Florida Spring Break Destinations for Families
Thinking of taking a Florida spring break with kids?
As a former Florida resident who loved to travel around the state with her kids, I’m going to share the best spring break beaches for families, and some safe spring break destinations for families to help you avoid the crowds of college students.
It’s been a frigid winter in the United States with the polar vortex hitting many states hard. Florida boasts more spring break destinations than you can count, so maybe it’s time to start thinking about heading south this March!
I was raised in Wisconsin, went to college in Minnesota, and remained there for 5 years post-graduation teaching and living in the Twin Cities. I understand what it means to endure incredibly long and exceptionally cold winters.
My first year as a stay-at-home mom was during the Polar Vortex. We didn’t leave the house for days on end with temperatures of -40 F. So hear me when I say this from a wealth of experience: If it is at all possible, you must escape to the warm weather to break up the winter.
When my husband got a teaching job in Florida, we definitely weren’t upset about the warm winters and beaches everywhere. It was a nice change from the Midwest, and I will never take for granted being able to walk outside in flip-flops in December.
Having spent 5 years here in Florida having and raising babies, and traveling all over the state. I’ve scouted out the best places to go with kids in tow.
It can be tough to choose where in Florida to take your kids during Spring Break, so I’ve picked a few of our favorite destinations where you can avoid those raucous college parties and spend a relaxing week in the warmth and sunshine on Florida's beautiful beaches with your kids.
Read on for the best family spring break destinations in the sunshine state!
Florida's Best Spring Break Destinations for Families
Keep in mind almost all Florida destinations will be a bit more crowded during spring break - mainly the month of March. The destinations I've chosen just happen to have a little less partying and a bit more to offer the whole family.
Siesta Key Beach
Sarasota
Sarasota is bursting with activities for families. Of course, the sugar-soft sand and the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico are a major draw for those with young kids. What better way to spend spring break than relaxing on the beach and splashing in the waves?
My kids loved visiting the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, especially when they got to watch the otters putting on a performance for them. Bayfront Park is a great spot to walk around, listen to live music and admire the harbor and views of the city.
We especially loved O'Leary's Tiki Bar and grill where kids can play in the sand while you're waiting for food, and you dine on picnic tables oceanside.
Make sure to drive over to the Keys off the coast of Sarasota. Siesta Key has one of the best beaches in the country, and some kitschy shops where you can grab and ice cream or find your souvenirs. Lido Key also has great beaches and plenty of high-end shopping.
Finally, we loved Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and it even had a butterfly garden and a place for kids to climb and run.
Read my full guide on what to do in Sarasota with kids here!
Fort De Soto Park - One of the Best Kid-friendly Beaches in the US
St. Petersburg / Clearwater
Florida’s Sun Coast has a ton to offer if you’re looking for a family-friendly getaway. What I love about this area is that there is such a variety of activities and destinations within driving distance. Whether you choose to stay in St. Petersburg or Clearwater you’ll find incredible Gulf Coast beaches with white sand and calm, warm waters.
In St. Petersburg, you can rent bikes to go exploring, see some surrealist art at the Dalí Museum, go shopping, or enjoy seafood at John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. The brand new St. Pete Pier is the perfect place to spend the day with kids, thanks to the playgrounds, splash pads, concessions stands, and artwork! The best time to go is early in the morning before it gets too hot out!
Fort De Soto Park - Pirate Ship Playground
Clearwater Beach offers sunsets at Pier 60, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of Winter the Dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale, and a dolphin cruise from the Clearwater Marina. We had a great time watching the sunset at Pier 60 with ice cream and tons of artisanal handicrafts to browse.
I also highly recommend this area because one of the most family-friendly beaches in the U.S., North Beach at Fort De Soto Park, is nearby. It has a shallow tidal pool for kids to splash in, a giant pirate ship playground, bathroom facilities, and tons of seashells to collect.
You can stay at Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park (read my review here), as it's a great place to escape at the end of a busy day in the sun.
And check out the top things to do in St. Petersburg with kids!
St. George Street in St. Augustine
St. Augustine
St. Augustine is near and dear to my heart and a highly underrated destination in my opinion. There is so much history for families to explore like the Colonial Quarter, the Fountain of Youth, Castillo de San Marco, and the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse.
St. Augustine also has great beaches, splash pads, and state parks for recreation and the cutest downtown area where you can stay, shop, and eat. If your kids are into animals, be sure to stop at St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Marineland Dolphin Adventure for truly unique experiences.
Climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse, take a trolley tour, visit Anastasia State Park, or grab a real frozen fruit popsicle at the Hyppo!
I think it's a great spring break destination because you still get the sand and sunshine in St. Augustine without sacrificing history and culture. It’s such a great city for families!
We used to live a half hour away from St. Augustine, so I've got tons of insights on my St. Augustine with Kids travel guide!
Orlando
Orlando is a no-brainer for spring break thanks to all the theme parks! Walt DIsney World is a very popular destination during spring break, but don’t let the crowds stop you! If you stay at a Disney property you can have extra magic hours to do your favorite rides. You can also consider a VIP tour to help save time and skip the lines. (Find all my Disney content here!)
In fact, spring is my favorite time of year at Disney World, thanks to the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. It's so underrated, and you'll find tons of fresh foods inspired by nature, a playground for kids, and, of course, all the normal Disney Magic. Check out my Flower and Garden Festival Guide here!
Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando is another fantastic park for families, especially families with kids (or adults) who are interested in Harry Potter. I would happily live at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sipping on butterbeer and performing spells all the live long day. Here's What to Know Before you Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and how to plan your visit in just one day!
Theme parks aside, Orlando has a lot to do with kids, great restaurants, and world-class accommodations. Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is just a short drive away. The Crayola Experience is a great hands-on activity for kids and it’s right at the Florida Mall in Orlando.
Manatees wintering at Blue Spring State Park
You can also check out the Sea Life Orlando Aquarium or Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive day resort where you can swim with dolphins. You might still be able to catch the manatees wintering at Blue Spring State Park just a 40-minute drive away.
If you still want beach time, Cocoa Beach is just an hour's drive away, and St. Pete/Clearwater is just 2 hours away.
Flagler Beach, Florida
Flagler Beach
If you’re looking for quiet small-town beaches, Flagler Beach is your destination. It’s managed to stay under the radar and is quite the hidden gem along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. It’s an easy drive to either St. Augustine or Daytona Beach along Scenic A1A, so you can add both of those experiences to your stay if you want.
The beaches in Flagler are so unique with cinnamon-colored coquina sand (it’s gorgeous but I’m sorry to say you’ll never be able to get it off your body. Just embrace it). The waves are great for surfing, and you can fish from the pier if you’re into that.
Flagler Beach has a perfect laid-back surfer town vibe, so make sure to walk around and check out the locally-owned shops and restaurants across the street from the beach. Our favorites are Swillerbees Craft Donuts, Sally’s Ice Cream, The Golden Lion for the best fish & chips in Florida, and a bucket of margaritas, and Raw Juice Cafe for a great smoothie.
You can also find some nature trails and easy hikes at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.
Check out the Hammock Beach Resort and Sí Como No Inn for accommodations, and read my full guide to Flagler Beach, Florida with kids!
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is a popular destination to be sure, but it’s nowhere near the party scene that other Florida destinations turn into during spring break. Of course Cocoa Beach is great for sunbathing, surfing, and swimming, but you can also find plenty of non-beach activities to keep you busy.
Check out the iconic flagship Ron Jon Surf Shop just to browse or to buy your beach necessities and souvenirs. Mini Golf with baby gators at Gator Golf. Head to Cape Canaveral and look for manatees at Manatee Sanctuary Park or watch the cruise ships come and go.
Kennedy Space Center is a short drive away, and will provide a whole day (or two!) of space-related fun. If your kids are remotely interested in astronauts or outer space, I highly recommend checking it out!
Check out my guide on What to Do in Cocoa Beach with Kids!
Amelia Island
If you’re looking for a tranquil and unspoiled beach destination, you can’t go wrong with beautiful Amelia Island. This barrier island is north of Jacksonville, so not quite as tropical as some South Florida destinations.
Though there might still be a chill in the air and the water might still be frigid, you can still play on the beach and search for shark teeth in the sand.
The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort ended up being one of our favorite family-friendly hotels of all time with free turndown service for kids on the first night of your stay and staff that takes the time to stop and chat with kids.
You can head into town and explore downtown Fernandina Beach for quaint shops and ice cream parlors, or soak in some history at Fort Clinch State Park.
Be sure to book a stay at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort for the most relaxing vacation with kids. There's also a lovely 18-hole golf course if you have a golfer in your family!
