For Families

Florida is definitely a kid-friendly destination. Contrary to popular belief, not all diversions are animatronic or even remotely animated. Sure, there are the theme parks, the roller coasters, the talking mouse, and Cinderella Castle. We've got Flipper and Orca and parrots that play poker. Then there's the Playmobil Fun Park. But we've come up with another family-friendly itinerary you may not have experienced yet.

Day 1: Key Biscayne

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne has fabulous children's programs, not to mention pretty cool diversions for adults. If it's in your budget, spend a day checking out the resort (skip the Miami Seaquarium unless the kids want to swim with the dolphins), and, if not, just spend the day at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, where the entire family can explore an ancient fossil tidal pool. If there's time left, check out the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and rent a hydrobike.

Days 2-3: Coral Gables & South Miami

Get an early start and head south to Homestead's legendary Coral Castle. When the kids tire of seeing this wacky attraction, grab lunch at the family friendly, family-run Mexican mainstay, El Toro Taco. On your way to Coral Gables, make a stop at Miami Metrozoo or Monkey Jungle, depending on your preference in animals, and then clean off that stinky animal scent with a splash in Coral Gables's resplendent, refreshing Venetian Pool. If you're up for it, check out Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and/or the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium. After working up an appetite, take the kids for a big dinner at Porcao, where they'll enjoy holding up signs when they're ready to eat more meat!

Day 4: Miami & Port St. Lucie

Before leaving Miami, be sure to stop at the Miami Children's Museum, where the kids can spend a few hours channeling their inner grown-up in a bona fide TV and recording studio. Grab a TV dinner at the G-rated Big Pink on South Beach, and then hit the road to Vero Beach. Check into the Club Med Sandpiper on the St. Lucie River, where there are four different children's clubs for ages 4 months all the way up to 13 years old. En route to Vero, you may want to take the kids to West Palm Beach's whimsical Playmobil Fun Park or on a safari through Lion Country Safari, and then grab lunch at Jupiter's legendary Nick's Tomato Pie.

Day 5: Vero Beach

As if Club Med doesn't have enough for the family to do -- or not do -- you may want to take the kids out to Dodgertown, the place where the L.A. Dodgers spend spring training, or to one of the beautiful beaches nearby.

Day 6: Arrive in Lake Buena Vista

Okay, we lied. Sort of. We're sending you in the environs of Disney and friends, but only to check into the coolest kid-friendly hotel possibly in the entire world. The Nickelodeon Family Suites Resort, by Holiday Inn, is the first ever Nickelodeon-branded resort. There are Kids Suites with different themes featuring the kids' favorite Nick characters. I know many a family that has traveled here just so the kids could stay in the hotel. If you choose, you can go to Disney World or one of the theme parks.

Day 7: Spacing Out at Cape Canaveral

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is a must-see for everyone, but especially kids. You'll not only see where actual rockets and shuttles are launched, but you can also have lunch with an astronaut! Either spend the night here and fly out of the Melbourne International Airport, or make the 3-hour drive back to Miami International Airport.