On account of its location, Florida is house to many attractive seashores good for household holidays. From the panhandle, with its white-sand seashores, to the Gulf Coast’s sugary sand seashores, to the extra conventional sand on the Atlantic aspect, there are such a lot of choices for household journey within the Sunshine State.
Florida has a whole bunch of seashores, however every affords a really totally different expertise for households. Some are greatest for calm water and youthful youngsters, whereas others are higher for teenagers, shelling, or close by points of interest. On this information, we’re breaking down among the greatest seashores in Florida, together with what makes every one a superb match for several types of household holidays.
Among the many many seashores and seashore cities in Florida, it is so tough to decide on my favourite. Every affords quite a lot of advantages for the entire household. Listed below are six of one of the best seashores in Florida with youngsters, primarily based on the precise seashore, in addition to the variety of household actions positioned within the space.
Did I miss your favourite? Go away me a remark beneath so I do know which one to go to subsequent, and I am going to embody it within the listing.
Disclosure: I visited a few of these greatest seashores in Florida for teenagers on complimentary journeys and others alone, however all opinions are my very own. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by way of certainly one of these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us at no extra value to you.
Greatest Seashores in Florida for Households (How one can Select the Proper One)
Unsure which Florida seashore is true for your loved ones?
For a resort-focused seashore trip, Amelia Island affords family-friendly resorts, nature actions, swimming pools, and seashore entry multi function vacation spot
For mushy white sand seashores, Fort Walton and Destin Seashores are identified for his or her white Gulf Coast sand and delightful seashores
For a quieter, extra stress-free seashore journey, Marco Island affords a extra laid-back environment with stress-free seashores and nature experiences
For households who need actions past the seashore: Clearwater Seaside combines stunning seashores with eating places, festivals, and points of interest close by
For a Florida seashore journey close to Orlando, Cocoa Seaside is a handy possibility on the Atlantic Coast and may simply be mixed with a theme park trip or a cruise out of Port Canaveral.
Fernandina Seaside, Amelia Island
I wasn’t accustomed to Amelia Island till I went to a convention final 12 months, however I used to be actually lacking out. This island, one of many Sea Islands, is positioned in Nassau County, alongside the Northeast coast of Florida.
There are quite a few seashores positioned on the island, and Fernandina Seaside is without doubt one of the greatest household seashores in Florida. It is an Atlantic Coast seashore and is positioned north of Orlando.
Throughout my go to to Amelia Island, I stayed on the Omni Amelia Island Resort, which has its personal 3.5-mile non-public seashore positioned on the property. The opposite resorts on Amelia Island even have seashore entry as effectively.
The Omni affords tons of family-friendly actions, together with mini-golf, seashore actions, a number of swimming pools, nature walks, and scrumptious eating places. You may simply spend your complete trip simply on the resort as a result of there’s a lot to do. It is a widespread vacation spot for households.
In case you are simply visiting Amelia Island for the day, there are public seashores which are open to the general public, not staying at a resort. Since Amelia Island is up to now north within the state, the climate is not at all times as heat as it’s in additional southern elements of Florida, so pay attention to that when planning your journey. It is nonetheless an incredible place for a household trip, particularly within the late spring.
Amelia Island is served by the close by Jacksonville Worldwide Airport. It is about 35 minutes from the airport, which affords many direct flights to and from main US cities (together with Boston).
Resort advice: Omni Amelia Island Resort and Spa
Fort Walton Seaside
Situated alongside the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle, Fort Walton is a well-liked trip vacation spot for a lot of southerners. It is adjoining to Destin, one other widespread seashore city, so you’ll be able to undoubtedly mix a trip to Fort Walton with a go to to Destin.
Fort Walton is effectively located for a lot of Southerners, making it a well-liked road-trip seashore city. It is among the best locations for household seashore holidays in Florida and is a superb group for the entire household.
The realm affords a number of massive motels in addition to many trip houses (I stayed in a big trip house there final 12 months). Search for a trip house on the seashore if you wish to spend most of your time on the seashore.
Test with the holiday house upfront to see if they’ve seashore entry and seashore provides. The home we stayed in got here with a golf cart to convey down provides.
If flying to the realm, the closest airport is the Destin-Fort Walton Seaside Airport, which is served by American, Delta, and United. For my journey from Boston, I needed to join in Atlanta, so it’s possible you’ll not be capable of discover a direct flight.
When you dip your toes within the white sand, you will know why that is such a well-liked seashore trip vacation spot for households. The sand is so good and virtually appears like snow from a distance.
On this space, you will additionally discover outlet outlets, eating places, and different household actions. You may need to ensure you have a automobile, since you will have to drive to most purchasing and eating locations.
See motels in Fort Walton right here.
Associated: The Greatest Locations to Go to in Florida (Past the Theme Parks)
Clearwater Seaside
Earlier, throughout a fast journey to Tampa, FL, my youngsters and I headed to the white-sand seashores of Clearwater Seaside. I had heard fantastic issues in regards to the seashore however had by no means visited. I liked it a lot that we returned for a household spring break trip two years later. Clearwater is, for my part, one of the best household seashore in Florida.
On our first go to to Clearwater, we began our day by visiting the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, made well-known by the Dolphin Story films. The aquarium’s mission is to rehabilitate and launch animals again into the wild, though some animals cannot be.
Children who love animals will love the aquarium, which is positioned a brief distance from the seashore. Take a look at their schedule so you’ll be able to attend among the reveals and see the displays. It was quiet on the aquarium after we visited, so we had been in a position to attend a number of totally different reveals.
