More than 20 Central Florida roadside attractions worth a weekend trip

Gatorland

14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando
Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve located right here in Orlando, along South Orange Blossom Trail. The spot was founded 73 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land, and has ever since been a wildlife adventure and adventure park.

Skunk Ape Research Headquarters

40904 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee
Ah, the skunk ape: Florida's very own ever-elusive Bigfoot equivalent. Here at Skunk Ape HQ, guests can enjoy tons of proof of the animal's existence, as well as wildlife encounters, camping and a killer gift shop.

Solomon’s Castle

4533 Solomon Road, Ona
Tucked away in the Florida woods is one man's dream: a giant medieval castle made of metal. The structure is filled with galleries and artworks by its late builder Howard Solomon, plus the Boat-in-the-Moat restaurant open Tuesday through Sunday.

Whimzeyland

1206 Third St. N, Safety Harbor
What started as an eclectic collection of art and knickknacks turned into one of Florida's most recognizable local landmarks. The totally decked-out "Bowling Ball House" called Whimzeyland is covered with recycled materials, art projects and, yeah, bowling balls.

Monument of States

300 E. Monument Ave., Kissimmee
Built as a symbol of American unity after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Monument of States was created with donations of stone that came from around the world, including a rock from President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Cow Camp

14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales
When the first Spanish conquistadors arrived in Florida in the early 1500s, they brought with them a small herd of cows and horses, now known as Florida cracker cows and cracker ponies. The herd grew and eventually turned into a concentrated population you can visit today.

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

13700 SW 16th Ave., Ocala
Opened in 1984, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing chronicles the history of the sport and houses plenty of vintage memorabilia. About 90 racing cars can be seen in the Drag Race building, while a further 50 vehicles are housed in the Antique Car building.

Swampy: World’s Largest Alligator

13700 SW 16th Ave., Ocala
Visit the world's largest alligator (-shaped building) right here in Central Florida. About 200 feet long, Swampy is the cornerstone of Florida's Jungle Adventures (a roadside zoo), built in the 1980s by the park's founder.

C. Green’s Haunted History Museum

1079 Stevens St., Cassadaga
Located in Florida's very own spiritualist capital, C. Green's Haunted History Museum offers a glimpse into the spooky world of cryptids, aliens, Voodoo/Vodun, weird deaths, creepy dolls and much more. The interior is much larger than the building makes it seem, so be prepared for a bit of an eerie trip.

Goofy Golf

12206 Front Beach Road, Panama City
Quite possibly the area's most puzzling roadside attraction, Goofy Golf is a decades-old mini golf course filled with figures and statues straight out of a Florida-fueled fever dream.

Dinosaur World

5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City
Tampa Bay's own prehistoric playground is the perfect place to wander around hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs in natural settings. The attraction offers a dino-themed play area, a massive interactive boneyard and a museum featuring a collection of animatronic beasts.

Fountain of Youth

11 Magnolia Ave., St. Augustine
The allegedly youth-preserving waters of St. Augustine's Fountain of Youth have drawn tourists and locals to this 15-acre park for decades. Visitors can enjoy a paper cup's worth of the mysterious elixir, but be warned: It tastes just how you would imagine really, really old water to taste.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of Florida's oldest continuously running attractions, with a little something for everyone. Visitors can get up close and personal with more than 20 species of crocodilians, as well as a variety of other reptiles, mammals and birds.

Potter’s Wax Museum

31 Orange St., St. Augustine
With more than 160 sculptures covering a wide range of real and fictional figures, including politicians, entertainers, horror characters, historical personalities and athletes, Potter's is definitely a (maybe kind of creepy?) sight.

Spook Hill

Lake Wales
Spook Hill is one of the country's oldest "gravity hills," offering an optical illusion that makes it appear as though cars are rolling up the hill. It's one of Florida's pre-Disney World roadside attractions, filled with eerie mystery that'll (probably very briefly) entertain the most skeptical skeptics.

Butterfly World

3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek
Florida is known for many things, but you might be surprised to learn it's home to the largest butterfly park in the world. The tropical oasis-like zoo is filled with more than 20,000 exotic butterflies and insects all in one place.

Spongeorama Sponge Factory

510 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs
First opened in 1968, Spongeorama Sponge Factory is Central Florida's one-stop shop for all things sponges and nautical history. Pay the factory a visit to learn a thing or two about the town's ties to sponge retailing and walk away with an absorbent souvenir of your own.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee
Florida: the only state with very, very real mermaids and an iconic state park to visit them in. The springs also offer a great place for swimming, kayaking and all the other Central Florida waterside fun you can imagine.

Largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture

840 Johnson Ave., Lakeland
The largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture exists right here in Florida, on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. The site offers guided tours for guests to stroll through and enjoy the iconic collection.

Phosphate Museum

101 SE First St., Mulberry
This may just be one of Florida's most niche museums, but here we are. The Central Florida town of Mulberry is home to the Phosphate Museum, dedicated to the history of the phosphate mining industry. The museum features tons of fossils, memorabilia and exhibits to really get you really hyped about prehistoric chemical compounds.