Family Bargains in South Florida
From the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse to the southern reaches of Miami Dade County, 124 miles of fabulous adventures are waiting for you! With hundreds of county, state, and national parks in South Florida, there is so much to see, you could literally spend years exploring! Along with the parks, there are numerous other affordable ways that you can share some fun in the sun with your family and friends.
Palm Beach
Sugar Sand Park, Boca Raton – Awesome playground, carousel & hands-on science center. The playground is free, carousel is $2 & science center is donation-based. http://www.sugarsandpark.org
Gumbo Limbo – Learn about fish and turtles that are found in Florida, visit the turtle hospital where injured turtles are rehabbed, take a walk along the trails, and visit the butterfly garden. Donation-based http://www.gumbolimbo.org
Jupiter Lighthouse – learn about the history of a beautiful lighthouse! There is are two separate small museums filled with history and artifacts. You even have the option to walk up the 105 steps to the top of the lighthouse, where you’re rewarded with a 360° view of the Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades. https://www.jupiterlighthouse.org
Green Cay Nature Center – miles of elevated walkways where you’re sure to see turtles, fish, a fantastic variety of birds, alligators, and more! They also have a small science center to learn more about the local flora and fauna. http://discover.pbcgov.org
Manatee Lagoon – sponsored by Florida Power & Light, this Eco-discovery Center is a free place where you can not only learn about manatees but see them in the wild! There is a beautiful indoor exhibit area with numerous hands-on activities for everyone to learn about these unique, endangered sea creatures. Winter months, it’s an ideal place to see manatee herds swimming in the warm waters that come from the outflow of the FP&L Clean Energy Center. http://www.visitmanateelagoon.com
MacArthur Beach State Park – This beautiful beach has a nature center, theater where you can learn about local ecology, gallery with rotating art exhibits, historical exhibits, kayak rentals, nature trails, a shaded playground, gift shop, and most importantly, two miles of pristine beaches where snorkelers are sure to be amazed by the local tropical fish! They even have a tram that will shuttle you from the parking lot to the beach. http://www.macarthurbeach.org
Coconut Cove Water Park – Awesome water park with a fantastic splash area for toddlers, a lazy river, water obstacle course and two giant slides! http://discover.pbcgov.org
Broward County
Anne Kolb Nature Center – Learn about the history of this beautiful park, visit the hands-on, interactive science center, climb to the top of the tower for an amazing view of West Lake, walk along the well-shaded elevated pathways and look for puffer fish, fiddler crabs, raccoons, wild birds and more, or take a relaxing boat ride around West Lake where you might even see an alligator near Horse Shoe Island! http://www.broward.org
Flamingo Gardens – Tour tropical gardens with over 3000 exotic plant species, take a tram ride, visit a wildlife sanctuary that’s home to numerous permanently injured birds and animals, and see a fantastic collection of native Florida wildlife. http://www.flamingogardens.org
Calypso Cove Water Park – beat the heat with three pools including a plunge pool and zero-depth pool, slide down water slides, and splash in the Caribbean-themed aquatic park! Swimmers can even take part in seasonal swim lessons. Plenty of lawn chairs and umbrella, as well as concession stands! http://www.margatefl.com
Water Taxi – Experience Fort Lauderdale from the Intracoastal waterway! The water taxi is the best tour of beautiful waterfront mansions, with numerous restaurants along the way to jump off and grab a bite to eat, or visit other stops and take in the local sites. http://watertaxi.com
Topeekeegee Yugnee Park – This massive – almost 140 acre urban park is Seminole Indian for “gathering place,” with Castaway Cay Water Park, a full RV campground, Wi-Fi, numerous picnic areas and shelter, a 2 mile paved pathway for walking, jogging, skating and biking, shaded playground, basketball courts, tennis courts and fishing pier, there’s something for everyone in your family! This park even has a marina where you can rent paddleboats, kayaks and canoes, as well as bicycles, and 2 & 4 seat surrey bikes! http://www.broward.org/
ArtsPark at Young Circle – One of the few places in the United States where you can see African Baobab Trees, these trees are considered the 2nd widest species of tree in the entire world! Visit Monday nights for Food Truck Invasions, as well as Friday nights for Funtastic Friday & movie nights! The Amphitheater hosts a wide variety of international musicians, and the shaded playground and splash pad are sure to keep kids busy! http://www.hollywoodfl.org
Young at Art Museum – This completely hands-on museum is a favorite way to keep cool in the south Florida heat! There are so many interactive areas that encourage all of the senses – from jumping and climbing to music, to creating masterpieces, to learning about artists from the masters, to modern-day heroes. Every single exhibit is sure to bring out the artist in your kids & you! http://www.youngatartmuseum.org/
Dade County
Wynwood Walls – Outdoor urban art at its best! This neighborhood boasts some of the most incredible graffiti-style art in the United States, with walls designed by an amazing variety of international artists. There are amazing galleries, shops, cafes, and restaurants as you stroll through up and down the streets, exploring all of the amazing murals. http://www.thewynwoodwalls.com/
Everglades National Park – South Florida is home to one of the most unique, and largest subtropical ecosystems in the United States! There are four separate visitor centers, each offering information about the park, and you can explore nature at its finest! Shark Valley Visitor Center has a 17-mile loop that guests can bike, or take the Shark Valley Tram Tour, where you’re sure to spot local alligators and birds in their natural habitat. https://www.nps.gov
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center – This amazing nature center is named for one of Florida’s most important environmental champions, who made it her mission to ensure that the beauty of Florida was accessible to everyone! They offer amazing family outings where you can reserve space in activities like Sea Grass Dragging, Hammock Hikes, Fossil Reef Tidal Pool Adventures and Coastal Ecology walks with local experts ($14pp), or visit the fantastic hands-on exhibits located within the nature center. http://www.biscaynenaturecenter.org/
Frost Science Museum – One of the newest additions to South Florida, the Frost Science Museum is an amazing science filled experience. They are home to a 250-seat planetarium, aquarium, outer space exhibit, flight exhibit, MeLab where you can learn about how the body and mind work together, robotics, the Everglades and conservation of our natural resources. https://www.frostscience.org/
South Pointe Park – An urban park located in South Beach, this is the perfect way to the sights of South Beach, then let the kids run along the amazing pathways, play on the playground or interactive water feature, or watch the cruise ships and yachts as they sail in and out of Government Cut. There’s easy beach access, a fishing pier, and covered pavilions to sure guests have a fantastic day in the sun! http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/
Erin bike riding through along a 17-mile loop through Everglades
Photos courtesy of Erin Ryan.
