Hello,
My family (4 kids between 2-11) and my husband and I are visiting your state for 2 weeks at the end of February and into March. We’re going to take the kids to Disney world and the Kennedy space centre. I would really love to have some quintessential American experiences while we are there. I’m not even sure what those are (high school football?). We will rent a car so can move around. What do you recommend?
Strawberry festival in Plant City is at the end of February. Feb 26-Mar 8.
A few people have mentioned this to me so I’ll certainly look into it and the timing aligns perfectly.
Oh you’ll adore it. I grew up going to the strawberry festival and still go annually. Great fair food, livestock competitions, country music.
It’s quintessential America alright with a good dose of central Florida mixed in.
This has state fair vibes which is a definite “quintessential American experience” and plant city is only an hour away from Orlando.
https://flstrawberryfestival.com/2026-headline-entertainment-updated/
Walt Disney World Princess Marathon weekend is Feb 26-March 2. Expect crazy traffic delays and road closures if you’re at Disney then.
Maybe we will go after March 2nd!! That’s very good advice!
Find a place to get burgers, fries and milkshakes.
Football season is over by that time of year but you might be able to see a pre-season baseball game.
The NFL and college football seasons are in the Fall, but the UFL season is in the Spring, and there's a team in Orlando (the Storm). They haven't released the schedule yet, and it sounds like it starts in late March, so too late for the OP, but it's an option for folks that come in late March or April.
OP, the UFL is a 2nd tier pro football league, so the crowd will be smaller than the NFL or college football, but I'd bet that it still might be decent football, and tickets will be relatively cheap compared to the NFL.
Crystal River - Manatee swim
Or go to Weeki Wachee State Park and catch the mermaid show! There have been manatees in the springs recently so you could get some surprise guests during the show!
I think blue springs is closer to Orlando and also good for manatee viewing
Not familiar with that springs. Can you swim with them there?
Oh yeah the Springs! Rock springs is gorgeous
Check launch schedule at KSC for an up close view. Night launch can be spectacular, but anytime is great. Usually there are a couple a week.
There’s also an App! Space Launches 🚀
This is amazing advice! Thank you!
There are dozens of events that have to line up for a rocket to launch. If you see a launch scheduled for two weeks from now, it means “Not Earlier Than” two weeks from now and the launch will likely be 3-4 weeks from now. Even if they say there will be a launch tomorrow, it is still only 50/50 between tomorrow or the next day or a week later.
Don’t pay KSC or anyone extra for launch viewing. First, it won’t happen on the scheduled day, and second, you can see the launch from anywhere in the area. We are 11 miles away from the launch pad and it still shakes our house.
It’s a drive but try to get passes for the ferry that takes you to Dry Tortugas, it’s one of the most unique and remote National Parks, not necessarily a quintessential American experience however lots of history to experience at Fort Jefferson.
Over 99% is under water, so if you’re not a swimmer or enjoy the water, there may not be much to enjoy. But if you do like swimming on the reefs and experiencing amazing undersea life, take the trip.
It’s not for everyone but still a pretty remarkable place. Seeing Fort Jefferson in the middle of the Gulf is reason enough to take the trip, an absolutely incredible feat of engineering and determination to build that where and when it was built.
That would kill 2 days plus getting to Key west. everglades / shark valley would be better/shorter.
The wow factor and remoteness would be worth it in my opinion, but to each their own.
Visit Orlando Wetlands Park for amazing wildlife viewing — and it’s free!
It’s a drive, but seeing the Everglades (gators, beautiful birds that time of year) and doing a fan boat ride is quintessential FL. You could stay on Marco Island with white sandy beach and great shelling, then 30 minute drive to Everglades city and Chokoloksee Island.
There are few things more American than a good old state fair. Its like a firehose of American culture right in your face. Ours is near Tampa in Feb. Yankees spring training is there too if you have any interest in seeing a baseball game.
Do go to the beach, please. Volusia county has Daytona and new Smyrna, and Brevard county has Cocoa Beach. (The Dinosaur Store is in Cocoa Beach near Ron Jon’s. It’s a fun place to visit). Volusia County also has Blue Springs where manatees winter.
