Best Places to Visit in Florida With Kids in 2025

Maybe I’m biased because I live here, but I think that Florida is one of the best family-friendly destinations in the U.S.

There are so many options for unforgettable family vacations here – from beaches, to theme parks and culture to beautiful resorts, there is so much to explore. It doesn’t get much better than quality family time in paradise!

Here are some of my favorite places to visit in Florida with kids!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this Cook Island travel guide are affiliate links (including links to Amazon) providing us with a small commission if you make a qualifying purchase – at no extra cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support! As always, we share our honest opinion and everything is written by us.

Destin

Destin is in Florida’s Panhandle and it’s a great destination for beach lovers and families who love water activities. The water in this area is an absolutely unreal color of turquoise and usually quite calm.

Destin is also known for Crab Island, which is a shallow sandbar with crystal-clear water and floating vendors. You’ll want to make sure you go out at high tide because you might not find the same clear waters at low tide.

If you get sick of the beach or just want to switch it up, kids will love Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park. It’s a huge water park with slides, lazy rivers, pools, and more.

Gator Beach is a fun spot as well. They have live alligators and gator shows. It’s completely free but you can also do some activities for a cost, such as feeding an alligator. You can also head to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, which has dolphin and sea lion shows, touch tanks, and interactive experiences.

Orlando

When you think of visiting Florida with kids, it’s no secret that Orlando is a top choice with its world-famous theme parks. With so many parks to choose from, you can’t run out of kid-friendly things to do.

Meet your favorite characters at Walt Disney World, ride the fun rides at Universal, see animals at Sea World, go on a safari at Animal Kingdom, or ride LEGO-themed rides at LEGOLAND.

But there are also tons of museums. Check out the Orlando Science Center, the Crayola Experience, or Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

ICON Park has a ferris wheel, aquarium, and tons of shops and restaurants. Head to Medieval Times for a family-friendly show and dinner experience. The show is set in a castle and includes jousting, sword fighting, and more.

Tampa Bay

In full disclosure, the Tampa Bay area is huge and is more than just Tampa. Technically, it also includes St Petersburg and the beaches of Tampa Bay (even though the beaches are a good 45 minutes from Tampa without traffic). I have lived in Tampa Bay since 2017 and still haven’t run out of things to do. But I’ll break down Tampa Bay into three categories for you to visit:

Tampa

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – A combination of a theme park and a zoo. It’s huge and thrill riders will love the rides while animal lovers will love the zoo!
• Florida Aquarium – This aquarium is huge! You can touch stingrays, see sharks, and so much more. It’s also located right by the cruise ship port and seeing cruise ships is really cool!
• Before or after the aquarium, you can ride the TECO Streetcar to get around town and explore. It’s a cute streetcar and such a fun way for the entire family to explore.
• ZooTampa at Lowry Park – One of the top zoos in Florida with kid-friendly attractions like a splash pad, up-close animal encounters, and a safari ride.
• Wander the Tampa Riverwalk, a 2.6 mile long path along the river with restaurants, shops, and more.
• The Glazer Children’s Museum is a huge museum with tons of educational play areas. There is a play pizza place, grocery store, vet clinic, ice cream parlor, and so much more.

St Petersburg

• Explore nature – some great spots include Weedon Island Preserve, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, and Sawgrass Lake Park
• The St Pete Pier is a must-do. It is a multi-story building at the end of a pier. There is a splash pad, playground, a fishing area, good views, and restaurants.
• Sunken Gardens –Large botanical gardens with flamingos and waterfalls that the entire family will enjoy.
• Great Explorations Children’s Museum – A hands-on museum designed for kids with interactive exhibits and play areas. They even have a separate area for young kids (as pictured below).

The Beaches

The beaches in the Tampa Bay area are around 45 minutes from Tampa and around 20 minutes from downtown St Pete, depending on traffic.

I might be biased, but we have some of the best beaches here – Florida Gulf coast beaches are beautiful and perfect. And each one in the Tampa Bay area has their own unique flair.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Clearwater Beach – more “touristy” but that means there are tons of things to do. It’s a great spot because it will have everything you could want – good food, boat tours, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the pier.
• Indian Rocks Beach – a more laid back beach town with good restaurants
• Madeira Beach – Another laid back beach town. Famous for John’s Pass, a boardwalk on the pass with good restaurants, bars, various boat tours, and shops. The sandbar is also very popular on the weekends (though whether it’s kid friendly will depend on your definition – it is kid friendly during the week, though). The famous Pirate Cruise also leaves out of John’s Pass.
• St Pete Beach – Busier than Indian Rocks Beach and Madeira Beach but less busy than Clearwater Beach. There are a lot of great restaurants and the TradeWinds resort is a destination in itself – located on the beach with on-site restaurants, multiple pools, family-friendly events, and more.
• Fort De Soto Park – Unless you want to camp there (which would be a fun family adventure), this will just be a day trip. It is pristine. You can catch the ferry to Egmont Key (an island only accessible by boat), bike or walk the trails, fish, rent a kayak, or just have an amazing beach day. There is also an old fort that offers incredible views.

