In central eastern Florida, Flagler Beach welcomes visitors all year long with Southern charm and a low-key beach community. With the Graham Swamp Conservation Area, Bulow Creek State Park, and Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve nearby, your family can enjoy fresh air while hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, and so much more. You can opt to spend your days on the beach, or choose something a little more adventurous. Stay at a Flagler Beach vacation rental adjacent to the coast to enjoy views of the water, or appreciate the hustle and bustle in the downtown area. Here are the most popular kid-friendly things to do in Flagler Beach.
1. Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
Grab your kayaks or a canoe and head over to Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area for a day out on the water. Wind your way through the inland waterway and keep an eye out for wildlife along the shores. Pack a picnic lunch from your vacation rental and stop on one of the small islands to enjoy a family meal together. If you don’t own kayaks, rent them from one of the local outfitters in town. When you’re done rowing, cool off in the water with a dip at the park’s beach.
2. A Day With the Dolphins
Load the family in the car and spend the day at the Marineland Dolphin Adventure. In addition to watching some great shows where dolphins interact and perform for the trainers, your kids can also enjoy petting and feeding the dolphins. Take the facility’s Behind the Seas Tour to learn more about the history and ecology efforts of this dolphin habitat. If you have the time, schedule one of the eco-tours and take the family out on the water with a guide on kayaks.
3. Go Fishing
Pack up your fishing gear and take the kids to the Flagler Beach Pier for a day of fishing. If you don’t have your own equipment, stop by the bait store at the pier and rent poles for the whole family there. In addition to rentals, the store offers beach toys, snacks, bait, and chairs. When the kids tire of waiting for the fish to bite, bring out the binoculars to watch boats in the distance and catch sight of the dolphins frolicking in the water.
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4. Bulow Creek State Park
Exploration awaits you at Bulow Creek State Park, which holds the ruins of a sugar plantation within its boundaries. As you follow the walking paths, note the huge oak trees. The tallest and oldest of these is the Fairchild Oak. You may also come across the ruins of the Bulow Plantation that was razed during the Second Seminole War. Pack up some sandwiches before leaving the vacation rental to enjoy under the shade.
5. Flagler Beach Historical Museum
On a rainy afternoon, the Flagler Beach Historical Museum is open and ready to show and tell the town’s past. This small museum opens almost every day without fail and stays open late for the Flagler Beach’s First Friday, the first Friday of each month. The exhibits include artifacts and fossils that date back to the prehistoric age. For a look at the modern age, check out the astronaut exhibit.
6. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Feel like royalty as your family strolls through the formal gardens of Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. This park makes use of a variety of exotic and native plants in its gardens. As you walk along the Atlantic beach, check out the coquina rock formations, which are definitely not something that you see every day. You can bring your bikes for the paths or just enjoy a simple hike through the woods.
7. Spend a Day on the Beach
With miles of beach, Flagler Beach is the great place to while away the day. Pack a cooler, sunscreen, and sand buckets before leaving your vacation rental. Bring boogie boards, or rent them from one of the local outfitters to try your hand at riding the waves. As the sun goes down, walk along the surf line with your kids looking for seashells and taking in the natural beauty of the town.
8. Rent Bikes
While staying in town, rent bikes to get around, or spend a day out biking up and down the coast. One of the popular trails is the A1A Scenic Highway. This trail extends from the Volusia/Flagler County line to the northern city limits of Beverly Beach, and the distance is a little over 7 miles. You’ll get to see a lot of the quirky homes that line the beach and gorgeous water views as you pedal along.
9. Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve
Raised wooden platforms create a comfortable walking path for your family to navigate the salt marshes in the Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve, and provide a safe place for viewing wildlife and a little bird watching. The park includes a picnic pavilion so you can dine alfresco, and its boat ramp makes it easy to put a canoe or kayaks in the water and explore the Intercoastal Waterway. This is a popular place for bird watching, so be sure to bring your binoculars.
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