National Naval Aviation Museum
This free Pensacola attraction is one of the world's largest aviation museums, displaying more than 150 aircraft on its 37-acre grounds. An Imax theater, two flight simulators and a 4-D theater join exhibits in the 350,000-square-foot museum. Florida also plays host to aviation-related events, including the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-in and Expo (sun-n-fun.org) each April at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. It's the second largest U.S. air show. National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. 1-800-327-5002, navalaviationmuseum.org, @NavalMuseum.
St. Augustine
The nation's oldest city, which turned 450 years old in 2015, is a historic playground. A must-see is Castillo de San Marcos (nps.gov/casa), a Spanish fortress built in the late 17th century to protect the city from pirates. Ponce De Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park (fountainofyouthflorida.com) holds the designation of being Florida's oldest roadside attraction. Other offerings are the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum (thepiratemuseum.com) and shops along the cobblestone streets. St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau, 29 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, Fla. 1-800-653-2489, FloridasHistoricCoast.com, @FlHistoricCoast.
Dry Tortugas National Park
There are 13 National Park Service sites in Florida, and the southernmost is Dry Tortugas National Park, which is comprised of seven islands and is home to Fort Jefferson. It's about 70 miles west of Key West, accessible by boat or seaplane. Fort Jefferson, the largest all-masonry fort in the U.S., was constructed to protect the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico and the shipping channel along the Gulf Coast. Visitors can tour the fort, view marine animals and birds, and spend time snorkeling. Dry Tortugas National Park, near Key West, Fla. 305-242-7700, nps.gov/drto, @DryTortugasNPS.
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