Florida Resorts with Organized Children's Programs

By VISIT FLORIDA staff, Published November 11, 2007

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Florida Resorts with Organized Children's Programs

The resorts below offer children's programs, most of them year 'round. At press time, information was correct (last updated April, 2006). We recommend calling the individual properties or visiting their websites for additional information.

Amelia Island Plantation
The Breakers
Casa Ybel Resort
Cheeca Lodge & Spa
The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort
The Don CeSar Beach Resort
Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort
Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Hawk's Cay Resort
Longboat Key Club & Resort
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach
Saddlebrook Resort
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa
South Seas Island Resort
Sundial Beach & Golf Resort
TradeWinds Island Grand
Universal Orlando's three on-site Loews Hotels: Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort


Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island

Contact Information:
888-261-6161, www.aipfl.com
Nearest Airport:
29 miles from Jacksonville International Airport
Amenities at Amelia Island Plantation:
A quiet coastal setting with high dunes, natural areas and great views of the Atlantic. Also top-notch golf, tennis, dining, spa and shops. For kids, there's a game room, pools and an on-site nature center. The resort is gated, and most parents will feel comfortable letting older kids rent bikes ride seven miles of paved paths. Complimentary games, contests and crafts are offered daily.
Children's Program Details:
The award-winning Kids' Camp Amelia includes swimming, nature tours, games, arts and crafts (plus golf and tennis clinics in the summer). Just for Kids is an evening party and buffet dinner, with themes like circus stars, hayrides and bonfires.
Ages:
3-10
Time Outdoors vs. In:
80 percent out/20 percent in
Cost:
$40 for morning session (includes lunch); $30 for afternoon session (no lunch); $55 full day (includes lunch); $30 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
The Teen Explorers program, for kids ages 11 to 19, includes off-property excursions for mini-golf, bowling, pizza and a movie, or on-site basketball, beach soccer or bonfires. Prices range from free to $50.
Activities Nearby:
Amusements include the Jacksonville Zoo, Island Falls Miniature Golf, Adventure Landing Family Fun. The charming small city of Fernandina Beach is minutes away. Great kayaking in nearby salt marshes (try Kayak Amelia). Kingsley Plantation is a must-see.


The Breakers, Palm Beach

Contact Information:
1-888-BREAKERS, 561-655-6611, www.thebreakers.com
Nearest Airport:
5 miles from Palm Beach International Airport
Amenities at The Breakers:
This beachfront resort has world-class golf and dining, tennis and a spa in a luxurious Italian Renaissance-style setting. Besides the playground and five pools, there's a secure and supervised family entertainment center with arcade, toddler's playroom and craft area surrounded by glass windows that allow parents in an adjacent family-friendly restaurant to see their kids. The resort offers several family and children's activities, water sports and child-proofed rooms that include an infant bath, bottle warmers, and strollers.
Children's Program Details:
The Coconut Crew Interactive Camp offers activities just for kids, as well as some for the whole family. There's swimming, tennis, golf and all kinds of other sports, as well as unique activities like snorkeling, excavating for dinosaur fossils, a beach campout and bonfire, hayride and horseback ride, catamaran cruise, outdoor carnival, kayak races, and drive-in movies on the golf course in golf carts. There are also trips to local attractions, including those listed below. All camp staffers have college degrees in (or are pursuing degrees in) education or recreation management.
Ages:
3-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
Not available.
Cost:
$50 for morning or afternoon session, $80 for a full day. All sessions include lunch.
For Older Kids:
There's no formal program, but teen and 'tween-friendly activities include boogie boarding, surfing and biking.
Activities Nearby:
The area is home to the kid-friendly Wanadoo City, as well as animal encounters at Lion Country Safari, the Palm Beach Zoo and Miami Seaquarium.


