Waterparks thrill kids of all ages, sending them spiraling down steep water slides. Beat the summer heat by spending a weekend getaway at a Florida waterpark. Rapids Waterpark in Riviera Beach, Florida, about five miles inland from Palm Beach Shores on Florida's southeastern coast, offers challenging rides such as Black Thunder, Body Blasters, Raging Rapids and Pirate's Plunge. Smaller kids can run through jets of water shooting out of the ground at the Dancing Fountains, and everyone can take a relaxing trip down the lazy river. Toddlers have their own Tadpool for safe, shallow water play. Panama City in the Florida panhandle has a large waterpark near the Gulf of Mexico called Shipwreck Island. Try the very steep and fast Tree Top Drop for a bit of excitement or for milder fun, the Ocean Motion Wave Pool or Zoom Flume.
History doesn't have to be boring for your kids. Watch their excitement when you give them a chance to spend a weekend exploring an old fort from days gone by. Take them to the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine, and let them visit the Castillo de San Marcos. If they are between the ages of 6 and 12, they can earn a Junior Ranger Badge in a couple of hours if they participate in the Junior Ranger Program. It's a fun and painless way to learn a bit of history. Recent history can be just as interesting. The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral offers tours and programs for kids including the Shuttle Launch Experience simulator, an IMAX movie and a walk through the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Your child will be able to meet a real astronaut at the Astronaut Encounter.
Orlando, Florida has a magic that goes beyond the mouse. Disney provides lots of fun, but Orlando has additional attractions that kids also love. Spend a weekend getaway by taking the family to Medieval Times, where you will watch knights engaging in a jousting contest. Cheer your knight on as you feast on roasted chicken, spare ribs, baked potatoes, tomato soup and garlic bread. Spend part of your weekend at Old Town. This attraction recreates an old-fashioned main street lined with interesting shops, rides and eateries. Every Friday and Saturday night, Old Town hosts a car show and parade. Stay at Seralago Hotel and Suites in a kids' suite, where the children have a special separate area with bunk beds and a television of their own.
The Florida Keys aren't just for adults. Take the kids to Cheeca Lodge and Spa on Islamorada and let them participate in Camp Cheeca, a children's program with an environmental theme. The camp offers group games, fishing trips to the pier and scavenger hunts. They have fun with arts and crafts including painting coconuts, and will love the night games of flashlight tag and star-gazing. Hawks Cay on Duck Key welcomes kids, tweens and teens to participate in special activities for their age group. Camp Hawk, for the younger set, is closely organized and supervised, and runs full days or half days, either morning or afternoon. Kids will go swimming in the Pirate Ship pool, well appointed with rope ladders, water canons and kid-sized water slides. Tweens make tie-dyed tee shirts, play video games, take part in sports events and have access to a kid-secure Internet. Older teens have special spa privileges, play water sports and video games and take part in Teen Night.
