In this 5th post of Florida vacation ideas, we’ll talk about feeding your mind with museums, historical sites and other ways of getting to know Florida.

Get a Little History

Granted, Florida doesn’t quite have the history that other states do — heck, Orlando’s orginal name was “Mosquito”, if that gives you a clue what it was like, pre-tourism.Castillio de San Marcos, St. Augustine

Still, we do have history here; you just have to look in different places. For example, the Castillio de San Marcos in St. Augustine harkens back to when Spain and France were trying to decide who should get “La Florida”. If you’ve never been, it’s a must-see.

There are sugar mill ruins, old plantations, treasure museums and more. There’s history here, and part of the fun is finding it.

Be Amused in a Museum

If you think life is a circus, why not check out the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota?  I know, it’s more common to see a State Fair than a circus tent these days, but this museum will help you remember the wonder and excitment of the Big Top.

While it’s also part attraction, the Kennedy Space Center houses a lot of fascinating information on the early days of space travel.  Not to mention there are still launches of various types on a fairly frequent basis.

If you’re near the Gainesville area, check out the Florida Museum of Natural History.  It’s housed at the University of Florida, and it’s a fabulous walk though time.  The displays and themes are always changing, so there’s no telling what you’ll find!

In the Florida Panhandle, check out the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.  Not only is there an air museum with 150 restored aircraft, but also there’s artifacts, flight simulators and an IMAX theater.

Any More Ideas?

So, how has that been, for some Florida vacation ideas?

Do you have some you’d like to share? Post a comment and tell us about them!