Florida may have hosted the first Thanksgiving in the country. Spanish settlers held a Mass of thanksgiving and shared a feast with Native people on September 8, 1565.
That was more than 50 years before the Pilgrims’ famous meal.
That fact changed how I think about the holiday. The turkey can stay, but the road map is open for debate.
I love the idea of a Thanksgiving that includes a real adventure. One stop has live mermaids performing in an underwater theater.
Another has a bronze statue resting on the sea floor, waiting for snorkelers. One restaurant serves a holiday stuffing with raisins, water chestnuts, and chicken livers.
So pack the leftovers and fill up the tank. The ten trips below could turn one long weekend into the story your family repeats for years.
Right next to the one about who burned the rolls.
1. St. Augustine
History buffs and light lovers can finally share a car. St. Augustine was founded by Spanish settlers in 1565, making it the oldest city in the nation.
That same year, the settlers held a Mass of thanksgiving and a feast with Native people. So your family can celebrate the holiday right where an early version may have happened.
Timing works in your favor, too. Nights of Lights usually kicks off the weekend before Thanksgiving, covering the historic district in more than three million white lights.
Strolling the glowing streets is completely free. That’s a rare holiday deal, especially after you’ve paid for gas and snacks.
Daytime belongs to Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Builders started it in 1672 and finished in 1695.
The walls are made of coquina, a local shell stone that absorbed cannonball blasts instead of shattering. That’s basically a wall with a superpower.
One heads-up matters a lot. The fort closes on Thanksgiving Day, so plan your visit for the day before or after.
Address: Castillo de San Marcos, 1 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
2. Columbia Restaurant
Somebody’s great-grandmother is still feeding Florida on Thanksgiving. Columbia Restaurant serves a holiday plate built around Carmen Hernandez’s family stuffing recipe.
Her stuffing is wonderfully unexpected. It mixes Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken livers, apples, water chestnuts, and raisins.
The rest of the plate sticks closer to tradition. You get sliced roast turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato pecan casserole, sautéed green beans and onions, and turkey gravy.
Cranberry sauce is made in house, too. No can-shaped jelly here, which might spark a small family debate.
Not everyone wants turkey, and that’s fine. The regular Spanish and Cuban menu stays available, so picky eaters have options.
The family-owned Columbia name goes back to 1905 in Tampa, and it’s known as Florida’s oldest restaurant. This location sits on historic St. George Street.
Inside, look for hand-painted tiles, artwork, and a Spanish-style fountain. It’s a field trip and a feast at once.
Want to eat in your hotel pajamas instead? Curbside pickup for Thanksgiving meals is also an option.
The restaurant stays open on Thanksgiving Day, which makes planning easier. Pair dinner with an evening stroll, and the whole day feels complete.
Address: 98 St. George St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
3. Mount Dora
Small towns rarely throw fireworks for a light switch, but this one does. Light Up Mount Dora usually lands the Saturday before Thanksgiving, starting at 5 p.m.
Christmas lights brighten Elizabeth Evans Park, Sunset Park, and Donnelly Park. The surrounding downtown glows right along with them.
Food vendors and entertainment set up in Elizabeth Evans Park. Then fireworks go off over Gilbert Park, which beats a quiet drive home.
Can’t make it that weekend? The historic downtown district still makes a sweet day trip during the holiday break.
Small shops line the streets, so this is a fun place to start your gift list. Let each kid pick one tiny treasure, and you’ve got a new tradition already.
Restaurants are part of the downtown mix, too. A lunch out gives the main cook in your family a well-earned day off from the kitchen.
The pace here is slow in the best way. Expect strolling, browsing, and twinkling lights instead of loud thrills.
Central Florida families can reach it without a huge drive. That makes it an easy add-on before or after the big turkey day.
Address: Downtown Mount Dora, Mount Dora, FL 32756
4. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Yes, real people still swim as mermaids here, and they’ve been doing it since 1947. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is one of Florida’s oldest continuously operating roadside attractions.
The shows happen in a 400-seat theater set below the water’s surface. You sit in the audience and watch the performers glide through the spring.
Performances usually run at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Seats are first-come, first-served, so don’t linger too long over breakfast.
Founder Newton Perry invented the free-flowing air tube that underwater performers use. That clever trick made the whole mermaid idea possible.
The name comes from a Seminole term often translated as little spring or winding river. Either way, it sounds better than most road trip stops.
Beyond the mermaids, you’ll find wildlife shows, boat tours, a playground, and picnic tables. Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented to explore the Weeki Wachee River.
Buccaneer Bay, the spring-fed waterpark, runs on a seasonal schedule. Check its calendar before promising anyone a waterslide.
The park opens 365 days a year. It can reach capacity on busy days, so arriving early is the smart move.
Address: 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606
5. Florida Black Bear National Scenic Byway
Bears get their own highway in this corner of the state. The Florida Black Bear National Scenic Byway winds roughly 123 miles through and around Ocala National Forest.
State Road 40 and State Road 19 form the main routes. Along the way, you pass through the Big Scrub, the largest continuous sand pine forest in Florida.
That forest holds the state’s densest population of Florida black bears. Keep your eyes peeled, but keep your snacks in the car.
Springs are the real headliners. Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, and Salt Springs offer swimming and paddling for families who love water.
