Attractions$$
Flamingo Gardens
Davie · Broward
Botanical gardens and a Florida wildlife sanctuary with flamingos, alligators and a shaded tram tour. Easy stroller loop.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Living here
Things to do in South Florida
Where locals actually eat, shop, take the kids and spend a Saturday — from Miami-Dade to Martin County. Filter by who is coming with you, what day it is and what you feel like spending.
12 ideas
Kids & Family$$
Young At Art Museum
Davie · Broward
Make-and-play art studios built for children — messy, indoor and air conditioned. Strongest for ages 2 to 10.
WeekdaysRainy dayAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Shopping$
Flea Market USA Davie
Davie · Broward
Weekend indoor-outdoor flea market with hundreds of vendors near the Davie rodeo grounds.
WeekendsAges 10-14Ages 15-17
Shopping$$
The Tower Shops
Davie · Broward
Open-air power center in Davie with big-box and mid-range retailers along I-595.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 10-14Ages 15-17
Attractions$
Old Davie School Historical Museum
Davie · Broward
Restored 1918 schoolhouse showcasing early pioneer life in the Everglades frontier.
WeekdaysAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Attractions$
Old Southeast Florida Pioneer Museum
Davie · Broward
Open-air pioneer village of relocated historic buildings depicting early settler life.
WeekendsAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Attractions$$
Young At Art Children's Museum
Davie · Broward
Interactive art-based museum with galleries and hands-on creative studios for kids.
WeekdaysWeekendsRainy dayAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Attractions$$
Flamingo Gardens Wildlife Sanctuary
Davie · Broward
Botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary with flamingos, panthers, and a tram tour.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Outdoors & Beaches$
Tree Tops Park
Davie · Broward
Shaded canopy trails, a lake and a treehouse playground in the heart of Davie.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Outdoors & BeachesFree
Long Key Nature Center and Park
Davie · Broward
Nature trails, ballfields and a butterfly garden in central Davie.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Outdoors & BeachesFree
Vista View Park
Davie · Broward
Rolling hills made from a former landfill, with lakes, biking and fishing.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Kids & FamilyFree
Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library kids' wing
Davie · Broward
University library with a dedicated children's floor, weekend crafts and reading programs open to the public.
WeekdaysWeekendsRainy dayAges 0-4Ages 5-9
How a week usually looks here
Weekdays
Beaches and parks are nearly empty before noon, museums are quiet, and restaurants that need a month's notice on Saturday will seat you at 6pm on a Tuesday. Libraries run free story times for little ones, and breweries do trivia midweek.
Weekends
Green markets and art fairs on Saturday mornings, boats out by ten, dinner on Las Olas or Atlantic Avenue, and live music downtown. Book attractions online the night before — walk-up lines are the only real hassle.
Season (November–April)
Everything doubles: polo in Wellington, the Kravis and Broward Center seasons, street art fairs, the boat show in autumn and Art Basel in early December. Traffic and reservations get tighter, so plan ahead.
Summer & rainy afternoons
Storms usually pass in an hour. Keep an indoor backup on the list — a science museum, an indoor mall, a go-kart park — and swim in the morning, not at three in the afternoon.
Choosing between neighborhoods? Where you land decides how much of this you actually do on a weeknight. Compare the areas, look up schools or ask me what a normal week looks like in the area you're considering.
Hours, prices and seasonal dates change — check the venue before you drive. Tell me if a favorite spot is missing and I'll add it.