Summertime in South Florida is often referred to as the “slow season.” Snowbirds fly north to cooler climates and families go on vacation. Luckily, there are still so many family activities available to do. With the pandemic slowing down and places starting to open back up the opportunities to go out and have fun are endless. Here are some of our favorite fun adventures in South Florida.
Take them out to the ballgame!
Going
to a Marlins game is fun for the whole family and won’t break the bank. Tickets
at Loan Depot Park start at just $20! Even if you don’t like baseball, the
experience of bringing the family to the ballpark is worth the price of
admission. When you head out to the game, don’t be scared off by the weather!
The Marlins’ stadium has a retractable roof to protect you from the elements.
mlb.com/marlins/tickets
Everglades Airboat Tours
Check out an alligator in its natural habitat! Airboat tours are a great way
to get outside and experience the natural beauty of the everglades. Head over
to Everglades Holiday Park for a great day in nature. Be sure to bring a hat
and some sunscreen, too, because the South Florida sun will be out in full
force. Don’t let that discourage you, though; a cold drink in the everglades
will make all your worries go away.
Everglades Holiday Park
21940 Griffin Road, Weston
954-434-8111
evergladesholidaypark.com
Hunt for Turtles at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Turtles! A person cannot say enough good things about John Pennekamp State
Park. If you love scuba diving or snorkeling, a day trip to the Keys is the
perfect way to spend a day. The different fish and coral are beautiful all by
themselves, add some sea turtle sightings and you’ve made a memory that no one
in the family will ever forget. If you are not a big swimming, you can always
take a trip on a glass-bottom boat and see the natural beauty of the coral from
the surface!
John Pennekamp State Park
102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo
305-451-6300
pennekamppark.com
Get Your Groove on at South Beach
Believe it or not, the summer is the perfect time for South Florida locals
to check out South Beach. It may be hotter, but the crowds are typically
smaller, and things are a bit less crazy than Spring Break! The culture,
people, and food, however, still make for an incredible experience. If you get
hungry, check out Time Out Market near Lincoln Road to discover all the
different flavors of Miami in one place. You might want to get an AirBnb and
see what America’s best nightlife is all about.
miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/south-beach
Try Your Luck at the Hard Rock
If you’ve lived here for longer than a couple years, then you have witnessed
the Great Guitar grow into the Florida sky. The architectural icon has quickly
become a symbol for Hollywood’s biggest Casino. What you may not know are all
the entertainment options that grew up around the new hotel. A huge concert
auditorium hosts A-list acts year-round. There are also multiple fine dining
restaurants in addition to Broward County’s only Vegas-style resort pool. If
that didn’t get your juices pumping, try your luck in the Texas Holdem Poker
room.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
5701 Stirling Road
Davie, FL 33314
877-788-1966
seminolehardrockhollywood.com
Waste-Away an Afternoon at Margaritaville
There is no doubting what Jimmy Buffet would tell you to do in South
Florida. Located on the Hollywood Broadwalk, the Resort Hotel is a destination
for families looking to have good fun, good eats, and maybe one of those
special cocktails! If you don’t want to eat at one of the fabulous onsite
restaurants, you can always take a walk down the beach and stop at one of the
oceanside eateries. (Nick’s bar is a favorite) For fun, feel free to take a
ride on the Flowrider or wander over to the St. Somewhere Spa and unwind.
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
1111 N Ocean Dr., Hollywood
844-562-5625
margaritavillehollywoodbeachresort.com
Get Culture at an Art Walk
With the COVID-19 epidemic finally winding down, South Florida’s many Arts
Walks are coming back. There are few better ways to appreciate the area’s many
artists than attending an Art Walk. Plus, they are usually FREE! Our favorites
are:
Downtown Hollywood Art Walk
3rd Saturday of the month,
6:00pm – 11:00pm
floridashollywood.org/artwalk
FAT Village Art Walk
Last Saturday of the month
6:00pm – 10:00pm
fatvillage.com/artwalk
Get Fancy and Go Shopping
Head over to Mizner Park in Boca Raton to shop at their fabulous open-air
Mall. Mizner Park is a shopper’s paradise. Home of renowned jewelers and
boutiques, there is something there that everyone will love. If you get hungry
during your shopping extravaganza, do not worry, Mizner Park is also home to
many fabulous restaurants like Max’s Grille and Yard House. When you’re done shopping
and eating, end your night by heading to a movie that the whole family will
enjoy!
Mizner Park
327 Plaza Real Suite 315, Boca Raton
561-362-0606
miznerpark.com
Go on a South Florida Safari
Does traveling to South Africa to experience a Safari sound a bit
overwhelming? About an hour’s drive away, and for just thirty dollars, you can
get the experience of driving through 600 acres of land that is home to over
1,000 free-roaming exotic animals. The experience is great for the entire
family. Lion Country Safari was ranked in the top ten safaris by USA Today and
has many other attractions such as feeding the animals and splashing around in
the water spray ground.
Lion Country Safari
2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee
561-793-1084
lioncountrysafari.com
Visit Flamingo Gardens
Flamingo Gardens is home to 60 acres of tropical paradise. The wildlife
sanctuary has the most extensive collection of native Florida wildlife, and the
botanical gardens showcase more than 3000 different species of plants. The
centerpiece of the gardens is a natural hammock of 200 year old Live Oaks
dripping with species orchids and epiphytes. Here sits the historic Wray Home
Museum, built in 1933. It is the oldest residence in Broward County west of
University Drive. Whether you want to see alligators, bears, bobcats, or
panthers, or just walk around and enjoy the great outdoors, Flamingo Gardens is
a great place to visit.
Flamingo Gardens
3750 South Flamingo Road Davie
954-473-2955
flamingogardens.org
Go Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to get outside and enjoy the South Florida sun is to go
horseback riding! There are several stables in Davie, Parkland, and Plantation
that offer riders of all skill levels a chance to hit the trail and become
closer to nature; visit equinenow.com to
find listings in your area.
Our favorite is Malachi Acres in Parkland. Achieve your riding goals, whether
they are dreams of quiet rides into the sunset or showing your own horse in a
National competition. Catch the spirit of riding and tell them John Brodie sent
you!
Malachi Acres
954-255-7185
malachiacres.com
