It is not just a coastal city with beaches where you keep yourself entertained for a few hours.
Fort Lauderdale offers much more and a little something for everyone in the family.
So if you are planning a vacation to this city, there are many fun things to do in Fort Lauderdale with the kids.
We list a few.
And we are sure you will discover a lot more.
1. Bluefoot Pirate Adventures
Does your little tyke like to swing a sword?
Do you get excited about treasure hunts?
Then don’t miss Bluefoot Pirate Adventure, the ideal destination for family activities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Join the fun and interactive pirate cruise where adults and children can have fun chasing a pirates’ treasure hunt in the waterway.
Children will especially love it as they will look the part dressed in pirate attire.
You could complete their look by buying them an eye patch, bandana and sword.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Related: Best Family Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
2. EZride Surf School
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Fort Lauderdale’s waters don’t have high waves and they break too close to the shore, making them unsuitable for surfing.
However, if you want to learn surfing, then this is the ideal place to begin.
Start with on-sand lessons and move on to the low waves of the Atlantic.
You will get pros from Hawaii who has been surfing all their life to train you and your children.
You can take private lessons, as a family or be a part of group lessons this weekend.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Atlantic Hotel & Spa
3. Butterfly World
Among the Fort Lauderdale attractions for families is Tradewinds Park, a nature’s paradise.
The blooming roses, orchids and tropical gardens attract thousands of fluttering creatures, right from butterflies to hummingbirds, lorikeets and insects.
Your little tykes will love chasing after the multi-hued butterflies.
Open daily, it is about 30 minutes inland.
Spanning three acres, it is dedicated to butterfly aviaries, botanical gardens and the working butterfly farm and research center.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Pompano Beach Central
4. Funderdome
This is a kid-friendly indoor entertainment center with activities aimed at children of all ages.
A rock wall that beckons them to scale, a ropes course they have to negotiate, playing in a laser maze or just running, bouncing and sliding, there is much fun that the children will find at Funderdome.
If you have a toddler aged under three, bring them along too.
A safe haven has been created for these little ones in ‘Toddler Zone’.
Soft cushions will pad their fall and non-motorized vehicles will let them have fun without any risks.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Fort Lauderdale
Related: Best Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
5. Fort Lauderdale Sun Trolley
Enjoy a ride in the Fort Lauderdale Sun Trolley for free or pay as low as 50 cents to visit the beaches, the shopping areas, to the restaurants and other attractions.
You can also get day passes, allowing you to hop on and off at will, and this will cost you just $2.
Find out which trolley is plying on your route and check the schedules as they are variable.
An iPhone app helps you keep track of the schedule easily and makes this one of the best family-friendly things you do in Fort Lauderdale.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: GALLERYone – a DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel
Also See:
Things to Do in Miami with Kids
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6. Sawgrass Recreation Park
Click Here To See Ticket Price
Take an airboat ride through the Florida Everglades for alligator sighting.
You can glimpse several animals, right from wolves, leopards, snakes and even a Florida Black panther in the animal park.
Are you or your children up to holding a baby alligator in your arms?
Get this-once-in-a-lifetime experience only here.
You can preserve this memory with a souvenir photo available for an additional fee.
To complete this family fun, you can take nighttime airboat rides or opt for overnight camping.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sheraton Suites Fort Lauderdale Plantation
Related: Things to Do Near Ft Lauderdale
7. Young At Art Museum
Children and teens can learn all about art and creativity at the Young At Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale through hands-on activities and exhibits.
If you are wondering what to do with your young ones, let them explore different kinds of art forms in ArtScapes, CultureScapes, GreenScapes, WonderScapes, Knight Gallery and Bedlam Lorenz Assembly.
There are also events that they will find interesting, such as art workshops and special evening hours.
If you are here during New Year, don’t miss their parties designed especially for kids.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: La Quinta by Wyndham Sunrise
8. Las Olas Gondola Tours
Fort Lauderdale is known as ‘the Venice of America’ not for nothing.
Take a gondola tour in Las Olas, drifting down Florida’s canals accompanied by a storyteller and singer.
You can decide how long you want the tour to last and even where you want it to begin.
Float in style and take your wine and champagne to place in the ice buckets, which is provided along with glasses and bottle openers!
Take a sip when the mood strikes you this weekend.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Riverside Hotel
9. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Commune with nature as you fish or do some bird watching at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
There are trails for hiking, biking or riding.
You can also plan a family picnic or enjoy a day out with friends.
You can also go canoeing or kayaking in the peaceful lagoon in the park.
Or take this exciting underground tunnel at Fort Lauderdale Beach and indulge in kid activities on the beach such as building sandcastles with your little ones.
