Trip Ideas By Activity
There are so many ways to vacation with your children.
City explorations, museum sleepovers, condo-style rentals, road trips, mountain and lake cabins, beaches, cruises, and all-inclusive vacations stretch budgets. Resorts run the gamut from moderate to pricey. Staying midweek or during shoulder season saves money.
Dream trips—African safaris, Galapagos treks, polar bear watches—deliver the thrill of wildlife encounters but at a hefty price. Farmstays, state and national parks, and hikes through Costa Rican rain forests let you enjoy animal encounters at a fraction of the cost.
Time travel fascinates kids. At living history parks, march with the militia and meet pioneers. In Europe, tour centuries-old castles, climb atop medieval walls, and stroll streets laced with 18th-century buildings. Go back millions of years to the dinosaur era. Satisfy your kids’ curiosity by going on a dinosaur dig, walking in dinosaur footprints, and ogling fossils of these fierce critters in museums.
Build sandcastles at the beach, canoe and fish at a lake, get tossed, twirled, and dropped on rollercoasters at an amusement, ski downhill, or snowshoe through snowy woods.
Stay overnight, for a few days, or a week. Plan carefully, allow for spontaneity, know that things will go awry, and maintain your sense of humor. Have fun.
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Great Family Adventures for Spring and Autumn in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah
Frommers.com||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Adventures, College Age & Adult, Destinations, Family, Family Travel Tips, Featured News, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, National and State Parks in the US, Preschoolers Ages 3-5, United States Destinations, Western United States DestinationsA little bit of adventure goes a long way toward a successful family vacation. By sharing an out-of-the-ordinary experience and tackling the challenges together, kids and adults build bonds. The pocket of the Southwestern United States that includes Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah is especially well-stocked in outdoorsy things to do together, including rafting, hot air ballooning, sandboarding, stargazing, and more. Take a chance on one of these vacation ideas—afterward, the conversations at dinner will only get better and better.
Jeep Tours, Arizona
Hold onto the grab handles—these tricked-out Jeep Wranglers buck and leap through Sedona’s legendary red rock landscape. On this real-life, off-road thrill ride through the Coconino National Forest’s Broken Arrow Trail, you’ll slide back as your vehicle crawls up boulders and then pitch forward when it descends steep slopes. Expect to scream happily as the driver bounces down staircases of rocks and tilts sideways to maneuver down stone slabs.
On breaks during the two-hour tour, you’ll catch your breath by posing for photos against the scenic background of Sedona’s signature red spires and buttes. The path is open to hikers and individual, off-road vehicle drivers, but Pink Jeep Adventure Tours has the exclusive right to operate tours on Broken Arrow. The company also operates other Sedona area Jeep tours.
Hot Air Ballooning, New Mexico
Picture it: The landscape around Albuquerque, a swath of greenery cut through by the Rio Grande, unfolding below your feet. New Mexico’s biggest city claims to be the hot air balloon capital of the world, and few would argue because of the phenomenon known as the Albuquerque Box. Here, air currents pour off the mountains and combine with breezes coming off the river to create a predictable pattern that allows pilots to lift off, drift, and return near the same spot they took flight. The best times to glide are at sunrise from April to October. Although it’s no easy task to wake up cranky kids before dawn, they will eventually thank you after floating like angels above the landscape.
Children should be tall enough to see over the basket’s rim and brave enough to try—a wicker bucket hanging in the sky is no place to hold a squirming kid. Rainbow Ryders is one of the city’s many hot air balloon companies, but there are plenty of respectable outfits in town. Tickets to the renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October go on sale in April.
The Wave, Arizona-Utah Border
In a region known for stunning rock formations, The Wave, on the border of Arizona and Utah, rates among the most spectacular. Created by wind and water erosion, the Wave’s red, pink, and brown sandstone bands swirl through a U-shaped chute and rise on the adjacent buttes like crashing surf. Being inside it is like standing in a waterless sea that ripples in the sunlight. The relative lack of visitors to this remote site adds to the enchantment.
