GEORGIA/FLORIDA

Everglades National Park, Florida
Thick with alligators, mangrove trees, swamps, and rivers of waving grass, a trip to the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. can feel like a prehistoric journey. Rent a canoe or book a boat tour to soak up the water scene, hop on an open-sided tram to tour the Shark Valley grasslands, go birding along the Anhinga Trail, or let a ranger-led walk acquaint you with rare and endangered species.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
Above—a canopy of branches draped in Spanish moss. Below—a marshy web of lakes and swamps. And all around—turtles, alligators, river otters, herons, and hawks. Nearly 400,000 acres of discoveries await as you paddle down canoe trails, picnic on islands, bike the nature loop, climb the observation tower, take a guided boat tour, and visit the Living Swamp Center.

St. Johns River, Florida
If your family loves to fish, here’s paradise. World-renowned for its bass fishing, this waterway is also home to manatees, alligators, and an amazingly rich diversity of bird life. Hop on an airboat for an interpretive eco-tour, or rent your own pontoon boat and cruise at your leisure.

Atlanta, Georgia
Dive into the world's largest aquarium—8 million gallons of water filled with more than 100,000 amazing marine creatures. Then give kids room to grow at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Help your family spot plants that actually eat bugs, the plant chocolate is made from, and a Children’s Garden offering special programs for kids.

Miami, Florida
Make a splash at two family-friendly beaches: Crandon Park in Key Biscane and Mathson Hammock Park in Coral Gables. Then head to the outdoor Miami Seaquarium; the Miami Metrozoo where Zoo-In sleepovers on Fridays and Saturdays let kids help feed animals in the middle of the night; or the Bird of Prey Research Center at Miami’s Museum of Science. Feeling wild? Swing by Monkey Jungle where unique wire pathways allow primates to scamper overhead. Drive south to visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef, an undersea park where you can scuba, snorkel, or view watery wonders from a glass-bottom boat.