Florida family-friendly travel guide

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About Florida

America’s “sunshine state” is great for families seeking sun, fun and the great outdoors. Florida is best known to kids for its amazing collection of theme parks from Walt Disney World Resort to Universal Studios Orlando.

There are many other things to see and do in this southern state once you’ve exhausted the theme parks. You can visit Everglades National Park and an array of other national and state parks. There’s also plenty of wildlife to discover.

A trip to Florida wouldn’t be complete without spending some time in Miami, where you can relax on the beach or explore the cultural districts.

Destination facts

Capital

Tallahassee

Population

21.3 million (2018)

Official language(s)

English

Time zone

ET (GMT-5), CT (GMT-6)

Landmass

170,305 km²

Currency

United States Dollar

Emergency number

911

Religion

70% Christian, 24% Non-Religious, 6% Other

Helpful information

Where to go

Miami

Your first stop in Miami should be Miami Beach. Not only do you need to see the iconic beach, you can also access a lot of popular attractions from here. Stroll along the boardwalk or Ocean Drive and explore South Beach and the Art Deco Historic District.

Some other areas you should explore include Miami Design District, where you can browse boutiques and wander through art galleries, and Little Havana, the Cuban district of Miami. You might also want to hire a car and visit Everglades National Park.

For more family fun, visit Miami Children’s Museum, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (a former 20th century mansion), Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park.

Orlando

Orlando is a thrill-seeker’s paradise. Not only is this city home to Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, but also Epcot, SeaWorld Orlando and many other theme parks.

If you need a day off from the rollercoasters, there’s Orlando Science Center and Gatorland, an attraction with thousands of alligators, crocodiles and other reptiles. You can also chill out with a stroll through Lake Eola Park or Harry P Leu Gardens.

Future astronauts should take a day trip up to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can learn all about the work that NASA is doing.

Florida Keys

Tropical Florida Keys is an ideal destination for nature- and animal-lovers. There is an abundance of national and state parks, including John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Dry Tortugas National Park and Bahia Honda State Park. For wildlife, visit The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the Turtle Hospital or the Dolphin Research Center.

Key West is the most popular part of Florida Keys and offers plenty of close-by attractions. Get inspired by the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, celebrate the sunset at Mallory Square and peruse the shops and galleries of Duval Street.

Best time to go to Florida

Florida, aptly known as the “sunshine state”, has a generally warm climate. Autumn and spring are usually the best time to go with picture-perfect, consistent weather.

Summer

Summer is between the months of June and August, with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and average monthly rainfall of 179 millimetres.

Autumn

Summer is between the months of September and November, with an average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and average monthly rainfall of 98 millimetres.

Winter

Summer is between the months of December and February, with an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and average monthly rainfall of 64 millimetres.

Spring

Summer is between the months of March and May, with an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and average monthly rainfall of 79 millimetres.

Passport and visa requirements

Passport

Make sure your passport is valid for six months after your intended return date to Australia.

America has a strict entry regime. You will most likely have your fingerprints scanned and digital photograph taken upon arrival in a US airport.

Visa requirements

If you are travelling to the US for less than 90 days, you may be eligible for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The cost is US$14 and is valid for two years and for multiple entries. You must also get pre-approval for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) via the ESTA.

If you do not qualify for the ESTA and VWP, you will need to apply for a visa.

You must still apply for the ESTA and VWP if you are transiting through the US.

Getting in and around for families

Getting there

Florida is located in the southeast of America. It is an 18-hour flight from Sydney and Melbourne. You can fly with Qantas or United Airlines to the US west coast with a connection to Florida.

Getting around

If you are planning to travel around Florida, it is better to book a rental car as it will save you costs for taxis, buses and trains and will be a better way to travel with young children. There are rental car outlets at most airports to make it convenient for you. Book cars before you go and don’t forget to organise insurance, as it is very expensive in the US.

Some hotels offer transport from the airport to your hotel. Check with your travel agent prior to departure whether your hotel offers transport or if transport can be arranged. Airports generally have taxi and bus bays so enquire about the bus timetables at the airport you are arriving at.

Food and drinks that kids will love

There is a mixture of “Floribbean” (Caribbean and Latin American flavours mingled with the more traditional American and European cuisine) and international dishes to suit everyone’s tastes, from Florida’s extra special cheeseburger, Key lime pie and quality seafood, to Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Thai and Mexican cuisine. And of course, there are the family-favourite food chains like McDonald’s, KFC and Subway.

Shopping

There are countless shopping malls and markets in Florida, where you can buy designer clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and knickknacks. There are boutique shopping malls in Naples, outlet shopping malls at St Petersburg, where you can get goods at discount prices, and plenty of Disney souvenir shops at Disney World.

Customs

Tipping

Tipping for services is extremely important in America, as tip income is half or more of the worker’s income. Tipping is as follows:

Waiters/waitresses/room service, hairdressers/barbers: 15%

Taxi drivers 15%

Delivery people, valet parking, hotel maid, and porters/bellhops: $1-$2 (porters and bellhops should get additional 50c per bag after first two bags)

If a concierge goes out of his/her way to help you: $10-$20

Electricity

The USA uses type A and type B electrical sockets.

Safety and health precautions

Health precautions

Ask your GP about health requirements prior to your holiday. There are no serious health risks in the USA.

Safety

America experiences a range of natural disasters that include earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and landslides.

Most photographed places

Naples Pier

Catching a beautiful sunset at Naples Pier is a photographer’s dream. With views of the Gulf of Mexico and white sandy beaches, it’s postcard-perfect.

Wynwood Walls

A hotspot for bloggers and photographers, the Wynwood Walls are covered wall-to-wall with graffiti art and murals.

Everglades National Park

Travellers with an undying love for all things nature will be right at home atEverglades National Park. The marsh wetlands stretch for thousands of miles and are home to a number of animals, including the Florida panther and the Burmese python.

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Not just a stop for literary lovers, The Hemingway Home is a museum with a wraparound veranda and an array of antique trinkets, such as the writer’s very own typewriter.