By Abigail Cattell
There's tons of fun to be had in the Sunshine State, whether you're a big kid or a little kid! Read on for great ideas for the whole family.
Best for Babies
Babies are happiest making a mess, whether it's a sloppy sandcastle or a splashy swimming pool, so find the perfect beach and you'll have a happy baby on your hands. Choose Florida's Gulf Coast over the Atlantic coast, as its gentle waves create a safe and happy beach experience. Fort de Soto Park frequently tops the USA's best beach list, with its spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm clear waters and laid-back atmosphere. It's part of a national park made up of five interconnected islands boasting more than three miles of beautiful beaches. There are also picnic tables, well equipped toilets, showers, play areas and grills if you fancy staying for a BBQ!
Somewhere to stay: The Tradewinds
Island Grand Resort in St Pete Beach is directly on its own sugar-white-sand
beach, and it's only a 20-minute drive from Fort Desoto Beach. It has a great
kids' club for older children
Top tip: The Great Explorations Children's Museum has exhibits for all ages, including the Great Beginnings area, which is set up for babies, with huge cuddly toys, exciting places to explore, building sets and even tiny costumes - hours of fun!
Top for Toddlers
Fans of Clifford, the big red dog will be enchanted on a visit to Miami Children's Museum this summer. From June 27 to October 11 visitors will be transported to the home of Clifford and his friends on Birdwell Island. You can explore a series of fun, interactive exhibits, discovering art through textures and multi-media materials in this unmissable exhibition. There is even a nine-foot Clifford in situ to welcome all his little friends. Miami Children's Museum also has fantastic permanent exhibits for kids of all ages!
Somewhere to stay: The Miami
Beach Resort and Spa is directly on the beautiful, wide sands of Miami
Beach, just three miles from South Beach and a short drive from Miami Children's
Museum.
Top tip: Miami
Metro Zoo has a special Amazon show featuring more than 600 new animals
including giant river otters, jaguars, an anaconda and harpy eagles with talons
the size of grizzly bear claws! Entry costs around $16 for adults and around
$12 for children aged 3-12 years.
Cool for Schoolkids
Skilled clown Jamie Adkins shows off an incredible array of juggling, balancing and acrobatic skills that'll have kids (and you) gazing open-mouthed at Circus Sarasota's summer show. The one-man circus comedy runs from 10 June to 19 July in a traditional red and white striped big top tent in the grounds of the famous Ringling Brothers' Museum. Tickets cost around $12 for adults and around $10 for children aged 12 and under.
Somewhere to stay: The pristine Longboat
Key Club and Resort nestles along a beautiful white-sand beach on Longboat
Key, a barrier island just off the coast of Sarasota. The resort's excellent
kids' club ensures the little ones are in safe hands while you enjoy the expansive
tennis, golf and spa facilities.
Top tip: Enjoy the famed Florida
sunshine as you wander along scenic nature trails which criss-cross the 190
acres of protected wildlife at Crowley Museum and Nature Center. There is also
a historic area with 19th century buildings including a working blacksmith shop,
working sugar cane mill and a one-room homestead cabin.
Pleasing for Teens
Chances are, you'll be heading to Florida's theme parks at some point during
your holiday. Get in your teens' good books with a trip to Universal
Orlando® Resort this summer by taking them on a day when there's a FREE
concert (with admission tickets) in the new outdoor Music Plaza. From Saturday
13 June to 4 July your teens can sway to tunes from LL Cool J, Jordin Sparks,
LL Cool J, Natasha Bedingfield and the O' Jays.
Somewhere to stay: Hard-to-please teens might even crack a
smile when you tell them you're staying at the super-cool Hard
Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando. Genuine rock memorabilia adorns the walls;
great tunes are belted out around the resort and there's a sand beach pool which
has both underwater music and a fun waterslide too.
Top tip: Staying on site means you can skip all the normal queues and get straight to the action - awesome dude!
Fancy a family holiday in Florida? Check out our latest Florida
offers now!
Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust, The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury