When people think of Florida’s oldest, most enduring tourist attractions, they usually jump straight to theme parks—and maybe even Walt Disney World. But one of the state’s longest-running attractions isn’t a roller coaster or a castle. It’s a boat. And it’s been cruising along since 1935, alongside places like Silver Springs and St. Augustine’s historic parks.
The Jungle Queen Riverboat is a Fort Lauderdale staple that’s been entertaining visitors for nearly a century. Part sightseeing tour, part dinner show, part old-school Florida kitsch—and proudly all of the above—the Jungle Queen feels like a throwback in the best possible way.
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View this post on InstagramThe four-hour experience begins with a narrated cruise down the New River in Fort Lauderdale, often called the “Venice of America.” As the boat glides past mega-mansions, superyachts and impossibly manicured waterfront homes, a guide points out who lives where (or at least who used to), adding just enough history and gossip to keep things lively.
Then comes the twist: the boat docks at a private tropical island that feels worlds away from the city skyline you just left behind. Suddenly, you’re not sightseeing—you’re on island time.
Dinner is hearty and classic (think ribs, chicken, shrimp—no tiny portions here), and the evening builds toward its main event: a Polynesian-style show complete with music, dancing, and a fire performance that’s genuinely impressive, even if you’ve seen a lot of dinner theater in your life. There’s also a decent chance a few audience members will be coaxed onstage to try their hand at hula dancing—whether they’re ready or not.
What makes the Jungle Queen special isn’t just the scenery or the spectacle. It’s the fact that it hasn’t tried to reinvent itself into something trendy or Instagram-first. This is Florida tourism the way it used to be: relaxed, a little corny, unapologetically fun and built around actually enjoying the moment.
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While the Jungle Queen is coming up on nearly a century, Florida’s oldest tourist draw is actually Silver Springs State Park, often cited as the state’s first commercial attraction and dating back to the 1870s. The park is centered around one of the world’s largest artesian spring formations, known for its crystal-clear water. Its famous glass-bottom boat tours allow visitors to see underwater springs, fish and sunken statues left behind from the many Hollywood films shot there, including classic Tarzanmovies and a James Bond film.
In St. Augustine, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park traces its roots to 1893, when it opened as a small reptile exhibition. Today, it operates as a full-scale zoo and is known for housing every living species of crocodilian. Nearby, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park became a tourist stop in the early 1900s, capitalizing on Florida’s oldest European history and the enduring legend of Ponce de León’s 1513 landing.
In a state that’s constantly building the next big thing, the Jungle Queen’s low-fi staying power feels reassuring. Turns out, you don’t need fireworks or animatronics to keep people coming back—just a river, a boat and a really good fire dancer.
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