Let's Talk About Things to Do in Florida with Kids
10 Awesome Things to Do in Florida with Kids
If you're traveling to the Sunshine State for vacation, be sure to check out these things to do in Florida with kids. Of course there's Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando but everyone knows about those ones and we even have separate articles for those like going to Disney on a budget and 5 dining secrets and Disney and the Disney dining plan. As well as a few for just Universal Studios Orlando like our 5 must dos at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and our Top 8 things to do at Universal Studios. There's so much more to experience in Florida as this beautiful state is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty your family will love to explore!
When most people think of a Florida vacation, the first thing that comes to mind is Disney World and Epcot Center. But the beautiful Sunshine State has so much more to offer. From beautiful beaches to abundant wildlife to amazing attractions that help your kids discover the diverse ecosystem of this incredible state, there is so much to see.
This list of awesome kid-friendly places in Florida offers options from the panhandle of Florida all the way down to the Everglades. Explore fun museums, boat rides, and even hang out with alligators. Your kids will be so dazzled by all the fun they're having, they won't even miss that famous Mouse! There is just so much to see and do in Florida with kids!
Exploration Tower
Exploration Tower - Cape Canaveral, FL (Exploration Tower)
If you and your kids have dreamed of watching a launch at Cape Canaveral, you owe it to yourself to visit the Exploration
Tower. The beautiful seven-story building is filled with a variety of wonderful delights. Check out interactive exhibits that will teach you all about the history of the port. Explore the many hands-on opportunities to learn about the early natives and European settlers in the area. And if you are in Florida for a rocket launch, you will love the observation deck on the 7th floor! Even when there is no rocket launching, the view of the ships and the stars from this deck are simply amazing!
Billie Swamp Safari
Billie Swamp Safari - Clewiston, FL (Billie Swamp Safari)
The Florida Everglades is one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. And the people at Billie Swamp Safari are happy to help you explore it! Located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, they offer some great ways to explore around 2,200 acres of the River of Grass. Enjoy Airboat Rides or Swamp Buggy Eco-tours. Stroll the grounds and check out the many animal exhibits. And if you love snakes, you have to see the amazing Snake Show. Sharing the beauty of nature with your kids is a great way to enjoy your Florida vacation while learning just a bit more about this wonderful planet!
Golf N Gator
Golf N Gator - Cape Canaveral, FL (Golf N Gator)
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When in Florida with kids you don't want to miss this hands-on experience. AT Golf N Gator, they can do just that! Enjoy a little fun competition on the mini-golf courses. Mine for treasures like arrowheads, fossils, and precious gems. You can learn all about alligators, too, and even hold a young alligator yourself! Golf N Gator may not be the biggest tourist attraction in the state of Florida. But of all the kid-friendly places in Florida, this is one of the most fun. It's also a great place for birthday parties if you happen to be in the area for the big event!
Monkey Jungle
Monkey Jungle - Miami, FL (Monkey Jungle)
Located in the natural subtropical forest of southern Florida, Monkey Jungle is an amazing and unique wildlife park. Founded in 1935, the monkeys and other animals in the park live in an environment very similar to their natural home. This offers you the best opportunity possible to see these precious and clever animals behaving as they normally would in the wild. See playful monkeys and peaceful gorillas and learn all about conservation and scientific discoveries. If your kids love monkeys and apes, they will "go ape" over this wonderful 30-acre park filled with the most wonderful animal friends. If you live nearby, be sure to check out their coupons and promo. You can even host your birthday parties and events at the Monkey Jungle, which is great for kids of all ages (even the grown-up ones)!
Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center - Titusville, FL (Kennedy Space Center)
If you want to be right in the heart of the action during a rocket launch, be sure to include the Kennedy Space Center in your plans. The beautiful Visitor Complex is the absolute closest you can get to a rocket launch. And there is so much more to see besides! From guided tours to see various NASA rockets to the beautiful U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, there is so much here that you'll really want to make a day of it. We thought we would only spend a few hours at the Kennedy Space Centre but my daughter was so enthralled with the activities and learning more that we ended up spending the entire day! She was inspired to become a mission specialist and had to try out every activity that they had where they could earn badges. She was determined to get all the badges and in the end she did. Anything that encourages an interest in any kind of science in kids is a win in my opinion!
