Jungle Island (Miami): We adults think it's overrated and touristy, but kids love it. You'll need to watch your head, however, because hundreds of parrots, macaws, peacocks, cockatoos, and flamingos are flying above. Continuous suitable, but cheesy, shows star roller-skating cockatoos, card-playing macaws, and numerous stunt-happy parrots. There are also tortoises, iguanas, and a rare albino alligator on exhibit.
Miami Children's Museum (Miami): This museum has hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits, along with programs, classes, and learning materials related to arts, culture, community, and communication. It also has a re-creation of the NBC 6 television studio and a working music studio in which aspiring rock stars can lay down tracks and play instruments.
Sea Grass Adventures (Miami): This is not your typical nature tour. With Sea Grass Adventures, you will be able to wade in the water on Key Biscayne with your guide and catch an assortment of sea life in the provided nets. At the end of the program, participants gather on the beach while the guide explains what everyone has just caught, passing the creatures around in miniature viewing tanks.
Miami Science Museum (Miami): The Science Museum features more than 140 hands-on exhibits that explore the mysteries of the universe. Live demonstrations and collections of rare natural-history specimens make a visit here fun and informative. Many of the demos involve audience participation, which can be lots of fun for willing and able kids and adults alike.
J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island): Consisting of more than half of Sanibel Island, this 6,000-plus-acre area of mangrove swamps, winding waterways, and uplands has a 2-mile boardwalk nature trail and a 5-mile, one-way safari-esque Wildlife Drive on which you'll view a motley crew of species including alligators, raccoons, birds, and other wildlife.
Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa): Although the thrill rides, live entertainment, shops, restaurants, and games get most of the ink at this 335-acre family theme park, Busch Gardens Africa also ranks among the top zoos in the country, with several thousand animals living in naturalistic environments. If you can get them off the roller coasters, kids can find out what all those wild beasts they've seen on the Discovery Channel look like in person.
MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry; Tampa): One of the largest educational science centers in the Southeast, MOSI has more than 450 interactive exhibits in which the kids can experience hurricane-force winds, defy the laws of gravity, cruise the mysterious world of microbes, explore the human body, and more. They can also watch stunning movies in MOSIMAX, Florida's first IMAX dome theater.
Universal Studios Florida (Orlando): Universal Orlando's original Florida park has many rides based on Hollywood blockbusters or cartoon heroes such as Shrek, Spiderman, Jaws, and Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast. Kids can get slimed at Nickelodeon Studios or get thrilled by the pint-size roller coaster and other fun in Woody Woodpecker's KidZone.
Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (Orlando): You can introduce your wee ones to Disney's many characters at Mickey's Toontown Fair in the Magic Kingdom -- Disney's premier park. There's also a ton of fun on rides themed after Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Cinderella, Aladdin, and Buzz Lightyear. Rides such as Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean make sure older guests have fun, too.
Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral): Especially since the recent multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion, this family destination is a must-see. There is plenty to keep kids and parents busy for at least a full day, including interactive computer games, IMAX films, and dozens of informative displays on the space program. Try to schedule a trip during a real launch; there are more than a dozen each year.
DAYTONA USA (Daytona Beach): Opened in late 1996 on Daytona International Speedway grounds, this huge state-of-the-art interactive attraction is an exciting and fast-paced stop even for nonrace fans. Kids can see real stock cars, go-karts, and motorcycles, and even participate in a pit stop on a NASCAR Winston Cup race car.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
