10 Places In Florida That Are Better Than Anywhere Else In The Country

Some of our state's oldest and greatest attractions are our crystal-clear freshwater springs. Whether you're a lifelong resident or a first-time tourist, a visit to one (or more) of Florida's springs should be on your to-do list. Many of the most beautiful springs in the state are located within this national forest.

We're very proud to be home to the country's oldest city, and this historic town is especially pretty this time of year. Every Floridian should see our oldest city dressed up in millions of lights for this yearly festival at least once. Don't worry if you couldn't make it before Christmas, Nights of Lights lasts through the end of January, so you still have time to check it out.

This national park is home to Fort Jefferson, which is unfinished, but still the Western Hemisphere's largest masonry structure. Visitors to this park enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and touring the old fort.

This European-inspired estate was the winter property of agricultural industrialist John Deering. Today, it is a museum full of art and antiques, as well as a National Historic Landmark. But visitors love it just as much for its 10 acres of beautiful gardens on the Biscayne Bay.

The Everglades consists of more than a million acres of the biological diversity and natural beauty that Florida was famous for long before its theme parks and vacation spots. The brightest jewel in Florida's crown has long been threatened by development, but many Floridians are fighting to save it.

Devil's Den has an ethereal beauty that reminds you how lucky we are to live in our state. This unique prehistoric spring is covered by a karst window that lets in a stream of sunlight, like a spotlight into the clear, blue water below. Visitors must be scuba diving or snorkeling to explore here.

How does a 12th-century Spanish monastery end up in Florida? Well, it was purchased in the 1920s by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, whose plans of moving it to California were sidetracked by shipping complications. It ended up in storage for decades until it was purchased again in the '60s and moved piece by piece to North Miami Beach. Tours are available most days from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

This Mediterranean Revival mansion was built to serve as the winter home of circus magnate John Ringling. It is now part of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The museum offers tours with different levels of access. We recommend paying extra for most thorough tour that includes the spectacular view from the home's tower.

Bok Tower Gardens in Central Florida is right out of a fairy tale. The 205-foot tower is not only a work of art, it holds some of the world's finest carillon bells. The surrounding gardens are lush and romantic. The tower was built on Iron Mountain, the highest hill in Florida, and there are some beautiful views of orange trees below.

This is the country's largest freshwater swimming pool and the only swimming pool on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in the '20s in a coral rock quarry in the style of Venice, Italy. It is truly a swimming experience unlike any other. (Please note that the pool is currently closed for renovations through January 2018.)