You can know more about the area’s natural and cultural history at the Terramar Visitor Center.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Ocean Sky Hotel & Resort
10. Museum of Discovery and Science
As part of its vision for inspiring science, this 85,000-square-foot museum lets you explore hands on several natural and physical science exhibits.
The 300-seat IMAX theater makes watching educational programs fun.
‘Florida Ecoscapes’ is all about letting the kids discover Florida’s ecosystem while ‘Living in the Everglades’ lets them play in the Everglades.
‘Sound’ presents a giant and fantastic musical Kaleidoscope.
You can leave your kids under seven to play in their own ‘Discovery Center’ and do some indoor activities.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
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11. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
The museum provides a glimpse into the local history.
You can visit the home of artists or go on a tour of the landscaped grounds recreating five distinct ecosystems.
You will see the Amazon parrots, a troop of Costa Rican squirrel monkeys and even some manatee crossing the Boathouse Canal.
The museum conducts a kid-friendly, annual Orchid Festival where your kids can make an orchid collage, do some Hawaiian dancing, have fun with face painting and even learn to compost worms.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
12. Flamingo Gardens
Click Here To See Ticket Price
The Flamingo Gardens is not home only to the flamingos but houses more than 3,000 species of plants, trees and wildlife.
It is a great place for family fun as you explore the various collections and sanctuaries.
Take the exploration to the next level by participating in a wildlife encounter show with birds, reptiles and other species.
You can learn more about the Gardens and its inhabitants by hopping on the narrated tram tour.
You will be taken through the tropical rainforest, native hammock, wetland area and the natural jungle.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton
Related: Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
13. Fort Lauderdale Beaches
Fort Lauderdale is filled with beaches, each one different from the other.
Fort Lauderdale, as fashionable as Miami Beach, has the beach on the one side and the hotels on the other side of AIA.
You can go rollerblading or biking down the promenade.
If you enjoy fishing, you will want to visit Pompano Beach’s pier in the Greater Lauderdale area.
Surfers head to Deerfield Beach in South Florida, where cove-like beaches are nestled between rocky shores.
Ideal location for kids’ activities on the beach.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Pelican Grand Beach Resort, a Noble House Resort
Related: Things to Do in South Florida with Kids
14. Jungle Queen Riverboat
Cruise down the intracoastal waters on the Jungle Queen to explore the riverside as you glide past the stately Fort Lauderdale homes along ‘Millionaire Row’.
Watch awesome sunsets, indulge your taste buds in the all-you-can-eat dinner cruise serving up ribs, chicken and shrimp.
Next, let your other senses feast on a Vaudeville-style variety show unless you are in a mood for a three-hour sightseeing tour.
This is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Fort Lauderdale.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marriott’s Beach Place Towers
Related: Fun Things to Do in Fort Myers with Kids
15. Intercoastal Waterway Water Taxi
Charter the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi to cruise along the waterway, often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ encompassing the New River, the Intercoastal and associated canals.
It’s a lively harbor where yachts and cruise ships berth and there is constant traffic of visitors and tourists, making it one of greatest Fort Lauderdale attractions for families.
The narrated tour takes you through grand homes and sites of interest.
You can visit downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas area shopping, dining and entertainment.
If you have a toddler aged 4 or less, they get a free ride.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
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16. Fort Lauderdale Beachfront
Fort Lauderdale’s 20 miles of shoreline with bountiful beaches and plenty of options make it a fun place for families.
They can fish in Deerfield Beach, play beach volleyball and surf.
Hillsboro Beach, mellower, is for the solitary traveler looking for some alone time.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is for the fans of snorkeling.
Just soak your feet in the waves or build sandcastles.
Each beach is unique and suits the different needs of different kinds of travelers.
What is your style?
Recommended Hotel Nearby: W Fort Lauderdale
17. Las Olas Boulevard
The shopping center of the city, you will find the boulevard spanning several blocks dotted with several unusual shops, cafes and art galleries.
You can reach this eclectic waterfront Fort Lauderdale entertainment district by water taxi as it is close to the beach.
You will be spoiled for choice, and the treats will keep your little ones excited and asking for more.
Take some time off to indulge in the spas, salons or beauty parlors.
Enjoy a drink in the bars or just do some window shopping.
Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marriott Fort Lauderdale North
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17 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Fort Lauderdale
- Bluefoot Pirate Adventures
- EZride Surf School
- Butterfly World
- Funderdome
- Fort Lauderdale Sun Trolley
- Sawgrass Recreation Park
- Young At Art Museum
- Las Olas Gondola Tours
- Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
- Museum of Discovery and Science
- Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
- Flamingo Gardens
- Fort Lauderdale Beaches
- Jungle Queen Riverboat
- Intercoastal Waterway Water Taxi
- Fort Lauderdale Beachfront
- Las Olas Boulevard