Florida, known as the “Sunshine State” due to having 361 days of sun, is one of the hot spots for family vacations. Families seeking fun in the sun flock to this state to take advantage of the warmer weather and its beaches. A lot of people love Miami, but the Tampa Bay Area is home to some of the best beaches. There are dozens of beaches in and around the city. There are secluded beaches only accessible by boat and family-friendly beaches that are great for families that want to have a lovely time together. If you are visiting Tampa or the surrounding areas, add some of these beaches in Tampa to your list of places to visit. They’re perfect for you when you want to spend time on the sand by the water with your family.
Related: Best Places to Travel If You Love the Beach
Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach isn’t too far from Tampa. It should take roughly 45 minutes to get there when driving, but it’s worth the drive. Not only is the beach clean and beautiful, but it’s also a spacious spot to relax when you want to sunbathe, play in the sand, or even walk on the boardwalk.
After spending some of your time on the beach, you can head over to the boardwalk to visit some of the shops, and even grab a bite to eat at one of the incredible restaurants in the area. With much to do and to stay busy, a trip to Madeira Beach is a must when you’re on vacation with your loved ones.
Sunset Beach
Stop by Sunset Beach in Tampa when you want to hang out in a clean and friendly environment. It’s closer to the Treasure Island area, but it’s still easy to get to and such a great place to visit when you’re traveling to the beach with your kids. People love taking a trip to this beach because of its cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
It’s a quiet and fun place to go when you want to relax on the sand, jump around in the water, or even play a sport on the beach, such as volleyball or handball. Before you head over to the beach, be sure to pack the essentials, including plenty of beach towels, sunscreen, snacks, and bottled water for everyone to drink.
Ben T. Davis Beach
Visit Ben T. Davis Beach for a relaxing and enjoyable experience with your loved ones. It’s one of the best beaches in the Tampa area because of its natural beauty and all that it offers to visitors. While it’s a narrow stretch near the shoreline, it’s still got much to offer, making it a great place to visit with your loved ones.
- You can sit on the beach to soak up the sun, read a good book while resting in the sand or even get in the water.
- Your children can have fun building sandcastles and play with other beach-related toys, such as beach balls and boogie boards.
- While you’re there, you’ll see multiple boat ramps with boats sailing through the water. In addition to the boat ramps, there are spacious picnic shelters available.
Pack some sandwiches and drinks to take with you and enjoy a fun and relaxing meal with your family while enjoying the scenery from the beach. There are grills available to use, so if you don’t want to make sandwiches, you can always bring chicken, vegetables, steak, and other tasty foods with you to throw on the grill and prepare for the family.
And, if you don’t want to have to do any cooking while relaxing on the beach, you don’t have to worry. You can find lots of concessions available that serve food and beverages to visitors!
Archibald Beach Park
While you’ll find the Archibald Beach Park in Petersburg, Florida, it’s not far from Tampa and is worth a visit when you want to have good times with great people. The beach is a popular destination for tourists traveling with their families because it’s a family-friendly, spacious area with plenty to do and see. In addition, metered parking is available to allow visitors to park their vehicles in a safe spot before heading over to the beach to relax and have a good time.
There are picnic areas available for guests to sit with their loved ones and eat together as a family. You can pack some goodies to bring with you for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to the picnic area, you can find public restrooms and showers on the premises. So, if you need to use the bathroom or want to wash the sand off your body after spending time on the beach, you can do so before getting back into your car!
📸 Tampa.gov
Picnic Island Beach Dog Park
When you’re looking for the perfect family-friendly beach that will allow you to bring your four-legged friend, it’s the Picnic Island Beach Dog Park. It’s a beautiful, spacious park available to guests and their pets.
You can sit at the picnic tables and eat food together, enjoy the relaxing views, hang out on the sand, and even get in the water while bringing your pet with you.
If you don’t like to leave your pet at home, now you don’t have to worry about doing that because you bring the animal with you to the beach with your loved ones.
Cypress Point Park
Many people enjoy taking a trip to Cypress Point Park, a beautiful city park by the beach in Tampa, Florida. The oceanfront park offers incredible views. You can sit out and enjoy the relaxing scenery with loved ones, walk on the boardwalk, explore the amazing hiking trails, and even have a picnic. No matter what you’re in the mood to do while visiting this area, you can do it with family and friends!
These are some of the top family-friendly beach areas around Tampa, Florida. If you’d like to spend the day at the beach with your loved ones, and you want to make it a fun and memorable time, be sure to check out some of these beautiful places. Not only are these beaches clean and beautiful, but they’re also close to different boardwalks, hiking trails, shops, and restaurants. Some even have picnic areas so that you can have an enjoyable time dining with loved ones on the beach.