5 Sensory Friendly Day Trips in Central Florida

Are you planning a day trip for your family, and want to incorporate some sensory friendly activities?

As a mom of three kids, ages from 1- 9 years, I have grown accustomed to the need to pre-plan family adventures. My AuDHD busy bee family loves to go go go.

I am sharing my family's top 5 locations in Central Florida , to help guide other families in the right direction-

Manatee Viewing Center in Tampa, FL

Location: 6990 Dickman Rd., Apollo Beach, FL 33572

Hours: Open daily from November 1 - April 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails close at 4 p.m.

Located in Central Florida, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center offers multiple family friendly activities.

1. The ADA-compliant Great Florida Birding Trail offers views of local birds as well as manatees that are attracted to the area during the cooler months.

2. The Rays Touch Tank offers a chance for visitors to pet cownose rays.

3. The environmental education building shows off a colorful display of the manatee's habitat.

4. Gift Shop

5. South Shore Café that offers a variety of foods including pizza, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, chips, and snacks.

Legoland Florida Resort

Location: One Legoland Way Winter Haven, FL 33884

Hours: Open daily from 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Located in Central Florida, Legoland Florida Resort offers multiple themed parks, rides, and shows for all ages.

1. All ages can play - Legoland offers rides and attractions for toddlers through adults.

2. Sensory friendly- Legoland offers sensory guides to support guests that need special accommodations, as well as a Hero Pass. The Hero pass allows special needs guests and their families to skip the long wait on rides. See their accessibility site for more information.

3. Theme Park

4. Water Park

5. Seasonal Events

6. Legoland Hotel Resort

Bonnet Springs Park 

Location: 400 Bonnet Springs Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33815

Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to Dusk

Located in Lakeland, FL, Bonnet Springs Park offers 168 acres of area to explore, including a sensory friendly Florida Children's Museum and -

1. Coffee Shop at the Welcome Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

2. Depot Café

3. Rooftop Garden Bar

4. Heritage Gardens Train Playground

5. Playground

6. Treehouse

7. Boathouse

8. Canopy Walk

9. Butterfly House

Dinosaur World

Location: 5145 Harvey Tew Road Plant City, FL 33565

Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Located in Plant City, FL, Dinosaur World offers 20 acres of wooded trails with life-size dinosaur replicas. Activities include-

1. 20 shaded acres of ADA compatible trails

2. Fossil Dig Site

3. Fossil and Gem sift station

4. Museum

5. Playgrounds

6. Gift Shop

7. It is "Autism Friendly", with more information on the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) Website

8. Coolers and snacks are encouraged

Fort De Soto Beach, Historic Fort, and Camp Site

Location: 3500 Pinellas Bayway South Tierra Verde, Fl 33715

Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to Sunset

Located in Tierra Verde, FL, Fort De Soto Park offers many family and sensory friendly amenities, including-

1. Historic Fort Site

2. 7 miles of beach

3. Camp Sites

4. Picnic Shelters

5. Food Concession

6. Restrooms

7. Playgrounds

8. Dog Beach

9. Fishing Piers

10. Ferry Service to Egmont Key and Shell Key 

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