Hey, thought I would try this area for some advice. Wife, myself and our son will be heading out to Ft. Lauderdale in mid April. We're going on a 7 day cruise, but will be spending an additional 3 nights out in that area post cruise. I was hoping anyone in the area would recommend "must-do's" in the area. My son is 4, so please keep that in mind. We are staying at the W down in Ft. Lauderdale Beach. We are planning to check out the everglades, and maybe attempt a drive down to the keys for a day trip, but any local recommendations would be great! Thanks!

Jason

 

Airboat ride in the Everglades will be fun for your kid... Airboats are covered.. so, you don't have to worry about picking bugs out of your teeth when done. Hopefully, you'll get to see some gators - my exp has been two for two. Find a local paper to see about coupons for the airboat ride and save a couple bucks.

The Keys will be fun, but it's a long drive from Ft Lauderdale - 4hrs drive to key west. I took my parent there over holidays - we left at 10am (I live 2 miles from the W hotel) and got there around 2pm, spent a couple hours to have lunch and walked around and left at 5, got home just before 9. You can do it, but does make for a long day. The drive down is fun - 7 mile bridge and the little vista points along the way. If you do plan on making to key west, try to map out parking lots on google maps night before... it took me 30 min to find parking. Looking up Parking in GPS is not very accurate and most lots are small in KW. If you don't want the long drive, you can go to Key Largo and stop at John Pennekamp coral reef park at Key Largo - <2 hrs drive from Ft Lauderdale.

Obviously, you'll have the Ft Lauderdale beach.... drive down to South Beach, There is the Flamingo Garden to see local plants, birds and other wild life - they have an large enclosed area for birds and you can walk in and feed them - (see large pelicans up close) depends on your son's age... he may enjoy this. HTH. shoot me PM if you want more info.

 

thanks Cris, I'll pm you some questions. I was mapping that drive out to Key West and it seems like quite the hike. Do you think it's worth the 4 hour drive? What is there to see down there? We are definitely planning at least to get to Key Largo, and drive down the bridge a bit, but not sure if it's worth it to go all the way. Thanks again!

 

If your son is young (pre-teen), they may get bored in Key West quickly. You'll most walk around look at shops, bars/restaurants and other tourists. The only real exciting thing for kids may be the free-roaming chickens, and maybe all the cats @ Hemingway house; even if the cats do have 6 toes. And wait in line for 15 min so you can take a picture at the southern most point of U.S.. It's a very long day for anyone doing this in one day. If you want to see the beach and see stores... it's easier to go to South Beach for beach and restaurants, then walk up/down Lincoln Rd.