Florida is a truly fascinating place full of Native American Heritage. On the surface it’s easy to appreciate its beautiful beaches and world-famous theme parks. But dig a little deeper and you’ll quickly find stories of ancient empires, warriors, mythical creatures and gods waiting to be told. From sea creatures to giant man-eating ogres there are many fascinating myths to uncover. And while I have only begun to scratch the surface of the Sunshine State’s mysterious heritage, here are three epic destinations to get you started to exploring Florida’s Native American Heritage Trail. 

 

Native American Heritage in FLorida, these are three trips you can take to explore Native America in the Sunshine State.

Florida’s Native American Heritage Trail

Native America in Bradenton, Florida

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A timeline of arrow heads at the South Florida Museum

Bradenton is one of Florida’s most popular destinations, for its turquoise coast and laid-back vibe. It truly is a great place to visit. Here you can visit the De Soto National Memorial, Portavant Temple at Emerson Point Preserve and the South Florida Museum to explore Native American Heritage in Bradenton.

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Native America in the Ocala National Forest

 

Timucuan trail, Alexander Springs, Florida trail
Timucuan Trail

The Ocala National Forest is home to many of Florida’s crystalline springs, and where locals and visitors gather to enjoy its many offerings of eco-adventure. Camping, swimming, snorkelling, hiking and canoeing are popular recreational activities. Here you can visit Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs and Silver Glen Springs (to name a few). Beyond the eco-adventure there is a trail of Native American Heritagejust waiting to be explored.

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Native America in Tallahassee

 

Native American Heritage, Tallahassee, Travel Guide, Apalachee, Mission San Luis
A Apalachee carved shell at the Mission San Luis Museum.

With its mild hills and adjacent Apalachicola National Forestthere’s a beauty that seems to hold Tallahassee into place. In the downtown district, even more charm awaits on streets lined with 19th-Century homes and trendy restaurants within walking distance. But there’s a much deeper history here than what meets the eye. Here you can visit the Apalachicola National Forest, Mission San Luis, the Museum of Florida History and the Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park.

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There are so many reasons to visit Florida. Whether you want to enjoy our diverse wildlife, outdoor beauty, theme park adventures or dig deep into history and heritage, the trip possibilities are endless. I hope you get the chance to explore the Sunshine State so you can see first hand what a beautiful place it really is.

For more information on planning your trip to Florida tries their visitor’s site. It has a wealth of information and planning tools to make your experience perfect.

This article was made possible by:

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Do you have a special story to share about Florida’s heritage? Please share it in the comments below! We love hearing from you!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of VISIT FLORIDA. The opinions and text are all mine.

This guide is presented by American Tourister. Our travel philosophy is to pack more fun into every moment and every bag, like our Star Wars, Disney and Marvel luggage collections. Keep up with us by keeping an eye on #PackMoreFun!

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Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

9 Comments

  1. Robin Rue (@massholemommy)

    We go to Florida every year, but stick to Disney! Maybe someday we will explore more of the state, but now we are happy with the mouse.

  2. Never been to Florida. I would love to, someday. The Ocala National Forest would be a great place to visit. I really enjoy nature trips!

    • Oh there’s so much nature to explore in Florida. From the coast to the forests, it’s just a wild place!

    • Oh there’s so much nature to explore in Florida. From the coast to the forests, it’s just a wild place!

  3. I never been in florida but i wanted to go if i have a chance. and this is also one in my bucket list