12 Best Family Beaches in Florida: Sun-Kissed Adventures
Having so many great beaches, Florida is the best place. It’s hard to pick one great spot for family vacations. Do you like to walk with your family to attractions like parks, piers, and restaurants? Or do you prefer a scheduled sandy escape where the white sand, waives, and sublime beachfront hotel make your mood fresh? In this article, you will find recommendations from team FLTrendz for the best family beaches in Florida.
The Sunshine State has more than 800 miles of coastline that overloads you with sun-splashed options from the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico shorelines.
With approximately 1200 miles of coastline, the Sunshine State is home to some of the most attractive beaches in the US and beyond.
Each beach offers you a fantastic ocean view, the best resorts and clubs, and a ton of refreshing activities, including swimming, fishing, and surfing.
Choosing one beach out of so many may be overwhelming. Here, we have made a list of your top picks to make your decision easier.
Best Family Beaches in Florida
Vero Beach
Vero Beach is ideal for family vacations and is one of the best family beach in Florida, where you can book an oceanfront hotel, park the car for a week, or use the bike to get around.
Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa sits steps from the sand and wraps perks like stand-up paddle boards, beach cruiser bikes, and sea kayaks into the resort fee.
Step out from the front lobby and enjoy oceanfront restaurants within a minute, including Waldo’s Restaurant, Mulligan’s Beach House, and The Lemon Tree.
During a hurricane in 1715, this stretch of Florida is famous as the Treasure Coast because Spanish galleons spilled their loot here. You can get a metal detector from Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum for extra fun with kids.
Also Read: Best Museums in Florida
Panama City Beach
In the Gulf of Mexico, sunset dolphin cruises, tours to undeveloped Shell Island just offshore, and just 27 miles of glorious beaches make the Panama City Beach a perennial Florida favorite.
Families with young kids can enjoy the waters, usually as calm as the lake, which is ideal for splashing in the shallows. Perform playing activities at St. Andrew State Park’s undeveloped stretch of sand.
Check out more stores, restaurants, and the IMAX movie theater at Pier Park and make unforgettable memories with your family.
Also Read: Best Places to Live in Florida for Families
Longboat Key
Longboat Key is a residential beach home to some calm and beautiful beaches in the Sunshine State.
Check here condominium-style properties like Sand Cay Beach Resort that make your settlement easy.
Enjoy your living with full kitchens and gulf-front barbecue areas. Beyond the beach, you can take your family on an outing to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to spot manatees and sea turtles.
Cocoa Beach
At Cape Canaveral, where rocket launches, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where sea turtles walk during the summer season to see nesting mothers, and surf lessons on the same beaches where Kelly Slater, a world champion, grew up are just a few reasons to plan family vacation Cocoa Beach.
Kids will like to meet the talking African parrot at Beach Place Guesthouses. Here, oceanfront apartment-style accommodations await along Florida’s most beautiful beachfront stretches.
Amelia Island
While spending a Florida beach vacation in one of the most northernmost coastal communities in the state, active families find lots to love.
Amelia Island, north of Jacksonville, has 23 miles of dedicated cycling lanes to explore.
Renting a bike is the best way to hit the remote beaches of Fort Clinch State Park and cute downtown Fernandina Beach, lined with boutiques and famous restaurants.
From the luxe oceanfront Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, to SpringHill Suites Amelia Island, explore a great location across from the State Park.
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach is famous for its quartz-crystal powdery sand. For family vacations, this beach is a perfect destination because of its amenities and shallow shorelines.
During the day, enjoy crystal-clear turquoise waters, which offer stunning views, and even more at night with the breathtaking sun. Siesta Key Beach also has volleyball courts, a playground, and food spots.
Sanibel Beach
This beach is located on the barrier island of Sanibel off the southwest coast of Florida. Sanibel Beach is a captivating coastal gem that has earned its fame as a beloved destination.
For nature enthusiasts and beach lovers, this place is a paradise with its unspoiled beauty and abundant natural treasures.
Renowned for its shell-filled shores, Siesta, an award-winning beach, attracts collectors across the world who revel in the diverse and exquisite seashells that wash ashore with each tide.
Clam Pass Park
Naples is famous for its beautiful beaches. Particularly, families gravitate to the picturesque and calm sands at Clam Pass Park, which you can reach via a complimentary golf cart tram ride with a shaded boardwalk from the parking lot.
Down on the beach, explore a watery trail through mangroves while hiring kayaks or canoes. You can rent an umbrella and chairs to setup camp for the day on the sand.
Key Biscayne
For some families, the Miami Beach fray can feel a bit frantic. If you want to explore mellower beaches and activities within easy striking distance of downtown Miami and Brickell, Key Biscayne is the best spot.
Here’s the long, undeveloped stretch at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where you can traipse the 95 steps up to the top of a historic lighthouse that dates to 1825.
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne fronts a beautiful beach with an onsite Ritz Kids club. In Biscayne National Park, it’s worth venturing offshore for snorkeling excursions and a family-friendly boat trip into Biscayne Bay.
Naples
One of Florida’s most storied and upscale gulf towns, Naples is a wonderful family beach destination.
Enjoy walkability along posh Fifth Avenue and explore pretty urban parks, Everglades National Park, and sublime beaches.
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort fronts Naples’s prettiest beach has appealing family amenities, including in-room glamping setups where kids can sleep in canvas tents, pools, and sandcastle-building toys for playing.
Nearby attractions are the Naples Train Museum, Historic Naples Pier, and Naples Zoo.
New Smyrna Beach
Over an hour’s drive northeast of Orlando’s theme attractions, an old-school Florida vibe awaits at this East Coast beach town.
New Smyrna Beach, one of the best beaches in Orlando, caters to families with a pleasant small-town vibe and long, wide beaches.
Explore plenty of hotels, condos, and vacation rentals along the beach. To discover something different, plan a family stay at Black Dolphin Inn along the river and enjoy charming bed-and-breakfast tucked into an oak-lined neighborhood along the Indian River.
Off-beach family activities, you can take an airboat tour along the St. Johns River.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Families who spend their vacation in the Florida Keys are often left wondering. Here, all the beaches are on these coral rock islands. There are not many true beaches throughout the island chain.
One of the best family beaches in Florida, Keys awaits at the end of US Highway 1 in Key West at Fort Zachary Tylor Historic Park.
Pack your picnic luggage, masks, and fins to explore Key West’s best swimming beach, where you will find shady spots to lay out your towel under a tree.
To learn more about Florida Keys habitats and narrative creatures, visit Florida Key Eco-Discovery Center, a perfect family spot.
Conclusion
Florida is home to so many great beaches that it’s hard to pick one spot for a family vacation. From parks, piers, and restaurants to white sand, waive, and oceanfront views, you can explore the Sunshine State’s beauty. Planning your family vacation in Florida is the best choice. However, deciding on one of the great beaches out of so many may be overwhelming. Therefore, we’ve discussed favorite spots for your convenience. Avoid wasting time by reading the above-mentioned reviews and choosing the perfect one.
