Forget the Amusement Parks. Head to 10 of Florida’s Most Under-the-Radar Tourist Attractions

The orange is Florida’s official state fruit, but it’s still a bit of a shock to see a gigantic concrete one sitting on the side of the road. Built in 1967, The Big Orange is a whopping 15-feet in diameter and at one time served as a juice stand for tourists. The Big Orange has received some fresh coats of paint over the years and currently sits on the grounds of the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.

Inside the Florida Keys’ Rain Barrel Village, you can shop for art, crafts, clothing, and jewelry, but the real gem of this artisan marketplace is the 30-foot-tall, 40-foot-long Spiny Lobster that stands at the entrance. Big Betsy looks remarkably realistic, but don’t let that scare you. Sculptor Richard Blaze spent five years building this giant crustacean and her 12 legs and spiny body are just fiberglass. If you stop by to see Big Betsy, she’s easy to spot at her home right off the Overseas Hwy and she loves posing for selfies.

It’s known to anyone who’s visited that the Coral Castle was built by a man named Ed Leedskalnin, but nobody knows how he did it. Leedskalnin, who lived in the Castle until he died in 1951, never revealed how he constructed the walls, furniture, and sculpture garden from hundreds of tons of limestone rock formed from coral. He did much of his work under the cloak of night and, according to local legend, did so without large machinery or outside help. When Leedskalnin inhabited the Coral Castle, he allowed visitors to tour the grounds for a mere 10 cent admission. Today, you can take guided or self-guided tours and see if you can solve the mystery of the Coral Castle.

You’d never know the psychedelic, trippy, explosion of happiness called Whimzeyland was once a boring beige house near Tampa. Lifelong friends and artists Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda (the “Whimzey Twinz”) purchased the home in 1985 and it’s been undergoing its colorful makeover ever since. It all began when the two took advantage of a “free bowling ball” offer at a flea market and brought home 10 bowling balls that they decorated and placed around the property. In addition to an ever-growing bowling ball collection, you’ll find colorful sculptures, paintings, recycled materials, gardens, and more. A limited number of group and private tours of the home are available and you can purchase art from the Whimzey Twinz to support the future of Whimzeyland.

Tales of the life-sustaining Fountain of Youth have been around for hundreds of years before Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida in 1513, supposedly in search of the mythical spring. The area he explored was later conquered by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, which led to the introduction of diseases and epidemics that killed a large percentage of the Timucua people, who inhabited the area long before it was called St. Augustine. At Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, you can drink from the fabled fountains (no promises on the everlasting life part) and learn about the Indigenous inhabitants and the Europeans who came to the area.

If you get your jollies from seeing creepy, possibly possessed dolls (no judgment!), you can find one such doll by the name of Robert at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West. He’s tucked safely inside a glass case now, but he once belonged to a boy named Robert Eugene Otto. Robert the Doll was said to have supernatural powers and was sometimes heard giggling, seen changing his facial expressions, and otherwise causing mischief. Visitors to the museum where Robert now “lives” have reported instances of their cameras suddenly not working when they try to photograph the purportedly haunted doll.

The International Independent Showmen’s Museum lets visitors explore a bygone era of traveling circuses, carnivals, and Wild West shows. The museum houses photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia from traveling shows all over the U.S. from the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the exhibits, you’ll find sequined costumes, circus wagons, carnival games, and even antique midway rides. The International Independent Showmen’s Museum is only open to visitors on select days. They offer guided and self-guided tours, but be sure to check the hours before your visit.

The Monument of States is more than just a sculpture signifying the unification of states after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The monument was constructed using rocks from every U.S. state. The 50-foot-tall pyramid-like structure was conceived by Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis and, in addition to rocks from all four corners of the country, has grown to include donations from around the world. According to Roadside America, part of Dr. Bressler-Pettis’ remains were entombed in the monument after his death in 1954.

The fairytale figures on display at Tampa’s Ulele restaurant were once part of an enchanting theme park called Fairyland. The park was attached to the Lowry Park Zoo and was free to visit, but saw its end when the zoo underwent major renovations in the 1980s. After some time spent in storage, beloved characters like Humpty Dumpty, the Three Little Pigs, and the Fairy Godmother found a new home at Ulele. The figures are stationed around the building’s exterior so they are free to visit.