Orange groves. alligators, beaches and theme parks. These are the things that often spring to mind when one thinks about Florida. The Sunshine State also has a penchant for the offbeat and the unusual. Whether it's a bizarre story that makes headlines or odd roadside attractions, you won't have to look far to encounter weirdness in Florida.
For generations, the Weeki Wachee mermaids have been entertaining tourists by frolicking in the crystal clear waters of Weeki Wachee Springs north of Tampa. Visitors sit in a theater behind a giant wall of glass to watch the impressive underwater aquatic maneuverings of the long-haired beauties in mermaid costumes. You also can take a river cruise and wander through the lush, tropical gardens at the springs. For fans of exotic creatures of the non-mythical kind, Florida not only has alligators, it has alligator farms. These zoos are full of hundreds of thousands of gators. Visiting at feeding time is a sight to behold, especially since you're not likely to see a gator feeding in the wild on your trip. Check out Gatorland in Orlando, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park or the Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead for a jaw-dropping experience.
There aren't many places in the world where you can stay in a hotel that's underwater, but Florida is one of them. You check in to Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo above ground, but then you must don scuba gear and swim down to your accommodations for the night. A scuba certification is required; courses are offered at the lodge for those without certification. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park near Key Largo -- the first underwater park in the U.S. -- is a haven for snorkelers and scuba divers, who come to fin through the abundance of coral reef and marine life. It's also home to a 9-foot statue of Jesus Christ submerged in over 20 feet of water. Known as "Christ of the Abyss," it's one of the most popular dive spots in the Keys.
A place with such a diverse population of unusual people is bound to have some odd architecture. Some of the weirdest sights in Florida are buildings. In the artsy community of Safety Harbor, "Whimzeyland" is centered around a home known as the Bowling Ball House, because of the many painted bowling balls decorating the property. Visitors are allowed to wander the grounds of this folk-art wonderland during daylight hours. In Homestead, the Coral Castle is a bizarre open-air compound constructed out of millions of pounds of coral rock. The castle has survived major hurricanes unscathed for decades and still has tourists scratching their heads over its existence. Fort Jefferson on remote Garden Key has been slowly sinking into the Gulf of Mexico since it was built in the 19th century. It's now part of Dry Tortugas National Park and is accessible only by seaplane or boat over 70 miles of open water from Key West.
If the only water you see on a trip to Florida is the ocean next to the beach you're reclining on, you're missing out. Part of what makes the state so special, in a natural sense, are all the springs, spring-fed inland waterways and, yes, even waterfalls. In Florida. It's a state with no mountains, but all the sinkholes in the northern part of the state provide some spectacular waterfall settings. The highest waterfall in Florida tumbles over 70 feet at Falling Waters State Park outside of Chipley. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park near Gainesville contains a 120-foot sinkhole with waterfalls that are active only when the feeder streams are flowing at certain times of the year. Even when the water isn't flowing, the Devil's Millhopper is considered one of Florida's most significant geologic attractions.
