Playgrounds and things to do with kids in Fort Lauderdale (9)

A well-liked Fort Lauderdale playground with restrooms, picnic tables, a pavilion and plenty of sports space for siblings.

Playground, beach access, bathrooms, showers, grills and picnic tables make beach days much easier with younger kids.

Playground, nature trails, butterfly garden and bike paths make this a full outing, with free parking and restrooms.

A free splash pad and playground with courts, trails and a three-hole golf course for whoever has outgrown them.

A free water play area across the road from the beach, so a rinse and a run-around happen in the same stop.

More than 200 hands-on exhibits plus a Discovery Spot made specifically for children 6 and under.

Go-karts, bowling lanes, a ropes course and glow-in-the-dark laser tag indoors, which is the answer to a wet afternoon.

Airboat rides, alligator shows and animal encounters make this an easy first Everglades wildlife outing with kids.

A sightseeing paddleboat down the New River with a barbecue stop, so lunch and the ride are the same outing.