Casa Ybel Resort, Sanibel Island

Contact Information:
239-472-3145, 800-276-4753, www.casaybelresort.com
Nearest Airport:
26 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport
Amenities at Casa Ybel Resort:
All the suites in this all-suite resort overlook the Gulf of Mexico. The setting is secluded and natural. Enjoy white sand beaches, a nature sanctuary with bird pond, a lagoon-sized swimming pool as well as kiddy pool, bike rentals and access to 23 miles of bike paths, tennis, volleyball, and fishing. Child-proofed rooms, outlet plugs, nightlights and board games are available.
Children's Program Details:
The award-winning Casa Kids' Club Camp offers sports like tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, shuffleboard, croquet, horseshoes and swimming, as well as tie dye t-shirt making, sand-dollar painting and lizard hunts. Most activities take place by the pool, so parents can watch. A recreation room is also used for movie nights and rainy day activities.
Ages:
4-11
Time Outdoors vs. In:
90 percent out/10 percent in
Cost:
Free, but fees range from $3 to $20 for activities like tie-dye t-shirt making, and movie night. Also, there are fees for tennis lessons and bike rentals.
For Older Kids:
There's not a formal program, but teen and 'tween-friendly activities include junior tennis clinics and lessons and biking.
Activities Nearby:
Visitors come to Sanibel for the great shelling (don't miss the one-of-a-kind Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum) and the wildlife viewing opportunities at C.R.O.W. (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife), and the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.


Cheeca Lodge & Spa, Islamorada, Florida Keys

Contact Information:
800-327-2888, www.cheeca.com
Closest Airport:
79 miles from Miami International Airport, 30 miles from Marathon Airport (limited commercial flights).
Amenities at Cheeca Lodge & Spa:
The accommodations are luxurious, the restaurants outstanding, but the real treat is outdoors here in the fabulous Florida Keys. Go on family fishing and snorkeling excursions, or try sailing, kayaking, windsurfing or parasailing. For kids, there's an oceanfront pool, a playground and tennis.
Children's Program Details:
The nationally acclaimed environmental awareness program, Camp Cheeca, features swimming and snorkeling with sea life in the resort's saltwater lagoon, catch-and-release fishing tournaments from the resort's pier, sand-sculpture building, hermit crab races and beach exploration, as well as arts and crafts and scavenger hunts. Counselors have early childhood education experience. And the resort's "Kids Night Out" evening program (for ages 4 and up) includes pizza, movies, games or themed activities.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
90 percent out/10 percent in
Cost:
$35 per day (includes lunch); $25 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
The resort's Kids Spa at Avanyu Spa offers Teen Terrific Facials and in-room massages for kids ages 10-17.
Activities Nearby:
Theater of the Sea offers swim programs with dolphins and other marine creatures, as does the Dolphin Research Center. John Pennekamp State Park offers several options for reef exploration. Feed the giant tarpons at Robbie's Marina - a cheap treat, and a blast for kids.


The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, Longboat Key

Contact Information:
941-383-6464, 800-4COLONY, www.colonybeachresort.com
Nearest Airport:
Nine miles from the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport, 72 miles from Tampa International Airport
Amenities at The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort:
There's a beach playground, as well as all kinds of watersports rentals and bike rentals offered at this 18-acre secluded, secure Gulf-front resort. The Colony is known for its tennis, and it offers clinics and lessons for all ages and skill levels, including an extensive juniors program as well as Tiny Tots Tennis for kids ages 3-6. Family activities include scavenger hunts, volleyball tournaments, contests and round robin tennis.
Children's Program Details:
The Kidding Around program is free for guests and features swimming, arts and crafts, sports tournaments and even beach-front fitness and dance classes. Kids are generally separated into groups for ages 3-6 and 7-12, but lots of activities are also done together. During holidays and peak vacation periods, the resort offers nighttime kids activities, such as pizza and a movie.
Ages:
3-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
70 percent out/30 percent in
Cost:
Free. The program doesn't include lunch. Rather it breaks from noon to 1 p.m.
For Older Kids:
There's no formal teen program, but during holidays and peak season, the resort offers special activities for kids ages 13-17, such as volleyball tournaments and sailing lessons. Also, the resort's spa offers teen facials, manicures, pedicures and massages for kids ages 14 and up.
Activities Nearby:
Local attractions include Mote Aquarium and G.WIZ, the Hands-On Science Museum. Teens might enjoy shopping in nearby St. Armands Circle and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is about an hour to the north.


