Things to do with Grandkids in South Florida

One of the greatest things about living (or snow birding) in South Florida is that getting kids and grandkids to come visit isn’t a very hard sell! Our incredible sunny days and sparkling beaches make it a welcome spot for all generations. So now that they’re here, what to do? We’ve rounded up our 11 favorite places to go that everyone in the crew, no matter how old, can enjoy.

Broward County

Museum of Science & Discovery & IMAX Theater, Fort Lauderdale www.mods.org

MODS exhibits are designed for children and adults of every age and include the Keller Science Theater, Florida Ecoscapes and Wildlife, Science Park, the Great Gravity Clock, Storm Center, Prehistoric Florida – a Dino-Paleontology Experience, Food Forrest, otters at play, and so much more. Home to South Florida’s largest movie screen, the IMAX Theater features big budget movies and gorgeous documentaries on the natural world.

Butterfly World, Coconut Creek www.butterflyworld.com

The largest butterfly park in the world, Butterfly World is located in Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. Since 1988, Butterfly World keeps 20,000 butterflies on display and up to 50 species can be seen daily. Attractions include a Lorikeet Encounter, Paradise Adventure Aviary, Bug Zoo, The Butterfly Lab, Tropical Rain Forest Aviary, Macaw Landing, Wings of the World Secret Garden and much more.

Bluefoot Pirate Adventures, Fort Lauderdale www.bluefootpirates.com

Swashbuckling fun for the whole family, Bluefoot Pirate Adventures is South Florida’s top-rated boating attraction where all ages are welcome. Book a Pirate Family Adventure Cruise where little pirates search the ship for treasure as you sail through the waters of the Intracoastal. The Bluefoot is a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected and certified vessel with a maximum occupancy of 49 passengers. Also offered is a daily Pirate Sunset Cruise and private charters.

Xtreme Action Park, Fort Lauderdale www.xtremeactionpark.com

The largest indoor entertainment venue in Florida, Xtreme Action Park has over 200,000 sq. ft. of exciting attractions including Go Kart racing, bowling, an arcade game room, Ropes Course Adventure, Trampoline Park, roller-skating rink, escape rooms, laser tag, virtual reality games, mini golf and more. Get the kids out of the heat and into the fun, Monday through Sunday.

Tigertail Lake Recreational Center, Dania Beach www.tigertaillake.com

One of Broward County’s best-kept secrets, Tigertail Lake Recreational Center is run by Broward College, but open to all. The Tigertail Lake experience is for every age with a variety of activities from watersports, sailing, wind surfing, a ropes course, kayaking and canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and a water obstacle course. All activities are offered in one-hour sessions so you can book them a-la-carte to create a fun-filled day of activities for the family. Private parties and picnic areas are available.

Flamingo Gardens, Davie www.flamingogardens.org

Situated on 60 acres, Flamingo Gardens features botanical gardens, an Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary, and over 3,000 species of rare, exotic, tropical and subtropical native plants and trees. It’s also home to a 25,000 sq. ft. aviary with over 250 birds representing 45 species, a Birds of Prey Center, Black Bear Habitat, Flamingo Pond, American Crocodile, River Otter, Panther and Bobcat Habitats and more. The Wray Home Museum at Flamingo Gardens is the oldest residence in Broward County with a glimpse of life in South Florida in 1930s.

Palm Beach County

Riverbend Park, Jupiter https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/Riverbend.aspx

Riverbend Park on the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter offers endless fun in the tropical 666-acre park split by the Loxahatchee River with hiking and horse trails, plus picnicking. Activities include bicycle and walking trails, canoeing/kayaking, freshwater fishing, and even seven miles of equestrian trails. The park is also home to Loxahatchee Battlefield and a portion of the Ocean-to Lake Florida Trail.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton https://www.myboca.us/2096/Gumbo-Limbo-Nature-Center

The Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, commonly known as the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, is operated by the City of Boca Raton. The center includes an indoor museum with exhibits, small aquariums and a gift shop, plus several large aquariums featuring ecosystems for fish, turtles, and other sea life, a boardwalk trail through the adjacent woods, and a garden designed for observing butterflies. Events organized by the center include observations of sea turtles during their nesting season.

Manatee Lagoon, West Palm Beach www.visitmanateelagoon.com

Manatee Lagoon is dedicated to educating the public about manatees and is a free Palm Beach County educational attraction with a dedicated area for viewing manatees up close. The 16,000-square-foot center features engaging hands-on exhibits for visitors to learn all about these threatened and unique creatures as well as the natural wonders of the surrounding Lake Worth lagoon. On cold winter days, the facility’s observation deck is the ideal spot to view manatee herds basking in the warm-water outflows from Florida Power & Light Company’s adjacent Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center. Florida manatee season runs from November 15th to March 31st.

Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee www.lioncountrysafari.com

Lion Country Safari is situated on nearly 600 acres of natural area and home to hundreds of animals. The 4-mile drive-through wildlife park features large herds of animals roaming wide open in naturalistic habitats. Visitors can expect to see impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, buffalo, lions, zebras, rhinoceros, giraffes, ostriches, chimpanzees, and so many others. Kids of all ages can have close-up experiences with the animals in encounters including giraffe and lorikeet feedings and a petting zoo. Lion Country also offers an amusement park, water park, a mini golf course, pontoon boat rides, paddle boats, a hedge maze, fun slide and more.

Cox Science Center and Aquarium, West Palm Beach www.coxsciencecenter.org

Since 1959, the Science Center has revolved around a simple premise: science is exciting! The Cox Center has expanded since its creation and now houses over 50 hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, a 3,000 sq. ft. aquarium, mini golf, and a large exhibit space that displays a temporary traveling exhibit. The planetarium presents daily shows utilizing a traditional star projector, as well as full-dome digital video presentations on a variety of scientific topics. The “Aquariums of the Atlantic” exhibit is a 3,000 sq. ft. area consisting of multiple tanks that house native Florida species, including Queen Angels, Pink Wrasse, sharks, seahorses, eels, stingrays, and some invasive species such as lionfish.

John Knox Village of Florida, Inc. (JKV), Pompano Beach, (www.johnknoxvillage.com) is an internationally award-winning Life Plan Community of choice for those seeking an upscale, enriched lifestyle which provides long- term medical care for residents. Residents do not have to look far for ideas and activities to do with their grandchildren – the JKV Life Enrichment and Fitness teams plan approximately 250 activities per month, including outings and visits to interesting points of interest in South Florida.