a calming affect. While providing excellent customer services and anything timely manner accommodate customers I lost my phone at one of the machines and a few employees assisted me as a disabled veteran, which was very nice and appreciate it. I will continue to go to the hard rock and play with my luck only because you guys are awesome. Staff assisting customers and making our day brighter *_*!!

Hard Rock is nice place to visit. Pool is smallish but seems nice. Plenty of slots to play and they have a special during the week during the height of the day for $5 Blackjack games (at least right now). It can be a little confusing to tell where smoking and non-smoking is and you can get a little lost with how much is actually in the building. Decent variety of eateries, but be aware that prices are a little high but understandably high. There's not really much in the area to go do something else. You have to go about 20-30 minutes away to get to other attractions. Overall great place to visit for a day of fun in Tampa.Center BarIf you go here for a visit and drink, ask for Dana K. What a delightful server! Not only was she genuinely nice, but wonderful to talk to, attentive to the table, and easy to understand (music overhead of the bar). You want a nice experience with a great smile and beyond friendly server, go find Dana K.

Just stopped in for a little gambling and to get something to eat. I was a little disappointed in the casino. First of all, it was way, way too hot inside. In fact, we left early just because of that. Secondly, they really need to address overflowing ashtrays and trash cans. I'm not sure what the issue was, but I've never seen anything like it inside a casino.We ate at the Rock n Raw and everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The service was barely average. It wasn't really very busy and it really should have been better.Overall the experience was only fair and if I return, it will only be because it was a convenient location for us.

This is a great casino hotel resort. The rooms are well presented and the pool is great. The restaurant is brilliant and with the live band makes it a real experience whilst dining! The casino area is very accommodating especially good for high rollers. Extra shout out to Travis and his team who looks after us and makes sure we have a great stay!

The casino is a 10/10 absolute gamblers paradise! I was shocked by how big it was and how many games they have to offer. It wasn't until about an hour in that I even discovered the other side. I stayed all evening easily. One thing I will say is go with $$ to spend if you want to have a good time. The max bet on all of the machines seemed really high for what I'm used to. Overall it was a great time and I'd love to go back!

First valet parking charged $35 per day without tip. Second they don't clean your room unless it's requested (nasty). Third the casino is extremely dirty, hardly any drink service. Fourth the players card booth, employees were unhappy and it showed. Fifth hotel check in staff looked miserable.In conclusion; the slots pay nothing back just take and take. They did not even give us a fighting chance and we only play HL. Bell hops were pleasant, and the patrons were very friendly. Overall it might be a good casino to some but for me it was awful. Will never return, my entire party was unsatisfied. Good luck.

Kinda fan but HATE the pervasive smell of smoke. Our non smoking rooms in the WESTtower smelled of smoke. The hallways smelled of smoke. Also not a fan of dogs in the casino.We went to the pool one afternoon and loved it! Great service. DJ and the water was warm.I think this is the closest true casino for us but we’ll keep looking.

We only went to the casino and did not stay in the hotel. The overall experience was good since we did win a little. Large and plenty of machines and playing opportunities. The smoking area did have a strong odor, but we are non-smokers, so it was more noticeable to us. I recommend for a fun afternoon if you enjoy playing.

The rooms were very well kept except for this red stuff on the mirror that looked like blood it scared my kids so much that they couldn't sleep. The location was great they had a pool and a good proximity to Universal and a path. Overall, it was a very fun experience. I can't wait to go back next year!

I always enjoy my time at the Hard Rock. On this visit I would have to give a 4 star rating. I stayed M-W and I got the feeling my bread at the 2 restaurants were from Sunday. Plus the music at the pool was Monday music. Meaning it wasn't very good. Question for the fantastic Hard Rock management is, should Monday's and Tuesday's be just as fun and exciting as Fridays and Saturdays? I think it should. Thanks for listening

For whatever reason the Saturday that I win seemed busier than usual. Not that that was a problem. I love the energy I love this casino very clean staff is always friendly and the games are always fun. The amenities are nice bathrooms are clean. Just a good weekend spot. Not sure when I'm going to go out there again but I'm sure it's not soon enough. Can't wait to go back.

This was a memorable experience! The hotel’s amenities are great for the price. The staff was accommodating and professional. I again, enjoyed the costume gallery featuring the biographies of the celebrities that wore them and who frequent this hotel and casino. The wealth of information entailing each guitar’s history on display was an added bonus. My absolute favorite time spent was at the spaaaaaaa! You have to spend a day there. The personalized service you receive is more than worth the expense!

I absolutely LOVE my visits to this casino and hotel!! This is an overall review as I have been here several times over the years and stayed in various rooms in all towers.OVERALL:This casino is designed beautifully - very modern with plenty of gambling available from slots to tables, lots of dining choices, and shopping. The casino floor is huge and there is also a smoke-free gambling area upstairs. Plenty of parking garages available as well as valet and over-size parking for big rigs or jacked up trucks/jeeps that can't make the clearance into the parking garage! This casino is equipped with three swimming pools (no jacuzzi), an outdoor bar & grill, and a gym.HOTEL:I would have to say that I prefer the East over the West tower. The rooms nicely furnished, well equipped with amenities, a comfy bed and quality towels! The restroom is spacious with his and her sinks and a gorgeous walk-in shower. Our views are always amazing as well.CASINO:I can't believe how huge the casino floor actually is! There are so many slot machines available and sometimes I prefer to go upstairs where there is no smoking allowed because it's less crowded. Also, if you're gambling in the high rollers area you are able to get free co*cktails from the waitresses walking around.DINING:I have tried every restaurant at this casino and I have to say that Jubao is my absolute go-to!! They are open super late, and the line is long, but so worth it! If you are looking for much finer dining there are plenty of great options but make sure to make a dinner reservation.