The mild months of April, May, September, and October are among the best times to undertake the hike to the Wave. As part of the Coyote Buttes North region of the 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, it requires a six-mile round-trip walk over rocks and sand with no discernible trail and few signs. You’ll navigate by map, compass, or GPS.
You’ll also need preparation. The Bureau of Land Management issues only 64 daily permits—48 via online lottery four months ahead (eight people max in a group), plus 16 more to walk-ins to the Kanab BLM center one day in advance. (New guidelines are under review, so double-check the latest rules.)
If your family craves the scenery without worrying about getting lost, hire an approved guide. Some companies even provide transportation from gateway cities Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah, each about 46 miles from the Wave’s entrance.
Sandboarding, Utah
Sandboard down 10,000-year-old dunes at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, which can be done on the same vacation as Zion National Park. Coral Pink, a 3,730-acre park between Kanab and Mt. Carmel Junction, has some 1,200 acres of dunes to lure sandboarders, hikers, and ATV drivers. Sliding across Star Dune, with pink sand swirling around you like fairy dust, is a great way to share an adrenaline thrill with your grade-schoolers and teens. Getting back to the top of Star, which is some 120 feet high, is a workout for your glutes.
The park rents sandboards, which are lighter than snowboards, and also sit-down sleds if you want to temper the rush. April and May are prime times for gliding down the dunes because of mild air and sand temperatures.
Rafting the Salt River, Arizona
Bond with your preteens and teens by tackling Class III-IV rapids on a raft trip through the Upper Salt River Canyon. The lesser-known gem, affectionately called Arizona’s “other canyon,” winds through a scenic wilderness area. You’ll paddle past 2,000-foot canyon walls, hillsides dotted with saguaro cacti, a nesting site favored by bald eagles, and more rapids per mile than any other Arizona river. Trips start in early March—mid-March for high water—making the river a good choice for an early spring adventure. The season typically ends in late April, depending on the water level.
Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours offers day-long, half-day, and shorter outings. The high water minimum age is 12 years old but 8 years old for low water days. The put-in point for trips is Whiteriver, Arizona, about a 2.5-hour drive from Phoenix and about 3 hours from Tucson.
Stargazing, Utah
The night sky sparkles at Dead Horse Point State Park, which is designated as an International Dark Sky Park. Here, there’s limited skyglow to block the dazzle—the closest city, Moab, is 32 miles away. At an altitude of 5,900 feet, the park gifts you with a vast expanse of space to observe. Rangers show you star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae through telescopes at star parties, held March through October. Make the wonder last longer for you and your kids by gazing up from the deck of your private yurt (pictured above)—or from your campsite.
By night, you’ll see the Milky Way as the ancients did—as a brilliant blaze of light—but don’t miss the park’s signature daylight view, Dead Horse Point Overlook. The iconic western panorama takes in the Colorado River snaking back upon itself 2,000 feet below, plus a 180-degree sweep of red rock mesas and canyons. Nearby, you’ll find Canyonlands, another Dark Sky Park.
Historic Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico
Discover centuries-old cliff dwellings by hiking New Mexico’s spectacular high mountain desert. The drive to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, one of the U.S.’s most remote national monuments, takes you past canyons, rivers, and mesas of the surrounding 3.3-million acre Gila National Forest.
Of the region’s many ancient inhabitants, only the Mogollon (pronounced “MUG-e-own”) built stone shelters with walls that divided the caves into chambers for gathering, ceremonies, and storage. A 1-mile loop trail, part uphill and rocky but doable, leads to (and from) the massive cliffs that harbor five dwellings. The Mogollon inhabited these from around 1280 to the early 1300s. No one knows why they left. The lack of crowds makes it easy to listen to the canyon winds and to imagine long-ago families gathered by the fire, and picture their children peering out at the dazzling starry sky.
Avoid the rainstorms of July to September and the chill of winter by visiting in spring or fall. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is 44 miles north of Silver City.
