7 Florida Day, Weekend Trips Families Must Take This Summer

FLORIDA — Those fortunate enough to live in the country's No. 1 vacation destination can skip the air fare, long car rides and extended hotel stays in favor of a series of day or weekend trips just a short drive from home.

Here are some staycation suggestions from Visit Florida:

Electric Ocean At SeaWorld

SeaWorld Orlando’s award-winning summer event, Electric Ocean, returns May 28, featuring new daytime experiences and nighttime favorites.

Electric Ocean brings longer park hours and allows guests to voyage into an exotic underwater world filled with dazzling lights, electrifying dance music and a brilliant evening energy that sparks as the sun sets. Electric Ocean is included with park admission and takes place select days and nights from May 28 to Sept. 6.

Throughout the day and night, guests can experience new shows and then stay late all summer and be immersed in exotic worlds of light and music while experiencing their favorite SeaWorld attractions. Join playful, glowing sea creatures and world-class DJs for a family-friendly dance party beneath the waves. Then end the night with Ignite, a fireworks and fountains spectacular that brings the brilliance of the sea to the sky above.

For the little ones, "Elmo Rocks" is back by popular demand.

Sesame Street's Elmo and his friends save the day by forming their own rock n’ roll band after their favorite band cancelled their concert. Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie go through the process of auditioning and rehearsals to transform into The Rockin’ Elmo Band performing at the Nautilus Theater during Electric Ocean dates.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Nighttime Spectacular At Busch Gardens

For over 100 nights, guests can stay late and safely enjoy world-class coasters, entertainment throughout the park and more during extended hours at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay beginning May 28.

On weekends and select dates, guests can look to the sky for the new “Spark! A Nighttime Spectacular” featuring explosive fireworks and a special effects production on the Festival Field.

Busch Gardens calls this "the most stunning show ever to light the park’s sky." It includes an array of fireworks and effects from lasers to graceful water elements and dramatic pyrotechnics.

“Spark!” is offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at 9:15 p.m. from May 28 to Sept. 6, including extra presentations on May 31 for Memorial Day, July 1-4 for Independence Day and Sept. 6 for Labor Day.

Before the fireworks light up the sky, guests can enjoy the new Pre-Party on the Festival Pathway in which they'll be greeted by glowing lights strung among the trees and live music.

As the sun goes down, electric summer vibes amp up on the Festival Field with DJ Block Parties, an open-air dance party.

Also opening May 28 at the Stanleyville Theater is "Cirque Electric," an all-new acrobatic stunt show exclusively produced for Busch Gardens. From the daring airborne aerialist to stunning displays of balance and strength and a mind-blowing act on wheels, guests will be dazzled by world-class performers during select dates.

Click here for tickets.

DreamWorks Destination At Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort debuts an all-new, interactive character experience – DreamWorks Destination – where guests can meet, greet and dance along with their favorite DreamWorks characters.

Located in the KidZone area of Universal Studios Florida, DreamWorks Destination is a first-of-its-kind character experience where guests can interact with multiple beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation’s hit film franchises, "Trolls," "Madagascar," "Kung Fu Panda" and more – all in one festive location.

Catchy tunes from various DreamWorks movies will fill the air as guests enter a bright, colorful party atmosphere – all set against a nighttime sky inspired by the animation studio’s iconic opening sequence from its films.

As bright lights illuminate the scene, guests will connect with their favorite DreamWorks characters, grab some fun photos and even join them for an epic dance party.

Click here for tickets.

All-American Celebration At Fishermen's Village

Fishermen’s Village waterfront mall, resort and marina in Punta Gorda will bring back the Fourth of July with an inaugural two-day celebration, “An American Holiday- Stars, Stripes & Fireworks," Saturday and Sunday, July 3 and 4.

Fishermen’s Village has decided to make up for last year's canceled event due to the pandemic by hosting a weekend-long celebration that includes the village's annual fireworks show on two nights, Saturday and Sunday along with live music, specialty foods, water recreation and family-friendly activities.

The free event will include a mermaid meet-and-greet, bounce houses, military vehicles on display, food trucks and vendors, in the Village Promenade, juggling acts, magic shows and balloon artists, the Freedom Swim and a full band performing each evening including the Zydegatorz Band Saturday and the Edge Band Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.

