Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida Read online

  www.vrbo.com

  This agency offers a wide choice of lodging in southern Florida, including Boca Raton and Miami.

  < The Gold and Treasure Coasts

  Boca Raton

  Resort

  Boca Beach Club

  900 S Ocean Blvd, 33432; 561 447 3000; www.bocabeachclub.com

  This plush place sits right on the beach and offers lots of activities, as well as the dedicated Quest Club for kids. Rooms and suites are stylish, with plenty of amenities, but no kitchen. There is also a surf school, and tennis clinics for ages 3 to 18.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Hotel

  Ocean Lodge

  531 N Ocean Blvd, 33432; 561 395 7772; www.oceanlodgeflorida.com

  Just off the beach, this hotel has spotless rooms, granite kitchenettes and dining areas, as well as flat-screen TVsbarbecue grills, and complimentary continental breakfast.

  $$ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool • Beach • Kitchen facilities

  Fort Lauderdale

  Resorts

  Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

  3030 Holiday Dr, 33316; 954 525 4000; www.marriottharborbeach.com

  A luxurious beachfront property with large, comfy suites, this resort has a private beach and a complimentary Surf Club for kids with a Hawaiian surf simulator and a clubhouse. Resort activities include beach sports and face-painting.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Lago Mar Resort & Club

  1700 S Ocean Lane, 33316; 954 678 3945; www.lagomar.com

  This sprawling beachfront property has 164 suites with refrigerators and microwaves. Centrally located and with its own secure, private beach, it offers beach volleyball, shuffleboard, and a giant outdoor chessboard.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Swimming pool • Beach • Playground

  Hotels

  Birch Patio

  617 N Birch Rd, 33304; 954 563 9540; www.birchpatio.com

  This retro-looking hotel is a 5-minute walk from the beach, with spacious, modern efficiency apartments. Free parking, a coin-operated washer and dryer, and two barbecue grills are available. Kids under 12 stay free.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Kitchen facilities

  Palm-fringed pool at Birch Patio, Fort Lauderdale

  Premiere Hotel

  3110 Belmar St, 33304; 954 566 7676; www.premierehotel.com

  Located close to the beach, this hotel offers efficiency rooms with two beds and fully equipped kitchens, as well as suites. Although this is an older property, everything is spotless.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool • Kitchen facilities

  Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie

  Resort

  Club Med Sandpiper Bay

  4500 SE Pine Valley St, Port St Lucie, 34952; 772 398 5100; www.clubmed.us

  This all-inclusive resort is especially fun for families, with a Baby Welcome program, Baby Club Med, beautifully furnished family rooms and heaps of kids’ programs.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Hotel

  Holiday Inn Express

  7151 Okeechobee Rd, Fort Pierce, 34945; 772 464 5000; www.hiexpress.com

  Located close to the Florida Turnpike and I-95, and a 10–15-minute drive into downtown Fort Pierce, this hotel offers modern rooms with mini-fridges and microwaves.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool

  Camping

  Savannas Campground

  1400 E Midway Rd, Fort Pierce, 34982; 772 464 7855; www.stlucieco.gov/parks/savannas.htm

  This county-run campsite is situated 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Fort Pierce. It lies on reclaimed marshland beside the Indian River, and offers both primitive pitches and some with electricity and water.

  $ • Garden • Babysitting • Wi-Fi • Restaurant

  Hutchinson Island

  Resort

  Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort & Marina

  555 NE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, 34996; 772 225 3700; www.marriott.com

  Just across the causeway from Stuart, this resort has rooms with pull-out sofa beds for kids, and well-equipped kitchens. Family-friendly activities are planned each week.

  $$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Juno Beach

  Hotel

  Hampton Inn Jupiter

  13801 US-1, 33408; 561 626 9090; hamptoninn.hilton.com

  This convenient, family-friendly hotel, near the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, offers two queen-deluxe rooms that accommodate up to five and are equipped with microwaves and mini-fridges. Breakfast is included. A coin-operated laundry is on site.

  $$ • Wi-Fi • Lift • Family rooms • Swimming pool

  Palm Beach

  Resort

  The Breakers

  1 S County Rd, 33480; 888 273 2537; www.thebreakers.com

  A fabulous option for families, this resort has a self-contained Family Entertainment Center, babysitting services, and kids’ camps. All rooms are luxuriously furnished; standard rooms are big enough for most families with young children.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  A double room with a view of the ocean in The Breakers, Palm Beach

  Hotels

  Palm Beach Historic Inn

  365 S County Rd, 33480; 561 832 4009; www.palmbeachhistoricinn.com

  This charming old guesthouse offers clean rooms with two double beds, as well as four spacious suites with a king bed, trundle bed, VCR, and refrigerator. Breakfast is included.

