The BEST Hotels and Resorts Near Tampa Bay for Families
Gas is expensive, and so are flights, but you can still plan an epic getaway with the family without going too far. Hooray for calling Florida home! We’re sharing some of our favorite adventures to maybe inspire your next staycation.
A vacation BUILT for Kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
LEGOLAND Florida Resort has three pretty epic hotels that were literally built with kids in mind, two on property — LEGOLAND Hotel and Pirate Island Hotel — and in a more secluded spot across the street, LEGOLAND Beach Retreat.
We love that the LEGOLAND Hotel offers seven unique themed rooms inspired by your child’s favorite sets, including DUPLO, LEGO Friends, NINJAGO, Pirates and Kingdoms. Pirate Island Hotel next door is, of course, themed to all things LEGO Pirate.
The LEGO-themed beach bungalows of LEGOLAND Beach Retreat also offer a separate sleeping area for the kids with bunk beds, along with a front porch patio to lounge on while the kids play on the outside playground in the middle of each circle of bungalows.
All of the hotels have awesome pools, and you can even book a LEGO Workshop and enjoy other fun activities when you are done playing at theme parks.
Things to do Nearby: Obviously, visit the parks! You are steps away from LEGOLAND Florida, LEGOLAND Florida Water Park, SEA LIFE Florida and Peppa Pig Theme Park! A LEGOLAND Florida annual pass gets you entry into all four parks and starts at $199 each.
You’ll also want to make time to visit Bok Tower Gardens, which has an adorable Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden. It’s about a 25-minute drive and totally worth the pit stop.
Beachfront Getaway at JW Marriott Clearwater Beach
The beach is calling, and lucky you for having one of the world’s best beaches right in our backyard. If you are looking for a luxurious beach getaway, the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach is a great option. You’ll have access to amazing amenities, like exclusive beach access, the 11th-floor rooftop pool, JW Spa and elevated dining experiences like at Latitude 28.
The kids will love stopping by the Hideaway Hangout kids club for fun activities and programming. You can also book experiences like kayaking or paddleboarding or take advantage of the four-hour complimentary bicycle rental to explore Clearwater Beach.
Things to Do Nearby: Visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It’s not far, and you can even make it a weeklong vacation and book a summer camp at CMA for the kids while you enjoy all of the amenities at the resort. CMA has added so many new animals to their marine family, including adorable sea harbor seals and dolphins!
Florida Dude Ranch Getaway at Westgate River Ranch & Rodeo
If you are really feeling the urge to get away from the hustle of city life, book your getaway at Westgate River Ranch & Rodeo, the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi River.
While they offer several different types of camping, glamping and cozy suites, our favorite experiences were in the Luxe TeePees and Luxe Conestoga Wagons. It’s such a unique experience for the kids, and they’ll remember it forever!
Things to Do Nearby: There’s not much else to do around here, and that’s the whole point of this getaway. But there are plenty of activities at Westgate River Ranch & Rodeo. In fact, there are more than a dozen to choose from, from a rodeo, mini golf and even a brand new water park!
We loved horseback riding (because, of course!) and the airboat rides. Roasting marshmallows every night at the fire pit was another family highlight. Since you are so far out from the lights of the big cities, you’ll see so many stars, so don’t forget to look up!
Explore Natural Florida at Paddletail Resort in Crystal River
Another way to escape the hustle is to drive north up to Crystal River to experience natural Florida. The Paddletail Resort is right on the water by Kings Bay, not far from Three Sisters Springs. Manatee sightings are almost always guaranteed since it’s the manatee capital of the world!
Unforgettable experiences you can book include Swimming with Manatees, where you can passively observe and swim among the manatees, and scalloping in the summer months.
The resort just released its 2026 Scalloping package, which starts at $890 for two guests for a mid-week stay that includes two nights of accommodations at the Paddletail Waterfront Lodge and a guided scalloping tour with one of the top captains at Crystal River. This includes a snorkel, mask, and fins AND a chef-prepared dinner featuring your own fresh-caught scallops (served with seasonal side) and a Welcome Amenity Bag.
We always recommend booking a tour with a professional guide because they know the rules, and know where all of the action is at since they are on the water pretty much every day!
Things to Do Nearby: You’ve got multiple parks to choose from, including Three Sisters Springs and the original Florida roadside attractions: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and Homosassa Springs State Park. Arrive early at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park since you’re close by for guaranteed access to the Buccaneer Bay water park, mermaid shows and more. The parking lot does fill up fast during the season! You can also go kayaking in the Weeki Wachee River.
Over at Homosassa Springs State Park, you can explore the Underwater Observatory and see fish and manatees in their natural habitat, and walk the boardwalk to meet the captive animals that now call the park home because they can no longer survive on their own in the wild. Among the animals you’ll see are alligators, black bears and flamingos.
WORTH THE DRIVE: Immerse Yourself Near the Theme Parks of Central Florida
Our Favorite Hotels by Walt Disney World:
Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee
We love Gaylord Palms because you actually don’t ever have to leave to feel like you’ve had a vacation. Not only is there an awesome 3-acre Cypress Springs Water Park with water slides and a lazy river, but the indoor atrium is also pretty incredible to explore.
And from May 22 through Sept. 7, superheroes are taking over as the resort brings back its summer celebration, “Super Hero Summer featuring DC!” Overnight guests will get to experience DC Super Hero Splash Bash in the water park, featuring superhero games, DC trivia and a live DJ. You can also see the DC Super Hero Academy live show, take part in the Revenge of the Riddler Scavenger Hunt, dine with superheroes and watch the Battle for Justice Light Show.
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels
This is always our pick when EPCOT is on the list since you can easily walk or boat over to the back entrance near the World Showcase. It also has easy access to Hollywood Studios without driving! If you book the right room, you might even get a glimpse of the fireworks at EPCOT.
Things to Do Nearby: There’s more than just the Disney theme parks! Board one of the resort buses for a free ride to Disney Springs to see Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life. It’s a Cirque love letter to Disney animation and simply magical to see with the kids. This summer, buy a special $25 children’s ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket to experience the wonder as a family through Sept. 6, 2026. cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life
We have a few other favorite non-theme park favorites on Disney property, such as meeting Cinderella’s ponies at Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Pony rides are also available for kids ages 3-9 for $10 on a walk-in basis only, so no need to book in advance.
We also love playing a round of mini golf at Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and even booking a round of FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course.
Our Favorite Hotels Near Universal Studios: CoCo Key Water Resort
When it gets too hot for the theme parks, cool off at a resort with a water park like CoCo Key Resort! It features three connected water play areas, which are gated to help you keep track of your kiddos! There are some awesome water slides and even relaxation areas.
We also love that the water park features a 54,000-square-foot canopy over most of the water attractions to minimize time in the sun.
Things to Do Nearby: ICON Park and the Pointe Orlando are close by, with something for everyone in the family.
If you head to ICON Park, check out SEA LIFE Orlando, and take a ride on The Eye! From May 9-25, SEA LIFE Orlando is hosting a Meet a Mermaid experience where you can watch live underwater mermaid dive shows and even meet a mermaid.
At the Pointe Orlando, explore WonderWorks Orlando, which packs a great big upside-down punch. There’s so much fun to be had in this huge indoor venue, including floor upon floor of cool exhibits where learning is built into the attractions. There’s also a huge arcade with a glow-in-the-dark ropes course, a 4D XD motion theater, a giant bubble room and laser tag.
Then, to put a cherry on top of an extravagant day, grab lunch or dinner out at JoJo’s Shake Bar, known for decadent menu items that will blow your socks off.
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Originally published in the May 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.