Family-Friendly Places to Stay

While nearly every hotel, motel and resort in St. Pete/Clearwater welcomes children, some set out an especially family-friendly welcome mat. In addition to the pools that most hotels have, some have a separate kiddie pool for younger family members. Other common family-friendly features are kids’ clubs with organized activities, kids’ menus and free breakfast at restaurants, full kitchens or kitchenettes (great for fixing breakfast, lunch or snacks), and suites or adjoining rooms. Hotels and resorts right on the Gulf have easy access to Mother Nature’s fabulous sandbox – miles of sugar-white sand perfect for building castles, fringed with gentle surf ideal for splashing in. Slightly older kids will love spending hours playing at beachfront waterparks, complete with waterslides and floating playgrounds. Tweens and teens will enjoy nearby access to rented bicycles, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and even jet skis. And parents won’t have to worry about parking if they take advantage of the inexpensive Jolley Trolley, which runs along Clearwater Beach and north to Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. Check with your hotel – some properties offer free passes to the trolley.