The golden rule for vacationing with kids: Give them something to do.

Family resorts make it effortless, with plenty of organized fun like oceanside campfires, nature walks and knock-your-flops-off pools that let parents be as hands off or on as they want.

Florida is chock-full of some of the country's best family resorts -- and summertime discounts put them within reach. These Top 10 are far enough from home to feel like a real vacation, but near enough to pull off an easy, affordable trip.

SOUTH SEAS ISLAND RESORT

Captiva

Prime for nature lovers, most of this secluded 330-acre resort on the edge of the Gulf Coast is preserved. Think dunes and mangroves. There's an on-site nature center and the resort has its own naturalist, with tidepool excursions and guided walks on the white-sand, shell-strewn beach.

Thrill-seekers will dig the ''H2Whoa!'' family pool with steep and twisty slides, plus a zero entry area for little ones. There are also two lagoon-style pools, 19 tennis courts (with lessons for all ages), a nine-hole golf course, a fitness center, restaurants, a Kids Club for ages 4-12, and a Teen Club for 12 and older. Choose from 465 accommodations, including hotel rooms, beach and marina villas, beach cottages and private home rentals.

• Details: 5400 Plantation Rd., Captiva Island; 866-565-5089; www.southseas.com. Room rates start at $149 a night.

HAWKS CAY RESORT

Duck Key

In the middle of the Florida Keys, this 40-acre, upscale resort is all about the water, with a sailing school, dolphin encounter program, marina, saltwater lagoon and five pools, including one with a pirate ship theme and another for adults only. Three different kids camps cater to ages 5 to 17, with snorkeling and scavenger hunts, and SCUBA for older kids. There are 111 West Indies-style rooms and two-story villas.

• Details: 61 Hawks Cay Blvd., Duck Key; 888-313- 5749; www.hawkscay.com. Summer rates start at $125.

TRADEWINDS

ISLAND GRAND

St. Petersburg Beach

There are two resorts on this 20-acre playground: The family-friendly Island Grand Resort and the smaller, more relaxed Sandpiper Suites. Kids will dig the dive-in-movies, the three-story slide, bungee trampoline, paddleboats, pirate show and the banana boats and jet skis on the beach. Seven pools, 15 restaurants, two fitness centers and a spa keep the days full. A kids club for ages 4 to 11 offers crafts and games in the mornings and evenings.

• Details: 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach; 727- 367-6461; www.justletgo.com. Rooms start at $156, with a resort credit for Florida residents for certain three-night bookings until Sept. 30. Book at www.JustLetGo.com/FLREZ or 866-587-8538.

AMELIA ISLAND

PLANTATION

In northern Florida near Jacksonville, this sprawling, old-fashioned resort covers 1,350 acres, with the beach on one side, marshlands on the other, and huge oaks with Spanish moss scattered about. There's a nature center and seven miles of trails, including boardwalks that extend into the marsh.

One of the biggest treats: riding bikes on the beach's hard-packed sand. Options include bike rentals, golf and tennis facilities, six restaurants, shopping, two large swimming pools, a kiddie pool and a supervised program for ages 3 to 10.

• Details: 6800 First Coast Hwy., Ameila Island; 888-261-6161; www.aipfl.com. Rooms start at $175.

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