Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
Latest posts by Charlotte
Explore the outdoors with your family on one of the many amazing hiking trails around Orlando. Family hikes are a great way to unplug together, boost mental and physical health, and enjoy beautiful Florida scenery.
Here is a comprehensive list of great local hiking trails all around Central Florida. Each includes trails that are easily accessible for children, and many are stroller friendly and include playgrounds. Make sure to bring bug spray, as mosquitoes are on the rise. We recommend bringing sunscreen, snacks, and plenty of water as well.
Hiking is also an option at many of Central Florida’s natural springs. Add to the outdoor fun with a geocaching scavenger hunt or by hiding painted rocks for others to find.
Known for its white sand beaches, gentle waves, and breathtaking sunsets, Clearwater Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast is one of the top beaches in the United States and makes for a great family-friendly vacation destination. This Florida beach has a variety of seaside hotels and beach resorts for families to choose from and plenty of activities for all ages. We've listed some of our favorite things to do in Clearwater Beach below.
With millions of kids across the country attending school remotely this fall, many hotels, resorts, and campgrounds are now offering online learning assistance to ease the burden placed on parents by this new remote and homeschool lifestyle. These vacation options offer families a way to work and learn in a new environment.
From private learning suites to converted conference rooms, and chef-inspired lunches, these travel destinations have pulled out all the stops to make virtual learning while on vacation as stress-free as possible. Of course, these classrooms come with the best kind of "recess," from resort pools and water parks to cycling and surfing.
So pack your bags and plan a much-needed "schoolcation" getaway from this relentless year. Find more family vacation ideas in our Family Travel Guide.
Is Halloween saved? Even as Disney, Universal, and others cancel Halloween events due to coronavirus concerns, new spooky—and contactless—Orlando Halloween fun is popping up for 2020. Two new Halloween drive-thrus are opening near Orlando in late September, and we've got all the details.
This new type of socially-distanced haunting fun might just help to keep the Halloween spirit alive for Central Floridians. Dare to drive into a world of twisted fairy tales at the Haunted Road Drive-thru in Orlando, while the new Scream n' Stream in Kissimmee offers a younger kid drive-thru trick-or-treat trail or a chilling immersive horror movie experience in a haunted house for the teens and up. Read on for more details on the new Halloween attractions coming to the Orlando area.
Orlando and Central Florida have an abundance of waterways for kids to explore, and boating on these waterways is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors at a safe and social distance.
There are many lakes in the Orlando area connected by canals that form lake chains, making for a beautiful day on the water and a great chance to view native Florida wildlife. Whether you want to take the kids fishing, water skiing, or anchor the boat and swim, we've got you covered with some of the best boating areas around Orlando.
The Sunshine State has reopened for locals and tourists ready to venture out for some summer fun in the sun. The Florida reopening is well underway, and we've got the scoop on what's open in Florida right now, as well as top attractions opening soon.
Keep in mind that the coronavirus pandemic is an ever-evolving situation. A slew of new mask-wearing orders went into effect in Florida over the past few days as the state's positive cases shot up. Tourist hot spots like Orange County (Orlando), the city of Tampa, and the Florida Keys are mandating face coverings indoors to stop the spread.
The comprehensive list of family-friendly attractions in the Florida reopening includes everything from our favorite Florida beaches to the big-name theme parks, Orlando hotels, water parks, and more. If your summer travel plans take you to a different region, check out our list of family-friendly resorts reopening for summer 2020 travel.
Legos are one of those toys that span ages and gender, offering hours of hands-on, creative building for kids and adults. There are dinosaurs, princesses, and plenty of other fun themed Lego sets. But if your kid keeps passing over the pile of Lego toys you've painfully collected to reach for the video game controller or tablet, we've come up with the ultimate resource of over 100 Lego ideas that are anything but boring. The best part is that you don’t need a huge collection of Lego bricks for most of these activities; just bring your imagination.
And while planning your next vacation, consider a trip to Legoland Florida, which recently reopened, with your little Lego fanatic. Find more indoor activities for kids in our Boredom Busters Guide.
After being closed since mid-March, Central Florida theme parks are getting ready to reopen in the weeks and months ahead, making family summer vacation plans even better. In line with the Plan for Florida's Recovery, all theme parks have outlined their reopening plans for local and state approval. So that guests can better plan their visits, we’ve highlighted the enhanced safety measures and important updates for each park below. Read on for details and be sure to check out what's currently open in Orlando and around Central Florida.
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