Gulf coast beach, Panama City Beach
Beaches aren’t the only place to splash about in northern Florida. Curve down past Tallahassee to Rainbow Springs State Park to take the plunge in a freshwater spring. Hire a canoe and paddle along clear, sapphire waters fringed by waterfalls and ornamental gardens. Then camp out a few miles from the main headspring and toast marshmallows under the stars.
No visit to the Panhandle is complete without a dose of southern culture. Get a history lesson by visiting a Civil War fort – some of the first shots were thought to have been fired at Fort Barrancas in Pensacola. Alternatively, learn more about Native American settlements at the Indian Temple Mound Museum in Fort Walton Beach.
At the end of a busy day, pause to reflect on one of the area’s long, photogenic fishing piers. At a whopping 448m in length, Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier is a prime place to watch the sun set majestically over the warm waves. Definitely a dreamy precursor to a dinner of coconut shrimp or fish tacos from one of the local seafood shacks.
Historic Key West, Florida
Winter: when it snows at home, the Florida Keys sizzle
Zesty custard over a sweet biscuit base, topped with a cloud of pillowy meringue. That’s Key Lime Pie, and just one of the reasons your family will love the Florida Keys. Add sun-soaked 25°C days and a first-class road trip, and it’s the perfect place to head for a dose of winter sun.
Hanging like pearls from the tip of Florida’s mainland, these subtropical islands are strung together by the elevated Overseas Highway. Rent a car in Miami for the 126-mile journey south and watch the kids’ eyes go wide as you drive, suspended high above the blue-green waters. You can entertain them on the way with tales of the pirates and rum-runners who used to frequent these shores.
Although stopping off at different islands is all part of the fun.
On Key Largo, you can explore spectacular John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: 53,000 acres of colourful coral reef and swarms of fish straight out of Finding Nemo. While older children snorkel through the luminous blues, younger ones can enjoy the show via a glass-bottomed boat ride.
Snorkelling, Islamorada, Florida Keys
After that, it’s on to Islamorada, home to resorts with beautiful palm-shaded beaches, and a chance to unwind. Don’t leave without witnessing the enormous silvery tarpon fish being hand-fed at the docks of Robbie’s Marina.
Next stop? Marathon, for some stand-up paddleboarding and the chance to see dolphins on a morning cruise. Kids can meet the local sea life at a turtle hospital, where they’ll see rescued turtles being nursed back to health before being released into ocean waters.
After a stop off at Big Pine Key – popular for its mangrove forest and waterways, snorkeling, hiking and paddling – you hit the end of the road in Key West. Closer to Cuba than Miami, this Key has legendary sunsets, with performers and jugglers gathering in Mallory Square as the sky turns grenadine. Explore shipwreck treasures, meet butterflies at a nature conservancy, then plan the drive back so you get to enjoy it all over again.
Iconic lifeguard station, Miami Beach
Mid-Winter: Miami for The Palm Beaches, wildlife and nature
With its sun-drenched beaches, crowd-pleasing Cuban restaurants, and crocodile-inhabited wilds, there’s a lot to love about south Florida in winter. Whisk the brood away to Miami for a culture-packed vacation, starting with a stroll past the Art Deco buildings of South Beach.
In the city itself, fire-up little creatives with a wander around the kaleidoscopic street art of Wynwood Walls or take sports fans to a classic American baseball game with the Miami Marlins. And grown-ups can enjoy the best Mojitos this side of Havana.
Now, it’s ‘beach o’clock’! Slather on the sunblock and make for The Palm Beaches. America’s first resort destination combines fine sands with rambling mansions, palm-lined avenues and, though you might not initially guess it from the refined looks, plenty of outdoor fun. Rent bikes for a ride through Jupiter to spot seabirds, or go paddleboarding along shaded rivers and coastal inlets. Then try Loggerhead Park and learn about sea turtles at the marine centre.
Street art, Miami, Florida
Really want to get into the wilds of south Florida? The world-famous Everglades National Park is a 1.5 million-acre wetlands preserve that’s home to vulnerable species such as manatees and leatherback turtles.
In Corkscrew Swamp, hike a two-mile boardwalk weaving through cypress trees that graze the clouds at 40m high. Then, meet the residents alligators. At the Big Cypress National Preserve, brave souls can spot gators lazing on logs, waiting to catch their next meal.
For your final stop, book in for a stay at the Westgate River Ranch and Rodeo, a western-themed hotel, where you’ll sleep in luxury modern tepee, outfitted with living and dining areas, fireplaces and porches with rocking chairs. Parents will be treated to a concierge service that delivers morning coffee and lights evening bonfires. Young children can burn off excess energy with a roster of themed activities, including horse riding and swamp buggy rides. Older kids can try bungee jumping and golf, while the whole family can enjoy the thrilling Saturday and Thursday rodeos. It may be a cliché to say it, but this part of Florida really does have something for everyone.
Biodome, Tampa, Florida
Easter: head to the Gulf Coast for this vacation
Luminous aquamarine waters, tickling soft white beaches – it’s no wonder Florida’s Gulf Coast, stretching from vibrant Tampa to cosmopolitan Naples, is so popular. With white sands like these, who needs the Caribbean?