The Don CeSar Beach Resort, St. Pete Beach

Contact Information:
727-360-1881, 800-282-1116, www.doncesar.com
Nearest Airport:
27 miles from the Tampa International Airport; 18 miles from St Petersburg Clearwater International Airport
Amenities at The Don CeSar:
This historic, flamingo-pink resort on the Gulf of Mexico offers a sugar-white beach, a spa, two Gulf-front pools with underwater sound systems, all kinds of water sports (including aqua bikes and waverunners), beach volleyball, beach hockey and an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. It's "Loews Loves Kids" program means families receive extra amenities (like children's menus and outlet guards), as well as a complimentary gift bag with coloring book. The Loews Loves Little Kids program, for families with children ages six months to three years old, includes baby and toddler play classes, and rental baby equipment.
Children's Program Details:
Camp CeSar aims to be reminiscent of a traditional summer camp, and offers activities like seashell hunting, ice cream socials, beach crafts like coconut painting, beach relay races, scavenger hunts, and even the occasional etiquette class. There's a kids' recreation room with toys, board games and crafts, as well as an outdoor playground. Themed dinner parties for kids are offered on Friday nights.
Ages:
5-10
Time Outdoors vs. In:
Not available.
Cost:
$35 for morning/afternoon session ($10 extra for lunch for both); $70 for full day (includes lunch); $45 for Friday night program.
For Older Kids:
The T. Loews program offers 13- to 17-year-olds a welcome backpack with a water bottle and coupon for an ice cream sundae, and lends teens game boys and DVD players.
Activities Nearby:
Check out Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, or the Museum of Science and Industry and Lowry Park Zoo, all in Tampa. All the Orlando theme parks are only about an hour and a half drive away.


Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort, Miami

Contact Information:
305-592-2000, 800-228-9290, www.doralresort.com
Nearest Airport:
8 miles from Miami International Airport; 30 miles from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport
Amenities at Doral Golf Resort & Spa:
Known for its five championship golf courses (including the Blue Monster Course, which has hosted the PGA Tour since 1962), golf school, tennis center and spa, kids love the resort's Blue Lagoon water park. It features a beach entry pool, waterfalls, the 125-foot Blue Monster waterslide with a 35-foot drop, a kiddy pool and water volleyball. There's also a recreation complex that includes a video game room stocked with games, toys, movies and sporting equipment.
Children's Program Details:
Camp Doral features both athletic and leisure organized activities for kids, including swimming, arts and crafts, fishing, tug-of-war, karaoke, pool games, basketball, volleyball, soccer, golf, softball, kickball, sandcastle-building or putting contests, music and nature walks.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
70 percent out/30 percent in
Cost:
$25 for half day (plus $10 for lunch); $55 for full day (includes lunch); $10 each additional hour, upon request.
For Older Kids:
There's no formal program, but kids of all ages tend to love the water park, especially the slide.
Activities Nearby:
See animals at the Miami Seaquarium, Monkey Jungle, Parrot Jungle, or the Miami MetroZoo, one of the top 10 zoos in the country, or visit the Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium, which has hands-on science exhibits.


Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Miami

Contact Information:
800-332-3443, www.fourseasons.com/miami
Nearest Airport:
8 miles from Miami International Airport
Amenities at the Four Seasons Hotel Miami:
A modern, luxury hotel with three pools on a rooftop terrace. Kids under age four receive a teddy bear at check-in. In room, there are homemade cookies and juice, child-sized bathrobes and complimentary baby and children's toiletries. Sunday Brunch has a station just for kids, with tiny tables and chairs, supervised activities and a children's menu. And only kids ages 4 to 12 can use the children's pool.
Children's Program Details:
The Kids for All Seasons program offers both free time and planned activities -arts and crafts, board game tournaments, swimming and kid-sized hotel tours. The program's activity center houses computers (pre-selected websites only), video games, board games and books. The Dinner Club features a movie, dinner and movie-themed dessert for kids.
Ages:
4-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
25 percent out/75 percent in
Cost:
No cost for daytime program, $35 for Dinner Club.
For Older Kids:
Teens ages 13-17 receive a gift - energy and candy bars, a sports drink and a magazine - packaged in a model classic car.
Activities Nearby:
The Miami Children's Museum and wildlife attractions such as Parrot Jungle and the Miami Seaquarium will keep kids entertained.


Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach

Contact Information:
561-582-2800, 800-432-3442, www.fourseasons.com/palmbeach
Nearest Airport:
8 miles from Palm Beach International Airport
Amenities at the Four Seasons Resort, Palm Beach:
This oceanfront resort has tennis courts, a spa and fitness center and award-winning cuisine. Before your stay, provide the resort with the names and ages of your kids and they'll get a welcome gift, child-size bathrobes, complimentary baby and children's toiletries and children's menus. Family activities include arts and crafts, beach games and sand art.
Children's Program Details:
The Kids for All Seasons program offers indoor and outdoor activities - like arts and crafts, movies, games, beach Olympics, sand-castle-building contests and shell collecting. Program staffers receive training in drama, improvisation, game-leading and juggling. On Friday and Saturday nights, there are dinner parties with themes like birthday party or Saturday night sleepover.
Ages:
3-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
25 percent out/75 percent in
Cost:
No cost for daytime program; $10 for lunch; $55 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
The resort has its own Teen Room, which has a large-screen television, video games, pool table and foosball.
Activities Nearby:
Visit Lion Country Safari, the Dryer Park Zoo & Science Museum, or the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge.


Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Kissimmee

Contact Information:
407-586-0000, www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms
Nearest Airport:
18 miles from Orlando International Airport
Amenities at Gaylord Palms Resort:
Step into the resort's huge, glass-domed atrium, and you'll feel you're on a tour of Florida. Under the glass are four Florida-themed areas - St. Augustine, Key West, the Everglades and Emerald Bay - all with restaurants, shops and live entertainment. The resort also features a new outdoor recreation complex that includes a croquet lawn, beach volleyball, an executive golf putting course and bocce court. There's a swimming pool with an octopus waterslide, a sand playground, and in-room video games and computers with high-speed Internet access.
Children's Program Details:
The La Petite Academy Kids Station is like a resort within this resort. You can drop off the kids at this secure, on-site facility that's staffed with professionals certified in early childhood development. There are "stations" with themes like construction (Legos and blocks), creation (finger painting and drawing), Kidz Space (video games), imagination (karaoke stage and costumes), and relaxation (books, movies, bean bag chairs). There's also a Soft Play Zone with a soft climbing jungle gym.
Ages:
3 (or potty trained) -14
Time Outdoors vs. In:
100 percent in
Cost:
$10 per hour, with discounts for multiple kids.
For Older Kids:
There's no formal program, but the resort does have an arcade on-site.
Activities Nearby:
Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, is home to the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, among many other smaller, kid-friendly attractions, restaurants and shopping.


Hawk's Cay Resort, Duck Key (Florida Keys)

Contact Information:
800-432-2242, www.hawkscay.com
Nearest Airport:
100 miles from Miami International Airport or 8 miles from Marathon Airport (limited commercial service).
Amenities at Hawk's Cay Resort:
A tropical island resort with five pools, award-winning restaurants and three types of dolphin encounters. Daily family activities include crafts, poolside games and sports tournaments. The resort offers fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, Waverunners, a wakeboard and water-ski school, a scuba center and a sailing school.
Children's Program Details:
Programs are structured, nature-oriented and center around the Indies Club - a facility with an indoor arts and crafts room, plus outdoor basketball, volleyball, mini-golf, treehouse, lagoon pool and kids' pirate ship pool. Activities include feeding giant tarpon and learning about sea life at the resort's marina. The Kids' Night Out evening program, for ages 4 through 11, includes a pizza dinner, movie and crafts.
Ages:
Little Pirate's Club for ages 4 and 5 (half-day); Island Adventures Club for ages 6 to 11 (half- or full-day).
Time Outdoors vs. In:
70 percent out/30 percent in
Cost:
$35 for morning program (includes lunch); $28 for afternoon session (no lunch); $55 full day (includes lunch); $30 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
The Cove, with TV, video games, ping-pong, air hockey, frozen non-alcoholic drinks, dance floor and karaoke, is just for 'tweens and teens. The resort also offers teen-specific activities, such as teen fishing and teen fright night. The Indies Spa offers teen massages, facials, manicures and pedicures, for kids ages 10-17.
Activities Nearby:
Bahia Honda State Park, one of the prettiest parks in Florida, is 32 miles to the south; Key West is about 60 miles south.


