Fort Lauderdale Family Vacation

Many of us remember the days when Fort Lauderdale was synonymous with Spring Break. Fortunately, this seaside Florida city shed its partying image and transformed itself into an upscale year-round destination suitable for families.

Prior to having kids, I visited Fort Lauderdale frequently as a cruise ship crew-member, and today I have twin 5-year-olds that know that there’s more to Florida than just Mickey Mouse.

Activities for the Whole Family

Fort Lauderdale Beaches

For most visitors, including myself, Fort Lauderdale’s 23 miles of beaches are the biggest draw of this city. My favorites lie within the two-mile stretch between Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and South Beach Park. This part of the beach features a pedestrian promenade and numerous lifeguard towers. Plus South Beach Park has a playground, perfect for families with small children.

Other family-friendly beaches are Deerfield Beach with its luxe resort properties, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a laid-back beach village with no high rises. For current beach conditions, check the Ocean Rescue Web site.

Wannado City

This role-playing theme park offers kids a chance to try out grown-up jobs within a 140,000-square-foot indoor city. Kids can choose from 60 different pint-sized venues in which to participate such as a hospital, a commercial kitchen or the cockpit of a plane. Parents get involved too; I’ve been in the audience of a Broadway show and was also recruited as a juror in a courtroom. (Tip: After 4 p.m. the admission is 50 percent off and adults are free).

12801 W. Sunrise Blvd., at the Sawgrass Mills Mall. Tel. 954-838-7100.
Cost: kids $29.95 (ages 2 to 14); adults $7 (ages 15 and older). www.wannadocity.com

 

• In Wannado City’s Plantation General Hospital, kids take on a variety of roles including pediatric nurse, surgeon and emergency room physician.

Courtesy of Wannado City

The Sea Experience

The Sea Experience glass-bottom boat tour lasts 2.5 hours and stops at a reef that’s in about 12 feet of water. Although older kids will enjoy the snorkeling, non-snorkeling participants can still view tropical fish, colorful sponges and even the snorkelers swimming by the windows of the hull. (Tip: Although there’s plenty of shade on the boat, we preferred to sit at the front to catch some rays.)

801 Seabreeze Blvd. Tel. 954-770-3483. Boat departs from Bahia Mar Marina at 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. daily. Cost: adults $35; kids $21 (ages 5 to 12); children under 5 are free. www.seaexperience.com

Miami Seaquarium and Dolphin Experience

About a 45-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale Beach is the Miami Seaquarium. Various marine animal shows are the main attraction, but kids will also enjoy the Dolphin Interaction Programs. Children as young as 5 years old can kiss, feed and touch them in shallow water during the Dolphin Encounter. Older kids can participate in the Dolphin Odyssey where they have the chance to swim with a dolphin across the pool.

4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami. Tel. 305-361-5705. Admission: general $35.95, child $26.95 (ages 3 to 9). Dolphin Encounter Admission: adult participant $139; child participant $99 (ages 5 to 9). Dolphin Odyssey Admission: participant $199. www.miamiseaquarium.com

Activities for Young Children

Butterfly World

Watch your child’s excitement as a butterfly lands on her shoulder. Buy a cup of nectar at the Lorikeet Experience and this tiny parrot-like bird will eat right out of your child’s hand. Another popular exhibit at Butterfly World is the Lab Encounter where visitors can see butterfly eggs, larva and caterpillars in different stages of growth. 

 

• Located in neighboring Miami, the Seaquarium is a great place for families to get up close with the local wildlife.

Jared Hawkins

3600 W. Sample Road (located in Tradewinds Park), Coconut Creek. Tel. 954-977-4400.
Admission: adults $24.95; child $19.95 (ages 3 to 11); children 2 and under are free. www.butterflyworld.com

Flamingo Gardens

Visitors who want to see flamingos will not be disappointed at Flamingo Gardens’ 60-acre, botanical park and wildlife sanctuary. Don’t miss the Alligator Lagoon or the daily Wildlife Encounter show featuring birds of prey and reptiles. Kids will also like the 25-minute narrated tram tour that takes visitors throughout the wetlands and mangroves.

3750 S Flamingo Road, Davie. Tel. 954-473-2955. Admission: general $17; child $8.50 (ages 4 to 11); children 3 and under, free. www.flamingogardens.org

Next: Activities for School-Aged Kids and Teens