Parrot Jungle Island (Miami): Settled into its new swanky $47 million digs on Watson Island as of June 2003, Parrot Jungle Island is a revamped version of the original in South Miami. You'll still need to watch your head, however, since flying above are hundreds of parrots, macaws, peacocks, cockatoos, and flamingos. Continuous suitable but cheesy shows star roller-skating cockatoos, card-playing macaws, and numerous stunt-happy parrots. There are also tortoises, iguanas, and a rare albino alligator on exhibit.

Sea Grass Adventures (Miami): This is not your typical nature tour. With Sea Grass Adventures, you will be able to wade in the water on Key Biscayne with your guide and catch an assortment of sea life in the provided nets. At the end of the program, participants gather on the beach while the guide explains what everyone's just caught, passing the creatures around in miniature viewing tanks.

Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium (Miami): The Museum of Science features more than 140 hands-on exhibits that explore the mysteries of the universe. Live demonstrations and collections of rare natural-history specimens make a visit here fun and informative. Many of the demos involve audience participation, which can be lots of fun for willing and able kids and adults alike.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa): Although the thrill rides, live entertainment, shops, restaurants, and games get most of the ink at this 335-acre family theme park, Busch Gardens also ranks among the top zoos in the country, with several thousand animals living in naturalistic environments. If you can get them off the roller coasters, the kids can find out what all those wild beasts they've seen on the Discovery Channel look like in person.

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) (Tampa): One of the largest educational science centers in the Southeast, MOSI has more than 450 interactive exhibits in which the kids can experience hurricane-force winds, defy the laws of gravity, cruise the mysterious world of microbes, explore the human body, and more. They can also watch stunning movies in MOSIMAX, Florida's first IMAX dome theater.

Universal Studios Florida (Orlando): Universal Orlando's original Florida park has many rides based on Hollywood blockbusters or cartoon heroes, such as Jaws and Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast. Kids can get slimed at Nickelodeon Studios or get thrilled by the pint-sized roller coaster and other fun in Woody Woodpecker's KidZone.

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (Orlando): Introduce your wee ones to many of the Disney characters at Mickey's Toontown Fair in the Magic Kingdom, Disney's premier park. There's also a ton of fun on rides themed after Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Cinderella, Aladdin, and Buzz Lightyear. Rides like Splash Mountain make sure older guests have fun, too.

Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral): Especially since the recent multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion, this family destination is a must-see. There is plenty to keep kids and parents busy for at least a full day, including interactive computer games, IMAX films, and dozens of informative displays on the space program. Try to schedule a trip during a real launch; there are more than a dozen each year.

DAYTONA USA (Daytona Beach): Opened in late 1996 on Daytona International Speedway grounds, this huge state-of-the-art interactive attraction is an exciting and fast-paced stop even for nonrace fans. Kids can see real stock cars, go-karts, and motorcycles, and even participate in a pit stop on a NASCAR Winston Cup race car.