Florida's entertainment highlights fall outside the Disney-Universal orbit. Daytona International Speedway hosts the Daytona 500 every February in a 101,500-seat venue with year-round track access. Wynwood Walls in Miami converted an industrial warehouse district into 80,000 square feet of commissioned outdoor murals starting in 2009. The St. Pete Pier is a free 26-acre public space on Tampa Bay. For families with younger children, LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven covers 150 acres on the former Cypress Gardens site.
Jump to: Spectator Sports & Urban Arts · Casino Resorts & Family Parks · Planning Notes
Spectator Sports & Urban Arts
Daytona International Speedway Must-see
Volusia County · Daytona Beach
Daytona International Speedway is a 2.5-mile tri-oval opened in 1959 — home of the Daytona 500, the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, held the third Sunday in February. The 101,500-seat permanent grandstand is the largest sports venue in Florida; the track's 31-degree banking allows cars to reach speeds over 200 mph. The DAYTONA Rising renovation completed in 2016 added 40 escalators, 60 social areas, and 100,000 square feet of fan amenities. Year-round Speedway Experience tours run $25/adult and include the track surface, pit lane, and Victory Lane photo stop. Race-week tickets for the Daytona 500 sell out 12–18 months in advance.
Wynwood Walls & Arts District Must-see
Miami-Dade County · Miami
Wynwood Walls is a curated outdoor museum covering 80,000 square feet of warehouse exteriors in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood — Tony Goldman commissioned the first murals in 2009 and brought in international street artists including Futura, Os Gemeos, Ron English, and Kenny Scharf. The core block between NW 25th and 26th Streets on NW 2nd Avenue is free to walk; the Wynwood Walls courtyard charges $10 admission and includes a rotating set of 30+ commissioned panels. Art Basel Miami Beach each December fills the surrounding 70+ galleries with additional exhibition programming. The district is accessible by Metrorail from downtown Miami in 20 minutes, exiting at Wynwood.
The St. Pete Pier Must-see
Pinellas County · St. Petersburg
The St. Pete Pier reopened in 2020 as a 26-acre public destination on Tampa Bay — a 1,200-foot pier housing restaurants, an aquarium, shops, a children's splash pad, a Catch & Release fishing deck, and rotating public art installations. The 2,500-foot landscaped Pier Approach connects to the Vinoy Park waterfront district and changes its public art installations seasonally. Fishing from the deck is free and no fishing license is required. The pier runs 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday–Saturday; free to enter. Parking is in garages on 2nd Avenue N starting at $2/hour.
Casino Resorts & Family Parks
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood Must-see
Broward County · Hollywood
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood opened the Guitar Hotel in 2019 — a 36-story guitar-shaped tower lit at night and visible from I-95. The casino floor covers 120,000 square feet with 2,700 slot machines and over 100 table games. Hard Rock Live seats 6,000 for concerts and touring events. The complex is 15 miles north of Miami and 15 miles south of Fort Lauderdale — equidistant between both airports. Valet parking is free for hotel guests; self-parking runs $5–10. The attached café and restaurants operate 24 hours.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort Must-see
Polk County · Winter Haven
LEGOLAND Florida occupies the former Cypress Gardens site on Lake Eloise in Winter Haven — 150 acres of rides, LEGO-themed attractions, and a water park aimed at children ages 2–12. The park holds 50 rides and 15,000 LEGO models throughout; MINILAND USA reproduces Florida, Washington D.C., New York, and California in LEGO-scale models using 3 million bricks. The attached LEGOLAND Water Park is included with park admission. LEGOLAND operates daily during school holidays and selected weekdays — check the calendar before booking. Single-day tickets run $80–100; the on-site hotel allows early park entry. Winter Haven is 45 miles southwest of Orlando on US-27.
Planning Notes
Plan your visit: Florida's entertainment venues are spread across the state. Daytona International Speedway is 60 miles north of Orlando — see the Daytona Beach guide for the area. Wynwood Walls is in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood — covered in our Miami guide. The St. Pete Pier is on Tampa Bay — see the St. Petersburg guide. LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven is 45 miles southwest of Orlando — use Orlando as the base city. The Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood has no dedicated city guide; it sits between Miami and Fort Lauderdale and works as a half-day add-on to an Miami itinerary.
