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All Articles for : family
Fun Under Five Bucks
Whether you want to sightsee, brush up on some history or just relax on a white-sand beach, Florida offers a wide variety of activities from which to choose that are all under $5.
Tags: nature, family, history, historical_sites, historic_districts, art, culture, tours, Scenic_Highway,
Five Family Stops in Marathon
You can't end your Keys visit without one lazy day at the beach, soaking up the sun and the crystalline waters. While in Marathon, plop onto Sombrero Beach.
Tags: Marathon, Florida_Keys, family,
Free and Easy in Pensacola
With beaches as secluded or activity-packed as you wish, history in a fun sense and things that go whoosh and boom in the sky, Pensacola presents a whole new side of Florida that families will never forget (and budgets will never regret).
Tags: Pensacola, Perdido_Key, beaches, museums, dining, family,
Run Away to the Circus in Sarasota
Whether you plan a visit around the Circus Sarasota schedule, try your own skills as a trapeze artist or visit the Circus Museums, you’ll be happy you didn’t just spend the day at the beach.
Tags: family, Sarasota, theater, museums,
On the Hunt for Treasure in Kissimmee
The rules are simple: Solve 14 clues and a final challenge. At the end of the summer, whichever team has the most points will win the $10,000 bounty.
Tags: Kissimmee, resorts, family, Orlando,
Voluntourism Vacations in Florida
Sibling rivalry has its advantages, it turns out. My kids were very excited to compete to see who could get more trash in their bags. Our goal was to grab as much as we could before it was blown away and washed out to sea.
Tags: Naples, family, beaches,
Family Fantasy
By day, the whole family will learn the ropes of outdoor life, which is a good diversion from the video games, TV and other electronic fun we know all too well.
Tags: Lakeland, family, flight, theme_parks, Winter_Haven,
Pure Beach Appeal
Devoid of chain hotels and restaurants as well as many of the typical beach attractions, Anna Maria Island has original flair that's simply refreshing.
Tags: Bradenton, Anna_Maria_Island, Bradenton_Beach, family, beaches,
Spring Break Tradition with a Twist
With world-famous shores and a wide range of attractions involving everything from high art to fast cars, the Daytona Beach area is bursting with exciting activities year-round.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, family, beaches,
There's No Place Like Home
It has always been a dream of mine to swim with dolphins, so we packed up and headed south to the Miami Seaquarium, which offers dolphin swim programs at its newly renovated, $5-million Dolphin Harbor.
Tags: family, aquariums, St_Petersburg, wildlife, sealife, nature, Tampa, Clearwater, Miami,
In Search of the Circus
Memories come flooding back when I see famed Ringling clown Lou Jacobs’ tiny car, hobo clown Emmett Kelley’s props, Harold Ronk’s ringmaster costume, the Zacchini cannon and the Wallenda high-wire platform.
Tags: Sarasota, family, museums, Venice, history,
Quick Florida Family Road Trips
Families who board in Fort Myers will love traveling north and across the historic Caloosahatchee Trestle and Drawbridge.
Tags: Lake_Wales, citrus, family, museums, Miami, transportation,
Exploring Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach is home to more than seven miles of white, sandy beaches. Round up the family for a game of beach volleyball or snorkel the warm Atlantic waters.
Tags: Hollywood, family, beaches,
Panama City Beach Retreat
Whether you're seeking sunshine and warmth, beach town fun or just an escape from the everyday, Panama City Beach makes for the perfect family retreat.
Tags: resorts, Panama_City_Beach, family,
Lions and Lessons: Teaching Kids About Wildlife Conservation
All in one place, we saw tigers, snow leopards, ocelots, Geoffrey cats, jungle cats, bobcats, cougars, lynx, servals, carcals and lions. Each cat has his or her own story.
Tags: wildlife, family, Tampa, Busch_Gardens, nature, zoos, tours,
Adventures in the Swamp
Billie Swamp Safari offers daily tours through 2,200 acres of the reservation's wildest land, home to a variety of native species, including the reclusive Florida panther, as well as an assortment of animals most folks consider exotic, including the legendary American bison.
Tags: nature, wildlife, tours, Clewiston, camping, family, Fort_Lauderdale,
Waterscape Brings Family Fun to Fort Walton Beach
And as we saw, almost every room has a view. Unlike most other properties, Waterscape is built in a U-shape, offering each unit a dramatic view of the split-level courtyard and ocean.
