21 day-trip destinations outside Orlando that feel like a fever dream

Devil’s Den

2 hours from Orlando
This Instagram-worthy North Central Florida spring gets its name from the steam (fiery smoke?) that was seen radiating off the water when it was first discovered. Now you can swim, scuba dive or snorkel in this prehistoric watery cave.

Retirement Home for Horses

2 hours from Orlando
The nonprofit equine sanctuary Mill Creek Farm acts as a final home for retired horses. For an admission price of just two carrots, you can spend a day getting to know the gentle giants and enjoy activities available on the farm. Open to the public every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Augustine Ghost Tours

1 hour and 45 minutes from Orlando
On top of the essential historical sights and kitschy shopping, St. Augustine is also home to some killer ghost tours. Ranging from family-friendly to scary and boozy, there’s a ton of ways to get in touch with the other side.

Ziplining

1 hour and 12 minutes from Orlando
Who knew Florida is home to some actually cool ziplining? Zip the Canyons, located in Ocala, takes its bravest guests flying over natural springs as (they say) Florida's only true canopy zip tour. The adventure park offers a variety of ziplining packages, including a late-night ride, as well as horseback riding and kayaking.

Dinosaur World

1 hour and 23 minutes from Orlando
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.

Silver Springs State Park

1 hour and 45 minutes from Orlando
Take a step into true Florida nature with Silver Springs State Park's iconic glass-bottom boat rides. The immersive rides have been a staple attraction of the park since the 1800s, when the tourism boom first started. They also may just be the perfect opportunity to spot the rogue monkey population that calls the park home today.

Coral Castle

3 hours and 58 minutes from Orlando
After his beloved Agnes left him a day before their wedding, early-1900s sculptor Ed Leedskalnin spent 30 years hand-cutting gigantic pieces of stone into these works of art. Today, visitors can mosey through the picturesque sculptures and gardens.

Butterfly World

3 hours from Orlando
Florida, known for many things, is also 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.

Crystal River

3 hours from Orlando
Crystal River is home to one of the best spots on Florida's coast to see and swim with manatees. It's also home to the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to the protection and conservation of the area's manatee populations.

Whimzeyland

1 hour and 57 minutes from Orlando
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.

Dalí Museum

2 hours and 9 minutes from Orlando
A massive collection of works by surrealist artist Salvador Dalí lives right here in Florida at the Dalí Museum. Stroll through the iconic works from his melting clocks to visual illusions like the large-scale masterwork "Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea." The museum rotates through temporary exhibitions on top of the permanent ones, plus it offers the Dalí Cafe for a quick bite in between all the artistic contemplation.

Solomon’s Castle

2 hours and 20 minutes from Orlando
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.

Playalinda Beach

1 hour and 6 minutes from Orlando
Playalinda is known for its low-key atmosphere and picturesque views — and for being one of Florida's most popular nude beaches. There’s also a ton of shops and local eateries nearby which are not-so nude-friendly.

Weeki Wachee Springs Springs State Park

1 hour and 45 minutes from Orlando
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.

Kennedy Space Center

50 minutes from Orlando
Visit NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center for a glimpse into the world beyond our own, with plenty of historical exhibits, IMAX theaters and spacecraft tours. Thrill-seekers, try your hand at the shuttle launch experience and test your zero-gravity skills.

Mount Dora

40 minutes from Orlando
The quaint town of Mount Dora is home to beautiful natural sights, an expanse of local artistry and some wacky. Stop by Wave Mount Dora to grab astronomical portions of sushi pizza, Flamin Hot Cheeto-topped sushi burritos or a giant bento box.

St. Petersburg Sunken Gardens

1 hour and 51 minutes from Orlando
This 100-year-old botanical garden is the city's oldest living museum, and it's located right in the heart of St. Pete. Visitors can enjoy and admire thousands of tropical plant species, cascading waterfalls and flamingos on site.

Tiffany Chapel

18 minutes from Orlando
This attraction may be right here in Orlando (well, Winter Park), but it remains a less "touristy" sight well worth seeing. The Morse Museum houses the most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world.

Falling Waters State Park

5 hours and 21 minutes from Orlando
Maybe surprisingly, Florida is home to several secret natural waterfalls. Falling Waters State Park in the Panhandle offers some of the best views and trails for waterfall sightseeing.

Seacrest Wolf Preserve

5 hours and 30 minutes from Orlando
Experience the "call of the wild" with the wolves at Seacrest Wolf Preserve. This rare experience allows its guests to get up close and personal with the wolves on site, as it aims to preserve wild populations through education and exposure.