Florida Travel: High Flying Adventures in the Sunshine State

Whatever level of exhilaration you’re craving, from a wee-bit adventurous to close-to-crazy, you’re sure to find it on this list of Florida thrills.

By Lauren Tjaden

It’s no secret: Florida’s an odyssey of sunlight, beaches and indulgent resorts. But it might be more of a revelation to discover it’s also the adventure capital of the world, luring explorers with high adrenaline fixes combined with the year round balm of Florida weather.

The Sunshine State invites you to take a dip in the Atlantic alongside sharks -- with or without a cage; soar above orange groves in a hang glider; and tackle twisting mountain bike trails with precipitous drops and make-your-palms sweat obstacles. Here, you can leap out of perfectly good airplanes; explore underwater caves; and wrestle enormous billfish.

Here's your list of Florida thrills.

Ocala - Ziplining Canyons - Man ziplining alt

- Vy Nguyen Films

Ziplining

In its simplest terms, ziplining is stringing a cable between two points and then riding it, a popular way to fill up the fun tank and see the sights from aloft.
But not all ziplines are created equal. Some are higher and longer, while others amp up the excitement with what they fly over.
The Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park in Ocala gets an A+ in all regards, with a variety of high-octane lines that sweep above towering cliffs, lush forests, and emerald-hued lakes at heights of up to 155 feet and distances of more than 1,100 feet. Its Big Cliff Canyon Tour includes nine ziplines, two sky bridges, and a rappel at the end. If that’s too sedate for you, you can try their full-moon zipline tour. Here’s a video and everything you need to know.
And count on Florida to add a special twist: soaring over alligators. Gatorland's Screamin' Gator Zipline in Orlando, Voted “Best Zip Line in the USA” by AOL Travel, is seven stories tall and includes a flight over the Alligator Breeding Marsh, teeming with 130 giant alligators. Not to be outdone, on the Alligator Farm Crocodile Crossing in St. Augustine, tangles of alligators and crocodiles are under your toes, tropical birds are at your eye level, and red-ruffed lemurs are so close to your fingertips you can nearly touch them.

Tandem skydivers

 - Liz Sass

Skydiving

Skydiving is the very definition of radical, as it takes a special individual to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can define ‘special’ in any way that pleases you.
In this expedition, you climb into an airplane and fly to heights of more than two miles. When the door opens up, the air blasts in and it's time to go, stepping out into the nothingness of space. You’ll free fall at a cheek-rippling 120 to 130 miles per-hour for 60 seconds. Finally, you’ll deploy your chute and float back to terra firma. Never-evers can go for a tandem jump, while experienced skydivers can go solo.
With its abundance of open fields, flat terrain and mild winters, Florida is ideal for the sport, and that means you can try it in every corner of the Sunshine State.
The world famous Skydive City in Zephyrhills, open for more than 30 years, promises positive vibes and unparalleled skydives — welcoming first time jumpers as well as the most experienced, competitive and professional skydiving athletes. Skydive Jacksonville rises above the crowd with the world's highest jumps at 18,000 feet; and Skydive Palm Beach in Wellington is the only drop zone in Palm Beach and Broward County.

Tandem hang gliding instructor Lauren Tjaden gives a student a unique view of the Sunshine State at Paradise Airsports.

- Lauren Tjaden

Hang Gliding

Hang gliding lets you experience flying the way a bird does, with the sunshine baptizing your face as you shift your weight and float on the currents of the sky. Since the Sunshine State is short on mountains, you get airborne here by towing up to the desired altitude behind a powered plane. Flights can be peaceful affairs, with unprecedented views and some instruction about how to fly, or rock and roll demonstrations of what the glider can do under the control of a skilled pilot.
Legendary flight parks where you can enjoy a tandem discovery flight with a qualified instructor include Wallaby Ranch, sited just outside Orlando in Davenport. ‘The Ranch’ has been open since 1991 and is heralded as the first fulltime aerotow hang gliding flight park on the planet.
Paradise Airsports (formerly Quest Air) at Wilotree Park, west of Orlando, is another powerhouse in the sport, hosting numerous National Championships as well as a World Championship.
The Florida Ridge, snuggled between Clewiston and LaBelle, delivers a south Florida option.

