• Jacksonville is the largest city in North Florida and has a toddler-friendly zoo.jacksonville,florida,fountain,river,bridge,citysca image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  North Florida is different from the postcards of palm trees and Disney you may be used to seeing. This part of Florida has a varied terrain of prairies and savannas, pine forests, wetlands, rivers, and natural springs. Its culture is comparable to the hospitality of southern states like Alabama and Georgia. Florida's capital, Tallahassee, and largest city, Jacksonville, are both in the north, as are Gainesville and Panama City (See Reference 3). North Florida also offers a range of toddler attractions for the whole family to enjoy.
  
  

Jacksonville Zoo

• Your toddlers and their older siblings will enjoy visiting the Jacksonville Zoo. Children under two can enter the facility for free, and you can rent a stroller for your young tot. Toddlers are visually stimulated by the cheetahs, crocodiles, flamingos, kangaroos, antelopes, Florida panthers, elephants, bald eagles, reptiles, amphibians, and gardens. There is a train that can take you and your family around the whole park, and a wildlife-themed carousel that you can accompany your toddler on. The Jacksonville Zoo also offers early-childhood classes during the school year, including one geared to toddlers nine to 35 months old, where kids and their parents learn interactively while observing the animals. You must register ahead of time. You have the option of attending one class if you are a tourist or all classes if you are a resident.
  
  Jacksonville Zoo
  
  370 Zoo Parkway
  
  Jacksonville, FL 32218
  
  904-757-4463
  
  jacksonvillezoo.org
  
  

Tallahassee Museum

• The Tallahassee Museum is an outdoor museum where exotic wildlife meets local animals and historical culture. A large portion of the grounds are accessible to strollers and children under three are not charged admission. Toddlers will enjoy seeing the mules, horses, goats, pigs, and geese at the 1880s-style Big Bend Farm. The museum also has a butterfly garden, nature trails, an interactive children's discovery center, a historical town, and wildlife from Florida and around the world. The Tallahassee Museum additionally offers educational Critter Classes for toddler-aged kids during the school year.
  
  Tallahassee Museum
  
  3945 Museum Dr.
  
  Tallahassee, FL 32310
  
  850-576-1636
  
  http://tallahasseemuseum.org
  
  

The Oaks Mall

• The Oaks Mall in Gainesville is family-friendly, with a free children's play area specifically designed for kids under 42 inches tall. It is a popular spot for toddlers, with seating for parents and a place to park strollers. The soft-structured playground has a treehouse, slides, tunnels and a crawling bridge, as well as large animal sculptures.
  
  The Oaks Mall
  
  6419 Newberry Rd.
  
  Gainesville, FL 32605
  
  352-331-4411
  
  theoaksmall.com
  
  

Shipwreck Island

• The Shipwreck Island Waterpark in Panama City Beach, Florida, offers something for every age. The park has family pools and rides, like the lazy river tube ride and Skull Island, that toddlers can enjoy with an adult. Shipwreck Island also offers rides that cater to young children, including the mini pelican and frog slides at tadpole hole. Children under 35 inches tall are not charged admission.
  
  Shipwreck Island Waterpark
  
  12201 Middle Beach Rd.
  
  Panama City Beach, FL 32407
  
  850-234-3333
  
  shipwreckisland.com