It’s a quintessential Tampa Bay image: hundreds of manatees swimming beneath Tampa Electric’s Big Bend plant in Apollo Beach, bobbing like russet potatoes in a pot as they bask in the warm water released by the facility. For decades, it’s been a Florida winter tradition for locals to delight visitors with this scene. It also shows how much manatees rely on humans to survive. Years of .
From lesser-known national parks to small towns with surprisingly impressive attractions, these underrated destinations run the gamut, offering something to pique the interest of all kinds of travelers.