Meanwhile, both Turtle Cove and Tadpole Pool are great places for kids to have fun. Visit the Family Falls and Sunny’s River if you’re looking for a peaceful place to spend the day. Try the Sting Ray, the park’s fastest and most thrilling ride, to get your heart racing. Adults and teenagers can relax in the sun or cool off in the massive waterfall. Enjoy a bowl of one of their 45 ice cream flavors to rising triangle pattern satisfy your craving for something sweet.
First Saturdays at Gold Coast Railroad Museum—Miami
Located only 40 minutes from Miami, the Flamingo Gardens is the oldest botanical garden in South Florida. It offers a unique experience when visiting Miami with kids and a natural habitat for Caribbean flamingos. You can feed the flamingos and explore the 25,000-square-foot free-flight Aviary, a black bear habitat, and see bobcats, peacocks, and other fascinating species. This Japanese botanical garden near Delray Beach in Fort Lauderdale is designed with kids in mind. It offers beautiful gardens stretching on 16 acres of winding paths, with a world-class bonsai collection. Kids of all ages can enjoy specific tours tailored to their age, with hands-on exhibits, ponds with koi, and traditional Sado tea ceremony demonstrations.
Rock the Park—Plantation
You can also appreciate the cascading waterfalls and spot lorikeets and hummingbirds in the Tropical Rainforest Aviary. Home to over 20,000 multicolored winged creatures, this butterfly house is the first of its kind in the whole Western Hemisphere. You can even enroll your child in art classes to allow them to learn and improve their skills as they create their masterpiece.
Get ready to make unforgettable memories as we explore these top attractions below. From thrilling rides to interactive tours, this guide has everything for you and your little ones. So, I’ve compiled a detailed list of the fun things to do in South Florida with kids. But with so many options available, deciding which activities to prioritize can take time. Enjoy a movie outdoors with your family at Plantation’s Movies in the Park series. This fruit stand and farm in Homestead has a free petting zoo where kids can handfeed the farm animals.
- Our local family travel writers are all about helping your family create lifelong travel memories.
- Perfect for a hot summer day, this National Register of Historic Places landmark also has picnic tables where you can set up an outdoor lunch.
- Bring your own chairs and blankets and come early to get a good seat at this free, outdoor, family-friendly movie night shown on a two-story inflatable screen.
- Large herds of rhinos, trucks, and waterbuck can be seen as you drive through the park’s 5-mile path.
Explore play sculptures, a sensory trail, and the iconic wooden pirate ship. This summer you could experience something new on a budget at Lava hot springs in Idaho. Despite popular beliefs, South Florida and in particular the Keys’ beaches are not all great for kids. But we found a few stop-worthy spots thanks to our community of parents. With up to 250 days of sunshine in Florida, you may plan mostly outdoor activities.
The educational programs are tailored to engage young learners but are informative enough for the whole family. As one of the most kid friendly things to do in South Florida, this place is great for kids aged 6 and above. Home to 60 butterfly species, this spot is more than just a visual feast—it’s an educational journey through the life cycle of these fluttering wonders. Set right in the heart of Miami, this eco-adventure park was relaunched in 2003 to provide more exciting attractions for kids. Inside, you can see beautiful, interactive, and playful artwork by various artists, which your kids will surely love. Established in 1963, this 53,000-acre wonderland is the country’s first ever underwater park.
Dry Tortugas National Park Island
This company is family-owned and is highly recommended by parents for their attention to the whole family and the eco-system. Encounters include octopuses, nursing sharks, and other species that you will see and even touch. Far from the stuffy museums that you’re used to, the Miami Children’s Museum features a range of innovative exhibits that are designed to keep the kids entertained for hours. Climb the two-story sand castle and create animated art at the Sketch Aquarium. Lion Country Safari is one of the best things to do in South Florida no matter what age you are.
Free Outdoor Summer Movies
This water park also features a splash playground, perfect for your littlest vacation companions. Manatees, sea turtles, reef fish, and brilliantly colored fish can all be seen while snorkeling or swimming in shallow waters. The park has many other fun things for kids, like a splash water playground, mini golf, and water slides.
The Marine Environmental Education Center focuses on protecting the oceans and sea turtles. Little ones ages 5 and under can enjoy a class with fun stories, music and movement, songs, and rhymes. Visitors enjoy free museum admission on every first Thursday of the month at the Sunny Days and Starry Nights program. The English language poses unique challenges and nuances, particularly when contrasting similar-sounding or similar-looking words. Two such words are ‘raising’ and ‘rising.’ Despite their phonetic resemblance, they serve distinct functions in language and convey different meanings. This essay aims to delve into the particulars of each term, highlighting their definitions, grammatical roles, and providing illustrative examples of their usage.
In a location only 70 miles from Key West, this park’s 100 square miles promise an unforgettable experience for the whole family. The shallow children’s pool, measuring just 2 feet in depth, is conveniently located close to the guard shack. It’s the largest freshwater pool in the United States, holding about 820,000 gallons. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the flavors available at Jaxson’s Ice Cream. This vintage eatery has been a mainstay of Florida’s ice cream culture for over half a century.
Plus, all escape rooms are private, so your family won’t have to share the experience with strangers. The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables isn’t like your usual public swimming hole, as this alluring attraction is the largest freshwater swimming pool in the United States. Dating back to 1923, it’s spring-fed waters will cool you off, while kids will enjoy exploring the cascading waterfalls and cave-like grottos. Perfect for a hot summer day, this National Register of Historic Places landmark also has picnic tables where you can set up an outdoor lunch. Located in Coconut Creek, Butterfly World is home to more than 20,000 beautiful winged creatures.
Another option is to take the walking tour and enjoy activities including paddle boats, carousels, and a splash park. One of the most unique family-friendly activities in Florida is to join a night kayak experience in a clear the bottom boat. The staff takes you through the breathtaking mangrove tunnels of Key West.
Miami Children’s Museum — Miami
- Adults and teens may chill in the sunnin area, or relish the refreshing waters in the grand waterfall.
- South Florida offers a plethora of exciting and engaging activities for everyone in your family.
- The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are.
- The educational programs are tailored to engage young learners but are informative enough for the whole family.
Here is a curated guide to visiting the strip and beyond while keeping kids happy. Florida Winter months’ temperature ranges from 50s to 70s and crowds usually visit in the spring. Overall, this list of fun things to do in South Florida with kids will surely create special memories for years to come. From the breathtaking views of the coastline to the informative and entertaining pilot, this helicopter tour will create unforgettable memories. I conduct extensive online research, like reading online travel reviews and the latest updates. Next, for a never-ending adventure, the Dry Tortugas National Park — Key West is a great option for swimming and boating.
This inclusive and sensory-friendly park offers activities for all ages, including music elements, zip lines, slides, swings, and more. Once a rock quarry, this 249-acre historic park opened in 1936 as part of the county park system. Known for limestone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it features picnic areas, playgrounds, walking trails, bird watching, and scenic views of the Oleta River.
After that, check out the nearby displays to see dozens of river otters, black bears, and wading birds. In my opinion, it is one of the top activities in South Florida for families with young children. This non-profit organization on Watson Island will encourage your kids’ natural curiosity and love of learning. In addition, it has some of the most excellent free, family-friendly activities in all of South Florida.