Family Travel
Multi-generational groups flock to Florida to roam vast beaches, experience world-famous theme parks and enjoy animal encounters.
Florida is the family vacation destination. After all, it is home to Orlando (the theme park capital of the world), more than 800 miles of beaches and a bounty of opportunities to encounter wild creatures that your entire crew will appreciate.
If rides are your crew’s jam, spend a week in Orlando, where the options for awe-inspiring entertainment are endless. Walt Disney World has four distinctive parks with rides for all ages and interests, from “It’s A Small World” to “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.” Or at Universal Orlando Resort, movies such as “Harry Potter” and “Jurassic Park” come to life. For lovers of marine life, SeaWorld—where you can go nose to nose with rescued orcas, sharks and dolphins and enjoy coasters, water rides and other attractions—is a must.
Pro tip: Hit the parks on weekdays when the crowds are much thinner.
Prefer time in the sun and sand?
Florida has plenty of beaches to choose from. In Tampa, sink your toes into Clearwater Beach’s sugar-white shores or spot more than 300 species of birds at scenic Fort De Soto Park. Sarasota, only some 58 miles south of Tampa, also has gorgeous stretches surrounded by turquoise waters, including Siesta Key and Lido beaches.
Or take your crew to Pensacola, westernmost city in the Florida panhandle, there, you wade into the calm waves of Gulf Islands National Seashore; embark on a dolphin-spotting cruise; and picnic amid dunes and marshes at Perdido Key State Park. You can also venture to Crystal River to float in spring-fed waters with some of Florida’s most famous wild residents: manatees. The city, located on Florida’s western coast, is the “Manatee Capital of the World” and the only place in the world where you can legally swim with them.
Multi-Day Itinerary Inspiration:
Orlando, New Smyrna Beach and Daytona
Fly into Orlando to explore the city’s bounty of kid-pleasing attractions, from Legoland Florida Resort to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. After two nights in Orlando, drive about 55 miles northeast to New Smyrna Beach to spend a day surfing, sunbathing and exploring the palm tree–lined Canal Street Historic District. End your getaway in Daytona (about 15 miles north of New Smyrna Beach), where legendary sights include Daytona Beach and Boardwalk and Daytona International Speedway.
Where to Stay in Florida
To accommodate families with four-legged family members, Best Western Hotels & Resorts has many pet-friendly properties in Florida so you don’t have to leave your pups behind. The chain also has budget-friendly rates, so you can book multiple rooms to accommodate grandma and grandpa and tweens and teens (because the key to a perfect family vacay is separate rooms).