Off-Roading in a Scenic Canyon, New Mexico
Go off-roading in a stunning New Mexican landscape with towering rock formations you might have seen in 2003’s The Missing and other western thrillers. On a Santa Fe Mountain Adventures outing, you ride in a Swiss Army Vehicle through the Diablo Canyon Recreation Area, a classic setting of arroyos (dry riverbeds) laced by piñon pines and juniper bushes, to dramatic vertical cliffs. Along the way, listen to tales of the traders who once used the route to get goods from Mesoamerica to the Rocky Mountains. At the canyon’s mouth, you’ll hop out to scramble over boulders and take a short hike with your kids.
Since the iconic desert landscape unfolds a mere 20 miles from Santa Fe, the 2.5-hour tour fits families who also want time in the city or at a resort.
10 Best Family Beaches in California
Celebrity Cruises||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Beaches, Family, Featured News, Uncategorized, United States Destinations, Western United States DestinationsNothing says “California” quite like a beach. Surfing and swimming are quintessential elements of the lifestyle here. That’s because the region features some of the best beaches for families.
Each sandy stretch has its own flavor. Where the waves crash against the shore, watch experts ride the curl. At strands with mild swells, take surfing lessons with your kids. Where the seas are calm, try kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. Some beaches beckon shell collectors with low-tide finds and quiet stretches, perfect for sunning and sandcastle building. At other beaches, gaze at colonies of basking seals and sea lions.
Feel the California energy just by people-watching. At shoreside parks, see expert skateboarders fly across rails and bowls. In some areas, mime artists and jugglers gather boardwalk crowds, bodybuilders work out in the sand, and graffiti artists create eye-popping canvases on storefronts and walls.
Here are some of the best family beaches in California.
Venice Beach, Los Angeles
At Venice Beach in Los Angeles, one of the best California beaches for families, the sand is almost beside the point. Come here for the vibrant California street life that unspools along the two-plus miles of boardwalk and beach.
Watch street entertainers play to the crowds, bodybuilders pump iron at outdoor Muscle Beach Gym (Arnold Schwarzenegger worked out here), and spot thrashers doing tricks at the Skate Park.
Then there’s the art. The colorful Venice Art Walls, concrete slabs, and cones covered with graffiti and murals, pop with a cartoon-like intensity appealing to kids and teens. Find more flamboyant street art on the roll-up door fronts on the boardwalk shops between 17th Avenue and Market Street, and off the boardwalk along Abbot Kinney and Lincoln boulevards.
Savor the sea and the sand views by biking, roller skating, or skateboarding along the 22-mile paved, beachside path, the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail. Nearby vendors rent equipment.
With little kids, head to one of the two beachfront playgrounds. Since lifeguards patrol a portion of the beach, check with them about swimming conditions. Surfers catch waves near the Venice Pier, a good place for you and your kids to catch the fabulous sunsets.
Santa Monica State Beach, Santa Monica
The iconic Route 66 stops at the Santa Monica Pier. The Pier, a Southern California landmark, divides the three-mile-long Santa Monica State Beach, a broad, sandy stretch, into north and south sections.
The Pier is fun for families with young grade-schoolers who happily scream when riding the rollercoaster and the Ferris Wheel at Pacific Park on the Pier. Also, consider a visit to the Pier’s Aquarium. The small facility showcases some 100 species local to Southern California to create an appreciation for and an awareness of the need to clean the oceans and protect wildlife.
While Venice Beach’s on-the-sand gym garners more publicity, Santa Monica’s South Beach claims to be the Original Muscle Beach since its parallel bars, rings, and ropes were placed on the sand in the 1930s. For a fun workout, rent a bike and pedal part of the paved path, a.k.a the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, that hugs the beach.
La Jolla Shores, San Diego
The seven-mile-long La Jolla coast is impressive: a mix of cliffs, stunning ocean views, and great beaches. La Jolla Coast Walk Trail, a short, easy path, connects La Jolla Shores beach to La Jolla Cove.
Among the best beaches in San Diego, one-mile-long La Jolla Shores attracts families who come for the soft sands, relatively gentle waves—great for novice surfing lessons– playground, picnic area, and year-round lifeguards. La Jolla Shores opens up to the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park, a 6,000-acre reserve, where snorkelers and divers swim among schools of fish.
