Discover the Best Florida Beaches for Families: Top 10 Beach Getaways for Fun, Sun, and Memories!
Many of Florida’s best beaches have white sand, stunning waters, and activities to keep families entertained for hours. Whether you’re building sandcastles or riding the waves, Florida beaches are the perfect place for relaxing and fun family vacations!
However, when choosing the best Florida beach for your family, there are several things to keep in mind. For example, Florida’s east coast has beautiful sunrises that are perfect for early birds, while the west coast offers majestic sunsets for a dazzling end to your day.
Every beach is unique, so it can be difficult to sort through the endless dunes of information. However, we’ve done some digging and uncovered the best Florida beaches for families as well as useful tips for making the most of your oceanside getaway!
What is the Best Family-Friendly Beach in Florida?
Most beaches in Florida are wonderfully family-friendly, with many having beachfront playgrounds and activities. One of the biggest things to watch out for when traveling with the kiddos is spring breakers and drinking on the beach. During the spring break season, beaches that allow drinking can get a bit rowdy, so you may want to steer clear of those if your vacation coincides with break.
While most of our beaches are great for families, there are a few that top the list – and we’re here for the best of the best!
Clearwater is great if you’re looking for things to do at the beach; they have many family-friendly activities like a dolphin boat tour or visiting the aquarium. If you like surfing, Cocoa Beach has great waves and a pier with giftshops and quick bites the whole family can enjoy. For white sand and emerald green waters, check out the stunning beaches on Florida’s Emerald Coast, near Destin and Panama City.
What is the Safest Beach in Florida?
Safety is a top concern for parents when looking for the best Florida beaches for families, and we’re pleased to report that Florida beaches are statistically very safe, with millions of people visiting Florida beaches each year. (And returning home from their visit in one piece!)
It’s difficult to declare one beach the absolute safest beach because, honestly, most Florida beaches are really safe.
That being said, there are three main safety concerns to keep in mind when picking a beach to visit:
- Sharks: New Smyrna Beach is known as the “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” with more shark bites at this beach than anywhere else in the world.
- Driving on the Beach: With little ones running around and having fun in the sun, the last thing many parents want to think about is cars driving by. Check before you book your vacation spot to see if they allow driving on the beach. Many beaches, like Siesta Key Beach, have ample parking areas with bathroom and shower facilities. You can park and then have a short walk to enjoy the beach, making it much safer for families.
- Rip Currents: Before heading to the beach, check if there are rip current warnings for the area. Rip currents are common and happen on both the Atlantic and Gulf Coast. One of the safest things you can do – whether or not there are rip currents – is swim directly in front of a lifeguard stand and avoid swimming altogether if no lifeguards are on duty. A good rule of thumb is “if in doubt, do not go out.”1
Best White Sand Beaches in Florida for Families?
One thing to remember about Florida beaches is the wide variety. For example, beaches on the Central East Coast have darker sand with shells and large waves. Other beaches have more shells than sand with practically no waves at all! If you’re looking for the best white sand beaches in Florida for families, here are a few beaches that should be at the top of your list:
- Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota
- Henderson Beach State Park, Destin
- St Andrews State Park, Panama City
- St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine Beach
- North Shore Open Space, Miami
While white sand beaches are the softest on bare feet and often the most visually stunning, we’ve compiled a variety of locations that meet the criteria for best beaches for families in Florida. So, let’s dive into the top ten!
1. Henderson Beach State Park, Destin
Henderson Beach State Park is perfect for your Florida family vacation if you want white sandy beaches and emerald waters. One of the best Florida Panhandle beaches for families, this state park is known for its majestic beaches and 30-foot snow-white sand dunes. This beach is perfect for kids to play and parents to enjoy the beauty of Florida. This beautiful state park offers many activities, including swimming, camping, fishing, hiking trails, and much more.
2. St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine Beach
St. Augustine Beach is a beautiful place to visit with kids, and it’s located right by one of America’s most historic towns. The beach is spectacular, with white sand and waves for radical boogie boarding. St. Augustine Beach has a beachfront park with a large fishing pier and a splash park that kiddos will love. If you stay in St. Augustine Beach, head to downtown St. Augustine. There you will find a quaint little town with great shopping, dining, and activities for kids.
3. Sanibel Beach, Sanibel
Sanibel Island is known for its beautiful shells and sea dollars. Unlike most other barrier islands on the Gulf Coast, Sanibel Island runs east to west, and because of the current, the island is filled with more seashells than any other beach in Florida. One of the best things to do at Sanibel Beach is to stroll along the beach and look at the beautiful and unique shells. Kids will love seeing (and collecting!) the many different types of shells and may even spot a starfish or conch shell during their stay.
4. North Shore Open Space Park, Miami
Just north of Miami Beach is the best kid-friendly beach in Miami. This is the largest park in Miami Beach, and it’s perfect for families to play in the Florida sun! Lifeguards are on duty, and cars cannot drive on the beach, making this one of the safest Florida beaches for kids. Additionally, Miami itself is a lively city with many fun things for families to do. Miami has a children’s museum, zoo, and many other museums and parks.
5. Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach
If your family visits the beach to ride the waves, plan your Florida beach vacation at Cocoa Beach, because it has some of the best surfing in Florida! Thankfully, you don’t have to be a pro surfer to visit. It’s perfect for beginners with several surfing schools where you and the kids can learn to hang ten. The Cocoa Beach Pier is pretty large, boasting three restaurants and a tiki bar at the end. The views from the pier are gorgeous!
6. Humiston Park, Vero Beach
Located in Vero Beach’s Beachside Shopping District is a perfect Florida family beach. This beach has a large playground for kids, shops, restaurants, and public amenities. Lifeguards are on duty at this beach, keeping families safe. Vero Beach has a great historic downtown area for families to visit and is known for its nature tours and museums.
7. Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota
Siesta Key is south of Sarasota Beach, on Florida’s Gulf Coast. With soft white sand and magnificent sunsets, Siesta Key Beach is consistently ranked as one of the top beaches in Florida. If you want an extra fun activity for the kids, head to Mote Marine Laboratory Museum. This not-for-profit research center gives families an up-close look at local marine and wildlife.
8. St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach
St. Andrews State Park is a 1,200-acre
9. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater
Clearwater Beach has everything you need for a fun beach vacation. This is one of the most kid-friendly beaches in Florida, as they have many activities to keep kids entertained, and the waters are relatively calm. This is perfect for young kids and toddlers, as they can wade into the waters without being bowled over by large waves. They have fresh seafood restaurants across the street, an impressive fishing pier, a beachside park, and even giant inflatable slides for the kids to slide down. They have many activities and charter boats to fish or see beautiful dolphins. Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise is one of the most popular boats at Clearwater Beach.
10. Sombrero Beach, Marathon
Sombrero Beach, located on Marathon Key, is one of the most kid-friendly beaches in the Florida Keys. Sombrero Beach has shallow waters you can wade into, perfect for families with small children. If you are planning to bring your pets on your trip to Florida (they’re family, too, after all!), Sombrero Beach is one of the few beaches in Florida that is dog friendly. This beautiful beach also has picnic tables, showers, and restrooms available for public use.
We might be a little biased, but Florida is truly the perfect place for families wanting a relaxing vacation! Taking the family to the beach is a sure way to create fun memories, whether it’s building sandcastles or having a splash fight in the ocean.
We genuinely enjoy our time on these Florida beaches, and we hope you will, too!
Have you taken a family-friendly beach vacation in Florida? Tell us about your favorite kid-friendly beach in the comments below!
Featured photo: shalamov via Canva.com
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