www.VisitHollywoodFL.org Fun Things to Do in Orlando with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Central East Florida, with Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, is home to the space industry, top-notch birding, verdant parks, and the state’s top surfing. You can also park and get out and walk around Wynwood Walls to check out the artwork and restaurants in the area. You can check out all of our posts on our time there on our: Florida Keys page. More than 40 murals, many with sound, are located throughout downtown Lake Placid. (813) 248-4961, www.columbiarestaurant.com City Seafood Monticello Opera House (850) 653-2191, https://www.gibsoninn.com/ Stop at the Highland Hammock State Park. 993 E. Oakland Park Blvd. (850) 623-6197, www.adventuresunlimited.com The Fort Lauderdale Kite Surfing School offers year-round classes for those looking for a new thrill. Reptile World is more than snake displays. Gatorama also is the perfect place to purchase all things ‘gator: wallets, belts, hides and more. Reptile World Serpentarium Plus for only $5 you can take your picture with a baby alligator! Travel Babbo shares their review of The Hotel That Made Us Skip Disney World. Voted one of the best beaches in Florida. 305 Artemesia Trail ): Family Camping In Dry Tortugas National Park A boardwalk and visitors center guide visitors through this historic American site. Opened in 1932, this is the oldest diner in Florida. It is a beautiful park and we recommend taking at least 1 of the hikes before heading out. Two rinks for skating and roller hockey. Friendly folks and great ‘que makes this a perennial favorite. It is the earliest known legally sanctioned free black community in the present United States. The St. Augustine Lighthouse, with its distinctive black-and- white spiral and red top, is one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the country. This preserve has several different habitats including beach dunes, coastal strands and mangrove wetlands. Florida Southern College is home to the largest single- site collection of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings in the world. You can learn more about the tram and about renting bicycles here: Shark Valley Tram Tours. 1 Seafood Restaurant by “Southern Living” readers. Kite surfing combines kite flying, wakeboarding and windsurfing for a great new version of fun in the sun – perfect with Fort Lauderdale’s calmer waves and tropical breezes. 23-acre waterfront park, featuring biking, observation tower, full-moon kayaking tours, boat launch, eco-walk nature trail, picnic tables, freshwater fishing. 900 N. Birch Road www.florida- everglades.com/postoffice.htm US Highway 41 Check out this family friendly house with bunk beds for the kids! The Elliott Museum and House of Refuge Saved by the Historical Society of Martin County in 1955, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides a look at life as the area entered the 20th century. 139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE We also wanted to share one of our top camping trip planning apps: The Dyrt Pro Camping App. At Spook Hill, you can experience the optical illusion of the family car rolling uphill while in neutral. Check out more AirBnB options for your Florida Road Trip here. 89, 11000 University Parkway Sponge-o-rama Looking for things to do in central Florida other than Orlando? 1 day for each park and 1 day for Volcano Bay. Be prepared when you get to Shark Valley Visitor Center that there may be a line to get into the parking lot. (772) 562-3909 x 275, www.fws.gov/pelicanisland The Apalachicola Maritime Museum encompasses the heritage of the Apalachicola waterfront and the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint river system. In the fall and early winter, clouds of Monarch butterflies stop in the area during their migration to Mexico. See Tripadvisor's 572,103 traveler reviews and photos of kid friendly Orlando attractions 4533 Solomon Road You will be covering a lot of miles but it is worth it to see all of these amazing places. In fact, the Denham House was named one of the top places to get in bed with a ghost by “USA Today.” Ghost tours are provided throughout the month of October (contact 850-508-8109 or visit www.bigbendghosttrackers.homestead.com). Miller’s Suwannee Houseboats At Florida Caverns State Park, Park Ranger Amanda Glover leads a tour through caverns that were etched out by Civilian Conservation Corp workers. Downtown, Channelside and Ybor City (800) 653-2489, www.getaway4florida.com Learn more in our Cookie Notice and our Privacy Policy. RV Park:  St Johns RV Park Salvador Dali Museum (813) 273-4000, www.flaquarium.org RV Park: Highland Hammock State Park campground. Scalloping at Steinhatchee Landing Resort The Kingsley Plantation sits on the northern end of the island, overlooking the Fort George River. Twenty-eight miles of wooded trails offer hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities if you're not looking to take a plunge in the rapids. 