KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     VERY EASY    Easy   Moderate    Hard    Very Hard   

KEY FEATURES

Time Needed: One hour to all day
When to Go: Anytime of the year 

COST

Free to $10 depending on where you park

AMENITIES

• Bathrooms at Sun Splash Park or public bathrooms near drive ramps to beach at Granada Blvd. (SR 40) and Cardinal Drive.

• Many ocean-side restaurants and hotels

• Hotels and home rentals throughout Daytona Beach City

THINGS TO BRING

• Water, snacks

• Sunscreen

• Beach toys, tent, chairs if desired

• Boogey boards, skim boards, floaties, etc.

• Frisbee, football, etc.

DETAILS 

Daytona beach is my favorite Florida Atlantic Coast Beach. I feel like sometimes it has a reputation of a scandalous spring break party beach. However, I visited Daytona Beach at several different times of the year, even spring break, and never saw this. It is a great way to experience Florida’s East Coast with your family.

When compared to Florida’s Gulf Coast Beaches, Daytona Beach has firmer, darker sand and bigger waves. The firm sand allows for great sand castle building, biking and a game of Frisbee. We loved playing in the bigger waves and brought our boogie boards with each visit. This is a beach where surfing is available. Boogie boards and surf boards are available at several surf shops along the beach.

My husband and his brothers drove early one morning to watch the sunrise at Daytona Beach. So beautiful! There are many hotels along the beach with gorgeous sunrise views for reasonable prices.

We ate dinner at the Cruisin Café where you get to eat in a real race car. The kids absolutely loved it!

Where to Park

You can either pay $10 to drive right on the beach or park in a nearby parking lot. Parking right on the beach was fun and it was nice to have access to our vehicle so close. We often times parked at Sun Splash Park right off the beach because it was free. The kids also loved playing at the playground here and I liked being close to bathrooms. There were also water spouts to wash the sand off your legs and feet here. I hate driving home with sand all over my legs!

Daytona International Speedway

A must while visiting Daytona Beach is to visit or drive by the Daytona International Speedway. It is huge! I was in shock. Paid tours are available to see the inside.

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Classic tourist beach atmosphere

• Drive and park right on beach

• Nearby amenities

• Waves large enough for boogy boarding and surfing

• Many other activities nearby

CONS

• Water isn’t clear due to waves

• Not a lot of shelling opportunities

• Can become crowded on weekends

DIRECTIONS

Daytona Beach is on Florida’s Atlantic coast, north of Orlando. We parked for free at the Sun Splash Park located 611 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118. You can also take a car ramp a block north of the Sun Splash Park and drive right on to the beach.

MAPS

Map to free parking at Daytona Beach at Sun Splash Park.

MORE INFO

Daytona Beach 

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

• Daytona International Speedway

• Manatees at Blue Springs State Park

• Reptile Discover Center

• Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum

• Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory

• Marine Science Center

• Blue Springs State Park

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    EASY    Moderate    Hard    Very Hard   

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 0.25 to 3 miles depending on where you go on the island
Elevation Gain: Flat
Terrain: Ocean, beaches, sandy paths, stone paths, military ruins
Time Needed: Half day
When to Go: Anytime of the year 

COST

Entrance onto Island is free, however it is only accessible by boat. Here are the 2 companies I used to get to Egmont Key State Park. There are other companies out there. 

Egmont Key Ferry from Fort Desoto Park

$25 Adults

$12.50 Children

Free Children (2 and under)

Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise to Egmont Key State Park

$40 Adults

$30 Children (4 – 12)

Free Children (3 and under)

Egmont Key Snorkeling Adventure

AMENITIES

• No water, food or bathrooms located on the Island

• Bathrooms on the Ferry or Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise Boat

• Bathrooms at Fort De Soto Park before getting on boats

THINGS TO BRING

• Water, snacks

• Sunscreen

• Swim suit

• Backpack to easily carry items on the island

• Floaties/life jackets for kids who need them if playing in water on the island

DETAILS 

Egmont Key State Park is a beautiful, serene and secluded historical island beach, perfect for swimming, exploring, shell collecting, discovering military history and viewing wildlife.

