by DK
Price $5–8 per vehicle
Age range All ages
Allow Half a day
< Practical Information: Miami
Crandon Park
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Practical Information
Address 6747 Crandon Blvd, 33149; 305 361 5421; www.miami-dade.gov/parks
Car Route 102/B from downtown Miami. Bridge toll $1.75 round-trip
Visitor information Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 88 W. McIntyre St Ste. 100, 33149; 305 361 5207; www.keybiscaynechamber.org
Open 8am–5pm daily
Price $5–6 per vehicle; $7 parking fee on weekends
Cutting the line Arrive early, especially on weekends. Avoid visiting during the Sony Ericsson Open in March.
Guided tours Eco Adventures (www.miamiecoadventures.org) leads biking, canoeing, and kayak-snorkeling tours.
Age range All ages
Activities The nature center hosts various programs. Check website for details and “Kids Only” page.
Allow Half a day to a full day
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Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
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Practical Information
Address 1200 S Crandon Blvd, 33149; 305 361 5811; www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida
Car Route 102/B from downtown. Bridge toll $1.75 round-trip.
Visitor information Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 88 W. McIntyre St Ste. 100, 33149; 305 361 5207; www.keybiscaynechamber.org
Open Park: 8am–sunset daily. Lighthouse grounds: 9am–5pm Thu–Mon
Price $8 per vehicle
Cutting the line Arrive early on weekends and during the winter and spring seasons.
Guided tours There are guided tours of the lighthouse 10am & 1pm Thu–Mon.
Age range All ages
Allow Half a day
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Miami Beach and around
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Getting around Traffic can get heavy along Collins Avenue and South Beach’s Ocean Drive, especially at night. Miami-Dade buses (www.miamidade.gov) run the length of the beach regularly.
Visitor information Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 1920 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, 33139; 305 674 1300; www.miamibeachchamber.com
Supermarkets Publix on the Bay, 1920 West Ave, 33139; 305 535 4268 & Publix Super Market, 1045 Dade Blvd, 33139; 305 534 4621; www.publix.com.
Markets Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market, South Beach, 33139; Sun
Festivals Art Deco Weekend, www.mdpl.org/events (Jan). South Beach Wine & Food Festival, sobefest.com (Feb). Miami Beach Festival of Arts, web.miamibeachfl.gov (Apr). Art Basel, www.artbasel.com (Dec)
Pharmacy Walgreens, 100 Lincoln Rd, 33139; 305 532 7909; open 24 hours daily
Nearest playgrounds Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park, 1725 NE 135th St, 33167; sunrise–sunset. Indian Beach Park Tot Lot, Collins Ave and 46th St, 33140. Lummus Park, Ocean Dr at 13th St, 33139; 24 hours daily. South Pointe Park, 1 Washington Ave, 33109; 24 hours daily (see South Beach)
< Practical Information: Miami
South Beach
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Practical Information
Address Bass Museum of Art: 2100 Collins Ave, 33139; 305 673 7530; www.bassmuseum.org. Wolfsonian Museum: 1001 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 531 1001; www.wolfsonian.org. Jewish Museum of Florida: 301 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 672 5044; www.jmof.fiu.edu. South Pointe Park: 1 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 673 7006; www.miamibeachfl.gov
Bus Miami-Dade buses to South Beach and bus 123 within the city
Open Bass Museum of Art: noon–5pm Wed–Sun. Wolfsonian Museum noon–6pm daily (till 9pm Fri), closed Wed. Jewish Museum of Florida: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; closed Jewish hols. South Pointe Park: sunrise–10pm
Prices Bass Museum of Art: $28–38; under 6s free. Wolfsonian Museum: $30–40; under 6s free. Jewish Museum of Florida: $12–22; under 6s free (free on Sat)
Cutting the line Avoid traffic around South Beach’s eastern side anytime after noon.
Guided tours Daily Art Deco District guided walking tours (1001 Ocean Dr, 33139; 305 531 3484; www.mdpl.org) take in more than 100 historic structures in 90 mins and 20 stops. Cell phone and iPod self-guided tours are also available. Call ahead to make reservations.
Age range 7 plus
Activities The Bass Museum of Art hosts kids’ activities on the last Sun of the month. The Jewish Museum of Florida has a scavenger hunt, and kids who complete it get a booklet with puzzles, games, and recipes.
Allow 1–2 days
Café In Jewish Museum of Florida (closed for Sabbath Sat)
Restrooms At most attractions and restaurants, and at South Pointe Park
Good family value? The bustle along Ocean Drive and the parks and museums in this area make boredom impossible.
< Practical Information: Miami
Middle Beach, Bal Harbour, North Miami Beach
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Bus Metrobus 119/S and 120 from South Beach
Visitor information Miami Beach Visitor Center, 9700 Collins Ave, 33154; 305 866 0311; www.miamibeachvisitorscenter.com. Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center, 18070 Collins Ave, 33160; 305 792 1952; www.sunnyislesbeachmiami.com
Cutting the line This area is busiest in winter and early spring, when crowds and prices increase.