Video Thumbnail - youtube - Florida Travel: 360 Video: Kiteboarding in Delray Beach

 - Florida Travel

Kiteboarding

A combination of paragliding and wakeboarding, this thrilling, wind- driven sport involves using a steerable power kite to pull a rider standing on a board across the water.
As Thomas Becnel quotes in this VISIT FLORIDA Kitesurfing article, even beginners “immediately grasp the power of this extreme sport. From the first minute of your first lesson, you can feel it in your hands and in the pit of your stomach, as the huge sail of a stunt kite threatens to lift you off the ground and drag you down the beach. On the water, this eye-opening force will send you skimming across the surface…”
Since it’s an extreme sport, you need to be smart and find a qualified instructor as well as locations that minimize the risk.
Check out the basics and how to learn Kiteboarding from Kitemare as well as this Guide to Florida’s Best Kitesurfing Spots from Platinum Sun, detailing the most popular sites in the Sunshine State, schools in each area, and rules and regulations.

Florida Shark Diving, people free diving with shark

- Florida Shark Diving

Shark Diving and Swimming

If getting up close and personal with powerful, toothy apex predators sounds like an ideal way to relax on your vacation, Florida’s got you covered, with one of the largest, year-round concentration of sharks in the world. You don’t need to be Scuba certified or have experience to embark on this adventure, centered mostly in the Palm Beaches area, home to a particularly generous population of Tiger, Great Hammerhead, Bull, Dusky, Silky, Reef, Sandbar, and Lemon Sharks. Offerings include cage diving and freediving as well viewing-only trips.
Florida Shark Diving, Florida’s pioneering and longest running operator, promises the equipment and skills for a blockbuster trip; while Shark Addicts, Salty Divers and Shark Tours all get rave reviews. Florida Keys Shark Diving delivers tours further south in the state.
For a tamer but equally amazing escapade, Discovery Cove in Orlando invites guests to don a snorkel and mask to enjoy a deep-water, free swim alongside more than 20 sharks.

sailfish

 - Terry Gibson

Offshore Billfish Fishing

Florida boasts more coastline than any other state except Alaska; an ideal proximity to the Gulf Stream; and geological features like ‘The Wall’ in the Florida Keys, where the ocean floor abruptly plummets from 950 to 2,000 feet—all of which translates into spectacular billfishing.
Celebrated for their strength and size, marlin, sailfish and other Florida billfish are elusive, splendid creatures, the ultimate prize in high-octane offshore sport fishing. A grand quest and unparalleled excitement awaits those who dare to explore the fruitful waters off Florida’s coastlines in pursuit of these remarkable trophy fish.
Check out Your Guide to Fishing for Marlin, Sailfish and Other Billfish in Florida to learn about each species and what makes it unique as well as when, where and how to catch it. Information includes guide services and tournaments.

Ocala - Santos Trailhead - Mountain bike jump trick close up

 - Vy Nguyen Films

Mountain Biking

Think mountain biking and Florida don’t go together? Think again.
The Sunshine State encompasses hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails in every flavor, from beginner-friendly rides to those that test the most elite riders. Among this abundance of fat tire fun, two of Florida’s trails, Santos Trailhead  and Alafia River State Park, roll to the top of the pack with the International Mountain Biking Association’s ultimate trail designation: epic.
At Santos, trails are clearly marked for their difficulty: yellow for beginners; blue for intermediates; and red for advanced; plus it offers a 16-mile, ADA-accessible multi-use trail for all skill levels. Its legendary Vortex Freeride area, home to heart-pounding obstacles and a 20-foot vertical drop, is for experts-only. Alafia River State Park is a reclaimed phosphate mine with dramatic elevation changes, providing a playground for mountain bikers navigating the scenic and challenging International Mountain Bike Association trails. It delivers trails from easy-peasy to highly-advanced. At the park, you’ll find a full-service bike shop, offering quality rentals, repair services and lessons.
Here's where you can check out more information about Santos and Alafia as well as a list of the top 27 Florida mountain biking trails.