In fact this past year in high school a few years after our trip to the Kennedy Space Centre my daughter took robotics. I partially credit this visit to her interest in this area. You can learn all about the lunar landing, test your skills on an Astronaut Training Simulator, and possibly even meet an astronaut. If yours is a family full of space explorers, this is one of the best kid-friendly places in Florida. My family and I did indeed get to meet an astronaut. We met space shuttle astronaut Captain Jon McBride (retired) and even got a photo with him. We got to hear him speak and photos with were at no charge. He was great.
I love how inspired my daughter was during our visit to the Kennedy Space Centre and how much there is to do and see there. You could spend more than a day there. It's definitely worth a stop with the family. So if you're ever in Florida with kids make sure the Kennedy Space Centre is on your list to stop by and visit. We almost didn't go but are so happy we did!
Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World - Plant City, FL (Dinosaur World)
Get lost in the land before time when you and your kids visit Dinosaur World. This is one of the coolest kid-friendly places in Florida, where you can walk among hundreds of life-sized dinosaurs. Check out their many interactive exhibits, including this awesome area where you can use shovels and brushes to unearth dinosaur bones. Kids can hunt for fossils and gemstones, and play on a dinosaur-themed playground that you'll be tempted to play on, too! And if your dog happens to be accompanying you on your vacation or day trip, he or she is welcome, too. Enjoy beautiful boardwalks under the shade of aged oak trees as you enjoy the sights and sounds of a time long ago. Dinosaur World is great fun!
Museum of Science & History
Museum of Science & History - Jacksonville, FL (Museum of Science & History)
If you are hoping to spark (or fan the flames of) a love of history and science in your children, a visit to the MOSH (Museum of Science & History) is in order this summer. It is a place of wonder for your whole family. They have amazing traveling exhibits (so be sure to check their event calendar before your visit), all kinds of hands-on activities that the kids will love, and a Planetarium where you can watch a variety of wonderful shows. For those who live in the Jacksonville area, the Mosh offers Summer Programs. And if you join as a member, you get lots of cool perks like free admission to exhibit previews only members can attend. The MOSH is fun and learning for the whole family!
Tallahassee Museum
Tallahassee Museum - Tallahassee, FL (Tallahassee Museum)
When you and your kids visit the Tallahassee Museum, expect the unexpected. This amazing place sits on 52 acres of beautiful Florida land and is a wonderful place to learn all about Florida's history as well as the natural wildlife and environment of the state. Enjoy gardens, nature trails, historic buildings, wonderful exhibits, and for the adventurous sort, check out the wonderful zipline through the tree-tops where you can see nature from a whole new perspective. For locals, the Tallahassee Museum is a great place to host parties or special events, and they have great camp programs for the kids, too. Be sure to check out their website where you can see a lot of their exhibits online!
Fun Spot America Theme Parks
Fun Spot America Theme Parks - Orlando, FL and Kissimmee, FL(Fun Spot America Theme Parks)
With two wonderful locations in Florida, Fun Spot America is all about rides. If you love roller coasters, they have them. Thrill rides, too. They also have those tried and true favorites like bumper cars and lots of rides for little thrill seekers, as well. Play games in the arcade or ride the go-karts, or visit the Gator Spot in Orlando, where you'll get to check out gators, crocodiles, birds, and even let your kids interact with animals in the petting zoo. There really is something for everyone in your family at Fun Spot America Theme Park!
Time and Tide Tours
Time and Tide Tours - Cape Canaveral, FL (Time and Tide Tours)
If you want to share the natural wonders of Florida with your family, Time and Tide Tours is one of the best kid-friendly places in Florida. Set off on a tour boat from Cape Canaveral and enjoy many wonderful sights in the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River Lagoon. You'll see manatees, sea turtles, jellyfish, crabs, dolphins, and many other wonderful animals of the ocean. You're sure to see an amazing variety of sea birds, too. These folks really love to teach kids about the ocean and the Florida wildlife. And every kid who takes a tour with their family gets a Time and Tide Adventure Book, too!
There are so many kid-friendly places in Florida to choose from, it can be hard to figure out where to go first during your Florida vacation. But with this great list of choices, you're sure to find something surprising and wonderful to make your kids' summer extra special!