St Pete/Clearwater is a family-friendly destination only a few hours’ drive from Florida’s theme parks. But with so much to stay local for, you may find you never budge. The parade of white sand beaches is fringed by Tampa Bay and the Gulf, and there are watersports aplenty, from windsurfing to jet-skiing. Plus a lively local arts scene includes the Dalí Museum: the largest collection of the surrealist’s art outside of Spain.
Nearby, Caladesi Island State Park is an adventure from the moment you arrive. Accessed only by boat, its wild, undeveloped beaches look as they may have done a century ago. Children will get a whole new appreciation for nature as you paddle through mangrove forest to spot the rich birdlife.
Fishing pier, Gulf Coast, Florida
Working your way south via a string of beach stunners, Fort Myers is another great stop. Budding entrepreneurs can get a history lesson touring the estates of two of America’s greatest inventors: Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Their historic clapboard homes are surrounded by 20 acres of gardens, with hundreds of plants from around the world. Of course, the beaches are as captivating here as they are elsewhere on the coast, with bright-blue waters and powdered-sugar sands.
Dip down just a little further south to Naples. The world-class shopping and sophisticated dining scene will be sure-fire hits with parents craving culture, while kids will savour the chance to skimboard in the warm surf or spend lazy hours collecting seashells from the sands. And if that’s not enough to keep little ones occupied, a pirate-themed getaway in nearby Marco Island should do the trick. Here, Black Pearl Pirate Tours runs an hour-long interactive cruise where mini buccaneers can get into character with faux tattoos and pirate kit.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Late spring: perfect time for Atlantic adventures
For proper watersports thrills, you can’t do better than visit Florida’s sun-beaten Atlantic coastline. The Gulf side may have calm waters with tropical hues, but the east entices families with a roster of aquatic activities, from surfing to snorkeling and sailing. And in late spring, the waters are warm and the weather is in the mid 20°Cs.
Your first essential stop is New Smyrna, with a full 17 miles of wide, flat blonde sands, perfect for building sandcastles, playing volleyball or trying out your moves after a lesson at one of the local surf schools. Suited to all ages and abilities, the safe local waters have plenty of breaks and are protected from undertows by offshore rock ledges, so don’t worry if it’s your family’s first time on a board.
If surfing doesn’t appeal, there’s plenty else to get stuck into. Kayaks can be hired for trips along the Indian River backwaters, while Smyrna Dunes Park is equipped with an accessible boardwalk hiking trail.
Looking for a different perspective on the local landscape? Scale the 203 steps of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, for sweeping views across to Daytona.
Visit Florida for eclectic eats
It so happens that the Ponce Inlet Preserve is another family-friendly Atlantic coast gem. With its dense foliage and rich wildlife, framed by the broad Halifax River, it’s a great spot for hikes or a tranquil paddle. As ever, the beach isn’t far away and great for kids to learn about local wildlife as it plays host to nesting sea turtles.
Heading south, Cocoa Beach has honeyed sands with shallow waters that are also perfect for beginner boarders. Upmarket Vero Beach has great shopping and top-notch restaurants (anyone for lobster rolls?). And in Martin County, quaint old-world Florida feels as if it’s been preserved. You’ll be welcomed by atmospheric old towns, miles of sleepy beaches and around 100,000 acres of park and conservation land space. Mountain biking, hiking and paddling is all on tap – as is, of course, more of that famous Atlantic coast surf.
St. Pete Clearwater, Florida
Year Round: St. Pete/Clearwater on the Gulf Coast
With a tropical climate and an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, St Pete/Clearwater on Florida’s Gulf Coast is the destination for sun lovers keen to immerse themselves in a thriving community with real quirkiness and personality.
Score some sun at one of the area’s many beaches – lively Clearwater Beach has activities to keep the whole family entertained, including swimming, boating, fishing, jet skiing, beach volleyball, biking along the Beach Walk promenade and sunset entertainment at Pier 60.
Or try the famous St. Pete Beach, (TripAdvisor’s no.1 US beach) offering picturesque scenes of blue waters and white sands with a variety of watersports and beachside adventures, from parasailing, kiteboarding and stand-up paddle boarding to windsurfing, snorkeling and diving.
St. Pete Pier has ample space for adventures with the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Centre, family parks and playgrounds, and even a ‘splash pad’ interactive water feature to keep the kids cool.
Visit Florida for Weedon Island Preserve
Visit Florida for the accessible outdoors defined by the trail and tunnel routes through mangrove forests at Weedon Island Preserve. Overlooking Tampa Bay, the trails are home to thousands of species of native plants and wildlife and are popular with birdwatchers and nature lovers.
Alternatively, the beautiful Egmont Key State Park, a remote island and wildlife refuge to the south of St Pete, has a unique natural and cultural history. Featuring a 19th-century lighthouse and Fort Dade (constructed during the Spanish-American War), visitors can also hike, snorkel in the warm Gulf waters and picnic along the unspoilt beach.
For a chance to stretch your legs over a longer distance, The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail extends along a portion of abandoned railroad corridor, taking in the local towns from St Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. The 49.8-mile trail now provides a unique, protected greenspace for hiking, jogging, skating and cycling.
A rescue and rehabilitation centre for marine wildlife, Clearwater Marine Aquarium provides an educational outing for the family as well as the opportunity to meet resident dolphin superstars, Winter and Hope, from the Dolphin Tale films.
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