Parasailing is just one of many water sports at Hawk's Cay.

 - Jill Martin

Parasailing

You don’t have to have experience, know how to swim, or learn skills to enjoy parasailing in Florida, an awe-inspiring adventure that guarantees superb views of sparkling waves and stretches of pristine sand. And it’s a thrill the whole family can enjoy.
In this recreational activity, a person or as many as three people are towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that looks similar to a parachute. It’s not like a rollercoaster ride, but serene and peaceful, with slow, mild take offs and landings, giving participants a feeling that’s often described as ‘floating on air.’
Check out Parasailing in Florida: Adventure with a View, to learn how parasailing in Florida works, what to expect, and some of the most spectacular places you can experience this classic escapade, as well as lists of operators.

The Croom Motorcycle Area, rider catching air

 - Florida's Adventure Coast

ATV Riding

On Florida ATV trails, you can get down and dirty in the mud, catch some air, or just enjoy the scenery.  Popular places to ride include the 2,600-acre Croom Motorcycle Area, with of trails ranging from easy to advanced, an area for training and young riders, and a 100-acre sand bowl. Bring your own ride or rent everything you need from a local vendor.
Revolution Off Road in Clermont, less than 25 miles east of Orlando, welcomes visitors to explore 230 acres of glorious countryside in every kind of four-wheeler under the sun, including the unusual “Mucky Duck,” an 8-wheeled amphibious vehicle that can be driven over land as well as through lakes and ponds.
That’s just the tip of the sandbar: Hog Waller Mud Bog and Park, located in Palatka, delivers 50 miles of trails; Plant Bamboo Mud Park in Okeechobee is a 600-acre study in slop; and Apalachicola National Forest in Tallahassee promises 305 miles of sandy trails winding through the trees. Check out more favorite Florida ATV trails.

Stunning, natural Sebastian Inlet State Park is arguably the epicenter of East Coast competitive surfing. It?s where native sons including Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer ever, first learned to rip in powerful waves.

 - Visit Indian River County

Surfing

Florida’s East Coast and a handful of spots on the Gulf promise a variety of waves that have prepared some of the sport’s finest for elite competition, including Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer who ever lived. Here, you can bring BYOB—bring your own board—or take lessons from a plethora of schools and instructors.
Favorite sites include Palm Beach's Reef Road, one of the few locations in the state where the surf can reach true "big wave" status, maxing out at 15 feet. Cocoa Beach, home to Ron Jon Surf Shop, the world's largest and most famous surf shop, offers smaller crowds and mellow waves, making it the best surfing in Florida for longboarders and beginners. And stunning, natural Sebastian Inlet State Park holds reign as the East Coast's own "Surf City," the epicenter of East Coast competitive surfing.
Here's a detailed article that reveals Florida's Best Surf Spots.

The Winter Haven area, between Tampa and Orlando, is home to beautiful lakes, a majestic tower, a world-class collection of vintage aircrafts and the largest LEGOLAND in the world. For the adventure seekers, there is skydiving and wakeboarding among other outdoor activities

 - Scott Audette for VISIT FLORIDA

Waterskiing and Wakeboarding

Winter Haven reigns as the Water Ski Capital of the World, with more water ski records set and innovations created on its waters than anywhere else on the planet. Never mind that it encompasses more water ski schools per square mile than anywhere else in the country. Why? No doubt, its temperate weather and placid lakes play a part, but it’s Cypress Gardens jaw dropping waterski shows on Lake Eloise that catapulted waterskiing and Winter Haven to international fame in the late ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Today the grounds of Cypress Gardens are home to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, which still features a daily water ski shows-- Brickbeard’s Watersport Stunt Show.
Favorite area sites to ski or wakeboard include Winter Haven WaterSports, Elite Cable Park, and a boatload of other options.
Also in central Florida, family-friendly Orlando Watersports Complex is one of the largest cable wakeboard parks in the country and the most recognized parks in the world, with fun for never-evers as well as lessons from sports icons like Shaun Murray, the only wakeboard rider ever to hold World, Pro Tour and National champion titles at once.
And there’s more—much more! Check out this map and list of Florida wakeboard and waterski locations from WakeScout, from Destin to Palm Beach to Tampa.

