Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Top Things for Kids to See and Do

Last updated 11th March 2024

When a family decides to take a vacation, there are a number of variables to consider to make the trip a success. How accessible is the destination? The shorter and more direct the flight, the better, especially when traveling with little ones. How’s the weather? Inclement weather could be a reality, no matter where you go — but a destination that averages blue skies and balmy climes will keep everyone happy. Is it commuter friendly? You drive most days; wouldn’t it be nice to not have to get behind the wheel on vacation as you move between attractions? The most important question, however, is, how do you keep the kids engaged? Trying to please everyone is no easy task but a destination with a variety of options will certainly make your family’s vacation go smoother. That’s where Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida comes in.

Greater Fort Lauderdale is a vibrant destination with several attributes that truly make it an ideal family friendly destination. With 23 miles of Blue Wave-certified beaches that are home to warm ocean waters, the destination experiences year-round tropical climate, averaging 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 3,000 hours of sunlight a year. Accessible from all major U.S. cities and growing international destinations, all major airlines fly into the destination’s airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Called the Venice of America, Greater Fort Lauderdale has 300-plus miles of navigable inland canals, which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades. Visitors can hop on and off a Water Taxi that travels through these canals to visit top attractions, hotels, restaurants and shopping areas. All throughout the destination are bike rental options that make getting around fun and healthy at the same time. Last and certainly not least, Greater Fort Lauderdale is culturally rich with a myriad of activities to keep kids entertained.

Here are some of the destination’s top experiences for families traveling with children:

Courtesy of Getty

Hands-On, Eyes Open

Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to museums and parks that offer hands-on and experiential exhibits. The Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale features an otter habitat and more than 200 interactive exhibits to touch and feel, plus a five-story IMAX 3D Theater. The destination has four ArtsParks for families to pitch a picnic or just take in the sunshine: Young Circle in Hollywood, the Miramar ArtsPark and Cultural Center, the Pembroke Pines ArtsPark and the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center. The Young At Art Museum in Davie gives children and adults an art and creativity experience only limited by imagination.

Courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale

Water, Water, Everywhere!

What child doesn’t love a day at the beach or swimming with the fishes? In Greater Fort Lauderdale there are more than 23 miles of beach and hundreds of miles of waterways to get tiny feet wet. Funky Fish Kids Day treats kids to a day of snorkeling, and fun in the sun oceanfront. For the tweens and teens who want to learn how to hang ten, Island Watersports in Deerfield Beach offers free surf, skim board and standup paddleboard lessons for kids and their parents on Saturday mornings. Splish and splash aboard Tropical Sailing’s Spirit of Lauderdale catamaran for a few hours of snorkeling, swimming and sailing above the first tier of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s three-tier natural coral reef system. The colors of the tropical fish and corals encountered on this tour are more vibrant than a rainbow. (Don’t forget to bring a waterproof camera.) For families that prefer to explore above the water, sightseeing cruises aboard the Water Taxi and the Jungle Queen provide views of Millionaire’s Row in the “Venice of America” along the Intracoastal Waterway passing boats, yachts and cruise ships while learning a bit about the history of this water-centric city.

Courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale

Experience Natural Florida

Greater Fort Lauderdale has thousands of acres and miles of walkways, bike paths and kayak routes through natural flora and fauna. Make a stop at in Hollywood, one of the largest urban parks in Florida encompassing more than 1,500 acres of coastal mangrove wetlands, native vegetation and wildlife. Canoe rentals and birding trails make it a must-visit for families wanting to catch a glimpse of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s eco-tourism offerings. Located adjacent to A1A in Fort Lauderdale, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, features walking and hiking trails, shaded picnic areas, as well as in-line skating, volleyball, canoeing, kayaking and fishing.

Courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale

Get Wild With the Wildlife

The Museum of Discovery and Science, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park and Anne Kolb Nature Center offer Sea Turtle Walks and Hatchling Releases from June through August. Kids will love to witness the timeless marvel of adult female loggerhead turtles as they crawl onto Fort Lauderdale’s moonlit beaches to lay their eggs at night and later as their hatchlings emerge from the sand to begin their journey down to the sea. Want to take the kids to see nature at the edge of civilization? Take them on an airboat ride at Sawgrass Recreation Park in the Everglades to see the River of Grass as it’s been for thousands of years. The park has exotic animal exhibits and a Red Eye gator airboat tour that explores the swamp area at night after dark when these nocturnal creatures are most active. Billie Swamp Safari in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation features Swamp Buggy Eco-Tours and Airboat Adventure Tours through 2,200 acres of untamed Everglades, a Snake and Alligator Show, Swamp Critter Show, the Swamp Water Café and exhibits and nature trail. And, of course, there’s always snorkeling and scuba amid the destination’s 69 miles of natural coral reef just offshore.

Courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale

Explore Florida’s Tamer Side

The Flamingo Gardens Botanical Collection & Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary in Davie is a living history lesson the kids will never forget. Its 60 acres of lush gardens with rare, exotic and native plants, the Free-Flight Aviary, Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary and the historic 1930s Wray Home.

Courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale

Fit Family = Happy Family

It’s easy to find fun ways to stay fit while on a family vacation. Broward’s B-Cycle bike sharing program has nearly 30 stations throughout Broward from the beach to downtown, north to south, for easy access to all the best stops along the way. There are hundreds of parks, beaches and inland waterways to dip toes big and small in the warm waters, where you can paddleboard, kayak, swim or walk. Run along the beachfront during the Fort Lauderdale A1A Fun Run Kid’s Race (held every February where everyone is a winner just for participating).

Every Day’s a Holiday

Greater Fort Lauderdale has a jam-packed schedule of events for families to experience during a visit. From holiday events such as Christmas on Las Olas (last Tuesday in November) and the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade (second Saturday in December), to sports teams playing throughout the year including the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer franchise (April-November) and the NHL Florida Panthers (October-April). Or step back to the 16th and 12th centuries at the Florida Renaissance Festival at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach (held weekends spanning President’s Day during February and March) and Camelot Days (held in the fall at T.Y. Park in Hollywood). Kids will enjoy seeing costumed performers, sword fighting and live stage acts from around the world.

For more kid friendly offerings in Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit Sunny.org. Follow us on social @VisitLauderdale and tag us using #hellosunny.