I came to Hard Rock via a bus day trip from my community. I haven't been to a casino in 5 years. This experience was very different from my last trip.The casino was clean and flashy. Sounds, lighting, and large screens on "slot" machines make it all seem exciting, and it draws you in.You put cash bills in the machine. If you don't have cash, you can use an ATM or credit card. It's too easy to overspend if you don't have control.The machine conveniently keeps track of your wins and losses. If you're lucky enough to win any money, you cash out, and the machine spits out a slip to take to a cashier. Thankfully, there are lots of 1c machines. Be aware that the minimum bet ranges from 30c to a couple of dollars. Similar rules for 2c, 25c, and higher machines.Overall, we had a good time. Sadly, we didn't win, but we also didn't spend more than the maximum amount I planned. Which wasn't much. We walked around, ate, and looked in stores to pass some time.My only complaint was that people were smoking all around us. It was awful. I had no idea there was another side that was non-smoking. Signs would have been nice.

We stayed at the west wing of the hotel. For our anniversary, of course! I tell you these rooms were exceptionally well put together. The bathroom was a sight to believe. Experiencing this stay with my wife was unforgettable. Hopefully we can get to visit once again next year! Fingers 🤞

The hotel has a lot to offer(food, shopping, entertainment). My one issue was the amount of smoke you are subjected to just walking through the main portion of the hotel. We didn't put our clothes in the closet after going out, so our other clothes wouldn't get smelly. If they invested in smoke vents to pull the smoke out it would be the perfect hotel. Therefore, I deducted an overall star for the smoke.

Road trip to Tampa with my friend, who had time before a meeting, so checked it out.Huge venue. Very nice, clean. Many shops, places to eat + Tremendous amounts of Slot Machines. Other games to experience, as well, if u like to "try your luck"!🍀We enjoyed our short visit. Thank you!👍🙂

It's a great experience. Very nice scenery. Everyone is so pleasant. Venture out you will enjoy. We live in Tampa.We just went on a family outing to Seminole Hard Rock. Go you'll have a nice time. If you have some respiratory issues wear your mask to help with the smokey smell.

This hotel provided a wonderful stay. I had back surgery a few months ago and was having some residual pain during my trip, and the soaker tub was wonderful. The bed was the best I have encountered in any hotel. The food at the pool was so great—the chicken sandwich and waffle fries were wonderful!—and the service and security were excellent.I attended one of the Rod Stewart shows, and I was so impressed by the venue. We got in quick, and security was quick to handle the few issues I saw. I have attended literally hundreds of concerts, and this one was my favorite.The only negative for me was the smoke on the casino floor, but I get it. I just wanted to warn anyone who might be sensitive to it because it is overwhelming. That said, I have never been to a casino before this, so I had no experience.I wish I could have stayed longer but had to get home.

I ❤ this place too much.A lot of fun had a very good streak however, the last 2 visits I had to give back a little that's gambling. I visit on the average 3 times per month. Restaurants are great and employees very friendly and the entire complex is first rate and immaculate. 😎

Ringing in New Year’s 2024 at Hard Rock Tampa was an unforgettable experience. The venue was alive with energy, perfectly capturing the excitement of the new year. Every detail, from the vibrant decor to the electrifying music, contributed to a festive atmosphere that was second to none. The staff went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great time, providing exceptional service throughout the night. The food and drinks were top-notch, with a variety of options to satisfy all tastes. Celebrating New Year’s at Hard Rock Tampa was a truly spectacular start to 2024, leaving me with memories I’ll cherish forever. Highly recommended for anyone looking to celebrate in style!

My family and I went here to visit the casino. we tried to hit it rich and retire but in the end we all ended up making donations. the main casino part is on the first floor but we spent our time on the second floor where is smoke-free. They had slots and table games. it qas cool to walk around and look at all the memorabilia. after making our donations, we had a drinks at the bar. I had an expresso martini. it was pretty good.

Worst Casino I’ve ever been to Spent over 1000 and only hit two bonuses very little payouts we ate at rise, kitchen deli very terrible food. The chicken fingers taste like fish sticks And my steak sub tasted terrible as well very disappointed and they’re charging way too much for beers eight dollars apiece is ridiculous. Casinos in New York give you beer for free just so you gamble more and spend more money.

We drove by and stopped to play a little.It was fun. Nothing really wrong with it. My only complaint would be smoke rises. Putting the non-smoking section of a casino above the smoking section doesn't really help to much. But it was fun. We did enjoy ourselves.

Nice casino. Drinks should be FREE.Waitress would get better tips. And people gamble more with a buzz. Look it up. It's proven.Very smoky. I had no idea people still smoked stupid cigarettes.It's like living in an ash trey.

4.3

(51235)

3.5

(2745)

5223 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33610, USA