Age range All ages
Allow 1–2 days
Festival Kite Festival (Feb)
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Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park
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Practical Information
Address 1725 NE 135th St, North Miami, 33181; 305 895 1119 www.northmiamifl.gov
Bus Metrobus 107/G from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; 305 994 8500; www.nmbchamber.com
Open Sunrise–sunset daily
Age range All ages
Allow 2–3 hours
< Practical Information: Miami
Oleta River State Park
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Practical Information
Address 3400 NE 163rd St, North Miami Beach, 33160; 305 919 1844; www.floridastateparks.org/oletariver
Bus Metrobus105/E and 108/H from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; www.nmbchamber.com
Open 8am–sunset daily
Price $6 per vehicle
Cutting the line Avoid weekends as they are the busiest days.
Allow Half a day to a full day
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Ancient Spanish Monastery
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Practical Information
Address 16711 W. Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, 33160; 305 945 1461; www.spanishmonastery.com
Bus Metrobus 108/H from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; www.nmbchamber.com
Open 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, 11am–4pm Sun
Price $30–40; under 6s free
Cutting the line Call ahead to avoid visiting during church services (the chapel will be closed) or when special events are taking place (the monastery may be closed).
Guided tours The monastery offers tours in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German; call ahead to book.
Age range 5 plus
Allow 1 hour
< Practical Information: The Gold and Treasure Coasts
The Gold and Treasure Coasts
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Practical Information
Getting there and around Air Flights connect almost every major city in the US with Fort Lauderdale (www.broward.org/airport). Taxis ($15–20) and the Go Airport Shuttle (www.floridalimo.com) provide shared shuttle van rides from the airport to Fort Lauderdale. Flights connect Palm Beach Airport (www.pbia.
org) with all the major east coast hubs. Southeastern Florida Transportation Group (www.yellowcabflorida.com) provides taxis and shared rides.
Train Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) connects West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale with Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, and places north along the east coast to New York. Tri-Rail (www.tri-rail.com) makes local stops between West Palm Beach and Miami.
Bus Greyhound (www.greyhound.com) connects Fort Pierce, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach with Miami and points north. Local buses are limited.
Car Much of the region is best explored by car. Avis (www.avis.com) and Hertz (www.hertz.com) have rental offices at airports.
Visitor information See individual entries.
Supermarkets Publix (www.publix.com) is the major supermarket chain with outlets throughout this region.
Festivals Sea Food Festival, Fort Pierce: 772 466 3880; www.mainstreetfortpierce.org (Mar). Easter Egg Hunt, Flagler Museum: kids are invited to hunt for 8,000 eggs on the museum’s lawns; www.flaglermuseum.us (Mar–Apr). SunFest, West Palm Beach: live music, a Youth Park area with activities for kids, and a huge fireworks show; sunfest.com (Apr-May). Pineapple Festival, Jensen Beach: 772 334 3444; www.pineapplefestival.info (Nov).
Pharmacies Check the Publix chain of supermarkets (www.publix.com), CVS (www.cvs.com), or Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) to find an all-night pharmacy.
Restrooms All major shopping malls, attractions, and most gas stations have public restrooms.
< Practical Information: The Gold and Treasure Coasts
Fort Lauderdale
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Practical Information
Address Museum of Discovery and Science: 401 SW 2nd St, 33312; www.mods.org. Riverwalk Park: 20 N New River Dr, 33312; www.goriverwalk.com. NSU Art Museum: 1 E Las Olas Blvd, 33301; www.nsuartmuseum.org. Stranahan House: 335 SE 6th Ave, 33301; stranahanhouse.org. Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum: 1527 SW 1st Ave, 33315; antiquecarmuseum.org. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens: 900 N Birch Rd, 33304; www.bonnethouse.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame: 1 Hall of Fame Dr, 33316; www.ishof.org
Train Tri-Rail (www.tri-rail.com) from Miami and West Palm Beach, or Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) from Orlando or Miami.
Bus 22 links the railroad station to the city center.
Visitor information 101 NE 3rd Ave, Suite 100, 33301; 954 765 4466; www.sunny.org
Open Museum of Discovery and Science: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat & noon–6pm Sun. Riverwalk Park: 24 hours. NSU Art Museum: 11am–5pm Tue–Sat (till 8pm Thu), noon–5pm Sun. Stranahan House: tours at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm daily. Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum: 9am–3pm Mon–Fri (call Sat & Sun). Bonnet House Museum and Gardens: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. International Swimming Hall of Fame: 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, 9am–2pm Sat
Prices Museum of Discovery and Science: $56–60. NSU Art Museum: $48; under 13s free. Stranahan House: $38–48. Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum: $16–32; under 12s free. Bonnet House Museum: $72–80; under 6s free. International Swimming Hall of Fame: $24–32
Guided tours M. Cruz Rentals (www.mcruzrentals.com) runs Segway tours of Fort Lauderdale beach district.
