United States Florida Best Toddler-Friendly Florida Beach Resorts Vacation with little ones don't have to be a hassle By Mariette Williams Updated on 12/24/22 Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. With great weather and beachfront resorts that offer tons of amenities geared to toddlers, Florida is a top destination for family vacations. Though traveling with small kids can be challenging, some careful planning will make sure everyone has a great time. To help with that preparation, we’ve researched properties with amenities like kids’ clubs, babysitting services, pools, and water parks to find the top toddler-friendly beach resorts from the Florida Keys to Panama City Beach. Best Toddler-Friendly Beach Resorts in Florida Best Overall: Hawks Cay Resort Best Budget: Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach Best Pools: Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa Best Themed: Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Best for Sightseeing: Loews Miami Beach Best for Relaxation: Pelican Grand Beach Resort Best Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Best Island Resort: South Seas Island Resort Best Toddler-Friendly Florida Beach Resorts View All Best Toddler-Friendly Florida Beach Resorts Our Top Picks Hawks Cay Resort Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Loews Miami Beach Pelican Grand Beach Resort The Ritz-Carlton, Naples South Seas Island Resort See More (5) Final Verdict Compare the Best Toddler-Friendly Florida Beach Resorts Methodology Best Overall : Hawks Cay Resort Courtesy of Hawks Cay Resort See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With numerous restaurants, pools, and on-site activities, Hawks Cay is a top choice for families with small kids. Notable Amenities Five pools, six restaurants, on-site dolphin encounters, babysitting services Pros and Cons Pros Complimentary parking Modern, updated guest rooms Mix of hotel guest rooms and villas Cons Amenities are very spread out Resort Overview Located on 60 tropical acres in the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay is a sprawling resort halfway between Miami and Key West. It provides a mind-boggling number of activities; families can choose from snorkeling, SNUBA diving (divers are connected by hose to an air supply), fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, tennis, and more. Kids age five and under can see dolphins up close through the dockside Dolphin Connection program as long as they are accompanied by a paying and participating adult. The resort has five pools, a private lagoon, and a marina. The Coral Cay kids’ club has activities for kids, and little ones will love the playground and the pirate ship splash park. Accommodations range from comfortable guestrooms to four-bedroom townhome villas with full kitchens and plunge pools, which are ideal for parents who want to keep naps and sleep routines while on vacation. Best Budget : Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It At the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach, kids 11 and under eat free, making this a good deal for families. Notable Amenities 3,400-square-foot water park, four restaurants, room service Pros and Cons Pros Complimentary parking Kids eat free Seasonal live entertainment Cons Can get loud at night Resort Overview Sitting on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s panhandle, Panama City Beach is known for powdery white-sand beaches. A good budget option here is the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach. Its accommodations provide plenty of room to spread out; the upgraded two-bedroom suites have full-size fridges and microwaves, and select rooms also have bunk beds with a partition wall for a bit of privacy. Guests can take advantage of Florida’s nearly year-round sunshine and hang out in the lazy river, kids’ water park, or lagoon pool, which has its own waterfall. Live entertainment, complimentary kids’ activities like hands-on crafts, and poolside movies are also included in your stay. The resort has four different restaurants, provides room service until 10 p.m., and offers complimentary food for kids under 12 when adults purchase an entrée, a huge draw, as all the activities will surely ramp up their appetite. Best Pools : Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa Courtesy of Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With five outdoor pools, a water park, and an indoor pool complex, Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa has plenty of great options for small swimmers. Notable Amenities Babysitting services, two golf courses, complimentary resort photoshoot Pros and Cons Pros Recently updated accommodations Indoor and outdoor pools 91,000-square-foot water park Cons Extra charge for beach chairs and umbrellas Resort Overview A few miles south of St. Augustine, Florida’s oldest city, Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa offers some incredible water activities. There are five outdoor pools in total, and families can hang out in the zero-entry pool, float down the lazy river, or splash around in the 91,000-square-foot water park. On rainy days (which happen often in Florida), head to the indoor pool complex, which features two hot tubs. The Kids Crew offers kids’ programming for children ages 4 and up, and for an additional charge, kids get supervised activities and meals. The sprawling resort also has six restaurants, two beautiful golf courses, and a 10,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor spa. Ideal for large families, the accommodations are a mix of updated one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites, villas, and condos with large, covered balconies. Best Themed : Disney’s Vero Beach Resort © The Walt Disney Corporation See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Disney’s Vero Beach Resort offers families a taste of the Disney World theme park right on the beach. Notable Amenities Babysitting services, arts and crafts room, miniature golf course Pros and Cons Pros Hosted family activities Complimentary self-parking Villas with kitchens Cons Far from major airports Guests may need to rent a car Resort Overview For families who want a taste of Disney, this Vero Beach resort offers the upbeat customer service Disney is famous for without the Orlando crowds. Travelers can choose from comfortable guest rooms and one- or two-bedroom villas that come with views of the ocean, garden, or pool. Outside, kids can slide down a two-story spiral waterslide into the Mickey Mouse-shaped pool or play in the pirate-themed splash park. Throughout the day, they can also participate in scavenger hunts, and families can rent bicycles to explore the property. At night, the resort hosts events like campfire sing-alongs, and past guests have noted that Disney characters sometimes stop by. Though it’s a bit of a trek, families have the option to drive two hours to Disney World to explore the theme parks. Best for Sightseeing : Loews Miami Beach Courtesy