Tags: family, Fort_Walton_Beach, vacation_rentals,
River Time
This is the Florida that the rat race scampered by. This is the Florida where casting a line and drinking lemonade on a porch create the kind of family memories that you remember from your own childhood.
Tags: Steinhatchee, fishing, family, dining,
Fun Meets Inspiration in St. Petersburg/Clearwater
You've seen them on TV and in aquariums, but it doesn't compare to seeing dolphins surface beside your boat.
Tags: Clearwater, aquariums, family, sports, St_Petersburg, St_Pete_Beach, Clearwater_Beach,
Butterflies, Beaches and Fall Breezes
A number of the coast's newer resort towns were planned with the safety and entertainment of families in mind. Along with a deep sense of community, they offer diverse vacation accommodations, beachfront kids' programs, shops and restaurants.
Tags: Beaches_of_South_Walton, family, beaches, events, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Sandestin,
Kid-Friendly Fun in Orlando
Liki Tiki Village is practically overflowing with family appeal. Each of the one-, two- and three-bedroom villas features a spacious living room, fully equipped kitchen and a washer and dryer.
Tags: Orlando, family, resorts, theme_parks, Kissimmee,
Paradise on St. Pete Beach
With a mango daiquiri in one hand and my Explorer Value Pass in the other (the pass allows unlimited access to many resort activities), I kick back on one of the beachside hammocks and soak up the Florida sunshine.
Tags: St_Pete_Beach, family, beaches, resorts,
Fun-Filled Jacksonville
The miles of laidback beach, lined with small but picturesque sand dunes, are perfect for swimming, relaxing or wildlife watching (porpoise can be sighted year 'round and northern right whales can sometimes be seen off the coast in winter).
Tags: Jacksonville, Jacksonville_Beach, family, museums,
Frills for Families
At Trump Sonesta, you have everything you need to keep the little ones and their parents happy without having to leave the premises.
Tags: resorts, family, Sunny_Isles_Beach,
Get More for Your Family Trip
Plan far ahead before the least-expensive options are sold out, check with individual properties for special deals and share your trip (both the fun and the expenses) with family and friends.
Tags: family, theme_parks, hotels, resorts, reunions, vacation_rentals,
Destination Miami - With Kids
When we “checked out” the 1,200-square-foot indoor facility, we found the camp equipped with enough counselors, video games, craft supplies, fishing rods and basketballs to make any kid happy.
Tags: family, Miami, resorts, shopping, aquariums,
Getaway for Four
I settled into a soft, overstuffed chair, admiring the dark wooden mantle, elegant wainscoting, flowing drapes and antique furniture.
Tags: Steinhatchee, fishing, vacation_rentals, resorts, family,
Pier-Fection
My reel screams as the snook tries to run for the safety of the pilings. I lift hard on the rod tip, hoping to turn the fish, but I’m one second too slow.
Tags: fishing, piers, nature, family, Clearwater_Beach,
Life After Golf
By the time your companion finishes getting loofahed, wrapped and spoiled within an inch of his or her life, you can easily fit in 18 holes.
Tags: golf, resorts, spas, family, St_Augustine, Fort_Myers, Orlando, fishing, Panama_City, Florida_Keys, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Key_Biscayne, Amelia_Island, Daytona_Beach,
Florida Resorts That Are Kid (and Parent) Friendly
This oceanfront luxury resort is known its service, fine dining and location near world-class shopping. Here, kids are VIKs (Very Important Kids) - and they even get their own check-in desk.
Tags: family, resorts, Amelia_Island, Naples, Islamorada, Longboat_Key, Destin, Captiva_Island, St_Pete_Beach,
A Family Affair
Reunions are not just about catching up, they're about making memories. For your next affair, these activities infuse fun into your family time.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Walton_Beach, Miami, New_Smyrna_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Titusville, beaches, reunions, family, Kennedy_Space_Center, resorts, bed_and_breakfasts, Destin, fishing, hotels, Florida_Keys,
Nurturing Vacations
Almost in disbelief, we see scores, then hundreds, of birds in flight, heading for the rookery, straight over our boat. Snowy egrets; great blue herons; roseate spoonbills with their unmistakable pink plumes.
Tags: family, spas, resorts, Fort_Myers,
Generation M (for Museum Going)
Imagine leaving your home forever to travel halfway around the world and battle the enemy in a strange land of alligators and dark-skinned giants.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Homestead, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Panama_City, museums, family, St_Augustine, aquariums,
Planning a Florida Family Reunion
From renting a picnic shelter to reserving a block of campsites, Florida's parks are sometimes overlooked as reunion hotspots.
