Morning

Fuel up. Start your day with fresh-baked croissants, an omelet, and a strong cup of coffee at the local favorite Ossorio Bakery & Cafe in Cocoa Beach. The beachy café creates eight types of croissants in-house and roasts their unique coffee bean blend right in the shop — so it smells as good as it tastes.

Enter Orbit. Plan on arriving as close to the 9 a.m. opening at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex as you can. Save time by buying tickets ahead of time and pre-opting into some of the special activities that aren’t included in base admission.  

Midday

All Aboard. Hop on the bus for a behind-the-scenes look at the Kennedy Space Center’s spaceflight operations. While you stay on the bus for the whole tour, you do get exclusive access to historic launch sites and working spaceflight facilities. If you’re interested in seeing more than the basic stops, you can add on the Explore Tour, which features iconic stops like the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Complex 39 and the chance to disembark for a view of launch pads used by NASA’s commercial partners. 

To the Moon. Only accessible through the Kennedy Space Center bus tour, the Apollo/Saturn V Center showcases the lead-up and success of the first lunar landing. Stand under the gigantic Saturn V, the largest rocket ever to fly, and find out exactly what happened in the few minutes leading up to the historic announcement “the Eagle has landed.”

Afternoon

Lunch with an Astronaut. Reserve your spot ahead of time for a group lunch with an actual astronaut. After a buffet meal, you’ll hear what it’s really like to launch, live and work in space. A Q&A period will follow, so you can ask all the questions you’ve ever had about what it’s like to be an astronaut.  

Evening

Dinner by the Ocean. On the narrowest stretch of Cocoa Beach sits The Fat Snook, a casually intimate restaurant with a focus on fresh seafood and local ingredients. Try playful twists on the expected like the Seafood Charcuterie Board and a spicy twist on shrimp and grits with local Canaveral shrimp.

Morning

Begin with Breakfast. Make your first stop in historic St. Augustine for a hearty breakfast at Hot Shot Bakery & Café. Once you’ve made a selection from the extensive specialty coffee menu, settle in for a homemade pastry or a breakfast panini served on their signature house-made flaxseed bread. Pick up a bottle of their award-winning Datil hot sauce, a local specialty, to bring home.

Midday

Back in Time. Augustine is known as the oldest city in the U.S., and its well-preserved Spanish colonial sites are high on the list of attractions. Start with the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. Construction began begun in 1672, making it the oldest structure in the city. You can still catch cannon firings there! If you want to see more of the old Spanish military sites, head 15 miles south to hop a ferry to Fort Matanzas National Monument, which protected the Southern approach to the city starting in the 1700s.

Go Floridian. St. Augustine represents the nexus of multiple cultures all meeting over the years, including Southern culinary traditions. The team at The Floridian combines down-home Southern cooking with a lighter touch, incorporating local ingredients and vegetarian-friendly options into a menu sure to please anyone in the group.  

Afternoon

Tasting Time. St. Augustine also has tasting and tour options for those more interested in spirits or wine. Sitting just a few blocks outside of historic downtown, San Sebastian Winery offers tastings of its award-winning wines developed from Muscadine grapes. You can stick around for drinks and snacks at their rooftop bar, the Upstairs Cellar. For those who prefer something harder, the St. Augustine Distillery offers tours and tastings of its small-batch vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey. Make your way through the renovated 100-year-old ice manufacturing plant before settling in to try their craft liquors.

Main Street. St. George Street offers a variety of boutiques, historic sites, and cafés along the pedestrian thoroughfare between Orange Street and Cathedral Place. Window shop or visit monuments like the Old City Gates. Take a souvenir treat home from Whetstone Chocolates, a 50-year-old local chocolate shop.  

Evening

Taste of Spain. The town is still known for its Spanish food, ranging from tapas to paella. Columbia Restaurant is a traditional local favorite that’s part of a chain founded in 1905. For tapas with a twist, try Michael’s Tasting Room for inventive and seasonal plates to share. Or settle in for a craft cocktail at Damiana to drink with the accompanying tapas menu.

