My hubby and I want to take a trip during my spring break (1st week of March) somewhere in Florida that is not Disney (did that last year). We've been to St. Petersburg area, and it's pretty chilly in March. Any ideas on family-friendly locations? We have a 4 year old son.
Thank you!
I went to St. Augustine last October for work. Loved the town but didn't get to explore too much. Definately want to go back.
There is also Sea World...we did that when we went in April 2009 but we also went to the Disney Parks too. When I went many years ago, we did Lion Country Safari. When I was 16, we went to Busch Gardens and Naples...which was nice too.
Good luck.
I've never been there myself (sorry!) but I've heard really nice things about Destin and Sanibel Island. A friend of mine has family that lives in Clearwater and they visit regularly with their kids. Clearwater is where Winter the dolphin lives (featured in "A Dolphin Tale") and you can visit her.
ETA - we were in Orlando last Feb and we had temps every day in the low 80s to 85. We were able to enjoy the swimming pool and everything. So sometimes you luck out. But I agree that maybe something like Key West would guarantee you some warm weather.
If you don't want chilly - head to South Florida. There is alot to do in Fort Lauderdale / Miami.
For example: http://www.miamiseaquarium.com/
and
In Coconut Creek -- not far from Ft. Lauderdale: http://www.butterflyworld.com/
Your best bet would be to book in Dania/Hollywood FL so you are between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. If you have more questions or questions about places let me know.
To guarantee it not being chilly then, you're going to have to go to true south Florida -think Miami, the Keys -probably the furthest north I would chance it would be the Sarasota area. We went to Siesta Key about 6 years ago, and it was lovely! It's pretty warm there year round. Anything on the panhandle like Destin, other Emerald Coast beaches, Seagrove, etc. is going to be more likely chilly than not. Anything above Melbourne on the Atlantic side probably will be chilly then as well.
They have a new Lego Theme Park that just opened in Florida. It looks great and perfect for your sons age!
Lego land, it is specifically for kids between the ages of 2-12, and it just opened a couple of months ago. Sea World is good too. If your looking for a beach vacation, you should check out Marco Island, so much to do there, and so beautiful.
Sanibel Island. It costs $6 to get onto the island but it has a bike trail, beaches, some shops and restaurants. There is a wildlife sanctuary. Its kind of expensive because its touristy and most of the places to stay you would rent for a week instead of just 1 night or 2. I think Kissimee has some things to do and Tampa, I believe but you would have to look it up has an old navy ship you can tour.
Last year my husband and I started in Daytona and took 5 days and just drove and stopped wherever we felt like it. HIs parents live in Daytona and they watched the kid for us. We went to a zoo, airboat tour, wildlife bike tour where we saw alligators along the road, checked out some beaches.
Sarasota beach is one of the prettiest, and it's fairly warm in March and April.
I lived in Panama City for 7 years and I can tell you to stay away from the panhandle that time of year. Not only is it not very warm, you will have to contend with college spring breakers, then the high school spring breakers that come down from Alabama and Georgia. Like others have said, you'll probably want to go to central or southern Florida. Have fun!
