Off the coast of Key West, roughly 140 feet beneath the ocean surface, lies the remains of a former military vessel. The ship, a steel giant that once tracked Soviet missiles during the Cold War, was intentionally sunk in 2009. The goal was to create a large artificial reef, a structure where marine life could establish itself. The wreck now sits on the seafloor, its windows shattered and passageways flooded, but it serves a new purpose as a habitat for coral and fish.
The vessel began its service life in 1943 as a World War II troop transport named the SS General Harry Taylor. It carried soldiers across the Atlantic during the war and later helped repatriate US troops. In the decades that followed, the ship was converted for different roles, eventually becoming a missile tracker during the Cold War. At that point, it was renamed after General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a former Air Force chief of staff. Its mission was to track Soviet missile launches and monitor space activity. By the 1980s, the ship was outdated and retired.
After years in storage, a coalition of Florida officials, marine scientists, and local communities developed a proposal to sink the vessel to create an artificial reef. Following environmental review and preparation, the 520-foot ship was submerged off Key West in 2009. Since then, coral has attached to its steel frame, and fish have moved into the interior spaces. Divers can visit the wreck, where control rooms and radar towers now host marine growth.
This is one of several unusual and historic locations spread across the state. In northern Florida, Devil’s Den, a karst sinkhole near Williston, is a popular dive site with a prehistoric history. During the 20th century, researchers recovered human skeletal remains and stone tools there, dating back more than 7,000 years. Archaeologists believe the cave may have held spiritual significance for early peoples, who used it for shelter and burial. Today, it remains a recreational destination known for its clear water and natural light.
Tarpon Springs, on the Gulf coast, has a very different claim to fame. In the early 1900s, Greek immigrants, many from the Dodecanese Islands, brought deep-sea diving expertise to the area. Using canvas suits and brass helmets, they harvested natural sponges from the ocean floor. By the 1930s, the town had become a major center of the natural sponge trade. The industry remains part of the local identity, and the historic sponge docks still operate. Visitors can take sponge-diving tours, and the town hosts an annual Epiphany celebration with Greek cultural traditions.
Venice Beach, also on the Gulf coast, is known for fossilized shark teeth. Millions of years ago, much of Florida was underwater, and sharks shed teeth that settled into the seabed. Over time, these teeth fossilized, and shifting tides and currents now bring them ashore on the beach. Fossil hunters sometimes find megalodon teeth, which can be larger than a human hand. The local community hosts a shark tooth festival each year.
Alligator wrestling has its roots in the traditions of the Seminole people, who developed techniques for capturing alligators for food and hides. In modern Florida, the practice is largely a public demonstration of those historical skills. Shows are held at venues such as Gatorland in Orlando, where performers use holds derived from the original techniques. The demonstrations also serve an educational purpose, explaining alligator biology and behavior. Florida is home to more than 1.3 million alligators, so public awareness contributes to safe coexistence.
The springs of Ichetucknee state park, in northern Florida, offer a different kind of natural attraction. A clear spring-fed river flows for six miles through forests, with water temperatures around 72 degrees year-round. The springs discharge over 200 million gallons of water daily, feeding into the Santa Fe River. Manatees use the warm water in colder months, and visitors can tube down the river or snorkel. Archaeologists have found Native American artifacts in the area, indicating a long human presence.
The Destin Army Recreation Area, on the Emerald Coast, is a retreat reserved for active-duty military personnel, retirees, reservists, National Guard members, and Department of Defense civilians. Operated by the Army’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program, the site offers cottages, lodge rooms, and RV spaces near the water. Facilities include a marina on Choctawhatchee Bay with boat rentals and fishing. The purpose is to provide service members and their families with a place to rest.
Blowing Rocks Preserve, on Jupiter Island, features one of the largest exposed Anastasia limestone formations on Florida’s east coast. When the tide is high and the surf is strong, waves shoot through openings in the rock, sending water high into the air. The 73-acre preserve, managed by the Nature Conservancy, protects coastal dunes, tropical hardwood hammocks, and mangrove wetlands. Wildlife includes nesting sea turtles, migratory shorebirds, gopher tortoises, and manatees. The site offers walking trails and educational programs centered on coastal geology and conservation.
The town of Cross Creek, in north-central Florida, is associated with the author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who lived there and wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling in 1938. Rawlings moved to a farmhouse on the property, where she took part in the daily life of the rural community. Her writing drew on the people and landscapes she encountered, describing a way of life in the Florida backwoods. Her home is now preserved as the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, which offers tours and maintains the property as it appeared in the 1930s.
In Homestead, south of Miami, the Coral Castle remains a curiosity built from large blocks of oolitic limestone. Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant, constructed the site by himself beginning in the early 20th century. He reportedly dedicated the work to a woman who had rejected him, and he called the place Rock Gate Park. Most of the stones weigh several tons, and some are far heavier. Leedskalnin worked without machinery, and he was secretive about his methods, often working at night. The site includes furniture, a sundial, and a stone telescope aligned with the North Star. His methods were never documented, and questions about how he moved the stones remain unresolved.
