best winter sun destinations for families

Top Winter Sun Destinations for Families

Escaping gray skies is easier when you know where the best winter sun destinations for families are. This guide brings together proven picks, simple weather notes, and activity ideas so you can plan quickly and well. You will also find safety tips and a short checklist for choosing the right spot.

Table of Contents

1. Top 10 Winter Sun Destinations for Families


  • Florida

  • Mexico 

  • Costa Rica

  • Aruba

  • St Lucia

  • Barbados

  • Canary Islands

  • Cyprus

  • Malta

  • Dubai


2. Travel Safety and Health Considerations for Kids


3. How to Choose the Right Destination for Kids


4. Conclusion


5. Frequently Asked Questions

Top 10 Winter Sun Destinations for Families

1. Florida, USA

Florida is easy to reach, warm, and packed with family staples. Orlando offers theme parks, water parks, and large condo resorts with kitchens. 

The Gulf Coast (Clearwater, Sarasota, Naples) has soft sand, gentle surf, and many beachfront rentals. 

The Florida Keys lean relaxed, with snorkeling, boat trips, and wildlife encounters. Winter water can feel cool in North Florida, so the Gulf and Keys are safer bets for swim time.

Driving is simple, and most towns have stroller-friendly boardwalks and playgrounds. 

For many families, Florida sits comfortably among the best winter sun destinations for families, thanks to short flights and familiar amenities.

Activities families can enjoy together

Theme park days, manatee viewing in winter, Gulf shelling walks, Keys glass-bottom boat rides, aquariums, and sunset beach picnics.

2. Mexico (Riviera Maya & beyond)

The Riviera Maya offers reliable sun and a wide range of resort choices. Stay in Cancun’s Hotel Zone for easy beaches and kid clubs, or pick Playa del Carmen for walkable dining.

Tulum adds a low-rise vibe and ruins visits. 

Day trips to cenotes and eco-parks break up beach time. Cozumel offers calm snorkeling spots and an easy ferry from the mainland. 

Winter is the dry season, and many resorts include airport transfers and water sports gear. Its weather, value, and access make Mexico one of the best winter sun destinations for families.

Resorts in Mexico and Aruba offer all-inclusive family resorts, warm weather packages with kids’ clubs and water parks

Activities families can enjoy together

Cenote swims, reef snorkeling, turtle spotting, Chichén Itzá or Tulum ruins, eco-park zip lines, and beach club downtime.

3. Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Pacific side (Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio) shines in the dry season from mid-December to April.

Guanacaste has long, swimmable beaches and many family villas. Manuel Antonio mixes a compact national park with easy wildlife viewing. 

Add Arenal for hot springs and hanging bridges, and Monteverde for cloud-forest walks. Roads are improving, but plan extra time for mountain drives. Most lodges can arrange guides, car seats, and early starts for wildlife.

Activities families can enjoy together

Sloth and monkey walks, hot-spring soaks, gentle rafting, zip-line canopy tours, farm visits, and Pacific sunset beach time.

4. Aruba (Caribbean)

Aruba’s arid climate means lots of sun and little rain. Palm Beach and Eagle Beach offer wide, calm water ideal for younger swimmers. Resorts sit right on the sand with shallow entries and gear rentals. 

Trade winds keep days comfortable, and many hotels have kids’ clubs and kitchenettes. Dining is international and easy for picky eaters.

Taxis are plentiful, and rental cars help you explore coves and the island’s desert park.

Activities families can enjoy together

Shallow-water snorkeling, catamaran cruises, submarine tours, butterfly farm visits, and gentle off-road drives in Arikok National Park.

5. St Lucia (Caribbean)

St Lucia combines dramatic scenery with relaxed resorts. Families often base in the north around Rodney Bay for calm seas and walkable amenities. 

The south near Soufrière delivers Piton views, mineral mud baths, and botanical gardens. Roads are winding, so expect longer transfer times. 

Many hotels offer interconnecting rooms and nanny services for date-night dinners. Beaches can be soft sand or volcanic black, which kids find novel.

Activities families can enjoy together

Beach time by the Pitons, aerial tram rides, snorkel trips in marine reserves, chocolate estate tours, and waterfall swims.

6. Barbados (Caribbean)

Barbados is straightforward and friendly. The West Coast has gentle, clear water and many mid-size resorts. 

The south coast adds a little surf and a livelier boardwalk. Public transport is reliable, and car seats are easy to request. 

Local food is a highlight, with casual beach shacks and fish-fry nights. You can mix calm bays with short island drives to caves and gardens.

Both Barbados and St Lucia are ideal for family-friendly Caribbean vacations with calm bays and short hops.

If you're searching for your next family beaches, explore our blog for a curated list of top-rated beaches that are perfect for all ages.

Activities families can enjoy together

Catamaran cruises with turtle spotting, submarine or glass-bottom boat rides, cave tours, botanical garden strolls, and boardwalk biking.

7. Canary Islands, Spain (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura)

The Canaries offer a warm European winter with a big variety. Tenerife’s south is sunny with water parks and family apartments; the north is greener with old towns. 

Gran Canaria has dunes, marinas, and easy coastal paths. Lanzarote brings lunar-like volcano parks and short scenic drives. 

Fuerteventura is breezier, great for older kids who like water sports. Winter temperatures often sit in the high teens to low 20s °C, and pools are common at apartment resorts. 

Many families rank the Canaries among the best winter sun destinations for families because of short flights from Europe and kid-ready infrastructure.