  $$ • Wi-Fi • Family rooms

  The Chesterfield

  363 Cocoanut Row, 33480; 561 659 5800; www.chesterfieldpb.com

  A historic hotel with bright and luxurious rooms that lodge two adults and two children. Kids aged 12 and under stay and eat free when sharing a room with parents.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool

  Vero Beach

  Resorts

  Driftwood Resort

  3150 Ocean Dr, 32963; 772 231 0550; www.thedriftwood.com

  The most atmospheric place to stay on the Treasure Coast offers spacious rooms and villas. Families can go for a large two-room suite in the “Breakers” section. Kids will love the scavenger hunts and shuffleboard.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Cafe • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

  9250 Island Grove Terrace, 32963; 772 234 2000; www.disneybeachresorts.com/vero-beach-resort

  A plush resort set on the beach, this place has a variety of elegant accommodations, from studios to two-bedroom villas. There is a 163-ft (50-m) waterslide, treasure hunts, and sing-a-long campfires.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Vero Beach Hotel & Spa

  3500 Ocean Dr, 32963; 772 231 5666; www.verobeachhotelandspa.com

  This family-friendly luxury resort has one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, all with kitchens. The “Kimpton Kids” program provides babysitting, cribs, and high chairs.

  $$$ • Wi-Fi • Restaurant • Family rooms • Swimming pool • Beach

  Motel

  Comfort Suites Vero Beach

  9050 Americana Way, 32963; 772 257 3400; www.comfortsuites.com

  This excellent motel off I-95 is just 12 miles (19 km) from the beach. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and refrigerators. There is a coin-operated laundry, and breakfast is included.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool

  Camping

  Sebastian Inlet State Park

  9700 S State Rd A1A, Melbourne Beach, 32951; 321 984 4852; www.floridastateparks.org

  The park’s attractive tent and RV campground is just a short stroll from the beach. All 51 sites have water and electrical hook-ups.

  $ • Wi-Fi

  West Palm Beach<
br />
  Motel

  Best Western Palm Beach Lakes Inn

  1800 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, 33401; 561 683 8810; www.bestwesternwestpalm.com

  Across from the Palm Beach Mall, which is about 15 minutes from downtown, this motel has standard rooms arranged around a central pool area. All rooms have microwaves and refrigerators, and rollaway beds are available. Continental breakfast is included.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool

  Camping

  Lion Country Safari KOA Campground

  2003 Lion Country Safari Rd, Loxahatchee, 33470; 561 793 9797; www.lioncountrysafari.com

  This campground, adjacent to Lion Country Safari, has tent sites with water and electricity, a grill and picnic table, as well as cabins, which offer a bit more comfort. There is a general store, playground, and laundry, and plenty of sports are on offer.

  $ • Wi-Fi • Swimming pool

  >>Hotels Map

  < Exploring Florida

  Orlando and the Parks

  With more than a dozen theme parks, central Florida might seem like one big roller coaster, but there is also much natural and cultural beauty to explore. Orlando and its upscale neighbor, Winter Park, have museums, world-class restaurants, festivals, and sporting events that enhance the joy of the thrill rides, and add to the experience of visiting this colorful area.

  The iconic Sorcerer Mickey Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

  Highlights

  Walt Disney World® Resort

  See Walt Disney’s vision come alive in four famous theme parks (see Walt Disney World® Resort).

  Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure®

  Meet the Simpsons™ or visit Harry Potter’s™ Hogwarts™ at these entertainment theme parks (see Universal Studios Florida®).

  SeaWorld®, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove®

  Take a closer look at penguins and sea lions at SeaWorld®, swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove®, and hop aboard thrilling water rides at Aquatica.

  The Orlando Eye

  Soar high above to get a spectacular bird’s-eye view of Central Florida from this observation wheel (see The Orlando Eye).

  Orlando and Winter Park

  Visit museums of art and science, watch championship basketball, and marvel at leaping alligators–a combination possible only in Orlando (see Orlando Science Center).

  LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

  At this LEGO®-themed park, kids can learn how many Lego® blocks it would take to build the Statue of Liberty, and how they could do it at home (see LEGOLAND®).

  * * *

  The Best of Orlando and the Parks

  Crazy curves and weird shapes at High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride™, Universal Studios Florida®

  The fantasylands, wild animals, movie history, and world culture of the Walt Disney® theme parks have been drawing millions of visitors since 1971. Universal Studios Florida® adds to the adventure, celebrating movies and the world of Harry Potter™, along with the water wonderland of SeaWorld®. The city of Orlando, and its suburb Winter Park, have excellent historical museums, cultural sites, and entertainment options.

