Saturday, October 18, 2025

Greatest Florida Cities for a Household Getaway


When the climate will get cool, households begin to think about warm-weather getaways for the winter. Florida is a well-liked vacation spot for quite a lot of causes. It is easy to entry, has many vacation spot choices, and provides stunning seashores, theme parks, and different sights.

Due to the dimensions of Florida, you will want to decide on one or two particular locations in your Florida household getaway. Listed here are our favourite Florida cities for a household getaway.

Disclosure: We have acquired some complimentary stays however have additionally paid our personal solution to many of those locations. All opinions are my very own. This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on via one among these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us at no extra value to you.

Greatest Florida Cities for a Household Getaway

If you’re reserving a winter getaway, you will need to try the everyday climate throughout your trip time. Whereas Florida is historically hotter than extra northern states in the course of the winter, it is not essentially scorching. I’ve even wanted a winter coat in Florida throughout a very chilly time.

Relying in your plans, chances are you’ll think about cooler climate to be a profit. For example, visiting the Central Florida theme parks when the temps are a bit cooler could be a higher expertise than visiting when it is blazing scorching.

exterior of Frenchy's Restaurant on the beachexterior of Frenchy's Restaurant on the beach

Clearwater Seaside Florida

Clearwater Seaside is one among my favourite Florida locations. It provides a lot to do along with the world-famous seaside.

Whereas in Clearwater, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a must-visit. Well-known from the Dolphin Story motion pictures, the aquarium has a mission of rehabilitating animals. Due to this fact, it is academic along with being entertaining. We spent about half a day there, though it is expanded since our go to.

You will additionally wish to spend a while on the scrumptious Clearwater Seaside eating places and benefit from the seaside, which is open day by day of the yr. There are additionally festivals held in the course of the yr, together with the Sugar Sand Pageant.

Hilton Clearwater Seaside Resort & Spa

Conveniently situated proper on the seaside

📍: Clearwater Seaside

Sunset over the Gulf in Clearwater BeachSunset over the Gulf in Clearwater Beach

Orlando

The Higher Orlando space is the most well-liked and apparent alternative when visiting with household. This metropolitan space provides quite a few world-class theme parks, together with Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Common Studios, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

Along with these parks, Orlando provides a lot extra, together with museums, outside sights (together with the Orlando Eye at ICON Park), and eating places. Whereas it isn’t instantly close to the seaside, you possibly can drive to Cocoa Seaside (amongst different choices) in about an hour or so.

There are too many nice resorts in Orlando to decide on one, however you possibly can see all of our favourite picks in our Orlando resorts submit.

Destin Fort Walton beachDestin Fort Walton beach

Destin/Ft. Walton Seaside

These two locations, situated adjoining to one another, are on the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle. Whereas there’s an airport close by, it is mostly visited by vacationers who stay inside driving distance.

These two cities provide the usual seaside city actions, together with seafood eating places, enjoyable present outlets, and extra. You will have quite a lot of lodging choices, together with a number of massive resorts and trip house leases.

Port with cruise ship, bridge, smaller ships, and hotel in the distancePort with cruise ship, bridge, smaller ships, and hotel in the distance

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale was common a few years in the past as a spring break vacation spot for school college students. It is a incredible place for a household trip, nonetheless, providing many issues to do along with the attractive seashores.

As a bonus, it is conveniently situated close to Miami, Hollywood, and Aventura – all common vacationer areas. Each the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Worldwide Airport and the Miami Worldwide Airport are handy. Along with the seaside, actions embody the Everglades Vacation Park, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and the Anne Kolb Nature Heart.

A luxurious resort, situated proper on the waterfront in Fort Lauderdale.

📍: Fort Lauderdale
⭐️ 5-star

A view of the beach from the balcony of a hotelA view of the beach from the balcony of a hotel
Beach chairs and tables lined up on the beach in the morningBeach chairs and tables lined up on the beach in the morning

Marco Island

Situated on the Gulf alongside Florida’s west coast, Marco Island is situated a bit over an hour from Fort Myers. For our go to to this barrier island, we flew into the Southwest Florida Worldwide Airport in Fort Myers.

Marco Island is a incredible trip vacation spot for households who wish to spend time on the seaside. There are many nice water sports activities to do alongside the seaside, and there are many alternatives for some nice shelling.

