Family travel is having a moment: 92% of parents say they are likely to travel with their children in the next year, according to data from the 2025 U.S. Family Travel Survey.

Okay, but: Planning a family trip that satisfies everyone can still feel harder than it should.

• Parents want a real reset. Kids want adventure. And no one wants to spend limited vacation days juggling an itinerary that feels like work.

The positive news: St. Pete-Clearwater, Florida, offers a practical answer: 35 miles of Gulf Coast beaches, plus enough art, food and outdoor adventure to make the trip feel bigger than a week in the sun.

• Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, the destination combines award-winning beaches with cultural attractions, MICHELIN-recommended dining and immersive nature experiences.

What's in store: Families can spend the morning at an art museum, explore mangroves in the afternoon and still make it back to the Gulf for sunset.

• Walkable downtowns, farm-to-table restaurants and hands-on marine encounters give parents something to enjoy while keeping kids engaged — not just occupied.

Here's what you can look forward to ⬇️

🎨 A city brimming with culture

St. Petersburg gives families an easy way to add culture to their trip.

• The Dalí Museum showcases the most comprehensive collection of Salvador Dalí's work — plus family-friendly interactive exhibits.
• The Chihuly Collection and Morean Arts Center offer colorful, visual stops that can work for younger travelers, too.
• Kids can turn art into a scavenger hunt, exploring the city's walkable murals and galleries.

Worth a mention: Condé Nast ​Traveler named St. Pete one of the top small U.S. cities with "big-time art scenes."

🐬 Immersive nature experiences and adventure

Sun, sea and natural beauty — you can choose how you want to enjoy the great outdoors and unique marine life in St. Pete-Clearwater.

• Learn about marine rescue, rehabilitation and conservation at Clearwater Marine Aquarium — including Winter the dolphin's legacy.
• Kayak through 3,700 acres of ancient mangroves at Weedon Island Preserve.
• Book dolphin cruises, sunset sails or other ways to get out on the water without overpacking the day.

😋 Endless delicious options for foodies, both big and small

St. Pete-Clearwater's dining scene gives families options beyond the usual vacation fare.

Think beachfront seafood shacks in Madeira Beach where kids can eat with sandy feet, Greek dining in Tarpon Springs, farm-to-table restaurants in Downtown St. Petersburg and MICHELIN-recommended spots across the region.

• Parents can enjoy a memorable meal without having to choose between "nice" and "kid-friendly."

The proof: St. Petersburg has been named one of "America's Next Great Food Cities" by multiple national publications.

🏖️ And of course, the beaches

Take a load off at St. Pete-Clearwater's pristine beaches — 35 miles of sugar-white sand — with plenty of sunshine and calm Gulf waters.

Clearwater Beach is consistently ranked among the country's best, while St. Pete Beach offers another classic Gulf Coast escape.

• Elevate your beach day with a cabana or let the kids run loose at St. Pete Pier, a waterfront playground and splash pad.

The takeaway: This is a beach vacation elevated: upscale without being stuffy, active without exhausting and culturally rich without feeling forced.

• In an era where family time is hard to come by, St. Pete-Clearwater lets you have it all: the beach reset, the cultural stimulation and quality time that actually sticks.

Plan your escape to St. Pete-Clearwater.