Naples – The Paradise Coast for Families

Naples is a quieter, upscale destination perfect for families who love nature and outdoor activities. Here are some of the best things to do with kids in Naples:

• Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens – We love this zoo. They have boat rides to see monkeys and you can feed the giraffes. Plus plenty of exotic animals, of course!
• Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples – A hands-on museum where kids can explore science, art, and interactive exhibits.
• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park – A great place for beach picnics, shelling, and spotting wildlife.
• Go kayaking through Estero Bay and the Gulf

St. Augustine

There are so many things to do in St Augustine and it’s a perfect place for vacation if you love history. Here are some of my favorite things to do with kids in St Augustine:

• Castillo de San Marcos – A historic fort fun to explore for the entire family
• St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum – A fun and interactive museum showcasing real pirate artifacts.
• St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park – Home alligators, crocodiles, and even a zip line adventure.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is on the space coast and it’s a fantastic destination for families. Its well known because of its gorgeous beaches and proximity to Port Canaveral.

There are also a lot of kid-friendly attractions like the Kennedy Space Center, where children can learn about space exploration and even see a rocket launch. Adults will also be awed by the Kennedy Space Center!

Families can also enjoy the Brevard Zoo, where they can feed giraffes or kayak through animal exhibits. The Cocoa Beach Pier offers fun dining spots, ice cream, and great views, while nearby Manatee Sanctuary Park provides a chance to spot wildlife.

Also check out the iconic flagship Ron Jon Surf Shop. It’s the world’s largest surf shop and is so much fun to browse. But my absolute favorite thing to do in Cocoa Beach is watch the cruise ships go out to sea from the beach (bonus if there’s also a rocket launch!)

Sarasota

We absolutely LOVE Sarasota. It’s actually one of my favorite day trips from St Petersburg.

• The Ringling Museum – You could easily spend an entire day here. The circus museum has interactive exhibits from the circus and history of the circus. There is also a playground on site, beautiful gardens throughout the massive property, an old gorgeous mansion you can tour (called the Ca’ d’Zan), and an art museum. Pro tip: the Circus Museum doesn’t have an entrance fee on most Mondays!
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium – An excellent place to learn about sea turtles, manatees, and sharks.
• Myakka River State Park – You can take an airboat tour to see alligators, rent bikes, hike nature trails, walk the canopy trail, and enjoy nature.
• Sarasota Jungle Gardens – Hand-feed flamingos, see tropical birds, and explore lush gardens.
• Siesta Key is just a short drive from Sarasota if you want a good beach day

Sanibel

Sanibel Island is known for its natural beauty, wildlife encounters, and hunting for seashells. It’s the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, but I always describe it as “real Florida”. There aren’t many chains or high rise buildings and it feels like what Florida used to be years ago.

• The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum teaches kids all about different types of seashells, sea creatures, and the island’s marine ecosystem. They also have a touch tank.
• J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge – This is a massive wildlife preserve (over 6,000 acres!) You can drive through, take a tram tour, rent bikes, walk one of the trails, or paddle through mangrove trails. The park has manatees, alligators, and over 200 species of birds. It’s closed on Fridays.
• Tarpon Bay Explorers – Guided kayak and boat tours where you might be lucky enough to see wildlife like dolphins, stingrays, and manatees.
• Sanibel Historical Museum & Village – I love this place! It’s a cool place to learn about Sanibel’s history with restored historic buildings set up like they were back in the day. Visit an old schoolhouse, grocery store, a post office, and more.
• The island has tons of paths and it’s so much fun to rent bikes and take them all over the island.

Everglades National Park

The Everglades are a great way to immerse yourself in nature and see some incredible wildlife. Chances are, your trip to the Everglades will be a day trip from another amazing Florida city. It’s a must visit at least once in your life.

• Airboat Tours – Explore the vast wetlands and spot alligators, birds, and other wildlife.
• Shark Valley Tram Tour – A guided tour through the Everglades where kids can learn about the ecosystem.
• Anhinga Trail – A short and easy walking trail where you’re almost guaranteed to see wildlife up close.

Islamorada

If I’m being honest, I’d like to include the entire Florida Keys. If you have enough time, a road trip through the Keys is definitely a bucket list vacation. Even Key West has a lot of things to do with kids despite being thought of as a party town.

But if you can’t visit all of the Keys, Islamorada is my absolute favorite spot in the Keys to visit with kids.

There are a lot of things to do with kids in Islamorada. Relax and soak up the island lifestyle, enjoy the pool at your Islamorada resort, visit the famous sandbar, snorkel at the lighthouse, go fishing, or feed the tarpon at Robbie’s.

Final Thoughts

Florida is filled with incredible destinations that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Whether you’re drawn to warm weather over spring break or just want to create new memories somewhere new, Florida absolutely has something for you and your family.

There are so many great options for family vacations in Florida that it was hard to narrow it down to just 10!

Hopefully this post gave you some great ideas on where to vacation next in the sunshine state with your whole family!