Is your family a beach vacation type of family? Then you are in luck because our National Park system has 10 National Seashore destinations located all along the East Coast from Florida to Massachusetts, as well as Texas and California! With so many beach destinations becoming more and more populated and commercialized, it's nice to see how the National Park service is working to preserve and protect some of our natural coastline. National Seashore locations boast beautiful beaches, preserved scenic areas, wildlife, lighthouses, hiking trails, and have much more family-fun to offer than just a "day at the beach!"
One family friendly National Seashore worth checking out is Cape Canaveral along Florida's Space coast. Canaveral National Seashore offers miles and miles of beautiful beaches. This completely undeveloped beach is great for swimming, fishing, observing wildlife and exploring trails. Something to be aware of, though, is that while restroom facilities are available for beaches, there are no picnic areas, phones, food or water at those locations. You'll definitely need to be prepared!
When the kids need a break from playing in the sand and swimming, you and your family can enjoy one of the short, self-guided hikes offered, or a 6-mile scenic drive through a marsh area with excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife (that might be a great option when the little ones need a nap!). Additional activities are available such as "Canoe Mosquito Lagoon" where families can take a relaxing canoe ride.
Like most other National Parks, Cape Canaveral National Seashore's Junior Ranger Program offers a variety of activities specifically for children. Unique to Cape Canaveral are activities such as body boarding and learning about the ecosystem. An entire list of Junior Ranger activities is posted on the Canaveral National Seashore website.
After a long day at the beach, you and the kids will definitely want to relax and unwind! For family friendly lodging, the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort neighbors the national park. With a huge heated pool, four story water slide and lazy river, this resort is ideal to cool down after a day of exploring Canaveral National Seashore.
