Fort Lauderdale's 3 Days of Family Fun

Snorkeling with sea turtles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale

From Blue Wave-certified beaches (#1 attraction), to the Everglades, to a climate that averages 77F degrees and sunny; there's a lot to welcome moms, dads, kids, grandparents, LGBT families and multi-generational groups of all shapes and sizes to this major central Florida destination.

To navigate the trip-planning process, this Greater Fort Lauderdale ‘FUNtinerary’ was produced by the tourism office to benefit locals and visitors alike...  and you.

In addition to including the major attractions and restaurants that appeal to both kids and kids at heart, the region's tourism CEO Nicki Grossman adds that these hotels all cater to families by  having facilities such as kids' clubs, playgrounds, children's pools and other amenities:

• Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
• The Lago Mar Resort and Club
• Pelican Grand Beach Resort
• The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale 

Airboat Tour of the Everglades.

Got three days? Here we go:

Day 1 – Arrive Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, pick up a rental car, head to your hotel and hit the beach.

1. Fort Lauderdale beach is palm-tree fringed with a brick-lined beachfront promenade with an iconic white wave wall that’s close to the shopping and dining scene.  
2. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a charming beach town with great snorkeling right off the beach.
3. Dania Beach is home to some of the prettiest and least crowded stretches of ocean in the area.
4. Take an evening cruise on a Fort Lauderdale institution – the Jungle Queen riverboat departs from Bahia Mar at 6 pm and heads to a nearby island for an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner with entertainment. 
5. Hop on the Water Taxi for a tour of the area’s famous waterways and cruise to dinner – the taxi stops at 12 places in Fort Lauderdale along the Intracoastal Waterway and downtown New River, and makes three stops in Hollywood.

Day 2 – Rise and shine for a don’t-miss day of adventure and learning. 

1. Visit the Everglades and Billie Swamp Safari in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Kids will learn about the land and culture of the Seminole Indians and for a more in-depth experience, take an airport ride or cruise in a swamp buggy – a customized, elevated four-wheeler that’s the best (and safest) way to view the area’s exotic wildlife.
2. Head downtown for an afternoon of education at the Museum of Discovery & Science featuring more than 200 interactive exhibits, plus a five-story IMAX 3D Theater and new Eco-Discovery Center. 
3. Families can get creative at the Young at Art Museum in Davie where you can visit a cave or build sand sculptures and recycled puppets, in this LEED-certified museum. 
4. After dinner, hit up Boomers in Dania Beach – the amusement park is a hit with kids and stays open late with mini-golf, go-kart racing, rockwall climbing and ‘bumper boats.’

Day 3 - Finish your Greater Fort Lauderdale vacation in the great outdoors.  

1. Butterfly World in Coconut Creek features the largest indoor butterfly aviary in North America. The tropical oasis teems with thousands of rainbow-hued butterflies, hummingbirds and lorikeets. 
2. Flamingo Gardens & Wray Botanical Collection in Davie features 60 acres of diverse native plants and trees, a Bird of Prey Center with a free-flight aviary and the chance to view alligators, flamingos, bobcats and Florida panthers, plus a historic 1930s Wray Home. 
3. Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood offers kayaking and canoeing through narrow canals where mangrove trees create a tangled canopy.
4. Or for some peace and quiet, drop the kids off at Funky Fish Ocean Camp, a "liquid playground" day camp (overnight options available) for kids ages 4 to 14 which includes snorkeling lessons, fishing, boating, scuba camp and more.

Maybe we'll need a week to do this!

Thanks to the team at the Greater Fort Lauderdale C &VB for sharing their Funtinerary. For more information and trip planning ideas, visit www.sunny.org

.