Top 10 Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale with Kids (2025 Family Guide)

Why It's #1

Fort Lauderdale Beach offers 7 miles of beautiful, calm beaches with gentle waves perfect for young swimmers. Unlike Miami's crowded South Beach, Fort Lauderdale beaches have SPACE for families to spread out, build sandcastles, and play. Water is warm year-round (78-85°F), sand is soft and clean, lifeguards are on duty, and it's completely FREE. This is WHY families come to Fort Lauderdale—the beach is the main attraction.

What to Expect

• Beach Quality: Clean sand, warm water, gentle waves safer for kids than ocean beaches elsewhere. Lifeguards stationed every few blocks. Beach cleaned daily.
• Less Crowded: Even on weekends, Fort Lauderdale Beach less packed than Miami Beach. You can actually FIND space for your family setup.
• Family-Friendly Amenities: Public bathrooms, outdoor showers for rinsing sand, Fort Lauderdale Beach Park (playground + splash pad), restaurants/cafés within walking distance.
• Boardwalk: 2-mile beachfront promenade perfect for morning walks, jogging, rollerblading, or biking. Connects beach areas.
• Water Sports: Jet ski rentals ($80-100/person 30 min), parasailing ($70-90/person), paddleboard rentals ($25-35/hour), kayak rentals ($20-30/hour) available at various beach locations.

Age-Specific Ratings

• Ages 2-4: 9/10 (Calm water perfect for toddlers splashing, wide beach good for sandcastles, but sun exposure requires constant monitoring)
• Ages 5-10: 10/10 (Perfect age for beach—can swim, boogie board, play beach games for hours)
• Ages 11-16: 9/10 (Still enjoy beach, water sports add interest, but may want more variety after 2-3 days)

Why It's #2

The Museum of Discovery & Science is Fort Lauderdale's best family attraction for ages 3-12, offering hands-on science exhibits, live animals (alligators, otters, turtles), and interactive learning. It's the perfect rainy-day alternative to beach, provides 4-5 hours of entertainment, and kids learn while having fun. Parents consistently rate this as "best money spent" on Fort Lauderdale trips.

What to Expect

• KidScience Area (ages 2-7): Hands-on exhibits, water play, climbing structures, sensory activities. Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE this area. 45-60 min.
• Gizmo City (ages 8+): Engineering challenges, building activities, problem-solving exhibits. Older kids enjoy complexity. 60-90 min.
• Florida Everglades Exhibit: THREE live alligators (6-8 feet long!), river otter habitat (otters are adorable and active), turtles, fish. Most popular exhibit. 30-45 min.
• Living in the Everglades: Interactive display of Everglades ecosystem, wildlife, conservation efforts. Educational without being boring. 30 min.
• Storm Center: Wind machine (kids can feel hurricane-force winds!), tornado simulator, weather science. Very interactive. 30 min.
• IMAX Theater: Giant screen showing nature documentaries. 40-45 min. Good break after walking exhibits.

Age-Specific Ratings

• Ages 2-4: 8/10 (KidScience area excellent, live animals captivating, but most exhibits too advanced)
• Ages 5-10: 10/10 (Perfect age—can engage with most exhibits, enjoy hands-on activities, appreciate live animals)
• Ages 11-16: 7/10 (Still interesting especially for science-loving kids, but some exhibits feel "young")

Why It's #3

Everglades airboat tours deliver thrilling adventure for kids 6+—high-speed boat ride through sawgrass marshes, guaranteed alligator sightings (usually see 15-30+ gators!), educational commentary about ecosystem, and authentic Florida Everglades experience. Kids talk about this for MONTHS after trip. It's expensive but worth it for the memories.

