{"id":43177,"date":"2016-04-08T15:04:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-08T20:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=43177"},"modified":"2018-02-27T15:39:54","modified_gmt":"2018-02-27T21:39:54","slug":"best-florida-family-vacations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/best-florida-family-vacations\/","title":{"rendered":"5 great Florida family vacation ideas \u2013\u00a0that aren’t Disney"},"content":{"rendered":"
Florida family vacation means mouse ears in Orlando,<\/a>\u00a0right? Not necessarily. If you’re craving sun and fun without the hefty theme park ticket prices, then consider taking your brood to\u00a0one of these alternative\u00a0Sunshine State destinations.<\/div>\n
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RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0The family\u00a0will love swimming with the manatees in Florida<\/a><\/div>\n
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\"Clearwater

Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Source: Walter\/Flickr Creative Commons.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Clearwater Beach<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This bustling beach town is perfect for families. Embark on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, visit Winterthe Dolphin of Dolphin Tale<\/em> fame at Clearwater Marine Aquarium or just spend a lazy afternoon lounging in the sugary white sand. After dark, head to Sunsets at Pier 60, a nightly festival with street performers, artisans and occasional\u00a0movies under the stars.\u00a0Clearwater Beach is also less than an hour’s drive from downtown St. Petersburg<\/a>, where families can visit Great Explorations Children’s Museum, browse the Saturday Morning Market\u00a0or take in a Tampa Bay Rays game inside the mercifully air-conditioned dome\u00a0stadium.<\/p>\n

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\"Ride

Ride bikes around Anna Maria Island | Flickr CC: Nick Ledford<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Anna Maria Island<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

For something more laid-back, head to this Gulf Coast island that’s a favorite among Floridians. Ride the free trolley,kayak with dolphins or nurse an ice cream cone as you browse the boutiques along Historic Bridge Street. And the area’s clear waters make it one of the best spots to go hunting for shells, a.k.a. free souvenirs.\u00a0Bonus: Adventure-packed\u00a0Bradenton <\/a>and artsy\u00a0Sarasota <\/a>are less than\u00a0an hour’s drive from the island.<\/p>\n

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\"Kennedy

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Source: Reinhard Link\/Flickr Creative Commons.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Melbourne<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This somewhat-under-the-radar town is a convenient home base from which to explore Florida’s Atlantic coast. Learn to hang 10 on Cocoa Beach, home of the original Ron Jon Surf Shop.\u00a0Sneak in some education\u00a0at the\u00a0Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can experience a simulated shuttle launch, gaze up-close at the actual space shuttle Atlantis<\/em>\u00a0or even have lunch with an astronaut. Or spend\u00a0a day at the Brevard Zoo, where visitors can paddle a kayak beside the animals.<\/p>\n

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\"Visit

Visit the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens | Flickr CC: Rob Bixby<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jacksonville<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jax is another centralized vacation spot. Spend a day at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, cool off at Adventure Landing Shipwreck Island Waterpark or find eclectic food and entertainment at the weekly Riverside Arts Market. The city\u00a0is also less than an hour’s drive from historic St. Augustine<\/a>, where the kids can drink from Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, catch a wildlife show at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park or go for a moonlit climb to the top of a lighthouse. And laid-back\u00a0Amelia Island<\/a>\u00a0makes a great day trip.<\/p>\n

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\"Be

Be enthralled at the Wynwood Arts District | Flickr CC: T.Tseng<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Miami<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Miami may not scream “kid friendly,” but every big city is sure to offer something for the sippy cup set.\u00a0Explore South Florida’s wild side when you ride a camel at ZooMiami, feed the parrots at Jungle Island or swim with the dolphins at Miami Seaquarium. Then stroll through the Wynwood Arts District, whose colorful murals are guaranteed to make your kids\u2014and parents\u2014look up from their smartphones. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, find indoor fun at the Miami Children’s Museum or HistoryMiami Museum.<\/p>\n

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\"Orbitz,<\/a><\/div>\n
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\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beaches, water sports, marine life and museums also make the Sunshine State great.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":43462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5,44],"tags":[304],"class_list":["post-43177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-travel","category-florida","tag-beach"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":[{"name":"","description":"","thumbnail":"","address":"Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, FL 33767, USA","latitude":"27.9775301","longitude":"-82.82708459999998","icon":"\/images\/icons\/marker.png"}],"yoast_head":"\n5 great Florida family vacation ideas \u2013\u00a0that aren't Disney | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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