With temperatures hovering around 77°F all year through, Fort Lauderdale is the perfect tropical family vacay spot! 

The city has nearly 24 miles of super-clean beaches. The beaches offer many kid-friendly activities like surfing, paddle-boarding, and yachting. Perfect for sporty and active kids! 

Fort Lauderdale also has a huge network of intracoastal canals. You can enjoy rides on water taxis or gondolas or go on local cruises. Water-loving families are sure to love the range of water-based activities.  

Your animal-loving kids are sure to enjoy Fort Lauderdale since it is located close to 1.5 million acres of America’s best-preserved wetlands teeming with wildlife, the Everglades. And, of course, there are the Florida alligators! 

Today, Fort Lauderdale, a.k.a. the Venice of America, has more to offer than a happening beach for frat boys wanting to make the most out of Spring Break. 

The city has flipped its reputation and now offers kid-friendly experiences, which makes it perfect for families looking for a break in the spring, summer, or winter. 

In this blog, we’ve made a list of 7 places you shouldn’t miss on a family vacation to Fort Lauderdale. 

Check out our top picks. 

7 Must-Visit Places in Fort Lauderdale 

• Golden Sandy Beaches

You can’t visit Fort Lauderdale without hitting the beaches with the kids. Fort Lauderdale’s beaches have been recognized by the Clean Beaches Council.

Some of the best sun-and-sand spots to check out are: 

• Hollywood Beach
• Dania Beach
• Fort Lauderdale Beach Park
• Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
• Pompano Beach
• Fort Lauderdale Beach

Explore coral reefs and shipwrecks with the kids by diving or snorkeling near Pompano Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, or rent and ride bikes in Hollywood. You could give the kids a fishing lesson at the more secluded Dania Beach, and then enjoy a lazy lunch at the beachside cafes, go shopping, or take relaxing walks on the beach promenades at all these spots. 

Highlights: 

• Fully-staffed lifeguard towers every 200 to 400 yards 
• Extensive vehicle parking areas
• Restrooms & changing rooms, showers, volleyball/basketball courts, BBQ grills, picnic tables, and playgrounds surround the major Fort Lauderdale beaches 

• Everglades National Park 

To visit the Everglades National Park, families will have to make their way down to the Shark Valley Area Entrance near Miami. This entrance is closest to Fort Lauderdale. Entrance fees are collected at any of the 3 entrances to the park, with separate fees for tram tours and bike rentals. 

Some popular animals you are most likely to spot are: 

• White-tailed deer
• Tree-climbing gray fox
• River otter
• Raccoon
• Opossum

The Everglades is home to rare animals like: 

• Endangered leatherback turtle
• Florida panther
• West Indian manatee 

Common birds include:

• White ibis
• Green-backed heron
• Roseate spoonbill.

A full list of species is available here. 

If you find that the Everglades National Park is a bit too far for you, visit the Everglades Holiday Park instead. The popular Animal Planet show Gator Boys is filmed there. Kids will enjoy learning about Florida’s ferocious alligators from the fun antics of the Gator Boys. 

Highlights: 

• Restrooms are available at the visitor centers. 
• Buy insect repellent for the entire family ahead of time. 
• Pre-book return transportation because hailing a ride will be a big problem from these out-of-the-way locations   
• For operating hours and address, click here. 

• Museum of Discovery & Science

The Museum of Discovery & Science is the perfect place for a day of educational fun with the littles. Explore exhibits that depict the ecospaces of Florida and its prehistoric paleontological secrets, and learn about various scientific principles through outdoor activities. 

Don’t miss the Storm Center and the Wall of Wind, which show you how a hurricane is formed, and the various films playing at the IMAX theatres.  

Highlights: 

• Visiting Hours: 
  • Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
  • Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Location: 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
• For non-Florida residents, check ticket pricing here.

• Butterfly World 

Close to 20,000 exotic butterflies are raised at Butterfly World. The center also raises noisy lorikeets and birds like the energetic hummingbirds. A visit to Butterfly World is bound to be a magical experience. Walk through the lush acres of the botanical gardens and butterfly farms. Educate your little ones on how to grow a garden that encourages butterflies to visit. Butterfly World provides information on how to do this. 

Highlights: 

• Location: Tradewinds Park – South, 3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, United States
• For ticket prices and timings, check here.  

• Young at Art Museum 

A day at the Young at Art Museum is sure to spark artistic creativity in your kids. Kids can view loads of artwork and participate in classes or workshops to hone their art skills. There are plenty of interesting exhibits to inspire and challenge budding artists.

Highlights: 

• Timings: Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., inside Broward Mall
• Location: 8000 W Broward Blvd Ste 1208, Plantation, Florida 33388
• Call 954-424-0085 for inquiries
• Admission Tickets: Children & Adults $12 each, free for members

• Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor

If you want your little ones to experience an old-school ice-cream parlor, Jaxson’s is the place to go. It’s located at Dania Beach, so treat your kids after a swim!

The menu looks something like this: 

• Ice-cream sundaes
• thick and creamy shakes
• Banana splits
• Soda floats
• New York-style hot dogs
• Hamburgers
• Chicken wings 

The best part about Jaxson’s is the country store, where you will find retro toys, merch, and fun apparel. You’ll also find unique confections and fresh candy. More of a treat for the parents than the kids!

Highlights: 

• Check out the full menu here. 
• Address: 128 S. Federal Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004
• Call (954) 923-4445
• Timings: 
  • Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
  • Friday & Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

• Las Olas Boulevard

You have to dedicate one afternoon to strolling down the Las Olas Boulevard for a bit of shopping, city tours on a water taxi or a gondola, and checking out the NSU Art Museum or the 

Stranahan House. 

You can’t leave Las Olas Boulevard without checking out the food places dotting the neighborhood. Choose from American, Italian, Asian, and Latin restaurants,  pretty cafes and bakeries, and pizza and dessert places. Plenty of kid-friendly restaurants are here! 

It’s A Wrap: Airport Transfers with Kidmoto 

To book airport transfers from the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport to your hotel, you can prebook a ride on the Kidmoto App. 

The best reason to do so? 

We offer pre-installed car seats for kids, making airport transfers safe, convenient, and hassle-free. 

Download the Kidmoto app to book a ride:

iPhone: https://buff.ly/3C0nHnL 

Android: https://buff.ly/3YnVMW7 

Happy travels!