Tags: Kissimmee, Palm_Coast, Pensacola, reunions, family, resorts, parks,
Florida's Smaller Marine Attractions
With a microscopic admission, you'll have plenty of spending money to rent a surrey for a family bike ride, grab a bite at one of the Pier's many restaurants or take something home from one of its souvenir shops.
Tags: Bradenton, Fort_Walton_Beach, Islamorada, Key_Largo, Miami, Orlando, Panama_City_Beach, Tallahassee, Tampa, sealife, aquariums, family, St_Petersburg,
A-Foot in Orlando-Kissimmee
The neighborhood buzzes with excitement nightlong. Attractions stay open late and a wealth of restaurants draw the theme-park crowd for relaxed casual to fine dining in a setting of bright lights and big city.
Tags: Kissimmee, Orlando, Universal_Studios, family, theme_parks, walking_tours, SeaWorld,
You Can't Hide From the Best Guide
The time of day we head out has a major bearing on our success. As he quickly points out, fish will bite all day in the spring, but early mornings and late afternoon are the best bets in the summer heat.
Tags: Kissimmee, fishing, boating, nature, family,
Pensacola's Family Attractions
How often, after all, do you run into a pair of turkeys on the sidewalk? These full-feathered creatures seem to get a kick out of "gobbling" for giggling children.
Tags: Pensacola, zoos, family, museums, historic_districts, flight, historical_sites, art, piers,
Wild About Marathon
At the Grassy Key Dolphin Research Center, kids have a lot to get excited about, because who can resist a dolphin's smile, let alone a kiss from one of the lovable mammals? Or a chance to play – even paint – with one?
Tags: Key_West, Marathon, dolphins, family, museums, historical_sites, snorkeling, wildlife, nature,
Water World
If you'll pardon the pun, there's something totally cool about a Florida water park that's designed to look like a ski resort.
Tags: Clearwater, Crystal_River, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, White_Springs, water_parks, family, Busch_Gardens, zoos, aquariums, museums, Lake_Buena_Vista, Universal_Studios, SeaWorld, High_Springs, nature, Walt_Disney_World,
Insider Tips to Florida's Beaches
And lest we forget, it's beautiful! It continually makes several of America's Top 10 lists of best beaches based on sand, water quality and facilities.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Naples, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, beaches, shelling, water_sports, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, family, wildlife, surfing, sunsets, New_Smyrna_Beach, Daytona_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, birding, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, equestrian, Sanibel_Island, Hollywood,
Under the Boardwalk
"Downtown" Hollywood is undergoing a modern makeover, but at Hollywood Beach, the Broadwalk wears its history proudly. There's a timeless appeal to the visitors' strolling, shopping, playing and dining before the open sand and the Atlantic Ocean. It's a haven for people and people-watchers of all ages.
Tags: Clearwater, Daytona_Beach, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Hollywood, Key_West, Madeira_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, beaches, family, boating, fishing, dining,
Family Must-Sees
Your kids will be kissed and hugged by dolphins and sea lions respectively at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada.
Tags: Clearwater, Crystal_River, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Marianna, New_Smyrna_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Venice, West_Palm_Beach, Winter_Haven, Walt_Disney_World, SeaWorld, Universal_Studios, Busch_Gardens, Kennedy_Space_Center, museums, wildlife, sealife, family, Siesta_Key, Fort_Walton_Beach, theme_parks, zoos, water_parks, aquariums, Everglades_National_Park, Daytona_Beach,
Florida Vacations With Teens
Best of all, it was as close as you could get to the water and the rolling, booming waves looked awesome right off our balcony, teasing the teens into a frenzy when we arrived.
Tags: Jensen_Beach, Key_West, St_Pete_Beach, Stuart, family, tours, Florida_Keys, surfing, resorts,
Houseboating on Nature's Doorstep
The lower portion of the Suwannee is a nature preserve, so we saw very little development or housing. Just our drifting boat along the winding river, and not a billboard or electrical wire for miles.
Tags: Cocoa, DeLand, Fort_Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Naples, Panama_City_Beach, Sandestin, Suwannee, family, boating, nature,
The New Daytona Beach
Aaron, Jean-Michael and I finished our last visit to this place we call kid-heaven with a late lunch in Ocean Walk Shoppes, colorful and representing what's freshest in Daytona Beach's family-fetching image.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Ponce_Inlet, family, racing, , piers, resorts, shopping, museums,
Rockin' Around the Clock in Panama City Beach
Water pistol fights, an underwater treasure hunt, tugs of war, steering the pirate ship, and going below deck for pirate tattoos keep kids active and entertained for the two-hour sail.
