Best Florida Cities for a Family Getaway

When the weather gets cool, families start to consider warm-weather getaways for the winter. Florida is a popular destination for a variety of reasons. It's easy to access, has many destination options, and offers beautiful beaches, theme parks, and other attractions.

Because of the size of Florida, you'll need to choose one or two specific destinations for your Florida family getaway. Here are our favorite Florida cities for a family getaway.

Disclosure: We've received some complimentary stays but have also paid our own way to many of these destinations. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.

Best Florida Cities for a Family Getaway

If you are booking a winter getaway, you'll want to take a look at the typical weather during your vacation time. While Florida is traditionally warmer than more northern states during the winter, it isn't necessarily hot. I've even needed a winter coat in Florida during a particularly chilly time.

Depending on your plans, you may consider cooler weather to be a benefit. For instance, visiting the Central Florida theme parks when the temps are a little cooler can be a better experience than visiting when it's blazing hot.

Clearwater Beach Florida

Clearwater Beach is one of my favorite Florida destinations. It offers so much to do in addition to the world-famous beach.

While in Clearwater, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a must-visit. Famous from the Dolphin Tale movies, the aquarium has a mission of rehabilitating animals. Therefore, it's educational in addition to being entertaining. We spent about half a day there, although it's expanded since our visit.

You'll also want to spend some time at the delicious Clearwater Beach restaurants and enjoy the beach, which is open every day of the year. There are also festivals held during the year, including the Sugar Sand Festival.

Orlando

The Greater Orlando area is the most popular and obvious choice when visiting with family. This metropolitan area offers numerous world-class theme parks, including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

In addition to these parks, Orlando offers so much more, including museums, outdoor attractions (including the Orlando Eye at ICON Park), and restaurants. While it's not immediately near the beach, you can drive to Cocoa Beach (among other options) in about an hour or so.

Destin/Ft. Walton Beach

These two destinations, located adjacent to each other, are on the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle. While there is an airport nearby, it's most commonly visited by travelers who live within driving distance.

These two towns offer the standard beach town activities, including seafood restaurants, fun gift shops, and more. You'll have a variety of lodging options, including several large hotels and vacation home rentals.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale was popular many years ago as a spring break destination for college students. It's a fantastic place for a family vacation, however, offering many things to do in addition to the gorgeous beaches.

As a bonus, it's conveniently located near Miami, Hollywood, and Aventura - all popular tourist areas. Both the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and the Miami International Airport are convenient. In addition to the beach, activities include the Everglades Holiday Park, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and the Anne Kolb Nature Center.

Marco Island

Located on the Gulf along Florida's west coast, Marco Island is located a little over an hour from Fort Myers. For our visit to this barrier island, we flew into the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.

Marco Island is a fantastic vacation destination for families who want to spend time on the beach. There are lots of great water sports to do along the beach, and there are lots of opportunities for some great shelling.

We chose to stay at the Marco Beach Ocean Suites, which is located right on the beach. We spent most of our time on the beach, but also enjoyed the 3-hour Dolphin Eco Tour.

Fort Myers

Fort Myers, along the west coast of Florida, is an easy destination from many Northeast cities. There are many direct flights from the Southwest Florida International Airport, located right in Fort Myers.

There are many activities for families, including baseball spring training, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Manatee Park, and the IMAG History & Science Center.

Sarasota

Sarasota is known for its beautiful beaches, the thriving arts scene, and the Ringling (including the Circus Museum, which is popular with families). The area offers many Gulf Coast barrier islands, such as Siesta Key and Longboat Key.

During my visit to Sarasota, I also enjoyed a mangrove kayak trip. It was such a unique experience that was absolutely worth doing. If you want to include the beach in your vacation plans, I'd recommend staying at a beach resort and then driving to the various activities in Sarasota.

Miami

Miami is one of my favorite cities in the world. It's conveniently located, is right on the Atlantic Coast, and has a lively culture and atmosphere. Beach destinations include the vibrant South Beach/Miami Beach area, with quieter getaways on Key Biscayne.

In addition to the beach, families visiting Miami can also enjoy tour boats and speed boats from Bayside Marketplace, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, and the Miami Children's Museum. In addition, it's located a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, so you can also drive there to visit even more attractions.

Tampa

Tampa is often overlooked by its neighbor, Orlando, but in itself, it's a great destination for a family vacation. Tampa is easily accessible with many direct flights to its airport, Tampa International Airport. You can also drive from Orlando to combine a trip to Tampa.

Activities in Tampa include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, The Florida Aquarium, and the Glazer Children’s Museum.

If you want to visit the beach during your Tampa vacation, Clearwater Beach isn't too far. During our last trip to Tampa, we spent time at both Busch Gardens and Clearwater Beach for a great balance of fun and relaxation.

What is your favorite Florida getaway?