About Florida (USA)
The state of Florida is in the southeastern part of the US and borders Georgia and Alabama to the north, the Gulf of Mexico on the west, the Straits of Florida to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is the eighth most densely populated state of all of the 50 states and is the fourth most populous state. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee and the biggest city is Jacksonville. Miami has the largest metropolitan area. Florida’s coastline is about 1350 miles, which is the largest coastline in all of the fifty states.
Florida has a nickname of “Sunshine State”, and there is plenty of sunshine but there is also quite a bit of severe weather throughout the year. In any of the states, Florida has the highest average level of precipitation. It is also known as the lightning capital of the US. Florida experiences the most lightning strikes than any other part of the country.
Family Activities in Florida
Florida is known for family vacations! There are so many different parts of the state that offers things to do with children.
- Orlando
Orlando boasts one of the main attractions of Florida for kids: Disneyworld! Disneyworld in itself includes a few different attractions including Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. There is also Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
- Miami
Besides hotels, pools and beaches to keep your family occupied every day on vacation, there are also plenty of other attractions. Some of these attractions include: Jungle Island, Miami Children’s Museum, Sea Grass Adventures and the Miami Science Museum.
- Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral is home to the Kennedy Space Center. Despite the shuttle program winding down this destination is still a must-see for kids as there is plenty to do for an entire day. Other attractions that are in Cape Canaveral is the Brevard Zoo, Air Force Space and Missile History Center, Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.
- Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens is one of the many family attractions in Florida. Other attractions in Tampa Bayinclude: The Florida Aquarium, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, Legoland.
Family Vacation Packages in Florida
There are few places in the United States that have more family vacation packages to choose from than Florida.
Of course Disneyworld offers family vacation packages as they own quite a few family resorts. One fabulous package can be found at Disney’s Art of Animation. This resort is based on storybook landscape scenes from Disney Pixar movies. You can choose from themed family suites to character themed resort rooms. Throughout the hotel you will find wondrous details from different movie classic such as Cars, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Finding Nemo. Packages offered can include meal plans and tickets to the Disney theme parks.
Another option is to do a vacation property rental, especially to keep costs down. One great area to rent a vacation property is Clearwater Beach area. Vacation Rentals offers plenty of vacation rentals for you to choose from. This option is also beneficial if there is a group of people going, so why not take along your best friend’s another family and share the expenses?
In Miami, Loews Hotel is a fantastic family beach hotel, especially if you have teenagers with you. This upscale South Beach lodging has luxury amenities including an oceanfront jacuzzi and swimming pool, cabanas with private little rooftops and daily poolside entertainment. The resort is right on the Atlantic ocean and boasts 900 feet of sandy beach.
How much will Florida cost?
Family vacations in Florida can range from very cheap to luxury. For a very cheap vacation, there are plenty of campsites to choose from, especially in the tourist areas. Keep in mind though, that if you choose to camp around an attraction (ie Disneyworld), expect to pay significantly more than in more remote areas. There are also lots of budget hotels if you prefer to stay indoors. Many of the big chain of hotels, especially those that are less expensive, offer a continental breakfast. For one low rate, your family can stay in a clean but basic room and get a good meal. Florida packages can also be at the other end of the spectrum. Luxury resorts can be found in any large cities throughout Florida.