By Timothy Sexton
Florida is a big state with many activities and destinations conducive to family fun. Depending on what kind of
family vacation spot you are in the mood for, you can find fun things to do all along Florida's 1,000-plus miles of coastline. And don't forget the inland vacation meccas, as well.
Orlando is a fantastic spot to spend a family vacation, but this huge state has many other interesting places to spend a day or two as well.
Panhandle
For tens of millions of visitors to Florida every, the entryway down to Disney is through the extreme northwest panhandle. Pensacola has beautiful beaches with white sugary sands. A 45 minute drive will get to you the Gulf Breeze Zoo. Another fifteen minutes will reveal Gulfarium, an aqarium park that predates Sea World in Orlando by decades. A scenic two hour drive from Pensacola will land you Panama City where the family can take a break from swimming in the Gulf and thrill to the water park pleasures at Shipwreck Island. Don't forget the magnificent caverns in Marianna and the Wakulla State Park where Tarzan and Black Lagoon movies were made.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine, on the Atlantic Coast, features one of the best alligator farms in the state, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. One attraction in St. Augustine that is sure to thrill the more adventuresome members of the family is the Ghost Tour. Whether you choose to walk, ride, or take a boat trip, the brave among your family troupe will delight in the ghost stories that date back centuries. Many of those who have taken the ghost tour report having seen strange and unexplained things themselves.
Tampa/St. Pete
Tampa and St. Petersburg gives visitors in the winter the chance to watch the Buccaneers play football and in the summer they can watch the Devil Rays. For theme park fun, check out Busch Gardens which features not only thrill rides, water rides, and kiddie rides, but almost 3,000 animals. The best time for a family vacation in Tampa is in January during the Gasparilla Pirate Fest which offers up fun for all ages and gives visitors the chance to see what the area might have been like back when pirates roamed off Florida's coast.
Orlando
Okay, you can't use the words Florida family vacation destination without thinking Orlando. Disney World and Universal Orlando alone could easily keep you busy for a week, but don't forget the science fun inside the upside down house at WonderWorks. For a meal you'll never forget, get away from the theme parks and visit the interactive dinner shows like Medieval Times, Arabian Nights, and Pirates Dinner Adventure.
Resources
About the Author:
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