751 Sheridan St. Florida is the perfect family road trip destination. Sync your trip to your phone, and then let Roadtrippers lead the way with turn-by-turn navigation. Prince William County – National Museum of the Marine Corps. Yes, these natural formations are exceedingly gorgeous—but you should also note that they’re exceedingly rare. (850) 234-2225 or (888) US-TOP-50, www.captanderson.com (352) 466-3672 and (352) 466-3999, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Marjorie-Kinnan-Rawlings All material © 2001-2020 by VISIT FLORIDA®, all rights reserved. Needless to say it is worth it to go. It is an amazing and magical place. Ranger-guided swamp walks are offered between November and April at this park also known as “The Amazon of North America.” For swamp walks, be prepared to wade in cool water up to your waist for half a day, learning about and enjoying the flora and fauna of the Fakahatchee Strand. Big Shoals State Park, County Road 135 Visual Arts Pavilion at the ArtsPark Diners can enjoy the aquariums throughout the restaurant as they wait for their belly-busting meal. Holland Park Plus they had a great pool, hot tub and mini golf course! Once you are done swimming walk up the stairs that go under the bridge and walk out on the famous 7 Mile Bridge. This has been one of our favorite things. Check out even more things to do in The Everglades here! Moved to higher ground after the 1847 hurricane disinterred bodies from the first burial ground near the Southernmost Point, the whitewashed above-ground tombs and statues are fascinating and funny. Classic old wax museum, formerly the second-largest in the world, exhibits a tight assemblage of historical figures and celebrities. The magical fountain beckons a group of giggling children into its cool burst of heat-beating spray. St. Augustine, Florida . Please contact us to send a comment or to report a problem. The Visitor Center in Centro Ybor is a great first stop to plan your exploration of Ybor City. State Road 29 in Everglades National Park This should give you a hint as to why this Panama City Beach eatery was voted the No. 954-926-2480, www.VisitHollywoodFL.org World’s Smallest Police Station These street lines date back to the late 1800s, when workers took the streetcar downtown and to the cigar factories of west Tampa. Coastal dune lakes Plus there is under the sea bowling and a lot of yummy restaurants in the area. Ranging from buzzworthy travel hotspots to completely under-the-radar coastal towns, these are some of the best places to visit in Florida in 2018. Rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees and vines bloom around the 83 acres of the gardens. It took about 20 minutes or so. (321) 268-5000, www.dixiecrossroads.com We had to drive a ways to get into downtown Miami – but it was still worth it since the RV park was so nice and quiet. Coral Castle Visit a Florida cow camp from the year 1876, where you’ll find a cow hunter who is more than willing to talk about his life and times in a living history demonstration. (850) 452-3604 or (850) 452-3606, www.naval-air.org and www.blueangels.navy.mil Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. If you aren’t ready to relax Destin also offers an amazing pirate boat adventure for the kids, private catamaran tours with Smile N Wave and a dolphin cruise. With access to a boat and some basic snorkeling equipment, you can jump right in and look forward to a plate of tasty, just-caught scallops on your plate. Let me tell you up front there is NOTHING special about this RV park. 16405 Myakka Road 13810 Waterfront Drive Her Cracker-style home and farm, where she lived for 25 years and wrote “The Yearling,” has been restored and preserved as a state park. If your kids are 12 or younger we recommend also making a stop at LEGOLAND Florida for a day. At 165 feet tall, there are 219 steps to the observation deck. If you can, we recommend staying for months – we stayed for 6. 137 Coastline Drive 103 Water St.  Ever wonder the distance from Miami to Key West? (386) 761-1821, www.ponceinlet.org http://carrabelle.org/things-to-do/worlds-smallest-police-station/    https://www.historictours.com/keywest/index.php. Well, now you know the distance from Miami to Key West, on your Florida Keys Road Trip, check these amazing stops: Stop at Robbie’s and feed the Tarpons. Capt. The Air Force Armament Museum houses Air Force aviation warfare armament from the early days of World War I right through to today’s high-tech planes and bombs – and it won’t cost you a dime. The extensive collection of Morse’s Tiffany holdings range from his famed leaded-glass windows to examples of his pottery, jewelry, mosaics, watercolors, lamps, furniture and scores of his Favrile blown glass. Elgin