King Fisher Fleet will offer Independence Day Weekend Fireworks Cruises departing at 7:30 p.m. to view the Fishermen's Village fireworks display Saturday and the display at Laishley Park Sunday. Book online here.

Click here for more information.

Legoland 4D 'Mythica' Movie, Scavenger Hunt

Enter an undiscovered world where Lego creatures come to life with an all-new 4D movie, "Lego Mythica - Journey to Mythica" and an augmented reality experience presented daily starting May 27 in the Legoland Florida Resort’s Fun Town Theater in Winter Haven.

Full of adventures and mysterious creatures, "Lego Mythica" is a parallel universe created by the power of kids' imaginations.

"Lego Mythica - Journey to Mythica" follows Bobs, a courageous little Alicorn on a 4D adventure into Mythica where he experiences enchanted forests, raging seas, hidden caves, fire and ice. He has to escape the Chimera, soar with Maximus the Sky Lion and make a splash with Duo the Hydra before discovering his true powers.

After viewing the 4D movie, visitors can see Lego Mythica creatures come to life before their eyes. In this AR scavenger hunt in Miniland, families will work together to find the creatures from the 4D movie and save Mythica by inspiring kids to create again. Explore all sections of Miniland to discover seven hidden Lego Mythica creatures and “capture” them as digital trading cards, revealing their organic forms within the world of Mythica.

Miniland will reopen for this limited-time experience over the summer before continuing construction on its previously announced shade structure.

Click here for tickets.

Go Wild At Discovery Cove, Wild Florida

Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters at Discovery Cove and Wild Florida in Orlando.

The all-inclusive Discovery Cove day resort allows visitors to swim with dolphins, snorkel with thousands of tropical fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds, strut with flamingos, engage with otters and more.

In addition to an array of animal encounters, the 35-acre Discovery Cove tropical oasis features the Wind-Away River, deep-water lagoons and sandy white beaches. Included with each visit are food and drink options (including beer and wine), wet suits, snorkel gear, towels, parking and other amenities.

Then head down the headwaters of the Florida Everglades for wild adventure at Wild Florida Airboat & Wildlife Park Experience.

While known for its airboat tours, Wild Florida is also a site to encounter more than 200 native and exotic animals in the attraction’s Alligator Park. A drive-through animal safari, animal shows and one-on-one animal encounters are also available to day guests.

Click here for tickets to Discovery Cove.

Click here for tickets to Wild Florida.

Real. Fun. Fourth.

Visit Panama City Beach has announced the return of its annual Real. Fun. Fourth. celebration - two nights of firework displays on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4.

Known as the largest Fourth of July fireworks show on the Gulf Coast and hosted on Panama City Beach’s 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches and emerald-green waters, this all-American event invites visitors of all ages to celebrate Independence Day.

“The City of Panama City Beach, in partnership with Pier Park and Bay County, is thrilled to continue this colorful and festive tradition this July, and for many years to come,” said Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “Real. Fun. Fourth. is one of the most spectacular Fourth of July celebrations on the Gulf Coast. With synchronized firework shows being blasted from the city and county piers, this extravaganza is an event all ages are guaranteed to enjoy.”

The festivities will kick off with Light Up the Bay July 2 featuring food trucks, live music and fireworks over the bay at Papa Joe's, 4601 W. U.S. 98, July 2, followed by Light Up the Gulf July 3 at 8 p.m. with the 14th annual Beach Bash behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort & Convention Center, 9600 S. Thomas Drive, featuring fireworks, free live entertainment, contests and kid’s activities.

Freedom Rocks takes place July 3 at 8:45 p.m. Come early to shop and dine at any Freedom Rocks participating waterfront restaurants, then set up a lawn chair or lay out a blanket on the lawn at Treasure Island Marina to watch the fireworks above the Grand Lagoon Bridge.

There will be dueling fireworks shows July 4 at 9 p.m. as the city of Panama City Beach lights up the sky over the Russell-Fields City Pier, 16101 Front Beach Road, and the county does the same at the M.B. Miller County Pier, 12213 Front Beach Road. Guests are invited to set up their beach chairs and encouraged to arrive early to get the best views.