- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- home style today articles
- home style today q&a
- traveling today articles
- traveling today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Family Fun in Jacksonville
5 Florida Hot Spots When Traveling with Small Children
By Robert Rousseau
The best part is that the center succeeds in this endeavor by offering family fun hours (story time and nature crafts), scavenger hunts, nature movies, hiking/biking trails and a South Beach location where sharks teeth and shells abound (no lifeguards).
But when talking about children in the 3- to 6-year-old range, the most fun can be had in attending story time, nature crafts and scavenger hunts. Zimmerman notes that these activities are "geared particularly to the younger age group: pre-K through kindergarten through second grade kids," she says. And she says that the stories all have an environmental theme to them, and the craft goes along with that the story. For example, after one particular story on snakes, she says they provided old ties and the children turned them into snakes.
Now what little kid wouldn't enjoy that?
Finally, the center works with ages "K through gray," Zimmerman says. Thus, there are plenty of things to take in there that adults might enjoy as well.
What's better than the beach when you have young kids? The ocean, shells, shark's teeth, escaping fish after a wave and the sand are always sure to occupy them. These activities are sure to keep parents busy as well.
Still, a trip to Jacksonville Beach has more going for it than just the status quo beach experience. First, it has several alcoves where you can park, nearly all of which are right on the beach. There are also a host of accommodations and restaurants right there as well, which may help to limit the aount of items that families need to bring with them – always a good thing when young children are involved.