Florida is one of the top family vacation spots, although many families visit the world-class theme parks. If you are looking for a different type of vacation, consider a Gulf Coast vacation. The west coast of Florida offers gorgeous white-sand beaches, numerous water activities, and natural treasures.
There are multiple beaches and coastal towns to consider, depending on what you’d like to do on your trip. Read our recommendations, tips, and more.
Disclosure: We’ve received some complimentary stays, trips, and admissions at these locations, but have paid for others. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you.
If you are considering a trip to the Tampa Bay area, consider purchasing a CityPASS. With CityPASS, you can pay one price for admission to several of the most popular attractions. Learn more about the Tampa Bay CityPASS here.
Click these links below to go to the specific section. Then, click into that link if you want to read our full post.
Marco Beach Ocean Resort Review
Busch Gardens Tampa Tips
10 Activities in Fort Myers With Kids
Review of the Resort at Longboat Key Club in Sarasota Florida
Things to Do in Sarasota With Kids
Things To Do In Tampa With Kids
Places to Visit on the Florida Gulf Coast With Kids
Review of the Lido Beach Resort In Sarasota Florida
All About The Clearwater Beach Sugar Sand Festival
Things to Do in Clearwater FL
A Guide to Busch Gardens Tampa Rides
Review of the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
A Guide to Clearwater Beach Florida
Things to Do in Marco Island With Kids
The Best Clearwater Beach Restaurants For Families
The Best Day Trips From Tampa
Gulf Coast Vacations
Marco Beach Ocean Resort Review
When we booked our Marco Island vacation, we weren’t too familiar with the area. Therefore, I didn’t have a specific hotel that I wanted to stay in. The Marco Beach Ocean Resort, located right on the beach, offers beach chairs and umbrellas for families, as well as an outdoor pool and several restaurants.
We loved our stay at this comfortable and convenient hotel and would definitely return. Read our full review to learn more.
Things to Do in Marco Island With Kids
Whether you’ve planned a trip to Marco Island, or are just considering one, you may be wondering what types of things you can do in Marco Island with kids. The beach is obviously the main draw, but there are other fun activities both on the island and nearby.
Read all about things to do in Marco Island with kids, including tips for your vacation.
Busch Gardens Tampa Tips
My kids love theme parks and thrill rides, so they were excited to visit Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay. We visited twice in the last few years, and have always enjoyed our visits.
Read our tips about visiting Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, including when to arrive, how to get tickets, what strategy you can use for rides, what optionals can be added on to your ticket, and much more.
A Guide to Busch Gardens Tampa Rides
Although Busch Gardens is also known for its animal exhibits, my kids find the rides to be the main attraction at this theme park. Many of these rides are thrill rides, with height restrictions that apply to younger riders.
Read our guide to the Busch Gardens Tampa rides, so you can be better prepared during your visit. If you are visiting during peak season, you’ll want to have a plan to ride the more popular attractions early in the day.
Things To Do In Tampa With Kids
Considering a trip to Tampa? There are lots of things to do in Tampa with kids, beyond Busch Gardens. Read our review, which offers some of the best things to do in the area.
The Best Day Trips From Tampa
While Tampa does offer so much for families to see and do, there are also lots of options for places to explore beyond the city. If you are renting a car, consider taking a day trip or two to explore beyond the city. Here are some Tampa day trip options to consider.
10 Activities in Fort Myers With Kids
In addition to the Gulf Coast beaches, Fort Myers Florida has many things for families to enjoy. Fort Myers has their own airport with service to many larger cities, and is close to other Gulf Coast destinations like Marco Island and Sanibel Island. Read about things to do there on your next trip.
Review of the Resort at Longboat Key Club in Sarasota Florida
The Resort at Longboat Key Club is a AAA Four-Diamond full-service resort, located in the Gulf Coast barrier island of Longboat Key. This beautiful resort is a destination, offering a spa, golf course, tennis courses, a marina, a private beach, pool, and so much more.
Things to Do in Sarasota With Kids
With its own airport, Sarasota Florida is an easy destination from most major East Coast cities. We definitely recommend a visit with your family, especially if you love the beach.
Read all about the best things to do in Sarasota Florida, including the Ringling Museum, kayaking through mangroves, numerous beaches, and so much more.
Review of the Lido Beach Resort In Sarasota Florida
The Lido Beach Resort, located on the barrier island of Lido Key, is another fun beach family resort in the Sarasota area. This casual, colorful resort offers a great location right on the water, as well as several restaurants and a fun beach bar.
Amenities at the resort include a fitness center, concierge, three jacuzzis, and a shuttle to nearby Armands Circle. It’s also a pet friendly hotel.
All About The Clearwater Beach Sugar Sand Festival
Each spring in April, the Clearwater Beach Sugar Sand Festival is hosted each year on Pier 60, right on the beach. During the festival, you can purchase tickets to walk into the enclosed structure featuring huge, beautiful sand sculptures. There are also lots of other activities, including rides, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, and much more. Learn more about it in our guide.
Review of the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
During our most recent trip to Clearwater, we wanted to stay right on the beach. The Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa was a great option. It’s located adjacent to Pier 60, and offers family activities, restaurants, and great amenities.
While we did venture out beyond the Clearwater area, we spent most of our time on Clearwater Beach. Most restaurants were within quick walking distance, and the resort is right on the beach. There’s also a nice outdoor pool, as well as family games and activities.
A Guide to Clearwater Beach Florida
Planning a trip to Clearwater Beach? Before you go, you’ll want to read our guide to Clearwater Beach Florida. It includes information about where to stay in the area, what activities are available (including festivals, museums, boat trips and more), as well as an overview of restaurants.
Things to Do in Clearwater FL
Clearwater Beach is just an area within the larger area of Clearwater Florida. If you are staying in the area, read our things to do in Clearwater Florida. It includes more than just the beach and offers information about the entire area.
The Best Clearwater Beach Restaurants For Families
As a beach town, Clearwater Beach offers dozens of delicious restaurants. Many of these casual restaurants are located on or near the beach, and most offer fresh seafood among other specialties.
Read about our favorite Clearwater Beach Restaurants for families in this post.
Places to Visit on the Florida Gulf Coast With Kids
Looking for a beautiful, warm vacation destination within the United States. We love the Florida Gulf Coast, thanks to its numerous small towns, cities, airports, and beaches. Read about some of our favorite places to stay on the Florida Gulf Coast in this post.