Getting to Egmont Key State Park

Private boaters love Egmont Key because of the seclusion and beauty. However, most residents and visitors to Florida don’t own boats. The two companies I used to access Egmont Key are below. Each offer a different experiences.

Egmont Ferry Cruise

This ferry departs from Fort DeSoto Fishing Pier usually mid-morning and returns mid-afternoon. On our boat ride we saw a sea turtle and a large school of Tarpans coming out of the water. There are snacks to buy and a restroom available on the boat. Reservations are highly recommended and a snorkeling option is available to add on to your ticket for $15. Using the Egmont Ferry Cruise option gives you three to four hours on the island. 

Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise

This option is about four hours and is a great way to see dolphins, snorkel and get a quick tour of the island. Because of the activities offered by this cruise, time is minimal on the actual island, but it is still a fun adventure. According to the Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise 95% of the time dolphins will play and swim and jump close to the boat in the boat’s wake. I was able to see dolphins on my cruise but I was part of the 5% that did not see the dolphins up close.

The boat parks and stays on the island so there is a bathroom available here to those on the cruise. 

Things to Do at Egmont Key State Park

The Lighthouse

I am a lover of lighthouses and loved seeing a historical lighthouse still in operation. The lighthouse on Egmont Key State Park has been operating since 1858 and is 87 feet tall. 

Wildlife Viewing

Egmont Key State Park is a National Wildlife Refuge. Keep your eye out for box turtles, gopher tortoises, manatees, dolphins, osprey, pelicans, white ibis, and other shorebirds. My favorite part of the island was finding gopher tortoises. They were everywhere!

Explore Military Ruins

Egmont Key was home of early American military camps and was the home of Fort Dade until 1923. The old military town and fort remains were fun to explore. 

Swimming

The water at Egmont Key State Park is clear and picturesque. We visited in May and the water was at least 80 degrees.  

The summer beaches on Egmont key are lined with private boats. Despite the many boats, the beaches still feel remote and not crowded. 

I wished that our boat options let us have more time on the island. I was a little jealous of the private boats that could spend an entire day enjoying all this beautiful island has to offer. 

Shelling

Because of the remoteness of the island there is better shelling than other crowded beaches in the Tampa area. Shelling will vary on tide and time of year. Take a walk along the beach and see what you discover. The beach is natural and isn’t groomed or filled with sand from somewhere else. 

Snorkeling

Bring your own snorkeling gear of rent them from your boat ride. Some of the boat rides include snorkeling gear with your fees.  There are tall water grasses fish love to hid in. The boat companies I used did not take us to the submerged ruins to snorkel through but I have heard some do. Call ahead to find out where you will snorkel. 

Hiking/Nature Paths

Walk along the old brick paths that once were home to a busy Fort Dade where more than 300 people once lived. There are more than 6 miles  of paths that explore the island. Keep your eyes out for wildlife and ruins while walking. I loved all the red brick paths lined with palms. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Secluded beach

• Good shelling

• Wildlife viewing on Egmont Key and on boat to Key

• Exploring old military ruins and town

CONS

• No amenities on the Island, unless using the Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise

• Would prefer to spend an entire day on the Island, not just a few hours.

DIRECTIONS

Egmont Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is only accessibly via boat. Two options that I used for transportation to the Island are Egmont Key Ferry that departs from Fort De Soto Bay Pier at Anderson Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33715 and the Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise which departs from 4630 29th Ave S Gulfport, FL 33711.

MAPS

MORE INFO

Egmont Key State Park Official Site

Egmont Key Ferry

Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Fort De Soto Beach (just a few minutes from the Egmont Key Ferry depature point)

Tampa (45 mintues)

Anna Maria Island (1 hour)

Bush Gardens (1 hour)

KIDS RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    Hard   Very Har

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: White sand beach, clear water, some boardwalk and grassy areas
Time Needed: 1 hour to all day (we prefer all day)
When to Go: Anytime of the year

COST

Free

AMENITIES

• There are no bathrooms at the northern beaches on Anna Maria Island. Closest bathrooms located at Manatee Beach a few miles away. We would always stop here on the way to our favorite beach spot.