Longboat Key Club & Resort, Longboat Key

Contact Information:
800-237-8821, www.longboatkeyclub.com
Nearest Airport:
7 miles from Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport
Amenities at Longboat Key Club & Resort:
A luxury resort with a soft, white sand beach, 45 holes of championship golf, a spa, and one of the largest tennis facilities in Florida (check out the Little League tennis, junior clinics and racquet rental programs). Have a professional family photograph taken on the beach at sunset, or go sailing, rafting, kayaking, biking or boogie boarding.
Children's Program Details:
The Kids Klub includes time at the resort, taking walks on the beach to view turtle nests during nesting season, and hanging out in the Kids Klub room, playing games and making arts and crafts. It also includes field trips to nearby attractions such as Mote Aquarium, G.WIZ, the Hands-On Science Museum and Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
50 percent out/50 percent in
Cost:
$35 (includes activities costs and lunch).
For Older Kids:
No program.
Activities Nearby:
Besides those listed above, there's also Busch Gardens Tampa Bay about an hour to the north.


The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples

Contact Information:
800-237-7600, www.naplesbeachhotel.com
Nearest Airport:
37 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers
Amenities at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club:
Gulf-front resort, known for its pristine, white-sand beach, world-class spa, championship golf course and golf school and award-winning tennis center. The recreation department offers organized volleyball and soccer games, kayak races and sailing clinics for kids.
Children's Program Details:
The Beach Klub for Kids offers swimming and games in the beachside pool, shelling on the beach, and theme days such as Pirates Day, with buried treasure hunts. There's an indoor space for kids, with games, movies and crafts, but much of the day is also spent outside, boating, on the beach and playing games on the resort's expansive lawn. Counselors are required to have prior child care experience.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
50 percent out/50 percent in
Cost:
Free, with a $7 charge for afternoon crafts, and a $15 charge for lunch and afternoon crafts.
For Older Kids:
No organized programs, but teen- and 'tween-friendly activities include volleyball tournaments and golf and tennis clinics.
Activities Nearby:
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens offers entertaining programs that feature animals you don't typically get to see, or touch (such as a hedgehog). The Conservancy Nature Center offers a chance to learn about Southwest Florida's creatures and environment in the wild.


Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, ChampionsGate (Orlando area)

Contact Information:
407-390-6664, 800-843-6664, www.omnihotels.com
Nearest Airport:
32 miles from the Orlando International Airport
Amenities at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate:
This luxury resort has two world-class golf courses, a European-style spa, and two pools including a family pool with a 125-foot waterslide, lazy river, and a zero entry end. Family activities include tennis and pitch-and-putt golf.
Children's Program Details:
Camp Omni is a primarily indoor program that uses a large recreation room - with arts and crafts, board games, movies, toys and video games - as well as an adjacent outdoor playground. Nearly all staffers hold child development credentials and attend ongoing training. Besides the camp, the resort offers additional activities for kids, like arts and crafts, pool games, scavenger hunts, water balloon tosses, and all kinds of sports competitions. Tennis and scuba lessons are offered, as well.
Ages:
3-14
Time Outdoors vs. In:
10 percent out/90 percent in
Cost:
$10 per hour, with discounts for multiple children
For Older Kids:
There's no formal program, but teen and 'tween-friendly activities include golf, tennis, volleyball, and tennis and scuba lessons. Also, the resort offers teen pool parties during spring break and summer vacation.
Activities Nearby:
Minutes away from the Walt Disney World Resort, plus Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and other Orlando-area attractions. Also, the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex is only about an hour's drive to the east.


