Planning a spring break trip with little kids always feels like balancing chaos and calm. You want something fun, memorable—but not so ambitious it backfires – and relaxing for grown-ups, but not so relaxing that the kids whine about it. For this trip, we kept things simple: a week in Vero Beach, Florida, to visit my cousin and mix beach days with low-key adventures. We also tried a new AI tool to help us shape the itinerary. I’d used ChatGPT to plan family trips before, but this time I was refining my own custom family AI trip planner. It was like having a friendly, fast-thinking assistant who could brainstorm ideas, filter for kid-friendly stops, and help us avoid vacation regret.
Here’s how it played out—and how you can use our itinerary as a starting point for your own family trip to Florida’s quieter coast.
Day 1: Easy Arrival + Beach Basecamp
We flew into Melbourne International Airport instead of Orlando—and it was a game-changer. Smaller crowds, super easy rental car pickup, and we were in Vero Beach within an hour. (From Atlanta flights were roughly the same price.)
We spent the evening with my cousin, Kelly, and settled into our (her) beach home for the week. We chose Vero because my cousin, who’s lived there for years on and off, raves about the beach, community feel, and lifestyle. Even though she’s decades younger than the average age of 65!
Day 2: Sand + Polo Horses
We kicked off the morning with beach time, digging holes and running from waves. Vero Beach’s shoreline was refreshingly uncrowded even during spring break. The waves tend to be rough, and has a steep bank so its not the best for toddlers, but fearless Remi was straight in, as I stayed within an arm’s length.
That afternoon, we headed to the Vero Beach Polo Club. We didn’t know what to expect—it was our first time watching polo—but we absolutely love watching sports, especially live sports, so were excited to see something new.
The set-up is like a tailgate party – all the general admission fans just line the cars up on one sideline and watch the game from behind their cars!
We brought blankets, chairs, and plenty of food. But we didn’t realize that there wouldn’t be any shade options, so bring your own shade tent (like most of the other groups did).
- A pop-up shade tent
- A blanket or camp chairs
- Snacks + a cooler (no food trucks were available)
- Binoculars if your kids love horses
It’s a very come-as-you-are vibe, with plenty of space for kids to play while you watch the match. Watch closely though – if the ball or especially horses leave the boundries you’ll want to be ready just in case!
Day 3: Nature Adventures + River Views
We started the day with coffee and breakfast at Chelsea’s Gourmet, which has board games on the tables and a low-key, family-friendly vibe. Then it was off to the Environmental Learning Center—a highlight for both of our kids.
Think mini hikes, fish tanks, hands-on nature exhibits, and a shallow pond where, yes, our kids ended up swimming fully clothed. This stop was one of the AI Trip Planner’s best suggestions—it helped us filter ideas based on toddler-friendly walking distances and nature-based play.
We wrapped the day with lunch at Riverside Café, which has outdoor seating and a kids menu that is only funny to grown ups. Around the cafe there was a short path along the river, and one under the huge bridge that connects the island and mainland. It was easy to walk and explore after the meal.
Days 4–5: A Worthwhile Detour to Legoland Florida
We’re usually not the resort-and-theme-park type—crowds, cost, and overstimulation aren’t our idea of a relaxing family trip. But Legoland Florida turned out to be a solid exception. It’s one of the few places that’s genuinely designed for younger kids (especially ages 2–10), and with a weekday visit, we avoided the worst of the lines and chaos.
We started with coffee at Tribe Coffee in Vero, a roastery that felt intimate and craft-made. Then we hit the road for a 2.5-hour drive to Legoland in Winter Haven, Florida.
Here’s how we planned it:
We stayed one night at the Legoland Hotel—themed rooms (we stayed at the pirate hotel), family-style dinner and breakfast, and lots of kid-friendly lobby entertainment
After the drive up, we spent the rest of the day at the main Legoland park, which was manageable in size and had just enough thrill for our 5-year-old without being overwhelming. We ended up being there for close to 5 hours including lunch, which was plenty.
On Day 2, we headed into the Legoland Water Park, which shares an entrance and was a huge hit with slides, a lazy river, and splash areas designed for younger kids. With some clouds, we had the place nearly to ourselves for the first few hours, and loved the wave pool.
The whole thing felt doable—like dipping our toes into a theme park experience without having to commit to days of planning or endless stimulation. We brought our own snacks, kept expectations low, and used the hotel’s early access to get a jump on the day.
On the way back to Vero, we made a quick stop at an orange grove for fresh juice and a little Florida roadside charm before settling back in at the beach. We found Schacht Groves, which was highly rated but disappointing in the actual range of citus to buy or see on the trees, so we must have been between seasons. Maybe call around first if you’re hoping to get the pick-your-own experience that I was expecting.
Day 6: Beach Morning + Navy Seals Military Museum for Kids
We started the day with some relaxed beach time—just the kind of low-effort, high-reward activity we needed after our Legoland adventure. The kids chased seagulls, dug in the sand, and we soaked in the slower pace before heading out for something a bit different.
That afternoon, we visited the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, a surprisingly engaging stop for families even if you’re not military buffs. Located right on the coast in Fort Pierce (an easy drive from Vero), the museum is home to an impressive collection of Navy SEAL artifacts and real-life equipment.
The museum is mostly self-guided, and while many exhibits are text-heavy—which we didn’t spend too much time on with a 5-year-old and a baby—there’s plenty of hands-on exploration to make it worth the visit with kids:
- Climbable boats and helicopters: Remi was all over these, pretending to steer and push buttons.
