Things to Do in Florida With Kids
If you tell someone that you are taking your family to Florida they are most likely going to ask if you are going to Disney World. It is a wonderful place and we have been frequently, but Florida is a big state with so many great places for kids outside of Orlando. I will be specifically talking about Vero Beach because I have many great childhood memories there and that is where my family vacations now.
We recently returned from a two-week family vacation in Vero Beach and though we took it easy and relaxed a lot, we also made sure that we stayed active and took advantage of the weather and local attractions. Here are some of the places we visited that I think are worth exploring if you find yourself in the area. If you would like to see more, check out the videos at the end of the post.
If you have not had oranges fresh from a grove I promise that you have not fully tasted oranges. Schacht Groves is family-owned and operated. They have U-Pick oranges, as well as an adorable market with lots of delicious foods and beverages. If you’re looking for things to do in Florida, definitely find an orange grove. I have a full blog post about our recent experience.
The girls had a lot of fun at the mini golf course and the men who were working the night that we visited we incredibly kind. Similar to other golf courses that we have visited, they had areas with water and bridges, so you just have to keep an extra eye on little ones. The arcade was fairly dated so I would not specifically visit for the games.
The Vero Beach Art Museum took us by surprise in the best way. Children under 17 are free so I expected that there would not be much for children to enjoy, but I was very wrong. The Art Zone is designed specifically for young children. They have little nooks for reading, a magnet wall, a chalk wall, constellations in the ceiling, toys, and other fun things. The coolest feature was a projection on the wall of fish. Your child can color a picture that they then scan and project on the wall. It makes it look as though your child’s drawing is swimming through the sea with other children’s artwork. And, again, it’s free!
This is another spot that you a may not think about, but it has a phenomenal area for kids. McKee has a children’s garden with many great features and they even do an occasional storytime. There is a pirate ship full of things to climb, a fairy garden, a splash pad, musical instruments, and a reading nook. They also have large bathrooms that are big enough for the whole family. A garden was not my first thought for what to do with kids in Florida, but it was the perfect spot.
LaPorte Farms is in Sebastian, but it is not far from Vero so we always make sure to visit with the girls. They have many animals for feeding and petting, as well as pony rides, storytime, and holiday events. The farm is handicap accessible and they welcome service dogs. I love what they stand for at this farm and I even have my Amazon Smile account set to donate to their efforts.
Ocean Drive is the street nearest to the ocean in Vero and is lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels. It is a nice area to explore and provides easy access to the beach. The girls loved running through the sand and jumping the ocean waves. I loved perusing the local boutiques and eating fresh seafood. There is also a fantastic farmers market on Saturdays that is worth checking out.
I recommend the Navy Seal Museum if you have older children. Even with the live dog training and boats that you could climb onto, my girls were way too young for this museum. There was not much of interest to them and there was a heavy focus on firearms and weaponry. It was very well laid out and full of great information. I wish I had been able to focus and explore more because I know that I would have learned a lot. Again, a great learning experience for older children or young children that have a special interest in Navy Seals, but not the best museum for my girls.
Nearby Destinations
I mentioned Sebastion when I spoke of LePorte Farms. Sebastian, Fort Pierce, and Port St. Lucie are all nearby and have many other things to offer. If you are staying in Vero Beach, I recommend visiting some of the nearby towns, as well. There are so many great places to take kids in Florida outside of amusement parks. Mulligans in Sebastian is also nice place for dolphin spotting!
And, if you still are interested in Disney, there is a Disney resort in Vero Beach with its own mini-golf course. We enjoyed a character breakfast at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort pre-COVID, but it seems that they have not brought it back yet. If it does come back, that would be a great (and cost-effective) way to still incorporate Disney in your trip!
Are you ready to book a trip to Vero Beach now? I am! If Vero is not for you, there are so many other parts of Florida to explore outside of Orlando that kids will love. We have never visited the Gulf Coast of Florida with the girls, so we may head over to that side sometime since we enjoyed it ourselves. What’s your favorite part of Florida?
