Fort Lauderdale Family Vacation - 2

Activities for School-Aged Kids

Everglades Tours

Take an airboat ride through the grassy marshes of the Everglades for an opportunity to see alligators in their own habitat. The Sawgrass Recreation Park offers 30-minute airboat rides for 10 passengers at a time, with a boat departing every 30minutes. The speed can reach 35 mph, making a hot day feel a little chilly. (Tip: Bring a jacket and sit near the front where it’s not as noisy.)

1006 N. U.S. Highway 27, Weston. Tel. 888-424-7262. Cost: adults $19.50; child $10 (ages 4 to 12). www.evergladestours.com

Snorkelling Day Camp 

At the Funky Fish Kid’s Day camp, children ages 4 to 14 can spend the day at the beach learning how to use snorkel equipment, looking for fish near the shore and hunting for shells. There’s also a pizza party for lunch, all the while parents can enjoy some time on their own.

Embassy Suites (Deerfield Beach) and Marriott’s Beach Place Towers. Tel. 954-712-9900. Cost: $59. www.funkyfishkidsday.com

 

• Learn about one of the most unique ecosystems in the United States by going on a family tour of the Everglades.

Courtesy of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB

Museum of Discovery and Science 

Numerous interactive exhibits at the Museum of Discovery and Science include simulating a space mission to the moon in Runways to Rockets, programming a robot in Gizmo City or pretending to fly a DC-9 airplane in Aviation Station. Children under 7 will enjoy the Discovery Center, where they can climb a tree or hoist a sail or climb a tree. There’s also an IMAX theater featuring a 5-story-high screen and steeply sloped seats for optimal viewing.  

401 SW Second St. Tel. 954-467-6637. Admission: adult $15 (includes one IMAX film); child $12 (includes one IMAX film). www.mods.org

Young at Art Children’s Museum 

Young at Art Children’s Museum’s cultural interactive exhibits include playing the drums in an African Village or learning the art of origami in a miniature Japanese house. Included in the cost of admission is a free daily workshop for toddlers, exploring music and the senses. Kids ages 5 to 12 can participate in a full day or evening art camp that teaches painting, ceramics and sculpture.

 

• Teens will love the high-flying, action-packed fun of Ski Rixen.

Courtesy of Ski Rixen

11584 West State Road 84, Davie. Tel. 954-424-0085. Cost: general $8 (ages 2 and under are free); Art Day Camp: $50 per day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Art Night Camp: $35 per evening (6 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
www.youngatartmuseum.org

Exclusively for Teens

Ski Rixen USA

One of the only places to water ski or wakeboard in Fort Lauderdale is in Deerfield Beach. Ironically though, it is nowhere near a beach. There are also no boats, just a towrope attached to a series of cables to pull adrenaline-junkies around a small lake. It’s a great place for families to learn to water-ski and try wakeboarding, or for the more experienced, to improve their skills.

Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach. Tel. 954-429-0215.
Cost: Prices start at $18 for a one-hour pass; All-Day Pass $38 (must be at least 12 years old). www.skirixenusa.com