Activities families can enjoy together

Water parks, whale-watch cruises, volcano and lava-tube tours, dune walks, cycle paths, and calm-bay beach time.

8. Cyprus

Cyprus delivers mild sun, coastal walks, and history. Paphos works well for families, with archaeological sites, a harbor, and resort areas with heated pools. 

Larnaca and Protaras have gentle beaches, though some facilities scale back in winter. Day trips to the Troodos Mountains add village lunches and nature trails. 

Driving is on the left, which suits many visitors from the UK. Expect bright days, cool evenings, and plenty of playgrounds and promenades.

Activities families can enjoy together

Harbor boat rides, castle and ruin visits, coastal path strolls, easy snorkel coves, and countryside picnics.

9. Malta

Malta is compact, cultural, and calm in winter. Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian’s make good bases with ferries and promenades. 

Families can mix seaside walks with museums and fort tours. Gozo offers rural scenery and quieter coves.

The Blue Lagoon is cooler in winter but still scenic for boat trips. Buses are frequent, and many hotels offer family rooms with kitchenettes.

Activities families can enjoy together

Harbor cruises, Mdina and Valletta old-town walks, aquarium visits, Gozo farm lunches, and coastal viewpoint stops.

10. Dubai, UAE

Dubai pairs city comforts with beach days. JBR, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah host many family resorts with kids’ clubs and splash areas.

Winter days sit in the mid-70s to low-80s °F, perfect for pools and desert trips. 

Theme parks, aquariums, and indoor attractions cover cooler evenings. Taxis and the Metro make getting around simple, and strollers are common in malls and promenades. 

For reliability and convenience, Dubai often features in lists of the best winter sun destinations for families.

Activities families can enjoy together

Desert safaris with dune drives, dhow or Marina cruises, water-park days, aquarium tunnels, trampoline parks, and beachfront playgrounds.

Travel Safety and Health Considerations for Kids

  • Pack broad-spectrum sunscreen, sun hats, rash guards, and sunglasses for strong UV protection

  • Keep kids hydrated with refillable water bottles; carry electrolyte packets for hot days

  • Choose beaches with lifeguards when possible, and review local current and surf conditions

  • Bring a small first-aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, motion-sickness meds, and any prescriptions

  • Use age-appropriate car seats or boosters for transfers and local rides

  • Check pool depths, slide height rules, and life-vest availability at hotels and parks

  • Carry insect repellent and light layers for rainforest or mangrove areas

  • Consider ear protection in the water, such as mineral-oil-based ear sprays, to help keep water out and reduce irritation; consult your pediatrician if your child has existing ear issues

  • Confirm boat safety standards, life-jacket sizes, and operator credentials before excursions

  • Review local health advisories, required vaccines, and clinic locations near your stay

How to Choose the Right Destination for Kids

Start with flight length and transfer time. Then match beach conditions to your kids’ ages: shallow and calm for toddlers, gentle surf or snorkeling for older kids. 

List your must-do activities and select bases within short drives of two or three of them.

Confirm kids’ clubs, room setup (cribs, connecting rooms, kitchenettes), and food options for picky eaters. 

Check seasonal weather windows so you get the conditions you expect. This helps you narrow the best winter sun destinations for families to a short, realistic list.

If you want warm family vacations in December, aim for Florida’s Gulf Coast or Aruba.

For kid-friendly tropical getaways, consider the Riviera Maya or Costa Rica, where beaches and nature sit side by side. 

If you prefer affordable winter beach vacations, look at package weeks in Mexico or shoulder weeks in Cyprus.

For classic warm-weather family holidays, the Canary Islands work well with parks and easy hikes. 

Choose family-friendly Caribbean vacations like Barbados or St Lucia for calm bays and short flights.

Fans of all-inclusive family resorts can look at options in the Riviera Maya and Aruba. 

Short on time? These ideas also serve as family trips to escape the cold during school breaks.

If you are planning the best winter holidays with children, pick one base, add two nearby day trips, and keep transfers short. 

Round it off with sunny family vacations with kids by booking early for popular school-holiday weeks.

If you plan to hit the waves with your family in some of these destinations, understanding the types of breaking waves is essential for a safe and fun experience.

Conclusion

With smart picks and simple planning, you can lock in the best winter sun destinations for families without stress. 

Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean are close to home for US travelers, while the Canary Islands, Malta, and Cyprus offer European warmth when you want culture with your beach days. 

To protect your ears and prevent common issues like swimmer's ear during your vacation, learn how to build a water-safe routine using Ear Pro.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the warmest place to visit in the U.S. in December for families?


Southern Florida is your best bet. The Gulf Coast, Miami, and the Florida Keys typically see mid-70s to low-80s °F, plus easy beaches, aquariums, and day trips that work well with kids.


2. Where can kids enjoy winter sun without long flights?


From most U.S. hubs, try Florida, Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and nearby Caribbean islands like Aruba, Barbados, or St Lucia. Flight times are manageable, transfers are simple, and family facilities are widespread.


3. Are Caribbean islands safe for family travel in winter?


Generally, yes, with standard precautions. Choose reputable resorts, check beach flags and currents, use life vests on boats, and follow local guidance. Winter is outside peak hurricane season, and many beaches have calm bays suited to children.


4. What activities make a winter sun vacation fun for children?


Mix beach days with easy adventures: snorkeling in shallow coves, boat or catamaran trips, water parks, aquariums, short nature walks, zip-line parks with child height limits, and hands-on wildlife encounters run by licensed operators.

 

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