My 5 year old is obsessed with dinosaurs and we don’t have anything like this here! Amazing thank you!
There’s also Dinosaur World between Orlando and Tampa. Life size Dinosaur Park.
One of the dinosaur parks -- I don't remember which -- was bought by one of those weird evangelical groups...research before you commit.
This is coming from a “witch”. I would argue that you’re the weird one.
If you’re doing Kennedy space center you might also consider Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach…
Cocoa Beach is where Kelly Slater, and many world famous surfers are from.
Cherry down Park (Cape Canaveral) will be one of the closest public beaches, and there’s also Ron John Surf shop down A1A. Lorrie Wilson Park is one of the free parks in Cocoa Beach. There are two different entrances so lots of parking. Down the south end of Cocoa Beach. There are a lot of beachfront restaurants and fifth street filling station has decent food and ice cream.
Port Canaveral has a lot of restaurants and you can watch the cruise ships go in and out.
Merritt Island wildlife refuge also does kayak tours if you’re into birdwatching at al, or if your kids like nature.
That’s the time for the “grapefruit league” where Major League Baseball teams are training for the upcoming regular season. You can Google “Grapefruit League” and find a ton of info. Mainly, the teams are based along the I-4 corridor and along I-75 and I-95 as well. Good luck with your trip!
Thank you! We don’t have much baseball here in New Zealand so this would be very cool for us to see!! I’ll look into it.
Also, the games are in much smaller, more intimate settings, e.g. 4-6,000 seats vs 40-45,000 in a major league stadium. Much easier to meet players and get autographs because they aren’t playing “real” games.
I agree with this! Go see an MLB spring training game - very fun!
Central Florida native here. For quintessential American experiences I’d definitely recommend the Strawberry Festival in Plant City. We never go to the concert part of it but they usually have good ones.
You’ll be here during mlb baseballs spring training. We go to Lakeland to watch the Detroit tigers play sometimes and sit on the berm. It’s fun and prices aren’t bad. For an amature experience you’d could go to watch the university of central Florida or Florida Souther College teams.
For some real Americana you could come to our little town Winter Haven for the cypress Gardens Ski Show on 2/21 at 5:00. If you do I’d recommend Andy’s Igloo for dinner and milk shakes.
Have fun
Well if you were in your 20’s with no kids, I’d say Waffle House after drinking heavily around 2 am. That’s a true American experience!
Discovery Cove is my fav. I don’t do theme parks. Ugh.
Haha this is the type of experience I want!
Waffle House regardless of the hour is quintessential, even without the late night shenanigans.
Seconding this. Waffle House is a staple of the southern US and is somehow both awful and wonderful. If you make it to the west coast of FL, the WH on Treasure Island is the world's most cheerful Waffle House. Also, if you make the west coast, try to hit Weeki Wachee. The mermaid show has been going since 1949.
When you go to Waffle House you will see why so many of us Americans are a bit overweight. I believe the only vegetable there is a pickle.
Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales.
Food recommendation for your KSC trip- Lloyd Have Mercy. They have fantastic southern food. We sometimes get it to go and hit up one of the parks on the river.
https://share.google/7Gj30VbJ2RlHVghXg
Visit St. Augustine. The Spanish arrived there in the 16th century and built a Castillo that stands to this day. It’s both historic and quaint. True, there are many tourists; however, the old city has streets closed to vehicle traffic, and it’s lovely to stroll there. Also, it’s close by the ocean. To go to the beach, Anastasia Stare Park has a beautiful beach near St. Augustine. If you prefer a less natural experience, there are also beaches you can drive straight onto. The cars have to stay above a certain line, and there is a marked land for driving. Below that is lots of room to spread your towels and enjoy the water. I wouldn’t go swimming that time of year on the Atlantic side, but it’s a great place to hang out, bring a picnic, build sandcastles. If you go to South Florida, the ambience is more tropical, and the ocean will be warmer. Lots of Cuban food, cigars, excitement.
Some places have boat dolphin tours, too. I’m not sure exactly where to go for those.