Near the western end, Silver Springs State Park runs its famous glass-bottom boat tours. Those boats have carried visitors since 1878, which beats your oldest relative’s stories.
President Theodore Roosevelt created Ocala National Forest in 1908. Save that one for dinner table trivia.
Late fall and winter bring milder weather for hiking, kayaking, and camping. Mountain bikers can try the Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail.
Small, mom-and-pop diners dot the rural stretches, too. That’s handy when someone announces they’re starving five minutes after lunch.
6. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Thanksgiving in a swimsuit sounds wild, but Key Largo makes a strong case. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first undersea park in the United States.
Established in 1960, it honors John D. Pennekamp, a Miami Herald editor who pushed to protect the reef.
Thanks to him, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves stay protected.
Not every family member snorkels, and that’s okay. Glass-bottom boat tours show off the reef through a clear hull, no wet hair required.
Swimmers can head for Cannon Beach. An early Spanish shipwreck sits about 100 feet offshore, close enough for wade-in snorkeling.
The famous Christ of the Deep, an 8.5-foot bronze statue, rests underwater out on the reef. Snorkel and dive tours head out to the reef, and reservations are smart.
Back on land, the Visitor Center has saltwater aquariums and exhibits. Kayak and canoe rentals let you paddle quiet mangrove trails.
Picnic areas and grills are on site. A beach picnic with leftover turkey sandwiches might become your favorite meal of the weekend.
Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
7. Bahia Honda State Park
Henry Flagler’s railroad put this little island on the map back in the early 1900s. Today, Bahia Honda State Park is better known for its soft, sugar-sand beaches.
You’ll find beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides. Calusa Beach and Sandspur Beach have calm, shallow water that suits young swimmers.
Snorkeling can start right from the shore. If you’d rather paddle, kayaks launch straight into clear, shallow flats.
Forgot your gear? The concession building rents snorkel sets, kayaks, umbrellas, and beach chairs.
It also sells snacks and runs snorkel tours out to Looe Key. That’s a bonus trip for the bravest swimmer in your crew.
Don’t skip the trail to the top of the old Bahia Honda Bridge. The view over the water makes a fantastic holiday card photo.
Families who want more time can camp in one of three campgrounds. Buttonwood, Bayside, and Sandspur offer restrooms, hot showers, and picnic tables.
The spot became a state park in 1961 and opens 365 days a year. Holiday weekends can fill it up, so roll in early.
Address: 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043
8. Chinsegut Hill Historic Site
A place named for finding lost things seems perfect for a family that loses car keys. Chinsegut is traditionally said to be an Inuit expression meaning a place where lost things are found.
Chinsegut Hill Historic Site sits on one of Florida’s highest points near Brooksville. Its manor house dates back to the 1840s or early 1850s.
Guided tours take you through rooms that have changed little since the early 1850s. Guides share stories about former residents and famous guests.
And those guests were big names. Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, and author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings visited in the 1920s and 1930s.
Over more than 170 years, the house went from a pre-Civil War plantation to a gathering spot for social reformers. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
A 114-acre preserve surrounds the house with walking trails. That gives restless kids a chance to stretch their legs after the tour.
The Tampa Bay History Center has managed the site with Hernando County since 2019. History lovers in your family will have plenty of questions ready.
Plan carefully, since the site opens only on Saturdays and Sundays. Buy tour tickets ahead of time to lock in your spot.
Address: 22495 Chinsegut Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL 34601
9. LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Holiday decorating reaches a new level when the decorations snap together. LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven celebrates with its Christmas Bricktacular event on select November dates.
The event features LEGO holiday displays, character experiences, and seasonal entertainment. Some dates usually fall on the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Even better, the park opens on Thanksgiving Day itself. That could make for the most memorable post-pie outing your family has ever had.
The 150-acre theme park packs in more than 50 rides, shows, and attractions. Roller coasters keep thrill seekers busy, while family rides suit smaller builders.
Don’t miss Miniland USA, where famous places are rebuilt in LEGO. Spotting tiny details can keep grandparents entertained just as much as kids.
Younger fans can also visit Peppa Pig Theme Park on site. SEA LIFE Florida Aquarium is there, too, for a calmer break.
Want to stay overnight? The LEGOLAND Hotel, Pirate Island Hotel, and LEGOLAND Beach Retreat offer themed rooms, pools, and nightly entertainment.
The water park runs seasonally, so check before packing swimsuits. Comfortable shoes are a must either way.
Address: 1 LEGOLAND Way, Winter Haven, FL 33884
10. Wekiwa Springs State Park
The water here stays around 72 degrees year-round, which feels pretty great on a sunny November afternoon. Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka has drawn visitors since the mid-1800s.
That makes it Orange County’s longest-running tourist attraction. Clearly, people figured out a good thing early.
Swimming and snorkeling are the main draws in the clear spring. Paddlers can explore the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run with on-site rentals.
The Wekiva River is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Watch for turtles, birds, deer, and maybe an alligator or two.
Land lovers get plenty, too. Trails range from under a mile to 13.5 miles, plus off-road biking and horse trails.
Picnic areas with grills, a playground, and a volleyball court make it easy to spend a whole day. Snacks and meals are available at The Watering Hole.
Here’s the big catch, though. Day visits require reservations, which open up to 60 days ahead.
Book early for holiday weekends, because the park can close when lots fill up. Camping is available if one day isn’t enough.
Address: 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712
