Shopping$$
Sawgrass Mills
Sunrise · Broward
One of the largest outlet centers in the US, plus the Colonnade luxury wing. Plan three hours minimum.
WeekdaysWeekendsRainy dayAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Living here
Things to do in South Florida
Where locals actually eat, shop, take the kids and spend a Saturday — from Miami-Dade to Martin County. Filter by who is coming with you, what day it is and what you feel like spending.
11 ideas
Sports & Events$$
Florida Panthers
Sunrise · Broward
NHL hockey at Amerant Bank Arena — indoors, cold and loud, and an easy family night out.
EveningsSeasonalAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Shopping$$$
The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale · Broward
Upscale enclosed mall with Neiman Marcus, Saks and Macy's near the beach and Sunrise Boulevard.
WeekdaysWeekendsRainy dayAges 15-17
Shopping$$$
Sawgrass Mills Colonnade Outlets
Sunrise · Broward
Luxury designer outlet wing attached to Sawgrass Mills with Gucci, Burberry and Prada.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 15-17
Outdoors & Beaches$
Dania Beach Fishing Pier
Dania Beach · Broward
One of Broward's longest piers, popular for sunrise fishing and views of passing ships.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Outdoors & Beaches$
Markham Park
Sunrise · Broward
Large park with a lake beach, bike trails, an archery range and campground.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Outdoors & Beaches$
Lake Worth Beach Pier
Lake Worth Beach · Palm Beach
Long municipal pier great for fishing and sunrise views over the Atlantic.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Kids & Family$
Markham Park splash pad & mini golf
Sunrise · Broward
Sprawling county park with a splash pad, mini golf, mountain bike trails and a model airplane field.
WeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Kids & Family$
Markham Park Mini Golf
Sunrise · Broward
Low-key 18-hole mini golf course tucked inside a large county park.
WeekendsAges 0-4Ages 5-9Ages 10-14
Sports & Events$$$
Amerant Bank Arena
Sunrise · Broward
Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers' home ice, plus concerts and family shows.
EveningsWeekendsSeasonalAges 5-9Ages 10-14Ages 15-17
Sports & Events$
Markham Park Pickleball Courts
Sunrise · Broward
Dozens of outdoor pickleball courts inside a large county park with lakes and trails.
WeekdaysWeekendsAges 10-14Ages 15-17
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.