Don't forget to PIN this article for your reference later!
Suggested Amazon Links:
2. Fodor's Florida (Full-Color Travel Guide) by Fodor's Travel Guides (Paperback)
6. The Florida Keys Bucket List: 100 Offbeat Adventures From Key Largo to Key West
7. Cape Canaveral: America's Spaceport (Hardcover)
9. Rockets and Missiles of Cape Canaveral: Reference Book by Mr. Clifford J Lethbridge (Paperback)
I didn’t realize that Florida had more to offer than just visiting Disney World. My grandkids and I would enjoy the Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World – Plant City, FL
This sounds awesome ???? The
Museum of Science & History – Jacksonville, FL sounds just as interesting. Definitely pin worthy! Thank you for sharing!
I have been talking about going to Florida this year for a vacation.
I lived in Florida and visited often. I still have not gone to the Kennedy Space Center. I do want to see it on my next trip.
I’ve live in Orlando for 6 years and some of these I didn’t know about! Looking forward to trying some new things!
My daughter would love to visit the Kennedy Space center and the Museum of Science & History! This is a great list of other options than the entertainment parks!
I plan on traveling to Florida this summer with my kids and since I am still finalizing plans, this was a great article to read.
Kennedy Space Center looks like so much fun
Thanks for telling us about some of the fun things to do when we visit Florida!
We love Florida. There is so much history and fun all around.
LOVE this article! Most people think its just disney world or busch gardens in florida for family entertainment. I know a lot of people will be using this for their next trip to Florida!! I sure will be!
Only 1 of our 3 boys have been to Cape Canaviral and we lived there for 30 years. It's a great place to introduce kids to Space Exploration. I've been there many times as a kid and adult. Our oldest slept under the Apollo 5 rocket with Scouts, met an Astronaut and learned a great deal.
We live in Michigan and have always been focused on Disney World. Thanks for the wonderful list of places outside of Disney and the Orlando area that would be great to visit in Florida.
I love Florida! I appreciate this list because I haven’t heard of most of those places and I would love to try them!
It’s great know there are numerous thing to do in Florida with kids beside Walt Disney World we will do do more things with our kids
I went on the seamp safari too last time i was down there it was so cool! Im looking forward to yhe day i can take my son! Idk when thatll be god willong some day soon my finances will clear up! Thank you for such an interesting helpful article i absolutely love your content!
We are hoping to visit Florida this summer with our kids. Thanks for the suggestions.
My son is now at the age where rockets are THE COOLEST EVER, haha, going to see all the exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center would rock his little world! We're not too far away from FL, it might be time to really plan a trip!
These are great ideas! Dinosaur World sounds fun. My boys would love it!
We would love to take the grand kids to the Space Center. All these places look great to visit.
This looks like fun places to visit with family.
Looks like a lot of fun things to do . My grandsons would love to visit.
I would love to take my soon to Exploration Tower and Kennedy Space center, as he is really into space right now.
We've been to Florida quite a few times but we haven't visited most of these. I'm not big on roller coasters but the rest are so I'm always looking for something for all of us. Monkey Jungle sounds perfect and I've seen Dinosaur World so I will definitely have to check them out!
We love vacationing in Florida! We visit South Walton, 30a, every year! Our favorite thing to do with the kids is bike ride, swim and chill out!
I've never been to the Kennedy Space center but it sounds like something my kids would really enjoy! I'm adding it to my list for when we come to FL
cool but I never been to florida
I went to Kennedy Space Center when I was young. It was just amazing. Absolutely loved it. You have several great ideas for budget-friendly families.
I've been to a few places in Florida and I wish I could live in Florida. I've been to Orlando and the panhandle I would like to go to Miami some day.
I've been to Florida once for Disney World and loved it. I would like to go back to check out Universal Studios & Harry Potter World. It's my dream to go there one day!
thanks for all the great places to visit here in Florida I live here and you gave me some good ideas
Brightline Train Miami-W. Pal Beach
There are interesting things here I never would've known about. I'd like to see Dinosaur World, Billie's Swamp and the monkeys.
I use to live in orange City and there is so many things to do there!!!
I can't wait to visit Florida again. I know I want to see the Monkey Jungle – Miami, FL (Monkey Jungle). I love seeing monkeys!