The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Contact Information:
904-277-1100, 800-241-3333, www.ritzcarlton.com
Nearest Airport:
22 miles north of Jacksonville International Airport
Amenities at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island:
Luxurious, oceanfront resort offers award-winning dining, Ritz-Carlton trademark service and 18 holes of PGA championship golf. There's a children's pool, watersports, and Oceanside tennis. Family activities include bike rides and golf lessons. High chairs, cribs, rollaway beds, strollers and children's menus are available, and the resort will rent videos and VCRs. The VIK (Very Important Kids) program means kids get their very own check-in desk, and there's a bedtime story-telling service with cookies and milk.
Children's Program Details:
The Ritz Kids program offers activities tailored to each child's individual preferences, such as beach games and water sports, arts and crafts and pastry inventions, or environmental and nature programs. Other activities include swimming, sand-castle building, Frisbee, volleyball, junior tennis, badminton, Tai Chi, croquet and turtle education classes. A Kids Night Out program of games, movies, arts and crafts and dinner is offered Friday and Saturday nights.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
50 percent out/50 percent in
Cost:
$35 for half day (doesn't include lunch), with a discount for multiple children; $55 for full day (includes lunch); $40 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
No formal program, but teen- and 'tween-friendly activities include rental bikes or golf or tennis lessons.
Activities Nearby:
The historic and quaint village of Fernandina Beach is located just 10 minutes away. Nearby amusements include the Jacksonville Zoo, kayaking, and the Kingsley Plantation.


The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach

Contact Information:
561-533-6000, www.ritzcarlton.com/resorts/palm_beach
Nearest Airport:
10 miles from Palm Beach International Airport
Amenities at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach:
This oceanfront, luxury resort with is known for exceptional service, fine dining and a location near world-class shopping. Here, kids are VIKs (Very Important Kids) - and they get their own check-in desk and welcome coloring books. There's a bedtime story-telling service with cookies and milk. There's a pool, beach and family activities such as Palm Beach biking tours, sailing, fishing and tennis.
Children's Program Details:
The Ritz Kids program includes sports (basketball, tennis, soccer and volleyball), beach games, swimming, sandcastle-building and nature walks. Arts and crafts aim to teach about Palm Beach - kids might make palm trees or sea turtles, for example. The Kids' Night Out program on Saturdays includes a pizza party, games and a movie or dive-in movie at the pool.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
80 percent out/20 percent in
Cost:
$35 half day; $55 full day (includes lunch).
For Older Kids:
No organized program, but the resort offers teen spa treatments and has an arcade.
Activities Nearby:
Teens may want to go shopping, but little ones will enjoy the Palm Beach Zoo, Lion Country Safari or South Florida Science Museum.


Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel (near Tampa)

Contact Information:
813-973-1111, www.saddlebrook.com
Nearest Airport:
30 miles north of Tampa International Airport
Amenities at Saddlebrook Resort:
The resort is home to two 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature golf courses, and is also the world headquarters for the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy (APGA), which offers year-round clinics. There are also 45 tennis courts, tennis lessons for all levels, a spa, a "sports village" containing volleyball and basketball courts, walking trails, bike rentals, fishing rentals and ping pong. Kids like the resort's huge "Superpool."
Children's Program Details:
The S'Kids program offers activities with themes that change daily, from Science Sunday to Underwater Thursday to Sports Saturday. The program makes good use of the resort's renowned sports centers, by offering golf, tennis, volleyball and basketball, as well as arts and crafts and swimming.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
85 percent out/15 percent in
Cost:
$20 half day; $40 full day
For Older Kids:
No formal program.
Activities Nearby:
Tampa is home to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, The Florida Aquarium, Adventure Island Water Park, and the Lowry Park Zoo.


Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Destin

Contact Information:
877-714-3866, www.sandestin.com
Nearest Airport:
40 miles from Panama City-Bay County International Airport
Amenities at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort:
A 2,400-acre resort that's more like a world unto itself, with four golf courses, 20 restaurants and 50 shops. There are complimentary trams and rental bikes, and more than 20 miles of bike paths in the secure, gated property. Tennis, golf, cooking and sailing lessons are offered. For kids, there are playgrounds and a tree house. Did we mention a stunningly beautiful beach with emerald green waters?
Children's Program Details:
The KidZone program offers half-day sessions for kids ages 3 to 10 that include treasure hunts, an inflatable slide and pony rides. The full-day program for ages 6 to 10 includes sandcastle-building lessons, bowling and go-kart excursions, and water games such as aqua golf. The KidZone room has two flat screen TVs, video games, computers, foosball, and arts and crafts, but most of the day is spent in the pool, on the beach, or on Jolee Island, a five-acre nature preserve.
Ages:
3-10
Time Outdoors vs. In:
65 percent out/35 percent in
Cost:
$35 half day; $55 full day
For Older Kids:
No organized program, but teen- and 'tween-friendly activities include outdoor concerts and movies, shopping, and seasonally, the Sooper Slide waterslide and rock-climbing wall.
Activities Nearby:
The beach is fabulous, but there are also attraction like Gulfarium, The Track Recreation Center and Big Kahunas Water Park.


Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach

Contact Information:
800-457-GOLF, www.sawgrassmarriott.com
Nearest Airport:
36 miles from Jacksonville International Airport
Amenities at Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa:
Located on the Northeast coast, this place is home to the PGA Tour and the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Stadium Golf Course - 99 holes of championship golf in all, plus a golf academy. The resort also has four outdoor pools and a spa. Family activities include poolside bingo, rental bikes and mini-golf.
Children's Program Details:
The Sawgrass Grasshopper Gang offers arts and crafts, music, swimming, sandcastle-sculpting, dive-in movies, scavenger hunts, beach games and nature hikes. On weekend nights, Kids' Night Out has themes like pajama party or luau and includes dinner and swimming in the pool.
Ages:
5-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
80 percent out/20 percent in
Cost:
$40 (includes lunch); $35 for evening program.
For Older Kids:
No organized program.
Activities Nearby:
The city of St. Augustine with its historical and whimsical attractions (such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, the Castillo de San Marcos (the oldest masonry fort in the U.S.) and Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum await.


South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island

Contact Information:
888-2-CAPTIVA, www.south-seas-resort.com
Nearest Airport:
36 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers
Amenities at South Seas Island Resort:
The resort re-opened in March 2006, after a multi-million-dollar renovation that's brought two new lagoon-style pools overlooking the beach - including a family pool with a kid's castle and waterslide. There's also tennis, a seaside golf course, a sailing school, a learn to fish program, and rentals of bikes, catamarans, sea kayaks and Waverunners. Nature-based family activities include kayak tours to outlying islands, dolphin cruises and family crafts.
Children's Program Details:
South Seas' kids' and teen programs take an "educational discovery" approach - so rather than gluing seashells to picture frames, kids go on "shell safaris," discovering shellfish in their natural habitats, for example. Other activities include photo-scavenger hunts for island plant life and storytelling about Captiva history. Children ages 5 and up who can swim can participate in a beginner kayak course and kayak trips.
Ages:
4-11
Time Outdoors vs. In:
80 percent out/20 percent in
Cost:
Morning session with lunch is $35. Evening session with dinner is $35.
For Older Kids:
The separate teen program, for kids ages 12 to 17, offers kayak trips, beach parties, jet ski excursions, a sailing course and a learn to fish program.
Activities Nearby:
Captiva and Sanibel are known for their quiet, island charms, so expect no neon lights and big attractions here. Try Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum or the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, both on Sanibel. Nearby Fort Myers offers more amusements (the Edison-Ford Winter Estates, for example, where you can tour Edison's original laboratory).