We selected to remain on the Marco Seaside Ocean Suites, which is situated proper on the seaside. We spent most of our time on the seaside, but additionally loved the 3-hour Dolphin Eco Tour.

Marco Seaside Ocean Suites

We cherished staying at this resort, situated proper on Marco Seaside.

📍: Marco Island

The Beach at the Marco Beach Ocean ResortThe Beach at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort

Fort Myers

Fort Myers, alongside the west coast of Florida, is a simple vacation spot from many Northeast cities. There are various direct flights from the Southwest Florida Worldwide Airport, situated proper in Fort Myers.

There are various actions for households, together with baseball spring coaching, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Manatee Park, and the IMAG Historical past & Science Heart.

Things to Do in Sarasota With Kids, including the Ringling Museum and kayaking through mangroves.Things to Do in Sarasota With Kids, including the Ringling Museum and kayaking through mangroves.

Sarasota

Sarasota is thought for its stunning seashores, the thriving arts scene, and the Ringling (together with the Circus Museum, which is common with households). The realm provides many Gulf Coast barrier islands, equivalent to Siesta Key and Longboat Key.

Throughout my go to to Sarasota, I additionally loved a mangrove kayak journey. It was such a novel expertise that was completely value doing. If you wish to embody the seaside in your trip plans, I might suggest staying at a seaside resort after which driving to the varied actions in Sarasota.

The Resort at Longboat Key Membership

A seaside resort on the barrier island of Longboat Key.

📍: Longboat Key

The beach at the resort at Long Boat Key ClubThe beach at the resort at Long Boat Key Club
Blue lightguard station on beachBlue lightguard station on beach

Miami

Miami is one among my favourite cities on the planet. It is conveniently situated, is true on the Atlantic Coast, and has a energetic tradition and ambiance. Seaside locations embody the colourful South Seaside/Miami Seaside space, with quieter getaways on Key Biscayne.

Along with the seaside, households visiting Miami also can get pleasure from tour boats and pace boats from Bayside Market, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and the Miami Kids’s Museum. As well as, it is situated a brief drive from Fort Lauderdale, so you can even drive there to go to much more sights.

The Ritz-Carlton, South Seaside

Luxurious resort situated proper alongside South Seaside in Miami

📍: South Seaside

The pool at the Ritz Carlton South Beach, surrounded by palm trees.The pool at the Ritz Carlton South Beach, surrounded by palm trees.
Three small brown animals grazing on a grass field with a tall ride in the background.Three small brown animals grazing on a grass field with a tall ride in the background.

Tampa

Tampa is commonly ignored by its neighbor, Orlando, however in itself, it is an excellent vacation spot for a household trip. Tampa is definitely accessible with many direct flights to its airport, Tampa Worldwide Airport. You can even drive from Orlando to mix a visit to Tampa.

Actions in Tampa embody Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, The Florida Aquarium, and the Glazer Kids’s Museum.

To Save Cash

You can even get monetary savings on common Tampa sights for households by trying on the CityPASS Tampa Bay. Earlier than you go, test to see if it contains the sights you intend on visiting. If that’s the case, it may well undoubtedly be well worth the buy. You should buy one for every member of your loved ones as a result of every cross contains one admission.

If you wish to go to the seaside throughout your Tampa trip, Clearwater Seaside is not too far. Throughout our final journey to Tampa, we hung out at each Busch Gardens and Clearwater Seaside for an excellent steadiness of enjoyable and rest.

What’s your favourite Florida getaway?

Collage-style Pinterest image featuring three Florida scenes — the top left shows a pier and sandy beach with turquoise water in Miami at sunset, the top right displays a “Manatee Zone” boating speed sign in the water with birds perched on top, and the bottom section shows pelicans sitting on wooden posts along a dock with waterfront buildings in the background. Text overlay in the center reads “Best Florida Cities for a Getaway” with the website FamilyTravelMagazine.com at the bottomCollage-style Pinterest image featuring three Florida scenes — the top left shows a pier and sandy beach with turquoise water in Miami at sunset, the top right displays a “Manatee Zone” boating speed sign in the water with birds perched on top, and the bottom section shows pelicans sitting on wooden posts along a dock with waterfront buildings in the background. Text overlay in the center reads “Best Florida Cities for a Getaway” with the website FamilyTravelMagazine.com at the bottom

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