20 Tampa Bay roadside attractions everyone should visit at least once

Whimzeyland

1206 3rd St. N, Safety Harbor, (727) 725-4018
Located right in the Tampa/St. Pete area, Whimzeyland is the perfect destination for those who love the creative and wacky. This house turned art project is covered in sculptures, paintings and everything weird, almost all made by the owners themselves (who also run the equally-quirky Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, located at 706 2nd St. N. just a half a mile away).
Photos via KiraLinda.com

Monkey Island

10985 W. Xanadu Path, Homosassa, (352) 628-2474
Spider monkeys inhabit their own little island on this chunk of land in the Homosassa River. Guests can dine nearby the mini island and watch the monkeys swing around their platforms, ropes and replica lighthouse. But the best place way to see this spot, is from the deck of the Florida Cracker Monkey Bar, which has a deck with a bird's eye view of the island.
Photos via Florida Cracker Monkey Bar/Facebook

Dinosaur World

5145 Harvey Tew Rd., Plant City, (813) 717-9865
Whether for the kids or the prehistoric-loving adults, a trip to the part outside, part indoors Dinosaur World can be both fun and educational. Visitors can walk alongside life-sized dinosaurs or participate in an interactive dinosaur exhibit.
Photos via Dinosaur World, Florida/Facebook

Bok Tower Gardens

1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, (863) 676-1408
Bok Tower Gardens is home to an expansive garden, bird sanctuary, Pine Ridge Trail and the 2015-foot-tall Singing Tower. Visitors can immerse themselves in the garden’s natural beauty and learn a thing or two about the area’s past. And yeah, we know, Lake Wales, while in no-man's land, is a stretch. And you might as well swing by nearby Spook Hill to see what the fuck is going on there (next slide).
Photos via BokTowerGardens.org

Spook Hill

Lake Wales
Defy gravity at the mysterious Spook Hill, where a natural phenomenon makes it seem as though cars are rolling up the hill rather than down it. And you can enjoy this thrill from the comfort of your car.
Photo via Spook Hill/Website

Mermaids of Weeki Wachee

6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, (352) 597-8484
The historic Weeki Wachee State Park’s mermaid shows have been amazing visitors since 1947. Audiences watch as the mermaids perform and entertain, gliding through the waters of a natural spring from the 500-seater theater embedded in the side of the spring.
Photos via WeekiWachee.com

Largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture

111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr., Lakeland, (863) 680-4597
Opened to better educate visitors to Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the site is now the home of the largest collection of the architect’s creations in the world. Guests can reserve a tour or navigate the historic architecture on their own.
Photos via FlSouthern.edu

Spongeorama Sponge Factory

510 Dodecanese Blvd, Tarpon Springs, (727) 943-2164
Founded in 1968, this sponge wonderland boasts the largest collection of natural sea sponges the world has ever seen. On top of the sponges, guests can also find pieces of Florida art, jewelry and gifts and learn about Tarpon Springs’ rich history in the sponge industry.
Photos via Spongeorama.com

Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise

25 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach, (727) 446-2587
For less than $40, guests can book a daytime or sunset cruise on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruiseship. The two-hour long ship ride across Clearwater waters is filled with a treasure hunt, face painting, water gun games and more.
Photos via Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise/Facebook

Kapok Tree Garden

923 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, (727) 725-8733
Once one of the most over-the-top restaurants in the country, the Kapok Tree Inn dazzled guests with its garden, waterfalls, Renaissance-inspired architecture and 12 themed dining rooms. Now the space is occupied by Kapok Special Events Center and Garden. Note, the wild ass scene you see in this photo is from the restaurant; it doesn't look like this anymore.
Photos via FloridaMemory.com

World’s Largest Shuffleboard Court

559 Mirror Lake Dr. N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-2083
A very niche, very quirky attraction, the world’s largest shuffleboard court can be found right in St. Petersburg. You can visit the spot to explore the expansive grounds and learn more about the leisurely game of shuffleboard.
Photos via St. Pete Shuffle/Facebook

Sunken Gardens

1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, (727) 551-3102
For $12 for adults and $6 for kids, you can visit this botanical garden destination found in the middle of St. Pete. As the city’s oldest living museum, the Sunken Gardens give visitors a taste of the past, housing some of the oldest tropical plants in the region.
Photos via StPete.org

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

3701 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, (941) 355-5305
A visit to the Sarasota Jungle Gardens will cost you less than $20 for a day filled with exotic animals and jungle trails. You can explore the wildlife freely or attend one of the site’s many educational shows at various times of the day.
Photos via Sarasota Jungle Gardens/Facebook

Monkeys of Silver Springs

Silver Springs Park
Initially intended to be enclosed as part of one roadside attraction, the monkeys of Silver Springs have become their own attraction over the years. The free-roaming primates have been in the area for generations, drawing in tourists and locals to see the animals throughout Silver Springs Park. But don't feed the the little fuckers; they are not chill.
Photos via IPPL.org

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala, (352) 245-8661
Opened in 1976, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing chronicles the history of drag racing. A typical tour around the museum and its almost 300 cars between two buildings will take about two to three hours.
Photos via Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing/Facebook

Wonder House

1075 Mann Rd., Bartow
An hour drive from Tampa, the Wonder House stands four stories tall and has two additional stories below ground. To explore the historic house, which was built in 1926, visitors must register a tour in advance on the Wonder House website.
Photos via WonderHouseBartow.com

Showmen’s Museum

6938 Riverview Dr., Riverview, (813) 671-3503
Unlike other museums, the Showmen’s Museum houses decades of memories and history of carnivals and circuses of the past. Guests can stroll the 54,000-square-foot property and view the many artifacts, photographs and relics of the past for a $12, $7 for children with a school ID and free for kids under 10.
Photos via ShowmenMuseum.org

The Alligator Attraction

12973 Village Blvd. A-D John's Pass Village Madeira Beach, (727) 329-8751
Get up close and personal with some of Florida’s wildest creatures. Striving to spread awareness about alligators and other Florida wildlife, the Alligator Attraction houses more than 180 animals that guests can observe and learn about.
Photos via Alligator Attraction/Facebook

Linger Lodge

7205 85th St. Court E.,Bradenton. (941) 755-2757.
An Old Florida restaurant with an emphasis on taxidermy decor, Linger Lodge will never bore you. Here, guests can enjoy a menu of alligator, frog legs, smoked meats, seafood, gumbo and more.
Photos via LingerLodge.com

Boyett’s Grove and Citrus Attraction

4355 Spring Lake Hwy., Brooksville, (352) 796-2289
Boyett’s Grove and Citrus Attraction has almost everything you could want out of a quirky roadside stop. Guests can see all kinds of animals at the wildlife park, aviary and aquariums, pan for gold at the Dino Might Gold Mine, explore the dinosaur cave and purchase fresh fruit from the grove.
Photos via Google Maps