Ft. Lauderdale Travel Guide

Fort Lauderdale Family Vacation Guide

Families who want to see South Florida cannot do better than basing themselves in family-friendly Ft. Lauderdale. Ft Lauderdale is a city of contrasts, perfect for family vacations. At once a luxurious yachting destination, Ft. Lauderdale is also a fun-filled city that has a ton of amenities that cater to families and children. On a Fort Lauderdale family vacation, moms can get pampered at a luxurious spa, dads can spend a day enjoying the lush golf courses, and the kids can play and romp around in the famous Florida sunshine.

Miami and South Beach are within easy reach of Ft. Lauderdale, so family vacationers do not have to miss out on those famous destinations. Orlando and all of its famously family-friendly attractions are just a few hours away as well. But family vacationers will find that there is rarely a need to leave Ft. Lauderdale.

Ft. Lauderdale is a premier Florida destination for family vacations: the friendly nature of the locals, the glorious beaches, and the laid-back attitude of this great city make it a destination to return to again and again.

Ft Lauderdale Beaches

Whatever your budget on your Ft. Lauderdale family vacation, spending time at the sunny beaches will make you feel like a millionaire. Soft white sand, warm lapping waves, and glittering water make the Ft. Lauderdale beaches slices of paradise. Each Ft. Lauderdale beach has its own personality, so family vacationers might want to try a few of them before deciding on which beach is perfect on which to spend a day of their family vacation.

Deerfield Beach

One of the most popular beaches for families on Ft. Lauderdale family vacations is Deerfield Beach, which is usually thronged with adults and kids and includes fun and lively Deerfield Pier, a great place to catch a bite or book a water adventure.

Hillsboro Beach

Hillsboro Beach is another popular beach; family vacationers will discover that this one is a little quieter and more revered by nature lovers. Views of the Hillsboro Lighthouse and nesting sea turtles make this a more mature choice for a family vacation.

Hollywood Beach

Ft. Lauderdale Beach and Hollywood Beach are other lively family-friendly beaches that family vacationers will want to check out: the beachfront promenades make these beaches perfect for family vacationers who want to people watch, rollerblade or enjoy a cool drink at an outdoor café. There are plenty more beaches in Ft. Lauderdale that is just perfect for family vacations. Whatever one you decide is right for your family, you can count on it being well maintained and lots of fun.

Ft. Lauderdale Arts and Culture

Often, arts and culture do not go hand in hand with a family vacation. However, families who choose Ft. Lauderdale as their family vacation destination need not sacrifice education and hands-on learning. There are plenty of places in Ft. Lauderdale for kids to learn the wonders of science and nature, without it being a drag for everyone involved!

Museum of Discovery and Science

In downtown Ft. Lauderdale is the Museum of Discovery and Science, which has hands-on exhibits that young family vacationers will love and a five-story IMAX movie theater: perfect for a cool escape on a hot family vacation day.

Young at Art Children’s Museum

For art lovers, the Young at Art Children’s Museum has hands-on activities for children that include ceramics, sculpture, photography and lots of games. Ft. Lauderdale family vacationers will leave this experience with the perfect family vacation souvenir.

Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

The Ft. Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, while not specifically for children, is also guaranteed to be a hit on your family vacation. With over forty pre-war cars on display, this museum will educate family vacationers on the origins of that most essential of family gear: the car.

Ft Lauderdale Museum of Art

The Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art is another museum that should not be missed on a family vacation: everything from King Tut to Norman Rockwell has graced the rooms of this elegant art museum, and people of all ages will be impressed by the offerings.

Fort Lauderdale History Center

The Ft. Lauderdale History Center is a final cultural landmark that families will not want to miss: here, families will learn the sociological and the historical background of their family vacation destination, through touring four historic structures.

Outdoor Activities in Ft Lauderdale

South Florida is not a place where you will want to spend a lot of your family vacation inside: the warm sun and the salty ocean air of Ft. Lauderdale will lure families outside. There are plenty of ways for families to enjoy being outdoors on a Ft. Lauderdale family vacation.

Wannado City

Wannado City is one unique Ft. Lauderdale family vacation experience: this miniature city is the size of 3 football fields and is perfectly kid-sized, where kids can become firefighters, airline pilots or lead the evening newscast. Family vacationers will also want to take to the Everglades in order to enjoy the beautiful Ft. Lauderdale surroundings.

Butterfly World

Butterfly World is a large tropical garden that is home to many different species of birds, insects, and fauna. The butterfly farm is a huge hit with all members of the family.

Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens is another Everglades experience that family vacationers will love: 60 acres of exotic plants and native birds are available to wander, and alligators, otters, and panthers also call this great place home.

Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

Family vacationers who visit the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation will also find fun opportunities for swamp buggy tours and airboat adventure tours. Of course, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful outdoors on an Ft. Lauderdale family vacation by simply enjoying that glorious ocean: parasailing, jet skis, canoeing, and every other water adventure you can think of is easily accessible at many of the major Ft. Lauderdale beaches.

Ft. Lauderdale Family Activities

Downtown Ft. Lauderdale is the place for families to go when they want to enjoy a city ambiance with family-friendly activities. Family vacationers will find that the Riverwalk dominates downtown Ft. Lauderdale. The Riverwalk is arts and entertainment district where there are many museums (including many of the museums listed above), concert halls, restaurants and shops for family vacationers to enjoy.

Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk

Families who take to the Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk on their family vacation will not want to miss Stranahan House, a historic house museum that will showcase the life of the father of Ft. Lauderdale, Frank Stranahan. The Riverwalk is also home to the Urban Market, which is every Saturday along The Esplanade. Fresh fruit and veggies will impress the parents on the family vacations, while cheeses and pastries will fill the bellies of the little ones.

Boomers

Boomers is another family destination that family vacationers will love.  Located just steps from some of the best Ft. Lauderdale family lodging, Boomers has video games, batting cages, bumper boats, and even roller coasters that will have every member of the family screaming with delight.

Family Dining in Ft. Lauderdale

Finding a good restaurant that is both affordable and family-friendly can be quite a challenge on a family vacation. This is never the case in Ft. Lauderdale, where the dining scene is delicious, laid-back and always family-friendly.

Rustic Inn Crabhouse

One family restaurant that gets a lot of praise from Ft. Lauderdale family vacationers is the Rustic Inn Crabhouse, which bangs mallets on your birthday and even ties your bibs on for you.

Tarks of Dania Beach

More excellent seafood can be found by family vacationers at Tarks of Dania Beach, which has equally delicious seafood and chicken wings—so families with little kids should load up on napkins!

Field Irish Pub and Eatery

Another unique Ft. Lauderdale restaurant that comes highly reviewed is The Field Irish Pub and Eatery, which is authentic Irish food served in a laid back, relaxed, pub-like environment. Ft. Lauderdale is exceedingly family-friendly, and almost anywhere you choose to eat will gladly pull out a highchair and crayons for the little ones.

This is just one reason why so many people choose Ft. Lauderdale for their family vacation. Come see for yourself what makes it perfect for a special family vacation.