- Dress up closet with camo gear of all sizes, even replica guns
- Outdoor obstacle course: A replica of what real Navy SEALs use in training. Our daughter loved trying to climb, crawl, and swing her way through it (Challenging Dani to race her along the way).
The museum was a great way to balance learning and movement, and while younger kids might not grasp the history, they’ll definitely enjoy the physical play and novelty of being around real military vehicles.
If you’re in Vero Beach and looking for an outing that mixes education with energy-burning potential, this is a solid half-day option.
Day 7: Cocoa Beach Detour
On Friday, we connected with my uncle and aunt in Titusville, Florida, about an hour north of Vero Beach. We drove to their community, a mini-city with a golf course, clubhouse with restaurant, some shops and services, and even a nature center that Remi loved having a little tour of. We even saw alligators in the creeks around their house, a true Florida Experience!
On the way back, we stopped for a swim at Cocoa Beach. It was a much different beach experience than Vero Beach – a more crowded beach with a busy pier full of shops, bars and restaurants. The water here is more calm, much better for kids to swim in (although still important to keep a close eye, the rip/undercurrent can be dangerous anywhere). They also have several sand volleyball courts that we would have loved to join in.
This was a fun stop especially because I got to share with Dani and Remi that the first time I saw the ocean as a midwesterner, was our trip here when I was 14! This is kind of crazy to Australians, who mostly grow up on the beach.
After we finished at Coco Beach, I asked our AI Trip Planner to suggest a park on the way home that also had a pizza place nearby that we could get takeout from to eat at the playground, and found the perfect spot at Pelican Beach Park, as the sun was going down.
Day 8: Art, Sand, and Space
On our last full day, we lucked out with a kids’ art festival at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, which offered hands-on crafts, shows, and more. Remi jumped into a few activities, and especially loved the snocone truck outside.
Afterward, we soaked up one last afternoon on the beach, and Kelly taugh Remi and Arlo to play bocci ball.
That night, we got a real treat: a rocket launch, visible right from the beach. We checked launch windows in advance (my uncle introduced us to the Space Coast Launches App, which livestreams them as well) and coordinated bedtime around the schedule. Total highlight for all of us, and Remi wrote a cute story about it in kindergarten after we returned.
Day 9: Farewell Feast
We ended our trip with brunch at a Cuban café on the way to the airport. Again, we love Melbourne Airport for how easy it was – we even got to meet the airport’s official companion dog, who walks around to comfort passengers!
Want a Trip Like This? Try the AI Planner I Used
I built a custom AI travel planner specifically for families. It helped me:
- Discover unique local spots (like the polo match and nature center)
- Build a realistic, kid-friendly daily plan
- Add detour options and backup ideas for weather or crowds
Try it here → app.livebold.travel
You can also grab my free AI Family Trip Planning Toolkit, to learn how to get started with AI trip planning, and all the prompts I use to plan trips like this in minutes.
Other Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Vero Beach (Besides the Beach)
If you’re staying longer than a few days—or just want a few extra options in your back pocket—there are plenty of things to do in Vero Beach with kids beyond the beach and nature walks. These spots either came recommended by locals (thanks, Kelly!) or were shortlisted by our AI trip planner when I asked for a mix of outdoor play and rainy day backups:
- McKee Botanical Garden – Beautiful gardens with a splash area, children’s garden, and fun seasonal exhibits (think life-size LEGO sculptures or fairy tale trails).
- Vero Beach Museum of Art – We got lucky with a kids’ art festival during our trip, but they also offer year-round family days and creative workshops for kids.
- Royal Palm Pointe Park – A small riverside park with fountains for kids to run through, plus shaded benches and plenty of space to picnic or let little ones burn energy.
- LaPorte Farms – A quirky, small-scale petting zoo where kids can feed goats, ride ponies, and get up close with farm animals.
- Jungle Trail – A shaded, mostly flat trail perfect for stroller walks or easy bike rides. It runs alongside the Indian River and feels peaceful and uncrowded.
All of these are within easy driving distance of downtown Vero Beach and work well for toddlers, preschoolers, and mixed-age groups. If I had built a “Plan B” list for weather, energy crashes, or unexpected changes, these would’ve been it.
Tips for Planning a Family Trip to Vero Beach with Kids
Planning a trip to Vero Beach with kids doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially if you prioritize low-effort, high-reward stops. Here’s what worked for us:
- Stay near the beach: We got lucky with my cousin’s house, but otherwise there are plenty of rental options close to the water to make quick beach mornings easy, especially with nap schedules to consider. Bonus points for walkability to coffee or playgrounds.
- Rent a car: Most of the best kid-friendly things to do in Vero Beach are spread out. A rental gave us flexibility to explore at our own pace—whether it was detouring to Legoland or catching a rocket launch.
- Avoid weekends for big attractions: We visited Legoland midweek and had far fewer crowds than expected. The same goes for museums and restaurants.
- Mix active days with rest days: Our custom AI travel planner helped us pace the week based on drive time, nap windows, and energy levels. I gave it a few details about our kids and it came back with ideas I wouldn’t have thought of—like the Environmental Learning Center and polo match.
- Leave space for surprises: Some of the best moments weren’t on our itinerary: impromptu beach swims, a rocket launch visible from our beach, or discovering a kid-friendly café with board games on a whim.
