10 best things to do in Florida with kids
Destin
Destin is located on the Florida Panhandle. Here you will find miles of soft white sand beaches and a crystal-clear blue-green ocean. Destin is so great because you can pretty much have any type of beach vacation that you want here. You can have a quiet and relaxing trip to the beach. Or you can find lots of exciting water activities, restaurants, and shops very close by. If you like to be on boats, there are pirate cruises or dolphin cruises aplenty here.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
The Gulf Island National Seashore is on the Florida Panhandle. It is a 150-mile stretch of beautiful beach with very little else around it. The seashore is full of sea-oat covered sand dunes. You can also visit nearby Fort Pickens. The fort was built in 1834 and has survived many wars and hurricanes.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine was settled by the Spanish in 1565 and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the continental US. Supposedly, this is where Ponce De Leon believed the Fountain of Youth was located. Today, the city is full of Spanish architecture and history. You can even visit the supposed Fountain of Youth! While you’re here, also be sure to go to the Alligator Farm and hold a baby alligator. Another interesting historical place to visit is the 17th century Fort Castillo De San Marcos.
Orlando
If you like amusement parks, Orlando is the place for you! There are lots of large parks you can visit. It is usually best to pick one park and spend the whole day there. But there is so much more to the Orlando area than the amusement parks. You can go tubing in Kelly Rock Springs. You will feel like you are in a fairy tale as you float down the river. There is also Highland Hammock State Park. This park is one of the oldest in Florida. There is a boardwalk that goes through the swamp and trees that are hundreds of years old.
Space Coast
The Space Coast is on the central east coast of Florida. It is known as the space coast because of the Kennedy Space Center. You can visit and learn about space exploration, astronaut training, and even try astronaut ice cream! There is also much more to do in this area than just learn about space. There are more than 40 miles of barrier-islands, with huge stretches of white-sand beaches. The Canaveral National Seashore is an especially good place to play. If you go in June and July you can also take turtle-nesting tours!
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
ZooTampa is a huge 63-acre zoo in Tampa. It has been voted as one of the best and most family-friendly zoo in the nation. There are amazing animal exhibits, along with fun playgrounds and rides. You could easily spend an entire day exploring here! While you are in Tampa, also make a trip to the very fun Glazer Children’s Museum.
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is a quiet little island that is located near Fort Myers. There is some of the best shell hunting in the world here. While you are on Sanibel Island, also make sure to visit the JN Ding National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge was established to protect a large mangrove ecosystem. You can visit and see how many different types of birds you can spot here.
Miami
Miami is one of the biggest cities in Florida, and one of the most colorful and exciting to visit! The whole city is mashup of many cultures, languages, and religions. It is especially well known for it’s Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Haitian cultures. Visit the huge Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science to play with lots of fun and interesting exhibits, Zoo Miami to see the only subtropical zoo in the US, the Miami Seaquarium, Key Biscayne for some fun beach time, see the colorful buildings on Ocean Drive, or go to Little Havana to see Cuban culture.
Everglades National Park
The Everglades National Park is totally unique in America. It is a mix of swamp, lake, river, prairie, and grassland. It is full of amazing wildlife like alligators, herons, deer, and manatees. The best way to explore the Everglades is by boat. Hop in a kayak or an air boat and go explore! You might find yourself floating over a hundred-year-old crocodile!
Florida Keys
There are about 1,700 tiny islands in the Florida Keys. There is so much snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and boating to be done here! But do not expect to find many sandy beaches in the Keys. There are only a few public beaches with sand. Bahia Honda State Park is one of the best places to find a sandy beach. The Turtle Hospital on Marathon Key is the best place to see sea turtles in the Keys. Key West is one of the liveliest island in the Keys. If you are up for an adventure, take a 2 hour boat trip from here out to the remote Dry Tortuga National Park. This park contains Fort Jefferson and shipwrecks. You can also snorkel, picnic, bird watch, camp, saltwater fish, or kayak.