• Restaurants, gift shops, gas stations, convenient stores on Anna Maria Island

• No hotels on Anna Maria Island, however there are many home rentals. Check Airbnb or  www.annamaria.com
• Hotels nearby in Bradenton

THINGS TO BRING

• Towel

• Beach toys, umbrella and chairs

• Snacks, lunch, water

• Life jackets/floaties for children who need them

• Sunscreen

• Snorkeling gear

DETAILS

When we moved to Florida, I made it my quest to find the best beach in the State. Who would have guessed that we found it on our first try?

After going to more than a dozen beaches on the Atlantic and gulf coasts, in the end, Anna Maria Island remained our favorite beach in Florida!

Anna Maria Island rarely sees the same number of crowds that other touristy beaches get. There are no hotels on the island, only privately owned homes—many of which are right off of these more secluded beaches. It is a great place to rent an Airbnb for a few days.

We loved the calm tranquility of this Gulf Coast beach. The water temperature in the summers can reach 88 degrees while the winter temperatures can drop to the 60s. Anna Maria Island can be enjoyed any season.

Our Favorite Beach on Anna Maria Island

The main beach on the island is called Manatee Public Beach, which is located in the City of Homes Beach on Anna Maria Island (a bit confusing, I know). Although, the main beach is as good as several other beaches in Florida, our favorite beach on the island was actually a bit more secluded, and until recently, we did not realize it was technically a city park.

This more secluded beach on the island has the softest sand and clearest water that we found in our many beach visits around the state. Our days were filled with swimming, sand castle making, tubing, kite flying, skim-boarding, kayaking, snorkeling and many, many smiles.

THINGS TO DO  

Ride the Trolley

Anna Maria Island offers a free trolley you can ride to catch a tour of the island. This is a fun way to add variety to a day at the beach. You can also park at Manatee Public Beach and then take the trolley to the less crowded beach areas on Anna Maria Island. The trolley runs every 20 minutes from 6 am to 10:30 pm. 

Play in the Sand

Anna Maria Island has the softest sand in Florida. Our kids spent hours playing in the sand. Bring a few sand toys or just use your hands! 

Swimming and Tubing

Anna Maria Island is where my oldest daughter fell in love with swimming. Anna Maria Island has calm water great for swimming the majority of the time. The beaches also don’t get too deep too fast, giving your littles plenty of room to swim and play. 

As you enter you enter the water, its good to do the “stingray shuffle.” Essentially, you just shuffle your feet across the ocean floor to detour any small sting rays in the area. Don’t worry. We are talking about little guys that are few and far between.

When the ocean is calm, the waves on Anna Maria Island are perfect to relax in a tube on. Most of the time I would just be chilling on a tube riding the waves into the beach. So peaceful and relaxing.

Kayaking

We own kayaks, so we often brought them with us to Anna Maria Island. On calm ocean days we would dive for sand dollars, sea stars and other sea creatures in the clear water off the kayaks.

There are several places to rent kayaks, such as Beach Bums, which is located at 427 Pine Ave, Anna Maria, FL 34216. They offer paddle board, kayaks, bike, and golf cart rentals. Check out their web page www.beachbumsami.com .

On one occasion we found over 20 whole sand dollars. My husband called it a “sand dollar graveyard.” However, be careful not to take live sand dollars from the ocean, if you are lucky enough to find one. We also loved dolphin watching from the kayaks.

Snorkeling

Now, this it not the type of snorkeling you can do on the reef in the keys. This is more shell/critter/fish finding snorkeling. However, we still spent hours with our heads in the water finding whatever we could.

The water is the most calm and clear in the morning hours and then the waves usually pick up in the afternoon. Make sure to hit Anna Maria Island in the morning if you want to snorkel.

Skim or Boogie Board

The shallow calm water on Anna Maria Island creates a perfect place to skim board. My brothers and husband loved this at Anna Maria Island because of the large area of shallow water on the beach line when tide is low. 

Rend a Skim Board at Lazy Turtle Beach Rentals. They also rent Boogie Boards. If there are more waves when you are visiting Boogie Boarding is a great option. 

