Best Things to Do in Florida for Families: Top Theme Parks, Outdoor Adventures & Attractions

Planning a Florida family vacation can feel like a big job. With theme parks, water parks, beaches, outdoor adventures, aquariums and attractions around every corner, there is no shortage of things to do in Florida with kids.

For families visiting Central Florida, the best experiences are the ones that make it easy for everyone to play together. That could mean racing around a LEGO® themed theme park, cooling off at a water park, meeting favorite characters, exploring nature or discovering something new together.

From classic Florida attractions to family friendly adventures, here are some of the best things to do in Florida for families, including why LEGOLAND® Florida Resort deserves a spot near the top of your Florida vacation itinerary.

Best Family Attractions in Florida at a Glance

If you are looking for a quick starting point, use this guide to match different types of family fun with the experiences that fit your trip.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort offers more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, alongside LEGOLAND Water Park, SEA LIFE Florida, PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida and three themed hotels.

1. Visit LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

For families with children ages 2 to 12, LEGOLAND Florida Resort is designed around one simple idea: kids get to take the lead.

Located in Winter Haven, Florida, the Resort combines a theme park, water park, aquarium and PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida into one family focused destination. It is also close enough to Orlando to make an easy addition to a Central Florida vacation itinerary.

At the main LEGOLAND Theme Park, families can explore more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Younger children can enjoy DUPLO® themed play and gentle rides, while older kids can take on coasters, interactive adventures and attractions that let them put their skills to the test.

One of the newest ways to experience the Resort is Galacticoaster, an indoor family coaster where families design their own LEGO® spacecraft before launching into an interstellar adventure.

Other family favorites include:

• The Dragon

• Coastersaurus

• LEGO® NINJAGO® The Ride

• Driving School

• Lost Kingdom Adventure

• Pirate River Quest

• MINILAND USA

• LEGO® Ferrari Build & Race

Explore LEGOLAND Florida rides and attractions

The big advantage for families is variety. One child can be looking for a coaster while another wants to build, explore or meet a favorite LEGO character, and there are experiences throughout the park to keep everyone engaged.

2. Make a Splash at LEGOLAND® Water Park

Florida and water parks go together, especially when the temperature rises.

LEGOLAND Water Park gives families another way to spend the day with slides, splash areas, a wave pool and the Build-A-Raft Lazy River. Younger visitors can enjoy interactive water play, while bigger kids can find slides and attractions with more thrills.

Some of the experiences families can look forward to include:

• LEGO® Wave Pool

• Build-A-Raft Lazy River

• Joker Soaker

• DUPLO® Splash Safari

• Family slides

• Tube slides

• Interactive water play areas

If your Florida family vacation includes several days in Central Florida, combining the Theme Park and Water Park can make it easier to build a full day around both rides and water fun.

Plan your LEGOLAND Water Park visit

3. Explore PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida

Traveling with preschoolers? Add PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida to your list of things to do in Florida with toddlers and young children.

Located just steps from LEGOLAND Florida Resort, PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida is the world's first PEPPA PIG Theme Park. The park brings Peppa and her friends to life through gentle rides, themed play areas, entertainment and interactive experiences.

It is particularly well suited to families looking for a first theme park experience for younger children.

Families can explore attractions inspired by the world of Peppa Pig, including gentle rides and playful experiences designed with preschoolers in mind.

Discover PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida

LEGOLAND Florida Resort for Different Ages

One reason Central Florida works so well for family vacations is the variety of experiences available for different ages.

Because LEGOLAND Florida is designed specifically for families with children ages 2 to 12, parents can find attractions that work across different stages of childhood.

4. Discover Florida's Natural Side at Cypress Gardens

Theme parks are only part of a Florida family vacation.

One of the most unique things about visiting LEGOLAND Florida Resort is discovering that the property also preserves a piece of Florida history.

Cypress Gardens is a historic botanical garden located within LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The gardens feature lush landscaping, exotic and native plants, peaceful walking paths and a historic Banyan tree planted in 1939.

It is an easy place to slow down between attractions and experience a quieter side of Florida.

For families, that can mean taking a break from rides, walking beneath the trees, taking family photos or simply enjoying some time outdoors.

Cypress Gardens also connects today's LEGOLAND visitors with the property's past. The site was once home to the famous Cypress Gardens attraction, which became internationally known for its botanical gardens and water ski shows. LEGOLAND Florida Resort opened on the historic property in 2011 while preserving the Botanical Gardens.