We did not pack our seashore garments throughout at the present time’s go to, however did head to Clearwater Seaside after the aquarium. This public seashore is open each day of the 12 months and is at all times staffed with lifeguards.
Paid parking is on the market close to the seashore, and a number of other seashore resorts are positioned alongside the coast. It is attractive, and among the best Gulf Coast seashores for households. (see extra issues to do within the Gulf Coast of Florida with youngsters right here).
We took a fast stroll alongside the seashore after which ate on the widespread beachfront location of Frenchy’s Grill. There are a number of Frenchy’s places, however the seashore location is the preferred.
On our second go to to Clearwater Seaside, we stayed proper on the water on the Hilton Clearwater Seaside Resort and Spa. This resort is positioned proper on the water and is adjoining to Pier 60. Throughout our go to, the well-known Sugar Sand Competition was going down on the fishing pier.
In case you are planning a visit to Clearwater Seaside, you have got a number of airport choices – the Tampa Worldwide Airport and the St. Pete-Clearwater Worldwide Airport. There are many direct flights from Tampa airport, so that could be extra handy though it is a bit farther.
Throughout your go to to Clearwater Seaside, you can too go to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay if you would like. It is not too far of a drive. I might advocate renting a automobile if doable since you’ll need to drive throughout your keep.
Resort Advice: Hilton Clearwater Seaside
Cocoa Seaside
In case you are planning to go to the Walt Disney World resorts in Florida, or are taking a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Cocoa Seaside is the most suitable choice for some seashore time earlier than or after the remainder of your journey.
Cocoa Seaside is positioned alongside the Atlantic Coast, simply south of Port Canaveral and the Kennedy House Heart. This space is called the Florida House Coast. It is a traditional Atlantic seashore with waves, and is understood for browsing (and the big Ron Jon Surf Store).
For my previous few cruises out of Port Canaveral, I’ve loved staying proper at Cocoa Seaside on the Hilton Cocoa Seaside. It is at all times good to get pleasure from some quiet time on the seashore earlier than our cruise.
Resort Advice: Hilton Cocoa Seaside
Marco Island
I did not know a lot about Marco Island once I deliberate our household trip there a number of years in the past. I wished to go to a heat seashore vacation spot, and I used to be in a position to get an incredible worth on a trip bundle there by way of JetBlue Holidays.
Marco Island turned out to be certainly one of our favourite trip locations, because of its attractive seashore and informal environment. It is among the best family-friendly seashores in Florida, and I really feel that it flies a bit below the radar.
Marco Island is a barrier island positioned alongside the Gulf, a bit of over an hour from the South Florida Worldwide Airport in Fort Myers. After crossing over a small bridge, you will be within the small seashore city of Marco Island.
That includes a number of massive resorts together with trip houses and condos, there are many family-friendly locations to remain. Our trip bundle included the Marco Seaside Ocean Resort, which we liked.
The seashore itself affords loads of shelling alternatives (one thing my youngsters loved), together with enjoyable watersports for households. We loved staying at a resort proper on the seashore as a result of we might use their chairs and umbrellas and get meals service proper from our spot.
Do you need to journey past Florida’s Gulf Coast? There are sometimes water day journeys from the clear waters of Marco Island seashore to Key West within the Florida Keys. You possibly can spend the day at this widespread vacation spot, after which journey again to Marco Island within the night.
I might advocate selecting a beachfront resort if the first goal of your journey to Marco Island is to have a household seashore trip. With a ravishing unspoiled pure setting, it is without doubt one of the greatest household seashores in Florida.
Resort Advice: Marco Seaside Ocean Suites
Longboat Key
Longboat Key, one of many Gulf Coast barrier islands, is positioned proper close to Sarasota, Fl. It is simply accessible by way of the Sarasota Airport, though you would additionally fly in by way of Tampa or Clearwater-St. Pete and drive a bit additional.
Throughout my go to throughout a latest press journey, I stayed on the Resort at Longboat Key Membership, a luxurious seashore resort providing a spa, marina, golf, quite a few eating places, water sports activities, tennis, and extra. It is among the best household seashore resorts in Florida. You may spend a lot of your time there as a result of there are such a lot of household actions.
The realm close by affords loads for households, together with the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Children will love exploring the Circus Museum, which includes a beautiful mini-circus that’s so enjoyable to take a look at. It is a part of the Ringling complicated.
The native space additionally affords kayaking, a ravishing purchasing space, and a marine laboratory and aquarium. The realm is house to sea turtles, so relying in your go to, you may even see some sea turtle nests.
Siesta Key, one other widespread seashore vacation spot, can be close to Sarasota. Should you get pleasure from visiting seashores, you’ll be able to simply mix a visit to each places throughout one trip.Â
Resort Advice: Resort at Longboat Key Membership
Key Biscayne
Miami is house to many stunning seashores, together with the world-famous South Seaside. One other stunning seashore spot is Key Biscayne. It is the proper spot for a household trip.
Situated throughout from the town of Miami by way of the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne is quieter than Miami Seaside/South Seaside, and affords a Ritz-Carlton, a state park, and a coastal barrier reef.
Since you will be proper close to Miami Seaside, you’ll be able to journey over there for points of interest, outlets, and eating places. Ft. Lauderdale can be a brief drive away.
Resort advice: Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami
Do you have got a favourite seashore or seashore city in Florida?
