Fort Lauderdale Vacations with Teens.
The beaches, waterways and parks frame a rich menu of activities and make it easy to unwind and escape from the stresses of everyday life. The area beaches are awesome.
In addition to fun-in-the-sun, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers families with teens great stuff beyond-the-beach. The area boasts mega malls, giant flea markets, water sports, music venues and chic water taxis offering flexibility and freedom to have fun together and apart.
Take to the water. An obvious destination benefit for teens on vacation with the family is the Water Taxi. For parents it means stress relief and for tens it means freedom from sitting in the car, in traffic with parents and younger siblings. Frequent service is provided daily from 10:30 AM to midnight allowing passengers to get on and off at 11 stops throughout the area. An all-day pass costs $13. (Water Taxi, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316. (954) 467-6677 or www.watertaxi.com/ftlaud)
Swim into history. At the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum and Aquatic complex visitors can take a few laps, or walk through the 10,000 square-foot museum full of Olympic memorabilia from over 100 nations. The complex honors the world’s greatest aquatic athletes, and national and international competitions are hosted on site every year. Also in the museum are aquatic-themed pieces of art and sports literature dating to the 1800s. Need to know: The admission price for individual adults is $8, student admission is $4, admission for seniors is $6 and active military and children under 6 are admitted for free. (1 Hall of Fame Dr, Fort Lauderdale. (954) 462-6536 or www.ishof.org )
Experience the adventure. Families looking for an action-packed day of jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and other water adventures need to check out the Adventure World Intracoastal Center at the Landing Marina Facilities. Other available excursions including Florida outback experiences, and ocean fishing. Need to know: Adventure World’s activities are quite popular so it’s recommended that you make reservations to ensure availability. The center is open 365 days a year. (3570 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood. (954) 457-9575 or www.atlanticbeachclubs.com)
Go ghost hunting. For those looking for a nighttime activity that’s out of the ordinary, the Fort Lauderdale Ghost Tour is just the thing. Starting at Las Olas Boulevard the tour moves along the historical New River and takes in the most haunted places in Fort Lauderdale. Need to know: The entire tour involves 60-90 minutes of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Reservations are required and must be made before 6:00pm Monday-Saturday, and before 4:00pm on Sunday. Bonus Points: Private tours are available. (SE 6th Avenue & Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. (954) 290-9328 or www.fortlauderdaleghosttour.com)
Explore the swamp. Swamps hold an air of mystery and wildness; they are unpredictable, wild, and beautiful. At Billie’s Swamp Safari visitors can learn about the land, history and culture of the native Seminole Indians who made the swamp their home. There are several ways to experience the swamp: skim over the glittering water in an airboat, participate in a swamp buggy eco-tour, paddle a canoe, or walk the Swamp Trail and come face to face with the alligators that make the swamp famous. (Big Cypress Reservation, Fort Lauderdale. Toll-free 1-800-949-6101, (941) 983-6101. www.seminoletribe.com/safari)
Explore the universe. Planetarium shows are always a lot of fun for the whole family. At the Buehler Planetarium and Observatory the offering of planetarium shows insures that there’s something for everyone. With shows ranging from Indian myths and sky lore, early explorers, the solar system for children, the standard exploration of the starry night sky and others, the Buehler Planetarium is certainly worth a visit. Along with their planetarium shows the center offers telescope viewing on clear nights. (Broward Community College, Central Campus, 3501 SW Davie Rd., Davie. (954) 201-6681 or www.iloveplanets.com)
Thrill to the speed. South Florida’s only wooden roller coaster, the Dania Beach Hurricane is 3,200 feet of adrenaline-pumping excitement. During the 2-minute ride, the coaster reaches speeds up to 55 miles per hour and climbs 100 feet. Bonus points: Enthusiasts can purchase unlimited rides for only $10.00. Need to know: The coaster is open every day until 11:00pm, and until 2:00am on the weekends. (1760 NW 1st Street (next to Boomers), Dania Beach. (954) 921-RIDE or www.xcoaster.com)
Ride a trolley. 
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is a great place to enjoy a day (or night) out, and with the complimentary trolley service through the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District there’s every reason to put it high on your to-do list. Restaurants, shopping and the arts are all centered in the downtown district including the Old Fort Lauderdale Village, Las Olas Boulevard, the Museum of Art, and the Stranahan House as well as many other points of interest. (Las Olas Boulevard, Downtown (954) 761-3543 or www.riverwalk-ae.com)
Ride a Bike. A great way to enjoy the city (and the sunny Florida weather) is by bicycle or scooter. Downtown Bicycles offers retail and rental for both. With premium equipment, excellent service, and a large selection of beach cruising equipment, Downtown Bicycles is the perfect place to grab a set of wheels and see the sights. (2533 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Toll-free 1-866-813-7368, (954) 767-8043, or www.downtownbicycles.com )
Ride fast and furious. Teens will love riding on these 1000HP high-performance racing machines – it’s an experience straight off of a movie screen. High speed thrill rides and adventure are available seven days a week at Ballistic Speedboat Adventure. (801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. (954) 579-8181)
Content researched and posted by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Curator of the Good Stuff for the Family Travel Files.com. Shopping photo by VisitFlorida and Water Taxi by Fort Lauderdale CVB. Copyright 2013.