Explore Cypress Gardens at LEGOLAND Florida

5. Go Under the Sea at SEA LIFE Florida

Looking for things to do in Florida with kids that are a little different from a traditional theme park?

Visit SEA LIFE Florida.

The aquarium gives families the opportunity to explore underwater habitats and discover marine life through interactive exhibits. It is also a useful option when families want a change of pace from outdoor rides.

At LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SEA LIFE Florida is part of the wider family experience, giving visitors another attraction to add to a multi day Central Florida itinerary.

Explore SEA LIFE Florida

For families with younger children, an aquarium visit can also be a great way to introduce kids to marine life while keeping the day interactive and engaging.

6. Look for Outdoor Adventures in Central Florida

Florida is much more than theme parks.

Central Florida is home to lakes, gardens, wildlife, walking trails and other outdoor experiences that can complement a family theme park vacation.

At LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Pirate River Quest combines an outdoor boat adventure with LEGO storytelling as families travel through the historic Cypress Gardens canals in search of Captain Redbeard's lost treasure.

It is a good example of the kind of attraction families can add between bigger rides. Instead of simply moving from coaster to coaster, you can mix rides with water, scenery, storytelling and exploration.

That variety can make a Florida family vacation feel less rushed and give everyone different ways to enjoy the day.

7. Plan a Florida Family Vacation Around More Than One Day

One of the easiest ways to enjoy the best things to do in Florida with kids is to stop trying to fit everything into one day.

Central Florida offers enough attractions to build a multi day vacation, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort makes it easy to turn a theme park visit into a family getaway.

The Resort has three themed accommodations:

• LEGOLAND® Hotel

• Pirate Island Hotel

• LEGOLAND® Beach Retreat

Each offers a LEGO themed place to stay close to the Resort's attractions, helping families spend less time traveling and more time playing.

A multi day trip can also give families the flexibility to experience the Theme Park one day, spend time at the Water Park another day and explore SEA LIFE Florida or PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida without trying to squeeze everything into one schedule.

Explore LEGOLAND Florida Resort hotels

8. Build Your Central Florida Family Vacation

So, what are the best things to do in Florida for families?

The answer depends on what your family enjoys most.

If you are looking for theme parks, Central Florida has plenty of options. If water is more your style, Florida's water parks and natural springs offer plenty of ways to cool off. If your family loves the outdoors, gardens, lakes and nature experiences provide a different kind of adventure.

For families with children ages 2 to 12, LEGOLAND Florida Resort brings many of those experiences together in one destination.

You can ride, build and explore at LEGOLAND Theme Park, cool off at LEGOLAND Water Park, discover marine life at SEA LIFE Florida, introduce younger children to theme parks at PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida and take a peaceful walk through historic Cypress Gardens.

That combination makes LEGOLAND Florida Resort more than a single theme park stop. It can be the foundation of a Central Florida family vacation.

How to Plan Your Florida Family Vacation

Before you go, a little planning can make the day easier.

Choose the right attractions for your kids

Look at ride requirements and attractions before your visit so you know which experiences are the best fit for everyone.

Consider a multi park visit

If your family wants to experience more than the main Theme Park, explore available ticket options that include attractions such as LEGOLAND Water Park, SEA LIFE Florida and PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida. Ticket inclusions and offers can change, so check the official ticket page before booking.

Check current LEGOLAND Florida tickets and passes

Plan around the Florida weather

Florida weather can change quickly, particularly during the warmer months. Build in breaks, stay hydrated and consider indoor attractions when you need a break from the sun.

Give yourself time to explore

Some of the best family memories happen between the headline attractions. Leave room for building, character experiences, gardens, food and spontaneous discoveries.

Consider staying on site

If you want to turn a day at LEGOLAND Florida Resort into a full vacation, staying at one of the Resort's themed hotels can put you close to the action and make it easier to experience multiple attractions.

Why LEGOLAND Florida Belongs on Your Florida Family Vacation List

The best family vacations are not necessarily about doing the most. They are about finding experiences everyone can enjoy together.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort is built around that idea.

Kids can take the lead on rides, create their own LEGO adventures, cool off in the Water Park, explore the underwater world at SEA LIFE Florida and discover the historic beauty of Cypress Gardens. Younger children can enjoy PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida, while older kids can take on experiences such as Galacticoaster.

And because the Resort is in Winter Haven, families can pair a LEGOLAND visit with other Central Florida and Orlando area attractions to create a Florida vacation that fits their interests.

Whether you are planning a weekend getaway, a longer Florida family vacation or your next Orlando area adventure, put these family friendly attractions on your list and start building your itinerary.