Florida Beach Towns To Take Your Grandkids
It’s time to pack your suitcases and beach bags and head to paradise with the whole family. This is our favorite time of year. The grandkids are out of school and the time has come to rest and relax on a beach vacation. These trips are even better when you find the perfect family-friendly beach town that has activities to keep everyone occupied and happy.
If you haven’t chosen your perfect beach trip destination yet, look no further than this guide. We’ve done the research for you and have listed 12 of our favorite Florida beaches, from the east coast to the gulf coast. All of these options are wonderful for the whole family.
Think about all of the sunset walks, jet skiing, mini-golfing, and boogie boarding you’ll be a part of! You can trust that you and the grandkids will feel like you’re in blissful paradise, no matter which Florida beach town you choose.
Let’s get into why you’re here — to learn all about the best Florida beaches to take your grandkids for a serene view of the Atlantic. Whether you stay in a hotel, a condo, or a vacation rental, you’re guaranteed to have a blast!
Our Top 12 Favorite Florida Beach Towns
Just like we said, you really can’t go wrong with any of the beaches we’re about to list. We’ve dug around to make sure all of these options have plenty of activities for adults and kids alike. Why should you choose a beach vacation in the first place?
There’s nothing more refreshing and soul-lifting than being out in the sun, smelling the salty fresh air, and getting all your energy out — if that’s your thing, of course. These beach towns are great for letting the kids expel their energy and for allowing the adults to get some R&R.
Interested in learning all about these dreamy destinations? Keep reading.
1. Navarre Beach
Navarre Beach is one of Florida’s most gorgeous spots, and it’s lesser-known as of now. We love it for its easy-going feel and lack of hustle and bustle. If you want to get some quality, quiet time with the family and grandkids, this is definitely the beach for you.
Navarre Beach is the best for lounging by the water during the day and relaxing with some puzzles or a family movie at night. Get the family ready to unplug and unwind. This is also the perfect spot for some lowkey picnics and games on the beach!
2 Siesta Key
If the grandkids are daydreaming about building sandcastles and boogie boarding their hearts out, then Siesta Key is a wonderful spot to wade in the water and relax on the bright white sands. A fun fact is that the sands on Siesta Key beach are made up of 99% quartz, which makes it cooler than other sands.
Siesta Key really is a wonderful spot for younger kids, as they can easily roam on the cool sand and splash around in the shallow pools of ocean water. Take the whole family along to enjoy this gorgeous spot.
3. Clearwater Beach
Clearwater is a great beach for walking along the ocean line and around town. If a small-town feel is your jam, this is the place for you. Here you’ll find cute shops and restaurants perfect for pursuing during your downtime.
Clearwater Beach will provide you with the best amount of both beach time and exploring time. There aren’t any crazy attractions here, so it’s a good place for meandering on the pedestrian-friendly streets. There are also fun festivals occasionally on Pier 60.
4. Daytona Beach
Let’s liven things up a bit with this fun beach town full of things to do. At Daytona, you’ll be able to hang around at this park-feeling oceanside that’s full of vendors, fishing, and choices of excursions like riding ATVs or biking around.
Daytona is a great mix of keeping busy or laying low. The kids will love staying active by getting involved in water activities, like boogie boarding or surfing, or keeping dry as they take bicycle rides or scooters through the town. You can’t go wrong with this choice, so pack up and hit the road!
5. Amelia Island
Choose to take your grandkids to Amelia Island so they can look for seashells on the soft sand, or even take a horseback ride by the water. Amelia Island has plenty to do, including kayaking, shopping, and exploring at the Fort Clinch State Park.
What’s great about this destination is that if you want to have some time separate from the kids, there are things to do at resorts like the Ritz-Carlton or the Omni Amelia Island Resort for adults while simultaneously having programs to keep the kids busy with water sports and other activities while you’re enjoying your time.
6. Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is beautiful and affordable. Pick this beach to experience activities both indoors and outdoors. The kids will have just as much fun and entertainment as the adults as they shop along Pier Park.
This location has many places to eat, shop, and explore and of course, you can spend hours on the sand by the water. With an abundance of seafood restaurants, including a few hidden gem cafes, you’ll want to keep coming back just for the food.
People love Panama City for its family-friendly events and recreation. Bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, and walking shoes to explore all the places this beach has to offer.
