Discovering the World’s Hidden Gems: Exploring Under-the-Radar Cities

The original version of this story has been changed to reflect that the West Palm Beach Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens are not an extension of the Norton Museum of Art.

An idea for the new year is as follows: Why not make the decision to visit other states as tourists?

Take a look at it. Sincerely, who would blame non-residents of Florida for wanting to relocate there? Most days are beautiful, there is no state income tax, and the 663 miles of beaches offer a lot of memories with sand in your toes.

We are fortunate to be residents of the Sunshine State, so making plans to visit some of its lesser-known attractions is simple.

A list of some of Florida’s lesser-known gems—tiny towns and places you might not have heard of but are still worth visiting—is provided below. To put it another way, they may be more amusing than Mickey’s House, but they are not nearly as popular.

Did we miss one of your top choices? Send an email to Maureen Kenyon, a trends reporter, and explain why you love it.

Visitors are greeted with lime-green art galleries, bright-pink boutiques, and cheery teal cottages on the tiny island of Matlacha, which is pronounced mat-la-SHAY.

The people group of craftsmans and anglers is viewed as one of the most outstanding fishing spots on the planet. Snook, redfish, and even tarpon are frequently caught by anglers using the bridge over Matlacha Pass during the season.

Bok Pinnacle Nurseries (Lake Ridges)

There’s magnificence all around Florida, and it’s not simply consigned to sea shores.

Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Boulevard, can be found about an hour south of Orlando. in Lake Grains, that envelops 200 sections of land established by Edward and Marie Bok as a bird safe-haven. Today, the nurseries are home to in excess of 100 types of birds.

The “gardens” are ferns, palms, oaks, and pines against azaleas, camellias, and magnolias that are in bloom. There are paths that lead to the tower and the core gardens.

The Singing Tower, a 205-foot structure, is that “tower.” It’s made out of eight levels that incorporate a studio, research files, the organizer’s room, water storages, a chimes studio, a library, the playing lodge and the ringer tower.

Through April 15, spring bloom walking tours are available. The gardens admission includes the tour for free. There are a wide range of occasions consistently, as well.

Leon Sinks Geological Area (Tallahassee): Visit the Leon Sinks Geological Area, which is close to Tallahassee, for a comprehensive look at Florida.

A layer of limestone that has been eroded and dissolved by rainwater and groundwater to form caverns, holes, and tunnels known as “karst” covers the area, which is a part of the Apalachicola National Forest.

Sinkholes, depressions, natural bridges, and a disappearing stream are now the result of erosion.

Be on the lookout for gopher tortoises, deer, turkey, hawks, raccoons, snakes, and salamanders along the numerous trails that run throughout the area. Dive more deeply into karst geology at an interpretive site, and afterward have some time off for lunch at a few excursion regions.

Jesse Ball duPont Park is located at 1123 Prudential Drive in Jacksonville, just south of the St. Johns River. The Treaty oak is a 70-foot live oak. Its trunk is in excess of 25 feet around and it conceals a roundabout area of around 190 feet.

The oak, according to historians, is more than 200 years old, making it older than the city itself.

Winter Garden Farmers Market (Orange County) The motto “Where good things grow” almost guarantees that the Orange County town of Winter Garden’s farmers market will be one of the best and largest in Florida.

The farmers market, at 104 S. Lakeview Ave., is in Winter Garden’s historic downtown. offers privately developed produce, heated merchandise, natively constructed cleansers and candles, new blossoms and then some. The farmers market also has a cool aspect: It no longer uses plastic straws, cups, utensils, or other items that are only used once. Biodegradable alternatives have taken the place of all plastics instead.

Take note, birdwatchers, nature photographers, and environmental enthusiasts: There are multiple miles of trails wandering through six different local plant networks in the core of metropolitan Naples.

The Gordon River Greenway is a 140-acre ecological corridor that opened in 2004 to showcase the natural beauty of Southwest Florida. It includes those trails, canoe and kayak launches, interpretive sites, benches, picnic areas, and even an entrance to the Naples Dog Park.