America’s sunshine state is a natural playground, with wildlife sanctuaries and conservation-led attractions aimed at families.
Families know what to expect from a visit to Florida, right? Disney World, Universal Studios and other theme parks are the main reason for many visits to the southern state. Yet Florida has a lot more to offer kids on a stimulating, active and even educational family holiday. You can snorkel or try Snuba off the coast, kayak through mangrove channels inhabited by manatees, visit the holiday home of one of the world’s greatest inventors, explore the Everglades swamps, track dolphins on Marco River and learn about the culture of tribespeople who once inhabited the region. You won’t go hungry, either: this is the spot for the freshest seafood and the US’s classic Key lime pie. And the weather is reliably pleasant: there’s a reason why Florida’s nickname is the Sunshine State.
Best for: marine ecology
You can see wild dolphins all year round in Florida, thanks to its warm climate and food-rich waters. Key West National Wildlife Refuge, off the southern tip of the state, is a collection of reefs and mangrove islands much loved by the bottlenose variety. Families can head out to see them aboard the Squid — an electric boat operated by Honest Eco Tours. Alternatively, join naturalist Bob McConville at Marco Island in southwest Florida on a Dolphin Explorer excursion. He’s been studying the resident population for approximately 20 years and his stories about the dolphins of the Big Marco River feel like a soap opera of the animals’ lives.
Best for: hands-on history
Part of the Everglades National Park, Ten Thousand Islands is a tightly packed collection of mangrove-covered coastal islets whose channels harbour colonies of egrets, breeding manatees and ospreys that swoop on mullet in the shallow waters. Five hundred years ago, some of the islets were inhabited by the Calusa Indian tribe, who bravely resisted would-be Spanish colonialists when they pitched up in the 1500s. Take a tour with Don McCumber in his flat-bottomed boat to learn about the wildlife and history. The trip includes a chance for a gentle kayak from the main boat to the shores of some of the islets to see ancient pottery and tools fashioned from conch shells by the tribespeople.
Best for: Americana on a plate
Food in Florida comes in family-sized portions, meaning kids can often share meals to keep costs down. For staggering seafood, don’t miss the Half Shell Raw Bar in Key West, where staff shuck oysters by the dozen at the open kitchen, and serve platters of lobster tail, clams and stuffed shrimp. They also do burgers, sandwiches and a mean Key lime pie. For a taste of an American diner, head to Ford’s Garage in downtown Fort Myers, which has booth seating, burgers with sides of high-piled onion rings, and a vintage Ford hanging from the ceiling. For sweet treats, visit Kilwins in Naples, which makes renowned ice creams and fudges.
Best for: alligator appreciation
The most notorious residents of the Everglades are alligators and the wetlands have raised boardwalks that make searching for them an accessible adventure for families. Exploring on foot also allows you to get up close to other fascinating species, such as fishing spiders and red-bellied turtles. Northeast of Naples in southern Florida, the two-mile boardwalk through Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a classic. For something less visited, try the one-mile boardwalk through Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, a wetland that hosts otters, wading birds and lots of other wildlife.
Best for: budding vets
Turtles face numerous hazards in the Florida Keys: being hit by boat propellors, caught in fishing nets and choked by plastic bags. The Turtle Hospital, in Marathon, admits hundreds of sick and injured creatures each year. Families can tour the operating theatre and rehab tanks to learn about the hospital’s work and visit the patients — including green, hawksbill and at-risk Kemp’s Ridley turtles. Entry fees help keep the centre running.
Best for: aspiring scuba divers
Snuba is perfect for kids keen to explore underwater. The mix of scuba and snorkelling requires no special training and lets you go six metres beneath the waves while breathing through a tube linked to tanks on the surface. Sundance Watersports runs catamaran trips to coral reefs around Islamorada in the Keys, with an option to Snuba for kids aged eight and above. Those who feel nervous can snorkel instead, keeping an eye out for green turtles and angelfish.
Best for: Inspiring inventors
Even pioneering inventors need a break once in a while. In the late 19th century, Thomas Edison — who helped usher in the age of electricity — built a holiday home in Fort Myers in southwestern Florida. His friend and motor luminary Henry Ford based himself there too and you can visit the rooms where they relaxed and entertained. Older children will enjoy Edison’s laboratory and the display of early Ford cars and prototypes of Edison’s inventions, while younger kids can follow a pelican-themed scavenger hunt.
