Situated just five miles from St. Augustine and just a little further south of Jacksonville, Anastasia State Park is one of the best State Parks in Florida for families. Located on northeast corner of Anastasia Island, Anastasia State Park offers four miles of uninterrupted, pristine Atlantic beach. And the park is teeming with family-friendly wildlife experiences, including the chance to see bald eagles, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.
Enjoy a hike along the sand dunes on the well-kept boardwalk or cycle along the beach. You can even rent kayaks to paddle through the inshore pond.
Anastasia State Park also has some gorgeous camping opportunities that include 139 campsites split between large RV sites and tent and hammock camping in a forest setting away from the wind.
This protects you from salt spray and blowing sand without leaving you too far away from the attractions. Each campsite has electrical and water hookups.
Families can kayak or canoe along the Weeki Wachee River, take guided riverboat tours, and even enjoy the gorgeous white sand beach lining clear turquoise water.
You’ll have to leave the car behind for this family-friendly Florida State Park. But Caladesi Island State Park is worth the extra effort of getting there.
Located on Caladesi Island, just off the shores of Clearwater and a short drive from Tampa Bay, this barrier island offers unspoiled beauty. The fact that you either need to walk across a narrow causeway from Clearwater Beach or take a 20-minute ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park (or a private boat if you have access to one) to get here is a big factor in just how pristine this island paradise is.
Once you arrive you’ll find a white sand beach that is teeming with shells and sand dollars which my kids could spend hours collecting. You’ll also find a three-mile-long nature trail that wanders through the forests and 1880s Scharrer Homestead (there’s not much remaining of the buildings themselves).
Beware though, the island is home to Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes. They’re shy and cautious, so you’re unlikely to see them. But don’t go stomping through the rocks just in case.
You can rent kayaks, beach chairs and umbrella’s to enjoy a long day on the sand and sea. Beware though, that the area is known for heavy boat traffic (A big thank you to reader Chuck Briske for this tip). And you can either bring your own food for a picnic or visit the on-site restaurant, Cafe Caladesi, at the marina. There’s also a popular playground for young kids.
My family has a deep passion for SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and life beneath the waves. And while it’s not quite family snorkeling and SCUBA diving in the Caribbean, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park still packs a punch when it comes to the best State Parks in Florida for families.
Offering some of the best snorkeling in the Florida Keys, this is an incredible stop for those doing a road trip through the Florida keys.
Visitors can rent kayaks or canoes and paddle the mangrove-lined shores or even book a snorkel tour that will give you the chance to explore the first undersea park in the United States.
Under the waves, you’ll find a treasure trove of fish, coral reefs, and sunken statues that make up an underwater sculpture museum. One of the most popular is a bronze replica of Christ the Redeemer (the original of which towers above Rio de Janeiro in Brazil). The statue is slowly being reclaimed by the sea and is covered with gorgeous and colorful corals.
Families won’t want to miss the John Pennekamp Visitor Center either. It features a massive 30,000-gallon salt water aquarium. This is worth the visit alone, and is especially nice for those who might not feel comfortable snorkeling in the open waters themselves.
This Florida State Park features great swimming on Canon Beach, which hosts the remnants of an ancient Spanish shipwreck just 100 feet offshore.