the Indy Racing Experience at Walt Disney World, Indy car

- Lauren Tjaden

Driving Race Cars

Imagine taking the wheel of a NASCAR race car or experiencing a ride-along at the legendary Daytona International Speedway, home to the iconic great American race, The Daytona 500. In Florida, fantasy comes to life with the Richard Petty NASCAR Racing Experience, where it’s a safe bet your heart will be on overdrive when you tackle its mind-boggling 31-degree-high banks-- about the same as a stairway without any steps. The program operates year round.
Also effective at revving up the excitement meter, the Indy Racing Experience at Walt Disney World puts you in a real IndyCar Series Car, retrofitted for two passengers. You can either sit behind a professional driver or take part in the driving program that places your hands on the wheel and your foot on the pedal.
And at Sebring International Raceway, America’s oldest road racing track, the Skip Barber Racing School offers one and three day racing schools.

Speed and Thrill Boats

Head to the dock, strap in, and get ready to soak up the sun and the views on a Florida speedboat tour, where attraction meets sightseeing.
You can roar past South Beach and the swanky homes of the rich and famous on the Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventure. Or climb aboard Miami Watersports Sea Rocket, a 33 foot power catamaran, to drool over the not-so-humble abodes.
In Panama City Beach, you’re invited to scream like a little girl on the Scream Machine, a twin-engine jet boat whose speed, 360-degree turns, and nose dives make it feel like a rollercoaster on water.
Tampa edges in on the action with its jet boat Bay Rocket Thrill Ride, with 180-degree spins, turns, and bow dips set to cranked up tunes. The crew delivers witty narration, interactive games, and a dance party on the cruise back.
Here are other Florida thrill boat rides from TripAdvisor.

Flying the P-51 Mustang

Spine tingling, epic, and utterly unique, Stallion 51 at Kissimmee Gateway Airport offers hands-on flight experiences in the legendary P-51 Mustang, arguably the world’s most famous fighter aircraft, and the T-6 Texan, a trainer plane that bred a myriad of champion level combat aviators.
On either of these personalized flights, you’ll have the opportunity to do the bulk of the flying yourself, from basic steering to high performance aerobatics.  Following the flight, you’ll have a debriefing where you’ll log your flight time and review video of your flight from Stallion’s state-of-the-art, on-board camera system.
Is it worth it? Read Stallion 21’s reviews, that include ones that say, “Everything and anything I do from this point on will just be decorative sprinkles compared to that life-changing afternoon in Florida,” and, “There are genuinely no words to describe the flight. One hour of pure joy and exhilaration, ducking and weaving in and out of clouds.”

 

Video Thumbnail - youtube - Florida Travel: Go Cave Diving at Peacock Springs

 - Florida Travel

Scuba Diving and Cave Diving

Florida has everything when it comes to scuba diving: Delicate, radiant coral reefs; drift diving on spring-fed rivers; shipwreck trails across the Atlantic and Gulf; and glass-clear freshwater springs. It also happens to have the best cave diving in North America.
Florida’s most famed cave diving sites include Ginnie Springs, located in High Springs, where divers with the appropriate certification and skill can explore the Santa Fe River, Ginnie Cavern, and the Devil’s spring system, comprised of Little Devil, Devil’s Ear, and Devil’s Eye springs. Little Devil is a four-foot-wide fracture stretching 50 feet long and nearly as deep. Divers who descend to the bottom of it are rewarded with breathtaking skyward views, where it’s common to look up through the clear water and be able to count the leaves on the trees overhead.
Other outstanding sites include Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Williston, with the largest and deepest clearwater cavern in North Florida; and nearby Devil's Den, a notorious, 60-foot deep prehistoric underground spring.
Discover more Florida cave diving sites from Scuba.com, and check out this article highlighting great places to Scuba Dive in Florida.

 

Places to Remember