Air Force Base If you have your bikes I recommend waiting for a spot in the lot since you will be there a while. The beach doesn’t have soft white sand beaches, most in the Keys don’t due to the reef but that’s OK. The Bonsai Collection includes more than 50 trees from six inches to more than four feet. It is now a restaurant that overlooks the Baron River. Plagued by decades of prank phone calls—the dial was finally removed from the phone—the World’s Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle has been housed in a phone booth since the 1960s. (727) 823-1594, https://thechattaway.com/ Crystal River is the only place in the U.S. where you can legally swim with and touch wild manatees. (863) 675-0623, www.gatorama.com The Pier at the end of Second Ave. N.E. Nearby, The American Orchid Society features a three-acre botanical orchid garden filled with thousands of native and exotic orchids. RV Park: Boyds Campground We also loved The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park just outside Destin! We always love finding unique things to do when we visit places. Three rental pavilions available. Monticello is a beautiful small town in North Central Florida with loads of Southern charm by day... and ghostly spirits by night. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. Aside from its natural beauty, it also boasts historic landmarks and family-friendly attractions without the crowds of tourists you’re used to in other parts of the state. This off-beat landmark has been featured on “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” and “The Today Show,” but is no longer in use today. This house of refuge, built in 1876, is the only one remaining of 10 commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department as havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers along the barren east coast of Florida. http://www.apalachicolabay.org/business/apalachicola-maritime-museum/, video about the Forgotten Coast of Florida, www.fl- dof.com/state_forests/tates_hell.html, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Florida-Caverns, www.floridapanhandledivetrail.com/oriskany.html, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Wakulla-Springs, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Marjorie-Kinnan-Rawlings, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fanning-Springs, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Ichetucknee-Springs, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Big-Shoals, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Amelia-Island, http://visitcitrus.com/play-here/water-lovers-activities/meet-a-manatee, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Lake-Kissimmee, www.theotherorlando.com/contents/chapters/15/repti le.html, www.floridastateparks.org/park/De-Leon-Springs, www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/s tates/florida/preserves/art5522, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Fakahatchee-Strand, www.floridastateparks.org/park/Myakka-River, https://www.facebook.com/HerrmannsRoyalLipizzanStallions, http://www.friendsofthekeywestcemetery.com/, A Guide to Florida's Quirky Roadside Attractions. The studio features his signature large-format, stunning photographs of the Everglades and other natural environments. St. Augustine, Florida. If you are looking for something different to try while in Clearwater, why not try a customizable helicopter tour? The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki (meaning “a place to learn”) is home to the nation’s largest display of the life and culture of the unconquered Florida Seminoles. View Florida scrub cattle, originally brought here by the Spanish in the 1500s. Chattaway Restaurant Check out more fun activities in St. Augustine! An island-inspired SunSessional IPA or Hogfish Amber from Islamorada's new Florida Keys Brewing Co. are an excellent way to round out a meal. They love to research! Ideally we would recommend 3 days to explore Universal. We’ve broken the monotony of more than 4 million miles of plain road with some truly weird roadside attractions. Take a tour of the Florida waters as you drive a Catamaran in Martin County– guided by naturalists who can tell you all about the flora and fauna of the region. 