What to Expect

• 30-45 Minute Airboat Ride: High-speed boat powered by giant fan (LOUD—earplugs provided). Captain navigates through sawgrass, stops at alligator spotting areas, provides educational commentary. Thrilling turns, speed changes keep kids engaged.
• Alligator Sightings: GUARANTEED (seriously—you WILL see multiple alligators). Usually spot 15-30 during ride, ranging from babies (1-2 feet) to large adults (8-12 feet). Safe viewing from boat.
• Wildlife Show (30 min): Educational presentation after airboat ride. Learn about alligators, sometimes see snake handling, wildlife conservation talk. Kids can hold baby alligator for photos ($5-10 optional).
• Walking Trails: Most operators have boardwalk trails through Everglades with additional wildlife viewing (birds, fish, more gators).

Age-Specific Ratings

• Ages 3-5: 6/10 (Too loud/overwhelming for most toddlers despite earplugs, attention span short for 45-min ride)
• Ages 6-12: 10/10 (PERFECT age—thrilling but not scary, educational but fun, talk about it for weeks)
• Ages 13-16: 9/10 (Teens enjoy speed, wildlife, authentic Florida experience)

Cost: $6/vehicle. BEST value in Fort Lauderdale.

What to expect: 180-acre park with beach access (less crowded than main beach), nature trails (1.7-mile paved loop), playground, picnic areas, bike rentals ($6-8/hour), kayak rentals ($20/hour). Freshwater lagoon with fish/birds. 2-4 hours entertainment. Perfect for families wanting beach + nature break.

Pro tip: Pack picnic lunch. Spend morning at beach, afternoon on trails/playground. Saves money vs beach + restaurant. Park beach area much less crowded than public Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Cost: FREE to walk. Spend on dining/shopping as desired.

What to expect: 1-mile pedestrian-friendly boulevard with restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, cafés. Great for family evening strolls, window shopping, people watching. Outdoor ambiance especially nice 6-8pm. Good variety of restaurants from casual to upscale. Most have outdoor seating (kids can move around).

Family-friendly restaurants: Rocco's Tacos ($80-100 for family, Mexican), Big City Tavern ($90-120, American), Gran Forno Pronto ($70-90, Italian).

Cost: $32.95/adult, $27.95/child (3-11), FREE under 3. Family of 4: $122.

What to expect: 20,000+ butterflies in tropical aviaries, lorikeet feeding ($3 for nectar cup), hummingbird garden, bug zoo. 2-3 hours. Magical experience for kids who love nature. Butterflies land on kids (they LOVE this). Located Coconut Creek (30 min drive from Fort Lauderdale Beach).

Worth it? Yes for ages 4-10 who love animals/nature. Skip if kids are teens or very young toddlers (lose interest quickly). Mixed reviews on value ($122 expensive for 2-3 hours).

Cost: $28/adult, $14/child (4-10), FREE under 4 for unlimited day pass. Family of 4: $84.

What to expect: Water Taxi connects 15+ stops along Intracoastal Waterway (hotels, restaurants, attractions). Kids LOVE riding boats—turns transportation into entertainment. Hop on/off all day. Good for visiting multiple locations without Uber costs. Boats come every 30 minutes most stops.

Strategy: Use Water Taxi for dinner transport one evening. Kids think it's attraction, parents save on Uber. Win-win.

Cost: $25/adult, $20/child (6-12), FREE under 6. Family of 4: $90.

What to expect: Historic 1920s estate with art collection, tropical gardens, monkeys, birds, peacocks. Beautiful grounds perfect for photos. 2-3 hours. Better for older kids (8+) who appreciate history/architecture. Younger kids find it boring. Skip interior tour with young kids (too many fragile items)—stick to gardens.

Cost: $24.95/adult, $12.95/child (3-11), FREE under 3. Family of 4: $76.

What to expect: Botanical garden with native Florida wildlife (flamingos, alligators, bobcats, otters, birds of prey). Narrated tram tour included. 2-3 hours. Located Davie (30 min from beach). Nice alternative to beach day. Good for kids who love animals. Smaller/quieter than major zoos.

Cost: FREE (always).

What to expect: 2-mile paved riverwalk along New River. Restaurants, shops, street performers, parks along route. Bike rentals available ($10-15/hour). Good for evening family walks, pre-dinner strolls. Less crowded than beach. Connects to Las Olas Boulevard. Kids enjoy watching boats pass by. FREE entertainment.