Adventures for Preschoolers in Florida

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Fort White, FL

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Float a crystal-clear 72-degree spring run through shaded forest on inner tubes - the classic Florida tubing trip for families.

• Tubing
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

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Key Largo, FL

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The first undersea park in the US. Snorkel boats run out to living coral reef, and two calm beaches work for kids not ready for the boat.

• Snorkeling
• Ages 5+
• ~5h
• Paid

Featured

Merritt Island, FL

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Stand under a real Saturn V, walk through the Atlantis shuttle exhibit, and meet an astronaut - a full day, and worth it.

• Science
• Ages 4+
• ~8h
• Paid

Boca Raton, FL

Red Reef Park

Snorkel a shallow boulder reef twenty yards off the sand in water rarely more than six feet deep, with angelfish, parrotfish and green turtles.

• Snorkeling
• Ages 5+
• ~3h
• Paid

Fernandina Beach, FL

Fort Clinch State Park

A remarkably intact brick fort with costumed reenactors, plus shark tooth hunting on the beach and camping under live oaks.

• Nature
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

High Springs, FL

Ginnie Springs

Seven springs on a private stretch of the Santa Fe River, with water clear enough that snorkellers appear to float on air above the sand.

• Snorkeling
• Ages 5+
• ~5h
• Paid

Hobe Sound, FL

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Paddle Florida's first Wild and Scenic River through cypress, and climb the sand pine ridge for a view over the whole coast.

• Kayaking
• Ages 5+
• ~5h
• Paid

Holt, FL

Blackwater River State Park

One of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the world, with a broad white sandbar on every bend for stopping to swim and eat. Gentle enough for kids.

• Kayaking
• Ages 5+
• ~5h
• Paid

Islamorada, FL

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park

Walk through a quarry cut into 125,000-year-old coral reef, with fossil coral heads standing out of the sawn rock walls.

• Nature
• Ages 5+
• ~2h
• Paid

Jacksonville, FL

Big Talbot Island State Park

Boneyard Beach is littered with the bleached skeletons of whole oak and cedar trees, toppled off an eroding bluff onto the sand.

• Hiking
• Ages 4+
• ~3h
• Paid

Jupiter, FL

Blowing Rocks Preserve

At high tide on a windy day, waves force seawater fifty feet into the air through blowholes in the largest limestone outcrop on Florida's coast.

• Nature
• Ages 4+
• ~2h
• Paid

Key West, FL

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Key West's best swimming beach, with genuine snorkelling off the rocks and a Civil War fort full of seacoast cannon to explore between swims.

• Swimming
• Ages 4+
• ~3h
• Paid

Long Key, FL

Long Key State Park

A marked canoe trail through a shallow mangrove lagoon in the middle Keys - bring your own boat, because there is nothing to rent here.

• Kayaking
• Ages 5+
• ~3h
• Paid

Marathon, FL

Curry Hammock State Park

Shallow, protected flats ideal for a first family paddle, a quiet beach, and the best hawk-watching site in the Keys each October.

• Kayaking
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

Marianna, FL

Florida Caverns State Park

The only Florida cave open to the public on a guided tour - stalactites, flowstone and columns, at a constant 65 degrees.

• Nature
• Ages 5+
• ~3h
• Paid

Melbourne Beach, FL

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Florida's most productive saltwater fishing spot, with a walkable jetty, a calm lagoon beach for kids and surfing on the north side.

• Fishing
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

Miami, FL

Shark Valley, Everglades National Park

A fifteen-mile paved loop through sawgrass prairie where alligators lie on the path, ridden by bike or tram, ending at an observation tower.

• Biking
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

Riviera Beach, FL

Peanut Island Park

An island reached only by water taxi, with a rock-protected snorkel lagoon shallow enough to stand in and a campground on the far side.

• Snorkeling
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid

Thonotosassa, FL

Hillsborough River State Park

Class II rapids - genuinely rare in Florida - viewed from a suspension footbridge, plus canoe rentals in a CCC-built park near Tampa.

• Kayaking
• Ages 5+
• ~4h
• Paid

Wakulla Springs, FL

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

One of the world's deepest freshwater springs, with a riverboat tour past wild alligators and a 1937 lodge that has barely changed.

• Swimming
• Ages 4+
• ~4h
• Paid