La Jolla Cove, a smaller beach, rewards kids with tide pools filled with minnows and crabs, and often sunning seals and sea lions. Kayakers can paddle to nearby sea caves.
At Children’s Pool, within walking distance from La Jolla Cove, a seawall was built to block the strong currents and waves to create a haven for families with kids. However, seals and sea lions love the sandy, calm strand so much that they’ve claimed it for their pups. Even though you can’t swim here, you and your kids will enjoy watching the blubbery pinnipeds waddle along the sand.
Windansea Beach, San Diego
Windansea, a small, narrow La Jolla beach, rolls with big waves. While this isn’t a swimming beach, do watch the expert surfers catch waves cresting up to eight feet high.
Originally called Neptune Beach, the patch became known as “Windansea” after the Windansea Hotel was built in the 1920s. Even after fire destroyed the lodging in 1943, the name stuck.
Perch on the sand or the flat rocks to watch the show or find some shade –if there’s room—under the raggedy palm frond roof of the Surf Shack. Ex-military men and surfers constructed the simple, open-air, four-poled structure in 1947.
Beloved by locals, the shack was designated a San Diego historical landmark in 1998 and rebuilt in 2015 after a huge wave destroyed it. Hungry? Nearby eateries sell salads, tacos, and sandwiches.
Mission Beach, San Diego
Mission Beach, the strand south of Pacific Beach Drive, rewards families with classic seaside fun. The popular stretch of wide sands features a two-mile-long boardwalk to stroll or bike, and amusement rides at Belmont Park, whose star is the Giant Dipper, a classic wooden coaster.
Don’t miss trying this one if you’ve never experienced a wooden coaster—it comes with considerably more noise and wobble. As the 75-foot-high Giant Dipper hurls you at speeds up to 48 mph, the clacking of the wheels amplifies the gut-twisting thrills.
For more screaming fun, get dropped from Zero Gravity’s tower and get tossed on Beach Blaster, a gondola-like swing ride. Little ones can giggle through spins on a carousel and a train. For a calm break, enjoy a picnic on the grassy lawns at the quieter south end of Mission Beach or join in a game of volleyball on the sand.
Mission Beach, one of the best beaches in San Diego, has lifeguards year-round and gentle waves are typical, making the best a good place to swim.
Coronado Beach, San Diego
Coronado Beach literally sparkles due to the sand’s tiny mica particles. Situated on a peninsula across the bay from San Diego, the one-and-a-half mile-long beach, reached by ferry or by the Coronado Bridge from mainland San Diego, has to be one of the best family beaches in California.
The flat, wide strand draws families. Kids skimboard along the shore and at low tide, collect shells, especially sand dollars, and search for sea anemones, hermit crabs, and tiny fish in the tidepools.
At Coronado Dog Beach, north of the central section, watch joyous pups frolic off-leash in the surf. For lunch, choose seafood, BBQ, sushi, or sandwiches. Locals swear by California chain Burger Lounge’s patties made from grass-fed cattle.
Active families could pedal the six-mile bike loop for scenic ocean and bay views or fish from a section of the Coronado Ferry Landing Pier (no license required) for halibut and bass.
Moonstone Beach, Catalina Island
Catalina’s hills rise behind Moonstone Beach, a brown swath of sand dotted with driftwood. Operated as a private facility with moorings by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, the beach provides a base for boaters to explore inland and offshore Catalina Island, including nearby Lover’s Cove State Marine Conservation Area.
You and your kids can view the underwater kelp forest and look for garibaldi, the bright orange striped state fish, aboard a glass-bottom boat, or by snorkeling or diving. Unlike most protected areas, Lover’s Cove allows visitors to attract fish by feeding them, especially fun for young kids.
Baker Beach, San Francisco
Spanning a mile along the Presidio’s western shoreline, backed by serpentine cliffs, Baker Beach offers sweeping views of the vermillion Golden Gate Bridge and the rugged Marin Hills across the water.
Kick off your shoes and keep a lookout for harbor porpoises, dolphins, and sea lions in the water as you stroll along the sandy shore. Kids will have fun spotting sea stars at low tide, when grey-green serpentine rocks revealed by the receding waves gleam in the sunshine.
