St. George Island Kid Activities: Family Fun on Florida's Best Beach

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We always dream of that perfect beach vacation: parents reading peacefully, kids splashing in the ocean. But the truth is, not every beach vacation with kids looks that way, because even with the endless fun the beach seems to offer, kids can get bored.

So, if you’re planning a trip to St. George Island, here are 7 fun St. George Island kid activities for if your family needs to mix it up a bit including biking, hiking in a State Park, and of course, ice cream.

Climb the St. George Island Lighthouse

St. George Island Lighthouse with small brick museum in front of it — St. George Island Lighthouse

The St. George Island lighthouse is located in the center of the island. You’ll see it as soon as you cross over the bridge onto the island.

It was originally located in Little St. George Island. But after that one collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico, it was rebuilt on St. George Island. And not only can you visit a museum to learn about this lighthouse’s history, but you can also climb up into it for some amazing views!

Kids will love the twisty turns up to the top, and they’ll have fun trying to point out different St. George Island spots from the top.

Important: All climbers must be at least 40 inches tall. (So this isn’t an activity for the really little ones.) And you have to climb a small ladder through a scuttle hole (trap door) to get to the very top. So make sure your family members know their abilities.

Explore Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

St. George Island State Park is a gorgeous spot on the east end of the island. There aren’t any buildings or houses here, so you can really get a feel for what the island must have felt like before it was inhabited.

While the best thing to see here is of course the pristine beach, this is also a great place to mix it up with kids because you can also hike, geocache, bike, and more.

There are two easy hiking trail here. The 2.5-mile trail to Gap Point goes through forests, while the 1-mile East Slough Overlook trail takes you across boardwalks.

You do have to pay for entrance into the state park (it’s $6 per vehicle). But this can be a great change of scenery for your kids.

Go For a Boat Tour

Marina with boats and an air boat leaving — Boat tour leaving in Apalachicola

Going on a boat tour is such a fun way to keep kids entertained! It can give them a different perspective on the beach, and they might have the opportunity to spot some fun wildlife! Several offer dolphin specific cruises.

There are several providers in St. George Island and nearby Apalachicola that offer boat tours. Some include:

Journeys of SGI
Jolly Roger (they even offer Pirate Trips)
Apalachicola Airboat Excursions

Take a Bike Ride

Riding bikes is a super popular thing to do here, and I think it’s one of the best St. George Island kid activities. And while I may not be the most enthusiastic bike ride, I actually love riding bikes here because everything is so flat. (Although I definitely recommend this as a morning or evening activity in the summer because it can get HOT.)

There is a 6-mile paved bike path on St. George Island that runs from near the lighthouse to the State Park. And there are more sidewalks the trails you can bike on the other side of the Lighthouse too, and even more if you are staying in the gated Plantation community.

Your rental house might come with credits you can use to rent bicycles. Or you can get them from lots of outfitters on the island including Island Adventures or Jolly Roger Beach Shop.

Go Kayaking

Drone shot of kayakers in water with dolphins swimming about 10 yards in front of them — The moment dolphins swam in front of me

We love kayaking on St. George Island, and we always make sure we have a kayak when we visit. Personally, I love getting out away from the waves a bit and feeling the peace of the Gulf.

Plus, you can also sometimes spot wildlife. I’ve seen huge manta rays off of St. George Island. And I’ll never forget the time I was kayaking just a bit off shore and a pod of dolphins swam right in front of me.

We always get kayaks that fit 2 or 3 people, so our kiddo can go with us (I mean, obviously don’t let your young kids get out by themselves.) And lots of vacation rentals will come with credits you can use to rent kayaks, bikes, stand-up paddle boards, and other beach equipment.

Some outfitters you can rent from include Jolly Roger Beach Shop and SGI Outfitters.

Shop for Souvenirs

What kid doesn’t love spending money unnecessarily! (At least, I know mine does!)

But really, going to shop for souvenirs can be a great way to give your kiddo a little something different in a week filled with endless beach days. There are several shops on St. George Island where you can get everything from beach toys to t-shirts to tacky knick-knacks that really can only come for a Florida beach.

Some shops include:

St. George Island Trading Co. — A big warehouse store of souvenirs and t-shirts.
Beach Planet St. George Island — Here’s where you can go to get forgotten beach gear and swimsuits.
Seaside Cotton — Boutique clothing store. It sits catty-corner from the lighthouse in the bottom of a condo building.
Island Emporium Inc. — A gift shop with local art, home decor, and souvenirs.
Island Outfitters — The spot for outdoor gear for your beach days. You can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from them.

Get Ice Cream

Sign at ice cream shop saying "you have just climbed off 1 scoop worth of calories" — Sign at Aunt Ebby’s Ice Cream

If all else fails, get ice cream! Honestly, I feel like a beach vacation should come with at least one ice cream a day.

Aunt Ebby’s Ice Cream is a fun ice cream shop on St. George Island. It’s located near the center of the island, painted bright green, and is always doing constant business during the summer. And our trips to the beach always include at least one (or two) stops here!

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