of Loews Hotels & Co. See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With easy access to some of Miami’s top attractions, Loews Miami Beach is ideal for families who want to explore the city and then retreat to upscale accommodations. Notable Amenities Game room, 24-hour room service, pool cabanas with bathrooms and showers Pros and Cons Pros Video game room Complimentary resort photo shoot Kids’ area on the beach Cons Street outside can get loud at night Resort Overview Though Miami is known for late-night partying, it’s also a culturally rich city with lots for families to do. Loews Miami Beach offers a great place to retreat to after exploring Miami’s nearby shops, museums, and outdoor attractions. While the hotel offers luxurious guest rooms and suites with sleek marble bathrooms and high-end furnishings, it’s also one of the most family-friendly hotels in South Beach. Its SOBE Kids Club offers full- and half-day programs filled with scavenger hunts, treasure dives, and themed cooking classes for kids ages 4 to 12. The resort also provides kayaks, paddleboards, and banana boat rides. Families should be sure to take advantage of the complimentary professional resort photo shoot to capture some vacation memories. Best for Relaxation : Pelican Grand Beach Resort Courtesy of Pelican Grand Beach Resort See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With a rooftop boutique spa, a lazy river, and a wraparound balcony overlooking the beach, the Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a relaxing oasis. Notable Amenities Lazy river, zero-entry pool, luxury spa, ice cream parlor Pros and Cons Pros Updated guest rooms Daily activities calendar Convenient access to Fort Lauderdale's attractions Cons Valet parking only at $47 per night Resort Overview The Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a hard-to-miss, buttercup yellow high-rise on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Once you’ve checked in, make a beeline for the hotel’s zero-entry pool or grab an inner tube for a ride on its lazy river. After a day in the sun, head back to the guestrooms, which have been recently updated with hardwood floors, pillow top beds, and beachy details like wicker chairs and palm tree print pillows. Travelers can spend their days hanging out on beach lounge chairs, which come with food service, or taking part in daily family-friendly events like sandcastle building contests, movie nights, beach yoga sessions, pool parties, and scavenger hunts. The dining options include two restaurants, Ocean2000 and O2K Lounge, and in-room dining, which is convenient for families with small kids. For a sweet treat, check out the hotel’s old-fashioned ice cream parlor, where guests can customize their ice cream sundaes. The resort is also close to Fort Lauderdale’s top art and science museums. Best Luxury : The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Nestled in one of Florida’s most upscale communities, the Ritz-Carlton, Naples offers top-notch customer service in a private beachfront location. Notable Amenities Two heated pools, babysitting services, entertainment lounge, 24-hour in-room dining Pros and Cons Pros Top-notch customer service Access to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples Five food presentations daily in the Club Lounge Cons $33 a night valet-only parking policy Resort Overview A stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples offers luxury accommodation on a quiet, 3-mile stretch of beach. Standard rooms start at a comfortable 434 square feet, and the well-appointed guest rooms come in muted shades of cream and blue with breezy balconies that overlook the Gulf of Mexico. Parents can take advantage of in-room babysitting services, spa treatments, and two courses at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Kids ages 5 and up can enroll in Nature’s Wonders, a half-day program of hands-on science activities, while toddlers will love the interactive splash pool. During the day, families can hang near one of the two heated pools, where cabanas come with concierge service. There are seven different dining outlets, and guests who book upgraded suites get access to the Club Lounge, which offers breakfast and all-day snacks and drinks. Best Island Resort : South Seas Island Resort Courtesy of Sea Island See Rates on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It With a wide range of accommodations, South Seas Island Resort makes for a hassle-free getaway off the mainland. Notable Amenities Babysitting services, three pools, six restaurants and bars Pros and Cons Pros Large accommodations Calm beachfront Variety of on-site activities Cons Far from other area attractions Resort Overview Situated on 330 acres, South Seas Island Resort is a great choice for parents who want to stay in an enclosed resort community. Visitors can choose from hotel guestrooms, one- and two-bedroom villas, and single-family homes. There are food options for even the fussiest eaters. The resort offers six different restaurants and bars and even has a convenient grocery store to stock your fridge. Kids can hop between three pools (with two exciting waterslides), and the concierge can arrange boat rentals to explore the area. The resort is located on Captiva Island, off Florida's Gulf Coast, which means there’s some extra planning involved if you want to go sightseeing. But with activities like golf, tennis, pickleball, and parasailing, there’s enough at the resort to keep family members of all ages entertained. Final Verdict Florida has an abundance of great beachfront hotels, and the state is a great vacation destination for families with toddlers. All the resorts listed are great choices for families and appeal to a range of budgets.The best overall resort, Hawks Cay, earned its distinction because of its many activities, large accommodations, and diverse restaurant offerings. Compare the Best Toddler-Friendly Florida Beach Resorts Property Resort Fee Room Rate Free Wi-Fi Best Overall, Hawks Cay Resort $39 $$ Yes Best Island Resort, South Seas Island Resort $25 $$ Yes Best Luxury, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples $45 $$$ Yes Best for Relaxation, Pelican Grand Beach Resort $41 $$ Yes Best for Sightseeing, Loews Miami Beach $32 $$$ Yes Best Themed, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort None $$ Yes Best Pools, Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa 12.5% of the room rate $$ Yes Best Budget, Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach $45.23 $$ Yes Methodology To find the best property for each category, we looked at hotels’ amenities like kids’ club offerings, babysitting services, guestroom features, and pool and water features. Location was important too—all of the resorts are beachfront properties and represent Florida’s diverse geography, from the Keys up to Panama City Beach. Finally, we considered recent guest reviews on third-party sites like Tripadvisor. 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