Morning

Above it All. Watch the sunrise in a brand-new way — from a hot air balloon! Magic Sunrise Ballooning offers daily morning hot air balloon rides (weather permitting). Not only will you get to enjoy the spectacular views of the lakes and waterways of Central Florida, but you’ll also assist in the inflation process and learn more about hot-air ballooning.  

Midday

On a Boat. Time to gauge your adventure level. Do you want a kayaking trip through a park or do you want to hit the swamp water in an airboat? Kissimmee Swamp Tours offers 60- or 90-minute airboat rides on Lake Kissimmee, one of the largest lakes in Florida. Wildlife likely to be spotted includes bald eagles, wild deer, and, yes, alligators. Or you can kayak through the serene nature of the newly completed Shingle Creek Regional Trail, which sits at the headwaters of the Everglades.  

Afternoon

Old Town. Time to relax with a little window shopping and family entertainment. Old Town is an 18-acre walking area with shopping,  restaurants, and attractions like the Great Magic Hall. Play old-fashioned amusement games like Skee-Ball or just take a break with a cocktail while watching live entertainment at the Trophy Row Stage.  

Evening

Caribbean Calling. Chef Pouchon Savion combines his 20 years of restaurant experience, his Haitian heritage, and his family recipes at Savion’s Place. Grab a table outside and try his lobster bisque to start before moving on to his jambalaya, made from his grandmother’s recipe.

Morning

Sunrise Safari. What better way to start a family vacation than to experience the wonder of nature? Join one of The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes’ Certified Florida Master Naturalists on a guided tour through the resort’s 500 acres. You’ll have the chance to see (and photograph!) everything from deer and bobcats to river otters and alligators, along with birds like the great horned owl. You’ll also visit our neighboring Whisper Creek Farm, whose chicken coop and 7,000-square-foot garden we tap for our restaurants. Book ahead for spots — the safari is popular and space is limited.  

Midday

Poolside Lunch. Nothing says resort more than poolside dining after a quick dip. Pull up a few chairs at Bleu and order a frozen drink for yourself with a sparkling strawberry lemonade for the little one. Choose from local favorites like grilled Florida Mahi or pulled chipotle chicken nachos while watching the fun at the pool.  

Afternoon

Scientific Proof. The Orlando Science Center has made the topic fun for kids down to, well, science. For over 60 years, the center has engaged kids in interactive education like Ask a Scientist or their Young Maker Workshops, where kids can learn about environmental topics like upcycling. Children under 7 will love the full-floor KidsTown exhibit, while older kids will enjoy the 3-D movies in the Digital Adventure Theater.  

Sundae Stop: Everyone loves an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, and The Soda Fountain is a classic. You can go lighter with an egg cream or a sorbet spritzer, or be truly decadent with a warm brownie sundae. The whole family can share The Zoo, with five scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, nuts, whipped cream, and enough cherries to go around.  

Evening

Night Out. The younger family members can join Ritz Kids for a fun-filled evening of dinner, arts and crafts, games, and movies. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy a date night of fine dining at Knife & Spoon. Conceived and led by award-winning Chef John Tesar, Knife & Spoon is a new signature steak and seafood restaurant. Take in gorgeous views of the lake and golf course while dining on his signature dry-aged steaks that create incredibly tender cuts of steak.

Morning

Magic Kingdom for Little Kids. Start your day with one of Disney’s famous Character Breakfasts (think to dine with Cinderella at her castle). Move on to the park for classic rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World, or, for the more adventurous, Space Mountain. Sit back in the Tiki Room, go Under the Sea with the Journey of the Little Mermaid, and take a spin with the Mad Tea Party.

Midday

Lunch Globally. In many ways, the global culinary experience is the star of the Epcot experience, even hosting its own International Food and Wine Festival every fall. Make a meal of British fish and chips at the Rose & Crown, a taco sampler at La Hacienda de San Angel, or a fresh baguette sandwich at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie.

Afternoon

Hit the Trail. While the kids enjoy themselves in the Ritz Kids program, you can hit the Hidden Lake mountain bike trail. Take the resort’s new Scott bicycles out for a 2-mile, two-wheel adventure. Take a self-guided tour or sign up for a guided ride led by the hotel’s resident Trail Boss, who can point out the wildlife along the way. And don’t worry — helmets are included with each rental.  