Watch the Sunset

The Sunsets on Anna Maria Island are Stunning. Whenever we could, we would stay until the sunset. It was always worth the wait. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Sand as soft as flour

• Clear water on calm days

• Not crowded

• A few quaint shops and restaurants

• Rentals available

CONS

• No bathrooms at more secluded beach sites
• Very limited street parking to access secluded beach sites – may need to ride trolley

Neutral

• Small waves

• No hotels

DIRECTIONS

Anna Maria Island is one hour south of Tampa or one hour and 45 minutes from Disney World.

The address to Manatee Public Beach on Anna Maria Island with amenities is 4000 State Road 64 and Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217.

The City Park beach that we loved to go to is accessed off neighborhood roads that are perpendicular to the beach. Google simply calls it “City Park.” (Side note: Google states that it is part of Bradenton Beach, and sometimes Holmes Beach, but ignore that and read the instructions and maps below). 

To get to the City Park beach, you have to drive north of Manatee Public Beach for a few miles on Gulf Drive. You can also get off of Gulf Dr. and onto Marina Dr. (which is what we would do), which it turns into Palm Dr. and eventually back into Gulf Dr. Either way, it almost seems like you are getting further away from the ocean as you drive through neighborhoods, but if you follow one of these roads, you should be good.

You will need to park in front of homes on side streets that serve as outlets to the beach. Pay attention to signs of where parking is allowed. The city does ticket. The main sides streets that we would park on were Palmetto Dr. or Willow Dr.

These are pretty close to the Anna Maria Island Creamery & Bakery and a few other little shops and restaurants. We would get Ice Cream there (and use the bathroom, but only if you purchase something).

MAPS

MORE INFO

annamariaisland.com

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Siesta Key (50 minutes)

Tampa (1 hour)

Bush Gardens (1 hour and 15 minutes)

Disney World (1 hour 45 mintues)

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    EASY    Moderate    Hard   Very Hard                                                                   

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Spring water, river, marshlands, flat trails & boardwalk
Time Needed: 1 hour to most of the day
When to Go: Anytime of the year, but winter is the best time to view manatees

COST

Blue Spring State Park Entrance Fee: $6 per vehicle! This might be the cheapest thing you can do in Florida and it just might be one of your favorites! Costs for other activities, like tube and kayak rentals are listed under “Things to Do.”

Tube & Snorkel Rentals: $5 first hour, $2.50 each additional hour, $15 entire day

Kayak Rentals: $17 to $54 depending on the kayak and length of time.

AMENITIES

• Bathrooms

• Showers
• Concession Stand
• Gift Shop

THINGS TO BRING

Manatee Off-Season (April – October)

• Swim suit
• Water shoes if desired
• Snorkel
• Goggles
• Towel
• Snacks 
• Sunscreen

Manatee On-Season (Nov – March)

• Stroller for little ones for walking on boardwalk to view manatees.
• Snacks
• Clothes that can get a little wet if kayaking.

DETAILS

Blue Spring State Park was my favorite place to see manatees while we lived in Florida. It was a top pick for any family or friends that visited us and wanted to see what makes Florida so great beyond the theme parks and Beaches.

Blue Spring State Park can be enjoyed all year round, but the best time to see the most manatees is between November and March. We visited Blue Spring during the on-season and off-season for manatees and enjoyed each visit.

Manatee Season – November to March

Manatees migrate from the ocean to the warmer springs of Florida where the water temperature stays at 72 degrees all year. During this time, you may see hundreds of manatees congregating at the spring head where the water is the warmest. When you enter the park, there is a manatee counter on the pay booth where you can find out how many manatees are in the spring that day. 

There is a trail/boardwalk that follows the Blue Spring Run allowing visitors to see the beauty of the area and view the manatees in the crystal clear spring water. You are not able to swim or kayak near the spring head during manatee season.

However, you may still rent a kayak or canoe and explore the St. Johns River, which the Blue Spring waters feed into. If you are visiting Blue Spring only to view the manatees your visit will only take about an hour. If kayaking or taking a river boat tour on the St. Johns River, you probably need a half of a day.