I’d recommend finding one of the Florida springs where you can rent inner tubes and float with the current or where it’s a swimming hole. The water is filtered through limestone and is unbelievably clear. And it’s 72 degrees year round. You can look at the bottom 20 or 30 feet down, and it’s so clear you’d swear it would just come up to your waist. You’ll see turtles and alligators and amazing birds like great blue herons. Just ignore the gators—chances are they won’t take any notice of you.
In the central Florida area, near Orlando, I’ve seen billboards for airboat rides, and I’ve heard they are fun—but I’ve never taken one. You should see a lot of wildlife on one of those as well.
Anyway, there’s a ton you can choose from beyond the conventional Orlando theme park experience. Florida is a very diverse state both in terms of nature and population. The urban sprawl hasn’t ruined Florida yet.
Ignore the gators 😨😨. Spoken like a true blue Florida native I’m guessing! There are no dangerous creatures in New Zealand so it’s always top of mind when we travel 🤣. This is great advice thank you and I feel like we should have booked a month there!!
If you want the gators without giving up a leg or a child, you can do the airboat.
Orlando in the theme parks area is congested, plastic, and touristy (downtown is cosmopolitan). Not that I hate that—as we have annual passes to Universal Studios and Seaworld. But it gets draining. So seeing other places is a nice antidote. I haven’t really been to South Florida in decades. Miami Beach was cool, and has colorful art deco hotels. It’s also crowded in a more urban way, but it has a great cultural vibe, and I think the water will be warmer for swimming. Some people who go to that beach seem sketchy (I remember walking a boardwalk and seeing some syringes through the crossbars), but it seems like peaceful coexistence to me. Again, I haven’t been down there in years and years. We live in the northern part of the state.
You could also visit the Keys, but I really know nothing about them. I know Key West gets overrun. But I would think late February is a good time, after the holiday season but before Spring Break, when pasty white college kids flock to Florida to vomit all over their hotel rooms.
By the way, I think you probably also chose a good time for Disney. I think the crowds ebb in January and probably still are more manageable than high season.
Definitely hit up the strawberry festival in plant city and dinosaur world if your kids are into it! Its about a hr drive from the theme parks. When you're staying around the parks go to gator land. If your at Kennedy space center go to Cape Canaveral national seashore (its a national park with minimal parking and a small fee for entry. AVOID PARKING LOT 5 IF YOU'RE WITH CHILDREN) after the beach go to jb's fish camp or the Garlic.
Lego world and Busch garden, St Augustine, Cocoa Beach. Manatees in Crystal river are awesome
You also have the opportunity to see the sunrise over the Atlantic from a beach and then see it set over a beach in the gulf on another beach in the west on the same day. Cedar key, crystal river, steinhatchee all have awesome beaches and you can walk out into the shallows so fari
You could go to an Orlando Magic game. They have a great arena with good parking close. Just don’t stray too far from the arena. You could stay in downtown Orlando but stay eat of I 4. Google their home schedule. You will be fine, most of the Magic fans have no idea what good basketball is.
Drive up to daytona beach, drive on beach.
Or if it is cold drive south to one of the major league baseball team's spring training games.
and search for airboat rides.
Since you're doing Kennedy space center, do an airboat ride on the st. Johns river (also in Brevard county). You'll see back country Florida and some incredible wildlife (like native Florida alligators). And of course go to Cocoa Beach for an afternoon.
The Homosassa Wildlife park is amazing that time of year. Besides getting up close with manatees and other native flora and fauna, many of the inhabitants will be breeding and have babies. And the boat ride to rhe park on the Homosassa River is beautiful!
I grew up in FL, and outside of what other people have said, I like visiting Old Town.
You may want to consider Universal Orlando for a few days, especially now that Epic Universe is open.
Avoid Disney during the marathon, but you can do other things in those days. Disneys a LOT of walking. Bring food shoes and be bring first aid kit for blisters. Ive had blisters so bad from the wrong shoes that it nearly ruined a trip. I had to wear pain relief pads on may feet (which were made for backs). Only small round trip travel scissors are allowed in the parks, of you put scissors in your first kit (like I do).