Evening

Family Dinner. After a full day of activity, unwind at Highball & Harvest with Southern-inspired dishes and cocktails. Enjoy family favorites like the H&H Loaded Fries, Parker House Rolls, or the Duck Confit. This restaurant combines rustic authenticity with Ritz-Carlton refinement.

Afternoon

Sea Life. Aquarium fans, rejoice. Orlando’s Sea Life offers attractions like a 360-degree ocean tunnel to walk through, interactive dive shows, and talks with the experts. You can find out the feeding times for your favorite animals when you arrive so you can get to know them even better.   

Evening

Farm to Table. Highballs & Harvest celebrates the freshest local ingredients, including produce from Whisper Creek Farm, along with classic Southern cooking. The whole family will enjoy the updated twists on favorites like shrimp & grits, deviled eggs, and pimento cheese. Save room for red velvet cake, fruit cobblers, and Key lime tart for dessert.  

Morning

Into the Briarpatch. Start off the day with a delicious breakfast at Briarpatch in the chic neighborhood of Winter Park. Choose from sweet options like lemon raspberry cream pancakes or a Nutella waffle, or go savory with a jumbo lump crab scramble, served with your choice of grits and biscuit (you are in the South, after all).  

Midday

Park Avenue. The main drag of Winter Park is charming Park Avenue, which is dotted with more than 140 boutiques and cafes. The kids can blow off steam in the beautifully landscaped Central Park, situated on the avenue itself — don’t miss the rose garden on its southern end.

Be Ravenous. A few blocks off Park Avenue is The Ravenous Pig, a James Beard Award-nominated gastro-pub. The Lunch Bento Board with soup, tomato salad, choice of slider and fries, and a chocolate chip cookie is sure to be a hit with the kids. The adults can tuck into options like the Fig Salad with smoked ricotta and Lamb Burger with tzatziki.  

Afternoon

Boat Tour. Get to know Winter Park better from its chain of lakes. The Scenic Boat Tour takes out up to 18 passengers hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to see a more hidden part of the neighborhood — the waterside.  

Glass Full. The Morse Museum boasts the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany works, including his jewelry, pottery, paintings, and art glass and lamps. See the chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Exposition and objects from Tiffany’s own Long Island Estate, Laurelton Hall.  

Thai Up. Before you head back to the resort, swing by Krungthep Tea Time for a Thai twist on sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and teas. The almost encyclopedic list of teas and tea-based specialty drinks is a treat in itself, but the High Hats will entrance the kids with combinations like Battle: Cookies’n Cream ice cream, Kit-Kat, Ferrero, crushed peanut, chocolate syrup, chocolate powder, and waffle cone.

Evening

Set Up Camp. Guests in executive suites can move out the rollaway bed to be replaced with a fun-filled camping setup. The staff will pitch a premium tent with a feather bed (blanket and pillow, too). Then the fun really kicks in with the addition of a book, stuffed animal, and S’mores-themed pastry with a welcome card. If your child loves the tent, you can buy it to take home.  

Morning

Canoe Trip. Take advantage of the resort’s proximity to beautiful lakes with a canoe tour with Adventure Experiences through Shingle Creek. Take a two-hour guided Eco-Tour through the headwaters of the Everglades as you get help spotting the wildlife.  

Midday

To Tango. Have lunch at local favorite Café Tu Tu Tango, which combines a colorful dining room and global tapas with local artists creating their art in the dining room. Order a selection of their signature dips and small plates, and settle in for a fun and lively meal.

Afternoon

Make Memories. As busy as you can get on a family vacation, it’s hard to slow down to get that perfect photo to remember the trip by. Guests can enjoy a complimentary 45-minute photo session with a professional photographer at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. Get great lifestyle shots of you and your family to enjoy now and later, thanks to being stored on an easy digital platform.  

Evening

Spring Forward. Disney Springs offers a vast array of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including shops, movie theaters, a bowling alley, and dining destinations. Go upscale for dining with Morimoto Asia, serving the chef’s signature sushi along with dim-sum, noodles, and classics like Peking duck. Little ones will have a blast at T-Rex, digging for dinosaur bones in the sand pit in between courses.