Baker Beach isn’t so much a swimming beach as the water is cold and often choppy, but it’s a wonderful place to walk, sunbathe, or picnic under the cypress trees at one of the picnic tables. Locals flock here in summer months but there’s space for everybody.
There are other attractions at this San Francisco beach, too. At the north end of the parking lot, at Battery Chamberlin, you can visit the “disappearing gun”, the last of its kind on the West Coast. The gun, a 97,000 pound cannon, was part of a string of defenses of the coast developed in 1904 to protect the minefields inland.
This particular specimen was acquired in 1977 by the National Park Service and is kept in a hidden emplacement, with a small exhibit of the history of defending the California coastline.
East Beach, Santa Barbara
Nestled on the coast between the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara lures families with spectacular scenery and stunning beaches.
A bit quieter than West Beach, East Beach is one of the best beaches in Santa Barbara for families. Little ones can romp in the sand, widest at the east end, and you and your older kids can play volleyball at one of the courts or watch the locals. Kayaking and stand up paddle board rentals are available, a grassy palm-tree-lined park with picnic tables edges the sand, and a playground is nearby.
Rent bikes or a surrey (for two to four people) to cycle with your kids along the Cabrillo Bike Path across the street. The four-and-a-half-mile bike path connects East Beach with Leadbetter Beach to the west and Butterfly Beach to the east.
Pedal to Chase Palm Park. Here, kids and teens can challenge themselves on 14,600-square feet of rails, ledges, and quarterpipes or watch experts at Skater’s Point Skate Park, and little ones can romp at the park’s playground.
Zuma Beach, Malibu
Zuma Beach gains fame for its clean sands, its location in upscale Malibu, and ample waves that attract surfers. The strong waves and the intermittent riptides make this wide stretch of beach a better bet for strolling along the water’s edge with your toes in the surf than for swimming, especially with children. It’s fun to watch experts ride the surf and, in winter, Zuma Beach is an excellent place to spot migrating grey whales.
Before plopping your beach blanket on the sand, browse the nearby Trancas Market Shopping Center for sandwiches, chips, fruit, and other picnic items. After your day of sun and sand, consider visiting Point Dume Nature Reserve nearby. Hiking the uphill trail rewards you and your family with panoramic views of Santa Monica Bay, the north Malibu Coast, and Catalina Island in the distance.
Discover the best family beaches in California on a cruise along the West Coast. Browse our California cruises and book your next family vacation.
12 Fun Things to Do With Kids in Fort Lauderdale
Celebrity Cruises||by Candyce H. StapenCategories: Beaches, City and Cultural Vacations, College Age & Adult, Destinations, Family, Featured News, Grade-Schoolers Ages 6-9, Southern United States Destinations, Tweens Ages 10-12, Uncategorized, United States DestinationsFort Lauderdale long ago shed its spring break zaniness to become a year-round destination for families, boaters, and sun-seekers. There are so many things to do with kids in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding region, both on and off the water.
With 24 miles of beach in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, including the seven-mile stretch of sand in Fort Lauderdale itself, there are plenty of places for you and your kids to swim and sun.
Dubbed the “Venice of America” because of its 300 miles of navigable waterways, Fort Lauderdale offers all kinds of adventures on the New River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Try kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, jet skiing, and sightseeing cruises. Just getting around on the water taxis is fun for kids.
Fort Lauderdale is filled with family-friendly attractions. These are some of the best things to do with kids in Fort Lauderdale.
Head for the Beach
One of the region’s many strands, Fort Lauderdale Beach stretches for seven miles between Las Olas Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard, providing an inviting space for kids and families. Sandcastle building, relaxing to the rhythmic lapping of waves, and swimming, surf permitting, are time-honored pastimes on the palm tree-lined shores.
While you’re at the beach, stroll the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront Promenade, an inviting paved pathway separated from the sand by a low-rise wall reminiscent of curling waves. You can people-watch while checking out the hotels, shops, and restaurants that line the streets across from the beach.
