( CNN ) -- From plastic flamingos to freshly squeezed orange juice to consistent balmy temps , Florida has a lot going for it . If you are looking for an excuse to visit , 2013 is the year to do it . This year marks the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon setting foot on Florida 's East Coast . As part of Viva Florida 500 , there are more than 200 events designed to help you learn about Florida 's cultural heritage . We 've added a few more to the list . Some scream adventure , while others soothe the soul . But all will have you acting downright Floridian . Strap on scuba gear : Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival . Grab your flippers and head to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary . Not only is it home to a vibrant coral-barrier reef , but it 's also the spot for a wacky annual gathering where tunes are broadcast by speakers suspended from boats . On July 13 , hundreds of snorkelers and scuba divers will show up to see acts like `` Britney Spearfish , '' `` Bob Marlin '' and `` Eel-vis Presley '' toting along instruments like the `` manta-lin '' and the `` Fluke-a-Lele . '' It is all fun and games , but the overall message is one of coral-reef conservation . Big Pine Key , Florida . ; www.lowerkeyschamber.com . To Disney or not to Disney ? Airboat through the Everglades : Sawgrass Recreation Park . In the Everglades National Park , the largest subtropical wilderness in the continental United States , the most popular resident is the alligator . But did you know it 's home to crocodiles , too ? This is the only place in the world where you can see the toothy reptiles living side by side . Seek them out by racing among the saw grass and cattails on a guided airboat tour . At times you 'll hit 50 mph and other times you 'll sit still to soak up the scenery and learn about the invasive species problems . Prolong your visit by checking out animal exhibits where you can hold a baby gator and feed a pot-bellied pig . Or kick it up a notch with a nighttime tour where you 'll hear the hum of crickets and frogs while being surrounded by the red glow of gator eyes . 1006 N. U.S. Highway 27 , Weston , Florida . ; www.evergladestours.com . Party like a pirate : St. Augustine Pirate Gathering . Avast , ye mateys ! November marks the perfect time to roam about like a rebel in the oldest city in the nation . The St. Augustine Pirate Gathering is November 8-10 and admission is only a `` buck-an-ear . '' See a re-enactment of a pirate mutiny , learn about authentic plundering weapons and visit the wee matey 's play area . Be sure to come ashore dressed in your best piratical attire to celebrate the Golden Age of Piracy . If you ca n't make this one , there are plenty of other gatherings . Take Gasparilla Pirate Fest , for example . It 's one of the most well-known pirate parties , and it happens in Tampa each year in late January or early February . 29 W. Castillo Dr. , St Augustine , Florida ; www.pirategathering.com . D.C. in bloom : Cherry blossom fun . Walk on water : Zainojet . If you 've ever wanted to feel like James Bond , here 's your chance . At several waterfront Florida locations you can hop into the water and launch yourself up to 30 feet in the air thanks to a water-propelled jet pack called JetLev . It 's part watercraft and part aircraft , and it sends you flying at speeds up to 30 mph . You can hover just above the surface , dive headfirst into the water or move horizontally while tip-toeing across the water . 7904 West Drive Harbour Island , Miami , Florida ; www.zainojet.com . Pick your own oranges : Ridge Island Groves . Nothing says Old Florida like acres of citrus trees . Picking your own oranges is always refreshingly rewarding . For more than 20 years , family-owned Ridge Island Groves has touted all things orange , everything from freshly squeezed orange juice to homemade orange ice cream . Take a golf-cart tour of the rural groves and fill your bag with juicy Valencia oranges , plus honey Murcott tangerines and ruby red grapefruits . Then head to the charming outdoor store where shelves are stocked with Bone Hot Suckin ' Sauce , pear preserves , pumpkin butter , pickled okra and corn relish , among many others . 6000 Polk City Road , Haines City , Florida ; www.ridgeislandgroves.com . Trek along the trails : Forever Florida . At this 4,700-acre wildlife haven the real attraction is the topography ; we 're talking nine beautifully preserved ecosystems , to be exact . The easiest way to check out the sprawling conservation area is the way the founding settlers did , on horseback . As you mosey along the trails , some of which were set by native Americans in the 1500s , you 'll pass bromeliads above , neon-green duckweed crowding the ponds below and native animals galore . In fact , the ranch is home to the largest herd of Spanish colonial cattle in the state , a critically endangered breed that the ranch owners are committed to protecting . Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles , snakes , bobcats , Florida scrub-jays , sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises . 4755 N. Kenansville Rd. , St . Cloud , Florida ; www.foreverflorida.com . Stand up and paddle : Jax Surf Training . One of the best ways to scope out Florida 's teeming marine life is to skim across its waters . More specifically , sign up for a stand-up paddle boarding lesson with Jax Surf Training . Participants hop aboard super sturdy , extra-long boards and scoot several miles down the St. John 's River . Expect up-close encounters with manatees , dolphins , pelicans and fish of all sorts as you glide along . If you are in Jacksonville on July 4 , catch a glimpse of expert paddle boarders making their way toward the Jacksonville Landing as part of Expedition Florida 500 . After spending 185 days on the water circumnavigating the state , XF500 paddle boarders will mark the halfway point of their expedition . Oh , and there will be plenty of fireworks , too .
The Everglades is the only place in the world where sharks and humans live side by side . Live like a pirate in St. Augustine , the oldest city in the world . Pick your own Florida oranges or grapefruits on a golf - cart tour of the groves .