So so so Seattle many great things to do in Florida. Especially if you don't enter Orlando.
Diverse, beautiful and simple put paradise! Native and lovin it.
So, I live in Florida, and we have yet to go to any of these places. Haha. My first on this list though is to take my daughters to Kennedy Space Center. I am just waiting for them to get a bit older for them to appreciate and understand it.
Thanks for the very informative article. My kids can read this and decide where they want to go outside of Disney since we have 10 days at Disney and another 11 off property. Thanks for the super giveaway opportunity.
We've been to Florida a couple of times, but haven't been to any of these places - wow - we've been missing out. Have to keep these in mind for next time we want to visit Florida!!
jungle adventures is a fun place to go you can hold a alligator
Thanks for sharing we might have to add that 🙂
I loved visiting Cape Canaveral when I was a kid. These are wonderful places to visit. Thanks for the list!
I didn't know that Florida had so many places to visit. Thanks for the tips!
I've never been to Florida and really enjoyed reading this!
We are FL residents and have done some of these activities but yet to do the Monkey Jungle. I would love to take my niece and nephew to see this.
My son would probably enjoy the safari the most. But one day im going to have the extra money tontake my kiddos to Disney World.
We live in Florida and there is so much to do here. We just need to get out with the grandchildren and do them. So many fun and educational trips to take. Thank you so much for sharing
Needed this in March
Thanks for the great tips when we visit our grandchildren. We never know what to do when we visit Florida.
Florida is definitely a state with a lot going on and lots to see and do! I could spend months here visiting all of the fun attractions!
I just moved to Orlando Fl and this comes in handy for me. I'm a mother of 3 kids and it's hard to go around not knowing much. Thanks!
Monkey Jungle looks so fun! I love exploring new places.
We do day trips to Busch Gardens.
When I go to Miami, I plan to go to Monkey Jungle.
Wow! I would love to visit many of the places on this list, especially Kennedy Space Center.
Thanks for this awesome list of kid friendly places in Florida. I know my son would love Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida.
These all sound like some really fun things that my family would enjoy!
Thank you for that information. A lot of those places I never heard of. It sounds like there are a lot of fun places to go
I love all this information this would be great for my little niece
Thanks for all the Florida tips. We hope to make a visit soon. I would love to live in Celebration!
I love living in Florida. I haven't heard of some of these though. My favorite on the kist is kennedy space center.
The Billie Swamp Safari sounds great. We have been wanting to visit Flordia
I'm headed to Florida with my boys this summer to visit family. I'm definitely going to check out Dinosaur World
(Dinosaur World – Plant City, FL). If it involves dinosaurs, then my boys are interested.
We're planning on a trip to Florida in three weeks. These tips are great! We will be using some of them when we go to Florida. Thanks!
Having lived in Florida for nine years I know there is so much to see beyond the theme parks. The first place I thought of was Kennedy Space Center. If you want your children to experience nature Florida has lots from beaches, the Everglades, woods and grasslands.
I love to visit the Sunshine State. There are so many wonderful places to visit and more then one trip is definitely needed!
So many great places to visit. I can't wait for our Florida trip.
The safari place looks awesome to visit! I cant wait to visit Florida again!
So need a vacation amd this would be perfect
Those Time And Tide Tours look fantastic. So much to do in Florida
All of the places sound so fun and intriguing especially for someone who has never been in Florida. Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center would be first on my list.
These are great ideas. I used to live in Florida and I think Tallahassee Museum is really nice!
Even though our 5 kids are all adults now, ages 23-31 and our grandson is still pretty little, only 15 months, I still love to read about fun places to go and fun things to do when traveling to different places like this, because my husband and I love to travel and honestly usually love most places that kids do, even more than most kids do! haha. My husband jokes that we are a couple of 50 yr old= "5 yr. olds " haha.
I think we would love quite a few of the places you mentioned and I especially learning about ones I had not heard of, so thank you.
The ones in Florida are also extra helpful for us to know about, because unlike most other people, I do NOT like traveling to Florida only because it is almost always too hot and humid for me. (heck even Michigan where I live in the summer is too! ugh!) BUT our youngest daughter lives there now so we like to go see her regardless and always want to go somewhere special and fun we have never been to each time we go to visit with her, which she enjoys too, even though she is an adult too.