Sundial Beach & Golf Resort, Sanibel

Contact Information:
239-472-4151, 800-965-7772, www.sundialresort.com
Nearest Airport:
19 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport
Amenities at Sundial Beach & Golf Resort:
Gulf-front resort has a pool with waterslide, and rents bikes, paddleboats and sailboats. The Sanibel shoreline is tops for shelling, and the resort has an eco-center with touch tanks - where kids can help out with sea life feedings. Have a family portrait taken on the beach, or take a pool scuba lesson (kids ages 8 and older only). Family activities include a log roll ride in the pool, beach Olympics, and guided shell walks.
Children's Program Details:
The coolest - or hottest - thing about the Explorer Kid's Club Camp is that it's 100 percent outdoors. Even at night. And even when it's raining (then, activities are held on the open air, covered pool deck). Both the weekday camp and the Kids Night Out weekend night program feature beach games, pool games, crafts and a meal. In addition, family activities are offered - including tie-dyeing t-shirts, hermit crab races, and an island animal discovery program.
Ages:
4-12
Time Outdoors vs. In:
100 percent out/0 percent in
Cost:
$35 for day or evening program (includes meal) for guests and Explorer Club Members, $45 for non-members.
For Older Kids:
Special activities just for teens include Segway tours, beach volleyball, a biking/paddling excursion to Tarpon Bay, and a sea life encounter.
Activities Nearby:
Check out the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and Tarpon Bay Explorers, which offers nature tours and kayak, canoe, boat and bike rentals, both on Sanibel.


TradeWinds Island Grand, St. Pete Beach

Contact Information:
866-373-3247, www.justletgo.com
Nearest Airport:
26 miles from Tampa International Airport; 13 miles from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
Amenities at TradeWinds Island Grand:
This Gulf-front resort is known for its family-friendly appeal. It offers paddleboating through shaded waterways where swans live. There's poolside family feud, raft races, bingo and dive-in movies. You can take a guided deep-sea fishing trip, or take in Captain RedBeard's Pirate Show. There's a three-story waterslide, quad-bungee trampoline, and beach "toy box" with Frisbees, sand pails, shovels, floats and boogie boards. Beach paddleball, volleyball, badminton and tetherball are offered.
Children's Program Details:
The KONK (Kids Only, No Kidding) Club program incorporates crafts, games and activities relating to a theme, like Finding Nemo Fun Day, or Campfire Fun Night. Activities include sandcastle-making contests, pool noodle relay races, tennis, and Kids in the Kitchen, where the kids become chefs and tour the resort's kitchens.
Ages:
4-11
Time Outdoors vs. In:
70 percent out/30 percent in
Cost:
$25 for day/evening session (includes crafts, meal, snacks and drinks)
For Older Kids:
No formal program, but teen and 'tween-friendly activities include teen dance parties, glow-in-the-dark volleyball and mini-golf, and volleyball tournaments.
Activities Nearby:
John's Pass Village and the Clearwater Marina offer water excursions; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Lowry Park Zoo and The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), all in Tampa, are tops with kids.


Universal Orlando's three on-site Loews Hotels: Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort

Contact Information:
888-856-1955, www.universalorlando.com/ht_index.html
Nearest Airport:
16 miles from Orlando International Airport
Amenities at the Resort:
The hotels all offer the Loews Loves Kids and the Loews Loves Little Kids programs: kids under 10 get welcome gifts, and families can borrow games, books, car seats, strollers, night lights, potty seats, baby bath tubs, blankets and outlet protectors. Baby and toddler play classes are offered. Other hotel offerings: kids' own dining/play areas and cool pools - Portofino's has a water slide, Royal Pacific's has a ship with water cannons, and the Hard Rock's has an underwater sound system. Portofino and Hard Rock both offer kids' suites - separate spaces with two child-sized beds, small table and chairs, and TV/DVDs.
Children's Program Details:
Campo Portofino offers remote-controlled, boat-racing in its pool, Royal Pacific's Mariner's Club offers croquet, and Camp Lil' Rock has an outdoor playground. All offer evening programs in activity centers housing ping pong, arts and crafts, games, water-coloring, computers, televisions and video games.
Ages:
4-14
Time Outdoors vs. In:
10 percent out/90 percent in
Cost:
$12 per hour per child.
For Older Kids:
Portofino and Royal Pacific both offer T Loews, a program that gives teens a backpack, water bottle, candy and book.
Activities Nearby:
This is Orlando - theme park and attraction capital of the universe. Universal, Disney, SeaWorld, several waterparks and many smaller attractions create a kids' dream-come-true.

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