Age range All ages
Activities Explore the waterways aboard the Jungle Queen riverboat (www.junglequeen.com) or a water taxi shuttle (www.watertaxi.com).
Allow At least 2 days
Good family value? Educative and entertaining sights, as well as a delightful beach, make the city a superb family destination.
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Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
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Practical Information
Address 3109 E Sunrise Blvd (off Hwy-A1A), 33304; 954 564 4521; www.floridastateparks.org/park/Hugh-Taylor-Birch
Bus Broward County Transit bus 11 from downtown Fort Lauderdale to the park entrance
Open 8am–sunset daily
Price $6 per vehicle; $2 per pedestrian or cyclist
Guided tours Ranger-guided walks at 10:30am Fri
Age range All ages
Activities The park offers canoe and kayak rentals ($20 for 1 hour) and bike rentals ($12.50 for 1 hour, $25 for 4 hours, and $35 for 24 hours).
Allow Half a day to a full day
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John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
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Practical Information
Address 6503 N Ocean Dr, Dania Beach, 33004; 954 923 2833; www.floridastateparks.org/park/Lloyd-Beach
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Visitor information Dania Beach Chamber of Commerce, 102 W Dania Beach Blvd, Dania Beach, 33004; 954 926 2323; www.daniabeachchamber.org
Open 8am–sunset daily
Price $6 per vehicle; $2 per pedestrian or cyclist
Age range All ages
Activities There are 45-min self-guided nature walks at the south end of the park.
Allow Half a day to a full day
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Seminole Indian Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
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Practical Information
Address 1 Seminole Way, 33314; 866 502 7529; www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Open Hard Rock Cafe: 11am–midnight Sun–Thu & 11am–2am Fri–Sat
Age range 5 plus
Allow 2–3 hours
< Practical Information: The Gold and Treasure Coasts
Davie
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Practical Information
Address Grif’s Western: 6211 Orange Dr, 33314; 954 587 9000; grifswestern.com. Old Davie School Historical Museum: 6650 Griffin Rd, 33314; 954 797 1044; odshm.ch2v.com. Young at Art Children’s Museum: 751 SW 121 Ave, 33325; 954 424 0085; www.youngatartmuseum.org. Buehler Planetarium & Observatory: 3501 Davie Rd, Broward College campus, 33314; 954 201 6681; www.broward.edu/studentlife/planetarium/Pages/default.aspx
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Open Grif’s Western: 10am–8pm Mon–Sat & 11am–6pm Sun. Old Davie School Historical Museum: 10am–4pm Tue–Sat. Young at Art Children’s Museum: 10am–5pm Mon–Thu (till 6pm Fri–Sat), 11am–6pm Sun. Buehler Planetarium: 8–10pm Wed (public viewings); check website for show timings.
Prices Old Davie School Historical Museum: $24–34. Young at Art Children’s Museum: $56, under 1s free. Buehler Planetarium: free on public viewing nights; shows $16–28
Age range 5 plus
Allow A day
Festival Bergeron Rodeo Grounds (4271 Davie Rd) hosts 6 to 8 rodeos (davieprorodeo.com; Feb–Nov)
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Flamingo Gardens
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Practical Information
Address 3750 S Flamingo Rd, (between Griffin Rd and I-595), Davie, 33330; 954 473 2955; www.flamingogardens.org
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Open 9:30am–5pm daily; Jun–Oct: closed Mon
Price $66–80; under 3s free
Guided tours Guided tours of Wray Home Museum take place 10am–5pm daily. Narrated tram tours of the gardens depart on the hour and half-hour 11am–4pm daily.
Age range 5 plus
Activities Live Wildlife Encounter Shows (weather permitting) at 11:30pm, 1:30pm & 3:30pm daily
Allow 2–3 hours
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Butterfly World
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Practical Information
Address Tradewinds Park, 3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek, 33073; 954 977 4400; www.butterflyworld.com
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Sat & 11am–5pm Sun
Price $98–108; under 3s free
Age range All ages
Activities Download the Bring Back the Butterflies guide and find out what flowers and shrubs to plant in your garden at home to attract butterfl
ies.
Allow 2 hours
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Boca Raton
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Practical Information
Address Boca Raton Children’s Museum: 498 Crawford Blvd, 33432; 561 368 6878; www.cmboca.org. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: 1801 N Ocean Blvd, 33432; 561 544 8605; www.gumbolimbo.org
Car Rent a car from Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Visitor information Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, 1800 N Dixie Hwy, 33432; 561 395 4433; www.bocaratonchamber.com
Open Boca Raton Children’s Museum: 10am–1pm Tue & Wed, 10am–5pm Thu–Sat. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: 9am–4pm Mon–Sat, noon–4pm Sun
Prices Boca Raton Children’s Museum: $20–30; under 1s free. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: free; $5 donation per person
Guided tours Gumbo Limbo Nature Center runs guided walks to observe sea turtles laying eggs (Jun–Jul) and eggs hatching (Jul–Aug).
Age range 5 plus
Allow A day
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Delray Beach
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