  The wonderful world of Disney

  Look up in Magic Kingdom® to see the soaring castle towers where Cinderella and Beauty’s Beast live, or get an adrenaline rush on the Space Mountain®, Splash Mountain®, and Big Thunder Mountain® coasters. Ride with Ariel on Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, and on a flying carpet in The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

  Soarin’™ lets visitors glide over the Californian landscape in Epcot®, while Test Track allows them to design and test custom vehicles, and Mission: Space® goes beyond the atmosphere. World Showcase displays the cultures of 11 countries in a 2-mile (3-km) circle and features booming taiko drummers in the Japan Pavilion, and the Off Kilter bagpipe band in the Canada Pavilion.

  Visit Muppets, living toys, and Indiana Jones™ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. All Kermit fans will love Muppet*Vision 3D, and thrills await at the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom®, Festival of the Lion King blends music and theater. Take the Kilimanjaro Safaris® to see lions and wildebeests.

  Movie magic

  Universal Orlando® Resort offers entertainment for the whole family, featuring the amazing Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure®. Men In Black™ and The Simpsons™ rides bring movies and TV to life at Universal Studios Florida®, while Harry Potter fans will enjoy visiting Gringotts Bank™ at Diagon Alley™. Over at Universal’s Islands of Adventure® kids can cast a spell aboard Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ or travel at 40 mph (64 km/h) on The Incredible Hulk Coaster®.

  Culture vultures

  International Drive, Orlando’s bustling strip of restaurants and hotels, features The Orlando Eye, Wonderworks, which includes a simulated earthquake and an upside-down building, and the fascinating Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. Downtown Orlando’s big draw is the 20,000-seat Amway Center, home of NBA basketball, arena football, concerts, and circuses. Check out the fine restaurants and music clubs nearby, as well as the charming Lake Eola Park, which has plenty of space to run around. While Downtown Orlando holds the Orlando Museum of Art, and the Orlando Science Center, Winter Park is home to the world’s best collection of Tiffany art at the Morse Museum, and a wonderfully casual main street filled with shops and restaurants called Park Avenue. The Scenic Boat Tour winds through the picturesque lakes and canals of this historic area, with views of grand mansions and beautiful natural life.

  The best of the rest

  Seaworld® boasts exciting animal encounters and thrilling water rides, while Discovery Cove® offers a relaxed resort-like experience, and a close encounter with dolphins.

  Kids can walk through the amazing LEGO® city replicas at Miniland USA in LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, unearth Egyptian treasures in the Lost Kingdom Adventure, and have an exciting driving experience at the Ford Driving Schools.

  The Orlando Eye offers stunning views of Orlando and its landmarks.

  Kids playing with LEGO® dinosaurs, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

  < Orlando and the Parks

  Orlando and the Parks

  LEGO® pirates at the entrance to Pirates’ Cove, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

  Entertainment, gardens, and the promise of warm winters have been luring visitors to Orlando since the 1880s. About an hour’s drive from both east and west coasts, it usually escapes the worst of the hurricane season while benefiting from pleasant temperatures in winter.

  Orlando is the undisputed theme park capital of the world, with Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando® Resort, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, and the water parks making the city a family-oriented fantasyland. But it has a lot more to offer. International Drive is chock-full of kid-friendly attractions and good restaurants, and sports fans will delight in the spectacular basketball arena at the Amway Center. Bordering greater Orlando, Winter Park’s appeal lies in its great museums, cafés, and scenic waterways. With so many sights spread out over the city, it is best to hire a car to get around.

  1. Walt Disney World® Resort

  Magic Kingdom®

  Epcot®

  Disney’s Animal Kingdom®

  Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

  Blizzard Beach

  Typhoon Lagoon

  Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

  Disney Springs®

  2. Universal Studios Florida®

  3. Universal’s Islands of Adventure®

  4. SeaWorld®, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove®

  5. The Orlando Eye

  6. Crayola Experience

  7. International Drive

  8. Gatorland

  9. Orlando Science Center

  10. Loch Haven Park

  11. Downtown Orlando

  12. Winter Park

  13. Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours

  14. LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

 
; >>Practical Information

  >>Sights Map

  >>Where to Stay

  < Orlando and the Parks

  1. Walt Disney World® Resort

  The house of The Mouse

  DinoLand, U.S.A., Disney’s Animal Kingdom®

  Walt Disney changed Orlando from a sleepy cattle-rearing and orange-growing town into a family vacation hot spot. Spread over four exciting theme parks, the resort’s attractions are based on cartoon animals invented 80 years ago, as well as characters out of 3-D movies. While Magic Kingdom® and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® play with the imagination, Epcot® showcases world culture and Disney’s Animal Kingdom® entertains with animal-themed rides.