7. Treasure Island
As if the name alone doesn’t make you want to take a trip here, the laid-back atmosphere and dreamy seaside will seal the deal. The beaches of Treasure Island are also a bit more laid back, but there are also awesome ways to take up your time. You’ll see plenty of deep-sea fishing going on from the shore,
Choose these beaches if you’re ready to chill and soak up those sun rays, with a little bit of activity mixed in. The kids will appreciate this spot for the amount of exploration the beaches involve, and there are incredible spots to eat, too.
8. Cocoa Beach
Diving into a spot that has more informational opportunities, Cocoa Beach has so many attractions it’ll be hard to choose which one to go to first. Choose between the Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, and more.
Along with those incredible attractions, there are the more common beach activities as well. Cocoa Beach is great for renting jet skis and lingering in the shallow water. For those kids and adults who love outdoor adventure and animals, sign up for a manatee kayaking tour and more.
9. Fort DeSoto State Park
Similar to Cocoa Beach, there is plenty of time to look out for wildlife at Fort DeSoto State Park. You’ll be able to do all of your normal beach activities, and the plus is that you may spot some herons, egrets, and pelicans. It will be a fun time bird-watching with the grandkids!
Along with plenty of creatures, this spot offers playgrounds, hiking, fishing, and biking to get the blood pumping. Take it easy by having a relaxing picnic on the sand in the evening. Fort DeSoto is beautiful and is a paradise for those who visit and for the loggerhead turtles who hatch here.
10. Fort Lauderdale
Think of a similar vibe to Miami, but with a less hectic nightlife. Fort Lauderdale has the best of both worlds with its things to do, places to see, and white-sand beaches to lounge on. Who doesn’t want all the options when it comes to a family beach vacation?
If you choose to stay in Fort Lauderdale, you’ll have the choice to snorkel, kayak, rollerblade on the boardwalk, or check out a nearby concert or festival. Fort Lauderdale is the place to be if you and the family love a more urban spot but don’t want an environment that’s too crazy.
11. Venice Beach
Everyone’s heard of this well-known small beach town. Venice is a family-friendly getaway and has lots to do, including taking a dolphin cruise and spotting other wildlife like sea turtles and beach birds. Venice is known for being the shark tooth capital of the world, meaning there are teeth galore to be found.
Your grandkids will have a blast looking out for all the seaside wildlife and searching for shells and shark teeth as you enjoy watching them explore and relax. Venice truly has anything you’re looking for when it comes to a family beach trip.
12. Palm Island
Take a look at Palm Island if you want even more fun in the sun with the kids. This beautiful white sandy beach is full of shells, shark teeth, and other wild things for your grandkids to search for and take as souvenirs. It’s also a great choice for the family as it has golf carts, scooters, and bicycles galore.
Choose this location to feel refreshed and ready to take on everyday life again. We think Palm Island is wonderful and full of amazing architecture to marvel at as you’re out walking or riding in the golf cart. You won’t be sorry you chose to visit here once you set your eyes on the sparkling water and soft sands.
Honorable Mentions
We ran out of room, but here are a few other beach towns in the sunshine state you don’t want to miss:
- Fort Myers
- Barrier Island
- Key West
- Tampa Bay
- Anna Maria Island
- Captiva Island
- Orlando
- Sarasota
- St. Pete Beach
- Fernandina Beach
- Islamorada in the Florida Keys
- Sanibel Island
- Naples
- St. Petersburg
- Vero Beach
- Jacksonville
- Palm Beach
Don’t Forget To Pack
With all of these beautiful beaches to choose from as your next ultimate family beach vacation, it’s easy to forget about all the details in-between. We know we’re ready to forget the packing and hop straight into the car! However, you know just as well as we do that packing is the most important thing to do other than choosing your location.
We don’t want you to get to your piece of paradise without your essentials, so we’ve added a quick little packing guide to make sure you’ve checked your list twice. Read below to make sure you aren’t missing anything.
- A stunning and comfortable one-piece swimsuit
- A breezy pair of shorts for activities
- Broadspectrum SPF sunscreen
- Cute sun hat
- Comfortable sandals or walking shoes
- A lightweight and packable cover-up
- Beach towels and picnic blanket
There are obviously more things to pack than these, but we’re all about the fashion essentials and are sure you’re going to be glad you have these pieces. We hope you have fun shopping for these items and on your upcoming family beach trip!
Sources:
Best Florida Beaches for Families | TravelingMom
5 Fabulous Florida Beaches for the Entire Family | Visit Florida