Family Beach Vacation Ideas

An inflatable waterpark. A bungee trampoline. A beautiful, white-sand beach. That’s just a taste of the fun they’ll find at TradeWinds Island Grand and its sister property, RumFish. At night, roast s’mores by the fire or watch dive-in movies in a beachfront pool. And speaking of diving, you can get right up close to local sea life in the 33,500-gallon tank at Rumfish with the resort’s “Swim with the Fishes” experience. 

All of Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s resident dolphins, otters and sea turtles will give curious kids a close-up look at the aquarium’s marine life rescue and rehab work and ocean conservation efforts. Take it to the next level with a narrated boat tour of calm Clearwater Bay.

Every evening, Clearwater’s bustling Pier 60 turns into an all-ages celebration during Sunsets at Pier 60. You’ll find artisans making and selling their wares, musicians and jugglers performing and a huge playground nearby (in case your kids need to run off some steam before bedtime).

Climb aboard the Pirate’s Ransom for an adventure that’ll delight swashbucklers of any age: Captain Memo’s Original Pirate Cruise sails from Clearwater Beach daily for two hours of games, dancing on the deck and perhaps a little mystery. You’ll find another great pirate cruise sailing out of John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk to the south: Here, the Royal Conquest offers young buccaneers oodles of maritime fun (tip: come early so the whole family has a chance to explore the shops and restaurants at John’s Pass). Both cruises serve soft drinks for the kids and adult beverages for the grownups on board.

You know a town named Treasure Island is bound to have fun around every corner. Exhibit A: the massive inflatable water slide on the beach near the 104th Avenue parking lot (across from Publix supermarket). For a few bucks, the kids (and you!) can climb the steps to experience the thrill of slip-slidin’ to the bottom. Bonus: The wide stretch of beach here is a great place to fly a kite.

The crown jewel of St. Pete-Clearwater’s county park system, Fort De Soto Park’s North Beach is much-loved for its family-friendly features. Venture beyond the pirate ship-themed playground onto the beach to find a tidal pool perfect for little feet to wade in. There’s a seasonal lifeguard here for when the little ones go digging in the gentle Gulf waters in search of purple shells and white sand dollars (leave the grey ones behind, as they are alive). You’ll also find bike rentals you can take on the park’s six-mile paved trail (including surrey bicycles that seat up to eight!), a mile-long beach where dogs can run off-leash, and a long fishing pier.

Just a short drive from the beach communities, the lively St. Pete Pier offers hours of waterfront fun. Kids will have a blast cooling off at the splash pad. They’ll find entertaining ways to learn about sea creatures and the environment at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. Kids can try their luck at the fishing deck (and meet pelicans up close while there). The Glazer Family Playground is a wonderful spot to use up some extra energy. Plus, you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly food options.