Pensacola
Pensacola is a beautiful city located on the tip of the Florida Panhandle. It’s part of a stretch of shoreline known as the Emerald Coast for its sparkling green water and sugary white sand beaches.
Pensacola is the ultimate family-friendly spring break destination not only for its beaches but also because there is so much to do for kids!
You can check out the Pensacola Children’s Museum, stroll Historic Downtown Pensacola, take a cruise to watch the Blue Angels practice, or spend hours at the National Naval Aviation Museum where kids can sit inside real fighter jets. Check out the Gulf Islands National Seashore for a glimpse of unspoiled shorelines and wildlife.
Our family absolutely loved our stay in Pensacola and highly recommend it as a wonderful spring break destination for families. Be sure to read about What to Do in Pensacola with Kids.
Sanibel Island
If you want that tropical island feel without leaving the country, Sanibel Island is the perfect spring break destination for your family!
Located off the coast of Fort Myers, Sanibel Island is known for it’s abundance of unique seashells due to its east-west orientation that acts as a scoop for shells in the Gulf of Mexico.
The best way to do Sanibel Island is to rent an apartment or beach cottage and spend the week playing in the ocean, hunting for seashells, biking around the island, and exploring nature.
If you want to get off the island, there’s plenty to do in Fort Myers, as well as nearby Captiva Island. Visit state parks, go shopping, charter a boat to Cabbage Key and have a burger at the restaurant that inspired Jimmy Buffet’s Cheeseburger in Paradise, and search for dolphins and manatees. You can also get involved with water sports like kayaking, jet skiing, and parasailing if you're a thrill-seeking family.
There’s no better spot in Florida for families to relax. You’ll absolutely LOVE Sanibel Island!
Be sure to read What to Do in Fort Myers and Sanibel to find the best things to do in Sanibel, Captiva, and nearby Fort Myers.
Florida Keys
Did you know Florida has 3 national parks? And all of them are located near the Florida Keys! A road trip through the Keys from Miami all the way down to Key West would make an awesome scenic drive for family spring breakers. You could hit Everglades National Park first, then make a stop at Biscayne National Park, and finally, plan a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park which is a 3-hour ferry ride off the coast of Key West where you can snorkel and see some of the most vibrant coral reefs in the USA. If you enjoy outdoor activities, these would be great additions to your itinerary.
Other than national parks, there are plenty of things to do in the Keys for a good time. Stop at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada to feed the tarpon, grab some conch fritters at Alabama Jacks in Key Largo, or visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.
Once you're in Key West you can visit the Southernmost Point of the continental United States and get a picture, take the Old Town Trolley Tour, take in a sunset celebration at Mallory Square, or visit Ernest Hemingway's home and see the six-toed cat!
Tampa Bay
Our family was surprised at how much we loved Tampa Bay! The Tampa Riverwalk, a 2.5-mile path along the Hillsborough River, is a great way to see the city at a leisurely pace. You can tip your cap to the city's history with pirates by taking a Pirate Water Taxi, too!
ZooTampa is one of the best zoos we've been to with kids, with an entire section full of free rides for toddler-age kids. If you have older kids, be sure to spend a day at Busch Gardens for some thrilling roller coasters!
And just a 45-minute drive away is LEGOLAND Florida, which is SUCH. a fun experience for kids ages 2-12. (Read my LEGOLAND Florida Review and Tips here!) We've been twice so far with the kids, and the rides are the perfect mix of fun but not too scary. There are shows, gift shops, and plenty of places where kids can play with LEGOS. The Pirate Island Hotel was a one-of-a-kind experience that I would HIGHLY recommend for families, and you can read my full review here.
I hope you get a chance to escape to sunny Florida this winter! There are so many affordable kid-friendly destinations it’ll be hard to pick just one! In that case, consider road-tripping around the state to hit up different beaches, theme parks, and cities.
If you plan on doing some road-tripping for your spring break, check out my 50 Road Trip Activities for Little Kids. If you're flying with toddlers, you might want to read my 55+ Airplane Games, Activities, and Toys for Toddlers.
And, of course, if you're looking for other spring break ideas around the United States, be sure to read Spring Break Destinations for Families in the United States where you'll find ideas like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and other spring break vacations with beautiful spring weather. There are some of the best family vacation spots we've found for the entire family!
Happy Spring Breaking!
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