For family selfies, pose by the giant blue beach chair on the sand across from DC Alexander Park and gather next to the large “Greetings from Fort Lauderdale” postcard opposite Las Olas Oceanside Park.
Learn About Science
One of Florida’s most popular museums, the Museum of Discovery and Science engages kids—and adults—with more than 300 interactive exhibits, science shows, and an IMAX 3D Theater whose six-story high screen puts you in the middle of the action. This noteworthy museum, located across from the Riverwalk’s Esplanade Park, is one of the best things to do with kids in Fort Lauderdale.
At Science Park, the outdoor, hands-on area, younger kids learn how simple machines work by hoisting themselves up in a chair via pulleys and spinning a wheel to turn an axle to power a giant fan. The Discovery Center is a haven for blowing giant bubbles, burying items in a sandbox, and other sensory play for kids six years and younger.
Get blown away with your older kids by the force of hurricane-strength winds simulated at the Storm Center. Find out what happened to giant sharks, saber-toothed cats and other critters in prehistoric Florida, tackle surgery using a robotic simulator at Powerful You!, and plan, build, test, and refine your inventions at the Hangar Makerspace.
Stroll Along the River
Riverwalk, a great place for family strolls and adventures, is another of Fort Lauderdale’s memorable pedestrian-friendly paths. The route stretches along the New River’s north and south banks in downtown, connecting some ten city parks and outdoor plazas.
Pack a picnic lunch and pedal the route on bikes or roll along on a Segway tour. Guided kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding tours also take you and your kids out on the New River.
The walkway winds you close to the Historic Stranahan House Museum, the 1901 home of Frank Stranahan, an artist influential in founding the town, and to the 85,000-square-foot NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
For adults and teens interested in art, the NSU facility is a find that can fill in a gap in art awareness. The permanent collection focuses on Latin American contemporary art, especially works created by women, Black, and Latinx artists, and 19th to 20th-century African art.
Browse the Shops on Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas Boulevard is another iconic Fort Lauderdale stroll. Boutiques, shops, galleries, and restaurants line this elegant avenue that reaches from downtown Fort Lauderdale to the beach at A1A.
Consider arriving after the beach but before dinner. That way, you and your kids can graze on snacks, browse, and then settle in for an early dinner at restaurants that serve burgers, barbecue, sandwiches, salads, and seafood.
Pick up an extra sweatshirt or rash guard for your teens at Quiet Storm Surf Shop, sundresses from South Moon Under, and hand-crafted chocolates from Hoffman’s Chocolates. Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar is a good family choice for a latte break. Kids enjoy the merry mix of flowers, pastries, and cute gifts, and you will appreciate the coffee or a glass of wine.
Add to the family fun by arriving via water taxi. From the beach, board the boat at stop #5 and get off at stop #1 in the heart of the boulevard.
See the Birds at Flamingo Gardens Estate
Sized just right for young animal lovers, the Flamingo Gardens Estate in Davie combines an animal sanctuary with tropical botanical gardens on 60 acres.
Most of the critters living at the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary cannot return to the wild because of permanent injuries. Peacocks strut about the greenery, and pink flamingos stretch their curvy necks to poke for plants in their pond.
At the Birds of Prey Center, kids get up-close views of owls, hawks, falcons, golden and bald eagles, and various south Florida species. The center releases the chicks born in captivity into the wild. With more than 250 birds representing 45 species flying freely through the aviary, the 25,000-square foot space is a-flutter with bird calls and the flapping of wings.
The gardens are spectacular. Meander through areas filled with tropical ferns, crotons, colorful ginger and heliconia flowers, and thousands of orchids. Save the narrated tram tour for the end of your visit when little feet need a rest.
As your vehicle winds through stands of Live Oak nearly 200 years old, and a section planted with tropical rainforest vegetation, you gain a sense of what Florida looked like before development.
Visit Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
A green oasis amid Fort Lauderdale’s high-rises, the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens lies on a 35-acre barrier island between the Intracoastal and the Atlantic Ocean. Hidden by tall palm trees and surrounded by lush tropical plants, the 1920 home showcases the leisurely lifestyle of the very rich of the twentieth century.
