| Florida has to be one of the very best destinations in | | | | are particularly inexpensive and family-friendly. They |
| the world for family holidays. Florida’s top family | | | | sleep a family of six and offer two full baths and a |
| resorts have programs designed for children of all | | | | kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator. At |
| ages. Some of the more popular activities are | | | | Universal Studios Florida, you can choose from three |
| instruction in water sports such as snorkelling, | | | | luxury resort hotels: Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock |
| waterskiing, windsurfing and sailing – others offer | | | | Hotel, and Portofino Bay Hotel. Here you are within |
| coaching in tennis and golf. For younger children, the | | | | easy reach of Universal’s theme parks, their |
| resorts organise special days around a theme, with | | | | Wet ’n Wild water park, themed restaurants, |
| crafts, activities and games. The programs are often | | | | entertainment complex and a 20-screen movie theatre. |
| part of your holiday package, but some resorts charge | | | | On the central west coast, The Colony Beach & |
| an additional amount per day for each activity. The | | | | Tennis Resort, a five-star resort, on Longboat Key, |
| Northeast Coast Set on lovely Amelia Island, Amelia | | | | was named the 5th Best Family Resort in the United |
| Island Plantation, covers 1350 acres, with winding roads | | | | State by Child magazine in 2006. The complimentary |
| and paths that meander through natural woodlands. | | | | children’s programs include a wide variety of |
| Here you’ll find Kids' Camps, and a Teen | | | | indoor and outdoor activities. The Southeast Coast |
| Explorers program that offers tennis and golf clinics, | | | | Located on the St. Lucie River, the Club Med |
| arts and crafts, and field trips, plus a highly popular | | | | Sandpiper has a great ambiance and its outstanding |
| games room. Northwest Coast The giant 2400-acre | | | | programs include waterskiing and wakeboarding, inline |
| Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has many activities | | | | skating, tennis and golf, plus a circus school, complete |
| for kids: sailing, tennis, kayaking, golf, and the Jolee | | | | with flying trapeze. The Breakers, at Palm Beach, is |
| Island Nature Park with pirate-ship playground. | | | | particularly suited for families. Children 17 and under |
| Watersports include body surfing, with complimentary | | | | stay for free, and kids from 3–12 can attend the |
| boogie boards. Programs include day and night | | | | Coconut Crew Interactive Camp for a fun day of |
| activities for teens and a water park. Central Florida | | | | tennis, golf, arts and crafts, lawn hockey, or swimming. |
| The 800-room Nickelodeon Family Suites, located | | | | The family entertainment centre includes a |
| within five minutes of Disney World in Orlando, will be a | | | | toddlers’ room, a computer X-box room, and |
| big hit with your kids. The resort’s pool is | | | | Italian restaurant. The Southwest Coast Noted for its |
| actually a water park, and a complimentary nine-hole | | | | Victorian style, with big verandas and wicker rockers |
| miniature golf course, several basketball courts, and a | | | | on the porch, Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa is a |
| state-of-the-art theatre are all geared for family fun. | | | | top-rated 80-acre oceanfront resort that overlooks |
| Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has the relaxed feel | | | | Sanibel and Captiva islands. There is a Kids Club for |
| of a brightly coloured island village – a perfect | | | | ages 5–12. At the South Seas Resort on |
| setting for a moderately priced family holiday. Parrot | | | | Captive Island, you can paddle a kayak, canoe or rent |
| Cay, a one-acre adventure island built in the middle of | | | | a Hobie; try the fishing, parasailing and body boarding at |
| a lake, is a play area for children, connected to the | | | | the beach; bike or jog; join in the Fun Factory kids' |
| lakeshore by footbridges. A wide variety of eating | | | | programs, and there are excellent teen and family |
| options will satisfy the fussiest eaters. Another | | | | activities. |
| exceptional accommodation option for Disney World | | | | Rod Ritchie writes for many publishers including AA |
| visitors, the new All-Star Music Resort Family Suites | | | | Publishing and Fodors. |