OUTSIDE THE BOX DAY TRIPS AND GETAWAYS (FROM MIAMI):PART 4
Record Breaking Places in Florida You Never Would Have Expected to be Here
Florida may not come to mind when it comes to “record breaking places.” New York has the tallest building, New Jersey has the fastest roller coaster, and California has the most National Parks...but as a Floridian, and a true lover of my state, I was determined to find super cool, record worthy places in my own home.
OCHOPEE POST OFFICE - 1.5 Hours away
What If I told you the smallest post office in the ENTIRE United States (and maybe the world!) is located in the middle of Big Cypress National Preserve? This fully functional post office has everything in just 61.3 square feet. Plus, send a postcard (to anyone!) from the smallest post office in the USA and they'll totally love the surprise in the mail—trust me!
Going to the post office is always an adventure, and a visit to this one won’t disappoint!
Bring along this stamp collecting book, buy a few cool stamps, and teach your kids the word “philately” for a good giggle.
THE RINGLING - 3.5 Hours Away
The Ringling Museum is the home to the largest miniature circus exhibit in the world! Housed in the home of Mable and John Ringling, founders of the Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey Circus, the museum explains the history of the circus, plus all the ins and outs of what it took to put it all together— think dressing rooms, medical staff, a place to cook and then feed all the performers, and of course, somewhere to keep the animals. Whether you agree with the circus these days or not, we can all agree that it is all a part of history and many of our childhoods’ most vivid memories.
Get in the circus mood with these cute story box toys!
SOUTHERNMOST POINT OF THE CONTINENTAL USA- 3.5 Hours Away
Did you know the southernmost point in the continental US is in Florida’s Key West? Just 90 miles to Cuba, the concrete buoy is a fun photo-op with the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean as the background.
No drive down to the Florida keys is complete without some Key Lime pie (Florida’s official state pie) so make sure to stop at any of the awesome restaurants to try the catch of the day and a refreshing slice of pie.
To get there from the mainland you’ll have to drive along another record holder: the 7 mile bridge. The 7 mile bridge is the longest bridge in Florida and it connects the Florida keys (Knights Key to Little Duck Key). The one that stands today is not the original, built in 1900, but an updated one that opened for use in 1982. The views on both sides are incredible, as you drive over the ocean from key to key.
Grab this crave-worthy cookbook to keep the key lime memories fresh.
PONCE INLET LIGHTHOUSE - 4 Hours Away
The tallest lighthouse in Florida is actually the 3rd tallest (after North Carolina and Virginia) in the whole United States!
Built in 1887, the Ponce Inlet lighthouse takes 203 steps to get to the top providing spectacular views of the Ponce Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. Check out all the original structures including the homes of the 3 lighthouse keepers (and their families) needed to run it.
If you have a lighthouse lover like me in your home, be sure to grab any of these fun finds: Lego Lighthouse, Lighthouse Wooden Rainbow Stacker, or 3D Optical Illusion Lighthouse Night Light.
SAINT AUGUSTINE- 5 Hours Away
Where do you think the oldest city in all of the U.S. is? Yup, you guessed it-St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, making it the oldest city in the country. It’s a beautiful city, with amazing architecture, unique museums, and charming streets to explore. It is also home to the oldest schoolhouse and the oldest fort in the US! Saint Augustine
Where do you think the oldest city in all of the U.S. is? Yup, you guessed it-St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers, making it the oldest city in the country. It’s a beautiful city, with amazing architecture, unique museums, and charming streets to explore. It is also home to the oldest schoolhouse and the oldest fort in the US!
After an amazing time in this history filled city, gather around the table, put together this puzzle and reminisce while planning your next adventure.
It wouldn’t be right to end this newsletter without mentioning
WALT DISNEY WORLD.
Walt Disney World is the largest and most visited theme park in the world, and yes, it’s located in Florida!
Right now Disney is celebrating 50 years of magic, so there’s no better time to see what’s new! Planning Disney vacays is one of my all-time favorite trips to help clients with.
Take these Uno cards on the road, or gather around for a fun Disney themed game at home.
If you’re in the mood for something totally different and you’re ready to venture somewhere close or a little further away, reach out and let Camp Lisa make this trip completely outside the box.
Who would have thought these “record-breaking” places all exist in Florida? The oldest, the smallest, the tallest, the largest, the southernmost all located right here! Florida never ever ceases to amaze me. Whether indoor or outdoor, quirky, or part of our collective history, the number of places you can discover here are just endless. Which one will you be visiting first?
Have you been somewhere in Florida that is totally out of the ordinary?
I’d love to hear from you! Let me know if there are any specific topics you’d like to explore even further.
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