Manatee Off-Season – April to October

Don’t let the phrase “off-season” fool you. Each time we visited during the off season we were still able to see a few manatees. In fact, because it was the manatee “off-season” we were able to kayak and swim near the spring head and get up close to these beautiful creatures. 

Kayaking next to manatees in their natural environment was honestly magical and is something I will never forget. You are allowed to kayak next to the manatees, but you are not allowed to swim with them. Also, please do not chase or harass the manatees if you are lucky enough to get close to one.

If kayaking with manatees is a bucket list item for you I suggest checking out Crystal River between November and March. The summer kayaking with manatees is no guarantee at Blue Springs State Park. 

We spent a few hours during the summer exploring the spring, riding our tubes and swimming with the current. You could spend a good portion of a summer day at Blue Spring just swimming, tubing and kayaking.  

There are picnic tables for lunch that you can pack in or pick up at the concession stand. If staying for several hours, I recommend parking and finding a picnic table by the parking lot, which is close to the St Johns River. There are picnic tables dispersed in the grassy area, a pavilion and a playground for younger kids in this area.

THINGS TO DO

Observing Manatees

The best time to see manatees is between November and March. However, there are usually a few near the spring throughout the year.

Kayaking/Canoeing

You can rent a kayak or canoe or bring your own. Lifejackets are provided. During the off-season you can kayak canoe close to the spring head. In manatee season you can explore the St. Johns River. 

Swimming/Tubing

Explore the spring head and float an 1/8 mile down the blue spring run. Get out and do it again. Bring your own tube our rent one at the park.

Snorkeling/Diving

Explore the spring head and the surrounding crystal clear water during manatee off season with snorkeling gear (April to October).

River Cruises

A 2 hour nature and ecological tour on the St Johns River. We did not do a boat tour at this location but we did in others. Reservations can be made beforehand with St. Johns River Cruises.

Pine Island Trail

A 7.2 mile out and back hike that takes you through several Florida ecological systems. This is a flat trail that you can easily make into a shorter hike by just turning around and heading back the way you came at any point in time. This hike begins at the parking lot that is closer to St Johns River.

Scuba Diving

Explore the depths of the spring head. Must show proof of scuba diving certification.

Historic Site

The Thursby House was built in 1872 and is the centerpiece of the grassy area at Blue Spring State Park. We did not go on a tour inside but looked from the outside in. This home was a hub for steamboats traveling the St. Johns River in the 1800s. 

Playground

We had three young kids while we lived in Florida so we visited the playground with each visit to Blue Spring.

Camping

Yes, there is camping in Florida. Blue Spring State Park campground is within walking distance of the Spring. There are 44 tent/RV sites and 6 cabins. Make reservations at Florida State Parks

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Low Cost

• Great way to see manatees in natural environment

• Various activities – able to spend an hour of an entire day

• Kid and adult friendly – both have a good time

• Great day/afternoon trip from Orlando area

CONS

• Blue Springs State Park can reach capacity. If going in the summer, especially on a weekend, arrive within one hour of opening or go later in the afternoon after some crowds have left.

DIRECTIONS

Blue Spring State Park is located at 2100 W French Avenue Orange City FL 3276 and is just north of Orlando. It is about 1 hour from Disney, 40 minutes from Downtown Orlando and 40 minutes from Daytona Beach.

Below is the map to the Blue Springs State Park playground. I am using the playground as point of reference because this is where the main parking lot is for the spring, swimming area, boardwalk, kayak rentals, playground, picnic area and the Thursby House.

You can also put Blue Springs State Park in your GPS device, which will take you to the mina entrance. However, you will have to navigate to the parking lot. I recommend parking in the second lot which is the one by the playground. The first lot is the lot where the campground is.

MAPS

MORE INFO

Blue Springs State Park official site

Blue Springs snorkeling and tube rentals

Blue Springs kayak/canoe rentals and St. Johns River Cruises

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Disney World (1 hour)

Daytona Beach (40 min)

Universal Studios (50 min)

Kennedy Space Center (1 hr 20 min)