7 Reasons to take a family vacation to Florida

With hundreds of miles of coastline, no two beaches are the same in the Sunshine State, which is why a trip to the shore is the No. 1 reason that many families visit. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, there’s a Florida beach for everyone in your group, including Gramps! Adventurous families can surf the waves on Cocoa Beach or sign up for a lesson with the Ron Jon Surf School. Little ones love wading in the gentle tidal pools of the Gulf of Mexico, whether on the crystal-clear shores of Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach or the emerald waters of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Panhandle. Tucked away in the southwestern region of the state, Sanibel and Captiva Islands have some of the top shelling beaches in the world.

Orlando is hands down the top theme park destination in the world, with Disney and Universal Studios leading the pack. “My family loves them all,” says Orlando mom of two Laura Hoff. “We have season passes, and any time family and friends visit, we take them to see the latest attractions.” Some of this summer’s most anticipated openings include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the first ever roller-coaster-based thrill ride at Epcot, and the debut of Disney’s Star Wars Hotel. And Universal Studios celebrated the recent openings of the epic Jurassic World-themed VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On the other side of the state, just 67 miles from Walt Disney World, is Busch Gardens Tampa, a haven for roller-coaster enthusiasts and animal lovers. Just 45 miles east of Orlando is another must-see attraction with a serious theme: Kennedy Space Center. From watching awe-inspiring rocket launches to playing with high-tech simulators that allow kids to “train like an astronaut,” it’s perfect for curious families with a knack for science.

At Gatorland, a 110-acre park and wildlife preserve near Orlando, families can watch in awe as a professional animal handler wrestles an alligator—and even feed the state’s most famous reptiles and a slew of native birds inside the aviary. Little ones will love petting the baby goats and other farm animals running around the park’s barnyard. Farther south in Palm Beach County, Lion Country Safari is a drive-through park that calls itself the world’s first cageless zoo. Divided into seven habitats, the 4-mile drive features zebras, rhinos, and giraffes roaming free. There’s also a water park for cooling off on warm days. More natural, up-close encounters with gators can be found at Everglades National Park just west of Miami, where airboat rides whisk families through scenic marshlands that panthers, snakes, and other wildlife call home. For those who want to get really close to animals, there’s nothing like swimming with dolphins at the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Another, perhaps gentler option perfect for families whose children have disabilities is swimming with manatees in Crystal River, where private boat tours will take you straight to their native habitat during migration season.

Florida’s many museums are perfect for rainy days or simply for times when you want to mix up the family fun. Nestled on Miami’s Biscayne Bay, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is a 1914 mansion, an architectural marvel surrounded by stunning gardens perfect for history lovers (and little kids who like to run outdoors). In downtown Miami, some of the world’s coolest contemporary art is on display in the Pérez Art Museum. Next door at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, families can check out the hands-on weather exhibits and take in the shows at the planetarium. An hour or so north of Miami in Delray Beach, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens are a marvel to stroll through, with thousands of Japanese art objects and artifacts, more than 200 textile pieces, and an authentic tea house. In Sarasota, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, built by famed circus impresario John Ringling, is like three cultural landmarks in one: There’s the Museum of Art, a Renaissance-style palace filled with 21 galleries of European art and medieval objects; the Circus Museum where kids can walk the wire, squeeze into a clown car, and snap Instagram-worthy pics with a faux tiger; and Ca' d'Zan, the Venetian Gothic style mansion and former home of the Ringlings inspired by the palazzos along the canals of Venice, Italy. In St. Petersburg, the Salvador Dalí Museum houses a comprehensive collection of the famed surrealist’s works.

It’s hard to find a state with a cultural history richer than Florida’s. From the fast-paced games in Domino Park in Miami’s Little Havana to watching cigarmakers in action in Tampa’s Ybor City, the state’s Cuban influences are evident, dating to the 1800s. Also in Miami is historic Little Haiti, home to award-winning Caribbean food, cultural centers, and a neighborhood in the midst of vibrant gentrification. Near Tampa, Tarpon Springs is a Greek community that was once the sponge-diving capital of the world. Today it’s filled with Greek cafes and quirky shops inspired by the Historic Sponge Docks. Also nearby, Cracker Country is a living history museum that showcases the 19th-century rural "Florida Cracker" lifestyle. In St. Augustine, the architecture and attractions immerse families in the Spanish, French, and other cultures that once dominated here. For a taste of Native American culture, the Miccosukee Indian Village near the Everglades offers guided tours of the tribe's history, culture, and lifestyle.

Not many states offer multiple destinations perfect for beach camping, but Florida has several spots that are ideal for sunrises, sunsets, and plenty of stargazing. You’ll need to take a ferry or seaplane to get there, but Dry Tortugas National Park near Key West has campsites next to Fort Jefferson, a coastal fortress used as a prison during the Civil War. With its charming cabins and campsites, Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key is a dream spot for snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing. “The sandbars are perfect for families with little kids,” says Vicky Hamer-Hodges, a mom of two who visits with her family at least once a year. “Swimming in the clear water under what our family now calls 'the broken bridge' is one of our all-time favorite vacation experiences.” In Southwest Florida, Cayo Costa State Park is accessible only by boat or helicopter, but if you’ve ever dreamed about falling off the grid with your family, this island is perfect. Tucked between the marshy St. Joseph Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, many of the cabins and campsites at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in North Florida have incredible views.

Florida boasts hundreds of springs where the water never goes above a cool 72 degrees. Fed by underground aquifers that pump billions of gallons of water through limestone, Florida has the largest collection of springs in the world and a thriving ecosystem of gnome-like rock formations, aquatic flora, and wildlife. Many of the must-sees are in Central Florida. Near Gainesville, families float on inner tubes for hours, while snorkelers and divers love exploring the caverns at Ginnie Springs. In Ocala’s Devil’s Den, visitors walk down a wooden staircase into an ethereal cavern to go eye to eye with darting fish. Nearby, "Silver Springs is not to be missed," says longtime paddler Brooke Morton. “The water is super clear so you can see the alligator gar and the turtles while you paddle. The birding is also amazing, especially in spring when roseate spoonbills migrate. Sometimes rhesus monkeys can be seen in the trees, too."

For more information on planning your own family vacation, check out VISITFLORIDA.com.