Post written by Chrysty Miles:

They don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing. If you head to Florida with your family, you can expect great weather and a fantastic choice of things to do.

Theme Parks

For many people, Florida means Walt Disney World. Millions visit the theme park every year but attractive as it is, WDW, as it’s now known, is by no means the only place to go in the Orlando area. Go to the International Drive resort area, where you can find WonderWorks indoor amusement park, held in an amazing upside down building! Inside, enjoy different areas such as Space Discovery, the Physical Challenge Zone, laser tag, Natural Disasters exhibit and much more. This is great interactive fun for the family with the added bonus of being educational.

Everglades National Park

Fancy something outdoors? Then head straight to the Everglades National Park. This world heritage site is home to a rich variety of plants, birds and animals including alligators, turtles, snakes and even the very rare Florida panther. You can take a boat or walking tour with rangers, to see the wildlife and fantastic landscape, or play a game while you sight see, by trying the modern version of treasure hunting called 'geocaching' where you work together as a family to locate hidden boxes filled with trinkets and goodies.

Capture the moment

The area is a natural subject for photography of course, and it is worth bringing a digital SLR camera. With their fast response times and ability to fit extra lenses, they are the ideal piece of equipment to capture wildlife, the surrounding landscape and memories of your family vacation. You can find some great, and reasonably priced modern digital SLR cameras at retailers like Tesco, which have a Full Auto option, so even youngest family members can take photos you will want to treasure.

Hit the beach

With camera packed and charged, you might just want to spend some quality time on one of Florida's spectacular beaches to cool down. Panama City Beach, is a great choice overall, it offers watersports like fishing, diving, and snorkelling, as well as amusements along the shore and good shopping facilities. However, if you are based in the Tampa Bay area and want a quieter experience, then go to Turtle Beach. It's clear soft sand and clear waters will be a hit with the kids, and if you go between May and October you'll be in with a good chance of spotting the notoriously shy sea turtles.

Discover the aquariums

And if you have any energy left, then take the family to one of Florida’s world class aquariums. Florida Aquarium in Tampa offers its more adventurous visitors the chance to swim with sharks, or the chance to go on a Wild Dolphin Cruise, where your children will be able to see these smart and playful animals frolicking in their natural habitat.

Florida is a fantastic place to take your kids, if it has one drawback as a holiday destination it's that there is so much to see and do there is no way you will be able to fit it all into one trip. The answer? Just make sure you come back next year.