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How to enjoy Fort Lauderdale with your family
Fort Lauderdale combines sunshine, beaches, and community into an easy place for families to enjoy. With 24 miles of shoreline, 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, excellent schools, and family-friendly neighborhoods, the city offers both comfort and fun. Families arriving with the help of moving companies in Florida often adjust quickly to local routines. Once settled, it becomes second nature to enjoy Fort Lauderdale with your family. From outdoor parks to museums and weekend trips, Fort Lauderdale has something for every age, no matter how many birthdays you’ve stacked up.
Explore kid-friendly beaches and waterfronts
The shoreline is often the first stop for families exploring Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Beach Park offers shaded picnic tables, volleyball courts, and a playground right by the sand. Lifeguards are always on duty, making the area safe for children. The city also maintains clean facilities, clear signage, and patrols that keep family outings secure.
Families who want more space often head south to Hollywood Beach. Its Broadwalk runs 2.5 miles and was ranked among America’s best by Travel + Leisure. Families can also explore by Water Taxi, cruising canals known as the “Venice of America.” Kids love spotting yachts, manatees, and waterfront mansions during these relaxing rides.
Visit educational attractions with kids
After sunny days at the beach, families can turn to learning-based fun. The Museum of Discovery and Science features more than 200 hands-on exhibits. Kids can step inside a giant kaleidoscope, watch playful otters, or explore aviation displays. The IMAX theater there has one of South Florida’s largest screens.
Another option is Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, a historic estate filled with art and wildlife. Families may even spot swans and monkeys on the grounds. Once unpacked with help from a moving company in Fort Lauderdale, many families make these attractions part of their first weekend in town.
They combine learning and play, making them ideal for children of different ages.
Enjoy Fort Lauderdale parks and nature with your family
Beyond museums, families enjoy exploring the city’s green spaces. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park covers 180 acres and is often called Fort Lauderdale’s “Central Park.” It offers bike rentals, kayaking, and shaded picnic areas.
For bigger adventures, Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach provides campgrounds and a popular cable water skiing system. Just remember to pack water shoes and extra towels, since activities often leave kids wet and sandy.
Families who enjoy wildlife should also visit Butterfly World in Coconut Creek. Opened in 1988, it remains the largest butterfly park in the world, with more than 20,000 butterflies. The experience helps children learn about conservation in a colorful, engaging way. These parks give families with kids a balance between nature and recreation, offering outdoor activities beyond the beach.
Family dining and casual restaurants
When mealtime comes, Fort Lauderdale has plenty of family-friendly choices. Las Olas Boulevard is filled with restaurants offering outdoor seating and children’s menus. Parents can enjoy seafood while kids choose pizza or burgers. Longtime favorites include Rustic Inn Crabhouse, famous since 1955 for garlic crabs.
Families also enjoy Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, with several South Florida locations. A must-visit is Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor in Dania Beach, serving giant sundaes since 1956. The restaurant also holds a Guinness World Record for the largest soda collection.
Parents moving into new neighborhoods with long distance movers in Florida often look for dining spots that make kids feel welcome. With kid-friendly menus and casual service, dining in Fort Lauderdale can be both easy and fun.
Weekend family day trips nearby
Once families settle into weekly routines, weekend trips add variety. Everglades National Park is less than an hour away, where airboats glide past alligators and exotic birds. The park covers 1.5 million acres, making it the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Families can join guided tours, walk along boardwalk trails like Anhinga Trail, or climb the observation tower at Shark Valley for panoramic views.
Flamingo Gardens, just west of Fort Lauderdale, combines wildlife encounters with lush gardens and a historic 1933 home. Today, the Wray Home Museum showcases early South Florida pioneer life with original furnishings. Seasonal events like orchid festivals and holiday lights make it a fun spot year-round.
For interactive play, the Miami Children’s Museum offers 14 themed galleries designed for kids of all ages. North of the city, Lion Country Safari in Palm Beach County lets families drive among giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. Opened in 1967, it was America’s first cageless zoo. These trips give families relocating with local movers in Florida a chance to explore beyond the city while still staying close to home.
Getting involved in the local community
After exploring beaches, museums, and parks, families often focus on community ties. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department organizes youth leagues for soccer, baseball, and swimming. Broward County libraries run free story times, book clubs, and coding workshops for kids.
Annual events like the Great American Beach Party bring music, games, and sandcastle contests to the waterfront. Newcomers choose homes near schools or community centers, making participation easier. Parents can also connect through school parent associations or enroll children in art classes at ArtServe.
For families interested in sports, the Lauderdale Yacht Club offers youth sailing programs. Becoming part of the community helps new families considering moving here feel connected and gives children opportunities to grow and build friendships.
Building family memories in Fort Lauderdale
It is easy to enjoy Fort Lauderdale with your family when the city offers countless ways to spend time together. Its beaches, parks, museums, and day trips balance fun with learning. Parents find supportive schools, welcoming neighborhoods, and plenty of kid-friendly events throughout the year.
Families who plan activities around both outdoor spaces and cultural sites create lasting traditions. So whether through weekend outings or weeknight dinners, life in Fort Lauderdale is full of shared experiences. For newcomers or future residents, the city offers both comfort and adventure in equal measure.