It can be cool in the mornings and evenings, so I recommend having jackets and some layers.
FL is known for daily rain, but isn't as bad that time of year. Make sure to bring rain suits or at least ponchos.
We will be getting a wagon for the smaller kids for sure! And all wearing comfy shoes!
When you are at KSC, make time that afternoon or evening to visit the Cruikshank Scrub Jay Sanctuary on Barnes in Rockledge. Everyone should wear a baseball cap. Short 1/2 mile hike and you will have an amazing photo of a scrub jay (or two) on your kid’s head (or outstretched hand). Free.
If you are into history, check out St. Augustine! It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in North America. It is essentially where the new world was discovered. Lots of great activities for the kiddos and top notch dining. Be sure you drive south along State Road A1A. Beautiful drive and takes you to Daytona Beach, which is alright but the race track may be neat to visit. Enjoy your trip!
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check out the schedule for volusia county speedway and go hit up a dirt race for some florida culture
There’s also that place in Bithlo, truck races or monster trucks or something. Since they’ll be heading that way to KSC anyway.
This would be my 2 year olds dream! Thank you!
Check the MLB Spring training schedule and catch take your family to a baseball game. (Starts Feb 20)
https://www.mlb.com/schedule/2026-02-20
If you’re near the parks in Central FL, Gatorland is an excellent experience. You can see gators on any decent airboat ride, and you’ll see the gators. At Gatorland you can see them, hold them, throw them hot dogs. It sounds campy but they’ve really dialed in the camp / zoo / old Florida stuff too a tee. It only takes a half day and is a breath of fresh air after the parks. You can pair it with an afternoon by the hotel pool or family dinner at a local taco place on Orange Blossom Trail. Second all the shuttle launch stuff
Showcase of citrus for a monster truck bus tour through a citrus grove
Some pro baseball teams may be in Florida then for spring training.
Visit the Everglades…I bet you’ve never actually seen our gators…come to Gainesville and we will kayak the many springs…manatees…
Definitely check out some of the fresh water springs. Float down then in innertubes
If you want quintessential, have a child get ill and bring them to the ER. Then , you’ll truly have a US experience. Without insurance, you’ll be handed a bill over $10K to $100K to ……ER visits start at $10K
If your child is not ER ill, go to an Urgency Care center. It costs less and care is generally good. Still going to cost.
Florida has a population and government that doesn’t support vaccines so be absolutely sure your children are up to date. Measles is a real risk right now. Florida hasn’t had huge outbreaks like other states but be cautious.
Be sure you have travel insurance before you arrive or your current medical insurance will pay your bills in the US.
Enjoy!
Eeek yes I’ve thought about this. We are definitely getting full travel insurance. We’re all totally up to date on vaccines too!
Orlando has a very nice, child focused science center...a great place to take a day off from the theme parks or if you have bad weather one day.
The brevard zoo is about 40 mins from KSC, there’s also a free to enter wetland (an alligator habitat) about 3-4 miles off the same street. There are a few shorter loop that would be fine for kid.
Universal also just built a new park in Orlando and would recommend that over Disney. Come on over to the gulf coast to Tampa and St Pete. We also have the strawberry festival in plant city that would give you everything you would need for that experience. Feb 26th - March 8th. It’s fun for the kids and you will tell stories for years from it.
To get a picture of the Floridian Everyman, make sure you go to a flea market in the area. Maybe, International Market World Flea and Farmers Market or somewhere similar. Also, visit a drive-through liquor store (especially fun for the kids!). Both of these will give a feel for the "real Florida" from the deepest parts of the state.
Cedar Key. Manatee Springs. Cape San Blas.
Cedar Key took a HUGE amount of damage from hurricanes last year. Have they recovered?
I honestly don't know. It's been years. That whole coast between Panama City and Cedar Key is my favorite part of Florida.
Oh, that part of the state is lovely. Am going to see what I can find out about Cedar Key recovery.
In process and begging people to come and spend money!! Totally worth it. Was there a few months ago.