Although that alone isn’t likely to interest youngsters, enchant kids by asking them to go on an animal spotting safari in the gardens. Monkeys scamper in the trees, and the artist owners decorated the home and the grounds with whimsical animal art.
Ask your young explorers to spot the cats, leopards, elephants, giraffes, ostrich, mounted fish, and zebras in the carvings, sculptures, murals, and paintings.
Get Back to Nature
Locals love Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a hidden gem in the middle of Fort Lauderdale. The park, whose 180 acres stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal, maintains its coastal wilderness, a haven of ocean, beach, dune, mangroves, and maritime forest, while enticing visitors with eco-adventures.
You and your kids can hike or rent bikes to pedal the 1.9-mile trail through hardwood forest to the beach. Shorter paths cut through stands of sea grapes, gumbo limbo, and wild coffee plants and lead to freshwater sections favored by gopher tortoises.
Swim in the ocean and practice stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking on the lake. Check the schedule for guided sunset kayak tours, a great family activity. Before you leave, snap a family selfie in front of the 200-foot wide strangler fig with its wide curtain of finger-like roots.
Learn About Social History
Swim and learn about a place that made history at the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. Civil Rights Movement leaders Mizell and Johnson led wade-in protests in the 1950s and 1960s to desegregate the beach. The two-mile-long swath, a fine example of undeveloped coastal ecosystem, is in Dania, close to Port Everglades.
Consider a Friday night sunset kayak outing from the mangroves here to the Intracoastal Waterway, guided by BG Whiskey Creek Hideout outfitters. The company also offers full moon tours, a real adventure for families to share after dark, and rents paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes for daily use.
Admire Butterflies and Birds
Butterfly World’s Tropical Aviary feels like a magical place to kids. Thousands of brilliantly colored butterflies flutter around you on your walk through the lush tropical landscaping. At 10 acres, with 20,000 live butterflies and tropical birds, Butterfly World ranks as one of the world’s largest butterfly parks.
Look through the glass at the Research Center, and you might catch sight of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Kids also enjoy feeding the jewel-colored lorikeets, peering at insects in the Bug Zoo, and ogling the macaws, parrots, and other tropical birds in their aviary.
Shop at Sawgrass Mills
If your teens agitate for brand-name clothes, spend time at Sawgrass Mills, an outlet shopping center in Sunrise. With 350 stores in 2.5 million square feet of retail space, Sawgrass Mills ranks among the U.S.’s largest off-price malls.
And discount doesn’t mean your fussy progeny won’t recognize the fashions. Kate Spade, Jimmy Choo, and Tory Burch are among the designer brands located at The Colonnade Outlets. Your teens might also like cruising J.Crew, Hugo Boss, Gap Factory, Diesel, H & M, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Since many shops stay open until 8pm or 9pm, there’s no need to skip beach time. Make an evening of your visit here. Consider arriving in the afternoon, browsing and buying, then tucking into dinner at one of the scores of restaurants and eateries that include the Cheesecake Factory and Johnny Rockets. Non-shoppers in the family can watch a movie or two at the multi-screen theaters.
Cruise the Waterways
Fort Lauderdale is all about life on the water. Take advantage of the myriad waterways by boarding a sightseeing cruise. Popular tours take you along the New River to see the waterfront mansions on “Millionaire’s Row”, fronted by sleek mega-yachts. From the wide open decks of the Jungle Queen, an ersatz Mississippi paddlewheeler, catch the breezes and the scenery.
Explore the Everglades by Airboat
The Everglades rate as one of Florida’s natural gems, a subtropical wilderness of mangrove swamps and sawgrass prairie cut by watery channels. Airboats hover above the water’s surface as they zip through the swamps and grasses. It’s the perfect combination for youngsters: a thrill ride combined with wildlife.
With the help of expert local guides, you and your kids might spot alligators and crocodiles lurking in the swamps. Look out, too, for great blue herons, hawks, and eagles in the distance.
Spend time experiencing the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale with kids before exploring the Caribbean aboard one of our luxury cruise ships. Browse our cruises from Fort Lauderdale and book your next getaway today.