There is so much to see and do in Fort Lauderdale but what are the best things to do with kids? Here is my roundup of the best activities in Fort Lauderdale for kids!

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Fort Lauderdale is located on the east coast of Florida, just 30 minutes north of Miami and about 3 1/2 hours from Orlando. It’s a fun destination for a beach vacation.

Here are my top recommendations of activities for kids in this area!

1. Bluefoot Pirate Adventures

I can’t say enough about this company. From the time we booked until the trip was over, everything was done so well. The day started off by meeting at the dock where the kids could get some nautical tattoos and dressed up before setting sail!

After this, you take a sail around the Intracoastal Waterway and the kids help protect the ship from swashbuckling pirates!

While the kids are having fun on this adventure, the parents stand aft and hear fun facts about the area including which famous people have houses on the water.

Our son had such a great time on this little adventure. We would go back in a heart beat!

Although they have costumes and gear to purchase when you arrive, we decided to buy ours ahead of time. Click here for the pirate costume we purchased!

For more information on these fun cruises, click here.

2. Las Olas Boulevard

We had a great time walking along the waterfront on Las Olas. We stopped in for a delicious lunch at Rocco’s Tacos and for a pasty at Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar.

There are a ton of shops to wander in and out of but we spent the majority of the time hanging out in some of the cool parks and grassy areas along the water.

3. Museum of Discovery and Science

Your child will never want to leave this place!

From learning about prehistoric creatures and ecoscapes to storms and minerals, there is something here to interest everyone. They even have a Dino Dana Adventure section!

Don’t leave Fort Lauderdale without a stop at this awesome science center.

4. Swamp Safari

If you’ve never been on a swamp airboat, I highly suggest giving it a try. These boats speed through the swamps while your guide shows you all the different wildlife in the Florida Everglades.

There are a few companies offering swamp tours in Southern Florida, most being just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale.

5. Surf Lessons

Florida waters are a great place to take a surf lesson. Not only can you try out a single lesson to see if your child enjoys it, they also have surf camps too!

There are a ton of surf shops to choose from in Fort Lauderdale to book this excursion. Many hotels in the area also have surf lessons you can sign up for!

6. Miami Heat Game

Although this isn’t Fort Lauderdale, Miami is just a 30 minute drive. If you happen to be in town when the Heat are playing at their home FTX Arena, it’s worth the drive! This awesome stadium is located right on the water.

We had a great time watching the game while eating some delicious snacks and we were back in Fort Lauderdale in no time at all!

7. Butterfly World

Located just 30 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale, Butterfly World is home to more than 20,000 butterflies and birds. It’s the largest butterfly park in the world!

You’ll get to wander through the six aviaries here to view all these amazing creatures. You can even hand feed birds!

8. Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens Botanical Garden & Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary is a real treat! We had a fantastic time during our trip.

There are 60 acres of tropical landscape with more than 3,000 species of plants. While the landscape is amazing, this is also home to permanently injured or animals unable to be released. Some of the animals living here include alligators, bear, bobcats, panthers, eagles, otters, flamingos, peacocks and so much more.

You can also check out the Wray House Museum which is a restored house that served as the weekend residence of Floyd and Jane Wray. It’s one of the oldest houses in west Broward County and gives visitors a glimpse into what Southern Florida living was like back in 1930.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the dinosaurs here too!

9. Beach

Whether it be building sand castles at the beach during the day or checking out one of the amazing Florida sunsets, make sure to spend plenty of time at the beach!

Collect seashells, check-out a beach volleyball tournament, take a surf lesson or even just sit out on a beach chair and watch the waves. The beaches in this area are beautiful and are the perfect spot to spend the day.

Where to Stay

For a fun hotel, check out my post Enjoy a Carefree Vacation at Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach!

Our son absolutely loved staying at Margaritaville! The pool areas with waterfalls and a waterslide were his favorite. It was also nice to literally walk across the boardwalk for a little ocean time before coming right back to the pool.

If your kids are older, they can also try out the Flowrider Double surf simulator!

Directly across the street you can rent a Paddleboard to float along the Intracoastal waterway or beachside you can rent a cruiser bike to take for a spin!

Comment below and let me know your favorite Fort Lauderdale activities with kids!