Tags: Panama_City_Beach, family, beaches, diving, shopping, resorts, hotels, nightlife, golf, fishing,
Sandy Feet Welcome
The air was crisp, the sky cloudless and it was time to put the luckiest fishing village in the world to the test.
Tags: beaches, Destin, vacation_rentals, shopping, family, fishing, boating, wildlife, sports,
Boys' Weekend
But Jim only showed delight at our jokey fumbling and our astonishment when we actually hooked a fish - the truest measure of a quality guide.
Tags: family, sports, fishing, Walt_Disney_World, racing, equestrian,
Great Reunions in the Great Outdoors
Here your family can boat, hike nature trails, bird-watch or fish from two piers.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, nature, reunions, beaches, parks, canoeing, kayaking, family,
Resort-Style Reunions
Pink Shell's Family Reunion Package includes a choice of luxury beachfront accommodations, a welcome reception for family members (including drinks and light hors d'oeuvres) and a dinner for the family.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sandestin, resorts, reunions, Florida_Keys, family,
A-Foot at Walt Disney World Resort
Kids programs and video arcades at many resorts keep the little ones happy while the big ones sneak off to be pampered at one of two major spas on property (many of the resorts also have their own smaller day spas), or for adult recreation and sizzling nightlife.
Tags: Kissimmee, Orlando, theme_parks, family, walking_tours, Walt_Disney_World,
Family-Friendly Fort Lauderdale
I had discovered paradise - the world's largest discount and entertainment mall housing designer outlets such as Saks Fifth Avenue, DKNY and Neiman Marcus.
Tags: Fort_Lauderdale, shopping, museums, art, history, culture, resorts, family, Dania_Beach,
A Beach for Each
Getting to Captiva Beach is a romantic adventure in itself; quaint restaurants shaded by tropical foliage, cozy bed & breakfasts and colorful boutiques dot the path to seductive seclusion, breathtaking sunsets and romance.
Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, beaches, family, parks, water_sports, museums, romance, shelling,
Family Reunions 101
We dined on fresh grilled grouper, huge burgers, jerk chicken wings and arguably the best conch fritters in the United States.
Tags: Clearwater, Egmont_Key, St_Pete_Beach, Tampa, family, reunions, resorts, beaches,
Florida in Flight
Florida's 320 days of sunshine a year are perfect for tasting the sweet, delirious freedom that is human flight.
Tags: Kissimmee, Lakeland, Tampa, flight, Kennedy_Space_Center, family, museums,
The Attraction is Natural
From towered vistas to gardens, roller coasters to concerts, from the nostalgic plop-plop of a biplane's engine to the roar of a fighter jet's afterburners, central Florida offers families of all ages, sizes and shapes a place to dream and play.
Tags: Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Winter_Haven, family, flight, nature,
Reunions Warm and Unfussy
Mix and match your family for a Lee County reunion vacation that runs smoothly, warmly and, best of all, without a lot of fuss.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, reunions, family, resorts, hotels,
Treasure Hunt
The islands above Sanibel also hold treasure troves but are less accessible due to a lack of bridges. Good news: that makes their shell hoards less plundered.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, nature, beaches, shelling, tours, birding, wildlife, family,
Natural Riches of the Treasure Coast
No cars cruise these beaches. There are no bars, no buildings taller than five stories casting shadows on the sand. Forget spring break. Martin beaches are family friendly.
Tags: Jensen_Beach, Jupiter, Stuart, beaches, family, kayaking,
Adventure For All Ages in St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Make sure you save some time to explore the Pier 60 area, with its giant inflatable slides, bungee-harness rides and huge playground.
Tags: Clearwater_Beach, Indian_Shores, Madeira_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Tampa, beaches, family, aquariums, water_sports,
Kissimmee: Just For Fun
In one section, rides and games are tot-sized and throughout, snack stands and restaurants sell kid favorites: cotton candy, popcorn, giant pretzels and pizza.
Tags: Kissimmee, family,
Kid-Tested (and approved) Kids Programs
These counselors are not simply slightly older kids who are baby-sitting for a few bucks an hour. They have earned degrees in recreation. In other words: professionals.
Tags: Kissimmee, golf, family, resorts, Walt_Disney_World,