Best Family Beaches in Florida: Florida is known for its gorgeous beaches, with miles and miles of white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose the best beach for your family vacation. Whether you are looking for calm and shallow waters for your little ones to play in or seeking exciting water activities for your teens, Florida has something for everyone. In this guide, we will explore some of the best family beaches in Florida that are sure to make your next vacation unforgettable.
Contents
- Best Family Beaches in Florida
- Cocoa Beach
- Deerfield Beach
- St. Augustine Beach – St. Augustine
- Siesta Key Beach
- Manatee County Beach – Holmes Beach
- Fort De Soto Park – St. Petersburg
- Fernandina Beach
- Amelia Island
- New Smyrna Beach
- Marco Island
- Sand Key Park – Clearwater Beach
- Dubois Park – Jupiter
- Fort Walton Beach
- Captiva Beach – Sanibel And Captiva Island
Best Family Beaches in Florida
Find some of the best Family Beaches in Florida
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is a popular destination located on Florida’s Space Coast, known for its beautiful beaches, excellent surfing, and close proximity to several major attractions. The beach is family-friendly with lifeguards on duty, clean restrooms and showers, and plenty of parking. Cocoa Beach offers a variety of activities for families, including fishing, kayaking, and biking, as well as several parks and playgrounds nearby. The nearby Kennedy Space Center and Port Canaveral are also popular family attractions.
Deerfield Beach
Deerfield Beach is a beautiful family-friendly beach located in the city of Deerfield Beach, Florida. This beach offers a wide range of activities for families, including a boardwalk, playgrounds, beach volleyball, and picnic areas. The beach also features lifeguards, showers, and restrooms, making it a safe and comfortable place for families to enjoy. Additionally, Deerfield Beach is located near many restaurants and shops, making it a great destination for families looking for a day trip or a longer beach vacation.
St. Augustine Beach – St. Augustine
St. Augustine Beach in St. Augustine, Florida is a family-friendly beach with a wide stretch of soft, white sand and clear waters. The beach offers a variety of activities for families, including swimming, sunbathing, surfing, fishing, and beachcombing. Visitors can also explore nearby attractions, such as the historic St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, the Alligator Farm Zoological Park, and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Additionally, the beach has plenty of amenities, including restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and beach volleyball courts.
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach is located on a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is known for its fine, white sand that feels cool to the touch even on the hottest days. The beach has shallow waters and gentle waves, making it a great spot for families with young children. There are also plenty of amenities on site, including picnic areas, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and concession stands. Siesta Key Beach has been ranked as one of the best beaches in the United States by several travel publications.
Manatee County Beach – Holmes Beach
Manatee County Beach, also known as Holmes Beach, is a family-friendly beach destination located on Anna Maria Island in Florida. The beach features a wide stretch of white sand and clear waters perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. There are several amenities available for visitors, including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and beach volleyball courts. Families can also enjoy a playground, basketball courts, and a skate park nearby. Additionally, there are several shops, restaurants, and accommodations available in the area, making it a convenient destination for families.
Fort De Soto Park – St. Petersburg
Fort De Soto Park, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a popular destination for families looking for a day at the beach. This park has more than seven miles of waterfront and is a perfect spot for swimming, fishing, and kayaking. The park also has a historic fort, camping areas, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. The beach has lifeguards on duty, and the water is generally calm, making it a safe place for kids to swim. The park also has a dog park and is known for its beautiful sunsets. Overall, Fort De Soto Park is a great option for families looking for a fun and relaxing beach day.
Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is a charming town located on Amelia Island, Florida, and is home to one of the best family-friendly beaches in the state. Fernandina Beach offers a wide range of activities for families, such as swimming, sunbathing, shelling, fishing, and wildlife spotting. The beach is known for its soft, white sand, clear waters, and gentle waves, making it an ideal spot for families with small children. Additionally, the town’s historic district, located just a short distance from the beach, is a great place to explore after a day in the sun, with quaint shops, restaurants, and museums.
Amelia Island
Amelia Island, located in northeast Florida, is a popular family-friendly destination known for its stunning beaches and picturesque downtown area. The island offers 13 miles of beaches, including Amelia Island State Park, where visitors can enjoy activities like swimming, sunbathing, and fishing. The island also offers a range of family-friendly attractions, including the Amelia Island Museum of History, Fort Clinch State Park, and the Amelia Island Lighthouse. Additionally, the island is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and accommodations, making it a convenient and enjoyable destination for families.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a popular beach town located on the east coast of Florida, known for its wide and expansive beaches. The town is home to a long stretch of white sand beaches, with plenty of space for families to enjoy activities such as swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and fishing. New Smyrna Beach also has several beachfront parks with amenities such as picnic areas, playgrounds, and restrooms. Families can also take part in activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating on the nearby Indian River Lagoon. Additionally, the town’s historic downtown area offers shopping, dining, and cultural attractions for families to enjoy.
Marco Island
Marco Island is a beautiful family-friendly beach destination located on the southwestern coast of Florida. It is known for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water activities like snorkeling and fishing. The island offers plenty of activities for families, including beachfront resorts, bike rentals, kayaking, and a variety of restaurants and shops. Families can also enjoy exploring nearby natural attractions such as the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Overall, Marco Island is a great destination for families looking for a relaxing and fun beach vacation in Florida.
Sand Key Park – Clearwater Beach
Sand Key Park is located in Clearwater Beach, Florida and is considered one of the best family beaches in the state. The beach offers miles of soft white sand, clear blue waters, and a variety of activities for families including playgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails. Families can also enjoy water sports such as swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Sand Key Park is also home to a large turtle habitat and visitors can learn about sea turtle conservation efforts at the park’s educational center. The park has plenty of parking, restrooms, showers, and food concessions.
Dubois Park – Jupiter
Dubois Park is a popular family beach located in Jupiter, Florida. The beach offers clear and shallow water, making it an ideal location for swimming and snorkeling. There are also several amenities available, such as a playground, picnic areas, and grills. Visitors can also rent kayaks and paddleboards or take a walk on the nature trail. Additionally, Dubois Park has a unique feature known as the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, which provides stunning views of the beach and surrounding area. Overall, Dubois Park is a great spot for families looking to enjoy a day at the beach while taking advantage of various activities and amenities.
Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach is a family-friendly destination on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Its main attraction is its beautiful white-sand beaches with clear turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and water sports. Families can also visit the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park to see dolphins, sea lions, and other marine animals up close. The Okaloosa Island Boardwalk offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options for all ages. The Indian Temple Mound Museum and Heritage Park provide a glimpse into the area’s Native American history. Fort Walton Beach is also close to other popular Gulf Coast destinations, such as Destin and Panama City Beach.
Captiva Beach – Sanibel And Captiva Island
Captiva Beach is a beautiful and secluded beach located on Captiva Island, which is part of Sanibel and Captiva Island in Florida. The beach is known for its soft white sand and clear turquoise water, and is a great spot for swimming, shelling, and watching the sunset. The beach also offers a variety of amenities, including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and BBQ grills, making it an ideal destination for families. The island itself is a charming and peaceful getaway, with quaint shops, restaurants, and galleries to explore.