Florida Family Attractions

Experience the fantasy of the Magic Kingdom, the international flair of Epcot Center, the safari style of Animal Kingdom, or the movie-making magic of Disney-MGM Studios. Two Disney-run water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, provide respite from Central Florida's humidity. It's worth splurging to stay on property to avoid the crunch of Orlando traffic; complimentary airport pickup and extended park hours are added bonuses. See our Walt Disney World Travel Guide

When it opened in 1967, Lion Country Safari was the first drive-through safari park in the United States. Still a top draw, the Palm Beach County park's four-mile loop leads vehicles (no convertibles!) past white rhinos, zebras, lions, giraffes, wildebeest, and hundreds of other jungle animals. The adjacent Safari World amusement park has a Ferris wheel, petting zoo, mini-golf course, shops, reptile displays, and giraffe feeding. Extend the safari experience with a stay over the KOA Campground next door, where roaring lions can be heard at night.

A 12-mile section of one of the state's two Florida legislature-designated "Wild and Scenic Rivers," flows through Myakka River State Park, about 20 miles east of downtown Sarasota. On-site canoe and kayak rentals provide river access through the marshy feeding grounds of eagles, cranes, ospreys, and a seriously hefty alligator population (don’t worry, it’s safe – gators, which aren’t typically aggressive, tend to ignore people altogether). The family-friendly park also contains a smorgasbord of other outdoor activities, from camping, biking, and fishing to a scenic boat cruise and hiking trails. An 85-foot long canopy walkway, which can be reached via a spur trail off of the Boylston Nature Trail, runs through the treetops of oaks and palms.

Although it lives in Disney's shadow, Universal Studios is worth a twirl, especially for visitors with older kids – or none at all – in tow. Hit the coasters at Islands of Adventure or water slides at Wet 'n' Wild for adult-sized thrills; visit Universal Studios for movie-themed rides and a behind-the-scenes look at a working studio. The park's profile will get a major boost in 2010 when it unveils The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park within a theme park at Islands of Adventure.

Located amid 2,200 acres of the Big Cypress Reservation, Billie's Swamp Safari provides access to the wetlands and hardwood hammocks owned by the Seminole tribe. Swamp buggy tours and airboat rides delve into the wilderness, where sightings of deer, wild hogs, bison, and hawks are not uncommon. Frog legs, gator nuggets, and American fare are on the menu at the Swamp Café. Also on site: alligator wrestling, a recreation of medicine man Sam Jones, and a boardwalk nature trail. Overnight stays are available in native chickee huts (thatched roof buildings that call to mind Tiki huts).

When locals want major amusement-park thrills, they bypass Disney for the big coasters of Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa. The theme park melds high-octane rides with kid-friendly shows and wildlife habitats like the Serengeti Plain and the Myombe gorilla and chimpanzee reserve. Over 21? Make a complimentary reservation at the Brewmaster's Club to sample Anheuser-Busch beers.

NASA's Florida launch headquarters sit within a wildlife refuge eight times the size of Manhattan and encompass the history of space travel, that “giant leap for mankind.” Meet an astronaut, visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and get a taste for space flight in the shuttle launch simulator. Space films screen daily in two IMAX theaters. Tours visit the International Space Station Center, the 60-foot launch observation gantry overlooking the two shuttle pads, and a facility containing a Saturn V rocket. Still, nothing can compare to lucking into seeing one of the live shuttle launches. Launch dates are listed on the Kennedy Space Center’s website, but schedules are subject to change at a moment’s notice, so don’t plan your whole vacation around a rocket-takeoff.

Close-up views of orcas, dolphins, penguins and manatees await at this theme park devoted to the life aquatic. In 2009, the Manta roller coaster – ridden horizontally, face down – ups the adrenaline factor. SeaWorld opened the 59-acre Aquatica water park in spring 2008, with a signature water slide that speeds through a dolphin habitat. For the ultimate interactive adventure, splurge on conservation-minded Discovery Cove, the reservations-required all-inclusive tropical park where you can swim with dolphins, snorkel on a coral reef, and wade into a stingray-filled lagoon; attendance is limited to 1,000 people per day, so book at least two months in advance to guarantee entrance, especially during summer trips or holidays (www.discoverycove.com).

Best for pre-school and elementary-age kids, the interactive Miami Children's Museum promotes education and self-expression through 14 eye-popping galleries. Ocean Odyssey has a 900-gallon, two-tank aquarium where kids can see coral reef fish; the Safety Zone allows kids to step into the shoes (and uniforms) of firefighters and police officers; the World Music Studio is a hands-on melody-making space. Traveling exhibitions featuring icons like the Blue Man Group or Clifford, the Big Red Dog drop in for a few months at a time – check the website for information on current exhibitions.

Seventeen major-league baseball teams hit the fields in March to prep for their upcoming season with exhibition games that are open to the public for between $10-20. Venues are scattered along both coasts, between Orlando (the Atlanta Braves) and Fort Lauderdale (the Baltimore Orioles). Eight teams are clustered in the Tampa Bay area alone, from Lakeland to Fort Myers, and its sites boast the most years as spring training destinations – 87 years in the case of Tampa and St. Petersburg.