Sunny Fort Lauderdale is a great place for families to enjoy white sand beaches, fabulous shopping, and kid-friendly restaurants. This south Florida city is filled with fun for the entire family that will keep children busy, entertained, and smiling — rain or shine.
Avast Ye!
Are you ready to learn a little pirate talk on the high seas? Aye, matey! Walk the plank aboard Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, where little ones will love dressing up in pirate clothes, blasting water cannons, and sailing along the New River in search of hidden treasures. This creative afternoon is fun for parents and children alike, thanks to a seasoned crew and the many surprises in store during the cruise.
Source: Blue Foot Pirates
Sand Between Your Toes
No trip to Fort Lauderdale is complete without playing on the city’s miles of soft sand beaches. Fort Lauderdale Beach offers a ton of activities for all ages. Playgrounds, paved walkways, and a wavewall make the beach a safe, fun place to spend the entire day. Bring along your rollerblades and snorkeling gear, or pack a ball for the basketball or volleyball courts and food for the outdoor grills. Don’t forget your credit card — if you’re a shopaholic, you’ll find stores and restaurants galore along the beachfront promenade to fuel your addiction.
Source: Shutterstock
Honor Native Groups
Take a step back in time at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum, with the name meaning “a place to learn, a place to remember.” Located about an hour’s drive from Fort Lauderdale, this museum is in the heart of the Everglades. Here, visitors of all ages can appreciate learning about the Seminole people who once lived in Fort Lauderdale. More than 180,000 unique artifacts are on display. Take an interactive walk through the Everglades and artwork by Native Americans that honors the culture’s past, present, and future.
Meet New Flying Friends
An unforgettable experience for the entire family, Butterfly World is home to more than 20,000 butterflies and birds flying overhead. Observe the life cycle of the butterfly through laboratory windows. Walk through the largest butterfly preserve in the world, and try to count the number of different species you see fluttering above you — a few may even land on your head! Butterflies of every size and color are here, and you can even experience exotic birds eating from your hand.
Source: Shutterstock
Mad Fun Science
Who knew learning could be this much fun? Science-lovers young and old will enjoy a day at the Museum of Discovery and Science, where interactive exhibits let visitors feel hurricane-force winds, a trip to Mars, and a ride in an F/A-18 cockpit. Watch North American river otters frolic in a two-story-high habitat, dig for a prehistoric giant Megalodon fossil, or watch a film on the biggest IMAX Laser screen in south Florida. Get your camera ready to capture your children’s faces when they see the alligators, bats, and sharks on display.
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