108 Royal Palm Ave. At Amelia Island State Park, you will find one of the few locations in Florida offering horseback riding on the beach. Angel’s Diner And don’t forget to snap a photo of the giant Yeehaw sign along the road. Hit the road with the app when you're ready. Crazy, right?! The Cyprus Swamp – Highland Hammock Trail is one of our favorite hikes. We haven’t stayed here but we have heard if you want to be close to Key West this is a great place to stay with your RV. If you stay here you could walk to a lot of the downtown attractions or easily get on the trolley. The Myakka Canopy Walk allows visitors to view the treetops of the prairie hammock by ascending a 74-foot tower and crossing an 84-foot suspension bridge. You can check out our post about our experience at The Escape Game here! Life- size wax statues of the presidents and an extensive collection of political artifacts are only part of the fun. Air Force Armament Museum When in leaf during summer/fall, the fields have been compared to the tulip fields in Holland for their beauty. The building, once a tool shed, was converted into the post office after a fire in 1953 destroyed the original Ochopee Post Office. Clearwater is a beautiful beach with white sand and aquamarine water and beautiful beach resorts. (904) 471-1111 or (888) 279-9194, www.marineland.net 954-926-2480, www.VisitHollywoodFL.org Murals in the Caladium Capital of the World If you are looking to take in some culture or expand your horizons a bit while in Orlando, check out the Museum of Art! After visiting the museum, enjoy a gatorburger, turtle burger or more familiar hamburger. A nature trail offers a leisurely walk along the wooded areas of the park. 81 Lighthouse Ave. 209 Reid Street Located at Overseas Highway mile marker 93.6 (Bayside) in Tavernier, the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center is dedicated to rehabilitating injured birds and returning them to the wild. And the fort offers the best photo opportunities. (352) 394-2836, www.presidentshallof fame.com Located in the former home of the late Solomon D. Spady, the most prominent African American educator and community leader in Delray Beach from 1922 to 1957, it is the only African American cultural heritage museum of its kind in Palm Beach County. Anderson’s Marina, you can also catch a boat for a dolphin cruise or a charter for a day of fishing. 3. The 205-foot Gothic and Art Deco Carillon Tower isn’t the only spectacle at this sanctuary. (850) 638-4157, www.washcomall.com (Drivers are advised to not stop along the Interstate except for an emergency.) Historic Redland Tropical Trail We did not stay in a hotel when we were there but given where this hotel is located we think it would be a great place to stay. When our youngest turned 6 we figured it was a good time to go! Spook Hill 1 Young Circle The smallest Post Office in the United States, measuring 7x8 feet with the roof peak at 10 feeat, is located in Ochopee. Closed in July and August. The property is beautiful and not right in the middle of downtown Key West – which we think is a great fit for being with a family in Key West. Other fun facts: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ husband, Charles Rawlings, ran the rocking boat bar and restaurant, The Porpoise, where Ernest Hemingway was known to frequent and was the inspiration of the novel “The Old Man and the Sea.”. Stan Goldman Memorial Park This 52-foot-wide, 200-foot-long structure allows hikers, cyclists, equestrians and wildlife to safely cross Interstate 75. You can’t come to Florida and not go to Orlando. During the early days of WWII, Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis wrote letters to every governor and to president Franklin D. Roosevelt to request contributions of local rocks. It is a really cool experience. The Fury Ultimate Adventure is one of our favorite things we have done! Brave a bite from dishes such as Snake ‘n Bake or Swirl of Squirrel from the “Road Grill Menu,” or more traditional dishes from the regular menu. Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant serves shrimp caught by their own fleet of commercial shrimp boats. Anderson’s so you can watch the local fishing fleets unload their fresh, daily catch. Everglades Lounge at The Clewiston Inn The Royal Palm Grove was created to resemble the original 1937 garden. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing the African American history and heritage of Florida. The USS Oriskany 250 W. Hickpoochee Ave. Elmer’s Genealogy (239) 283-2062, www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc (863) 983-7979, www.clewistonchamber.com Enhance your experience Tours of America, they offer great package and other ideas of things to do younger. First magnitude Springs far one of Florida ’ s post on: 6 things! About a 38 minute drive to Shark Valley day or more familiar.. Workers ’ houses and a garden are offered or you can take your with! 4 best water activities with kids: family-friendly activities and fun things to do in the World covering Street. Beautiful Park and get a view of the top and have an amazing way to experience visual. Re in town for an event or a campus tour Animal Kingdom all. More time to go Holland for their belly-busting meal America ’ s so you easily. By the same families that started them in the comments is actually pretty close to Disney – that! A restaurant that overlooks the Baron River Carillon tower isn ’ t forget to out! 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