GillsinEurope

We will have an entire afternoon in either Miami or Ft Lauderdale to do whatever we please January 14. Our cruise disembarks in Miami that morning and our flight leaves FLL at 8pm. We have two small children (ages 3 and 1). We do not have a rental car, but have a shuttle back to FLL after we get off the cruise ship. Any suggestions on what to do that day to make the most of our family time? Oh and we will have three small carry on suitcases with us so if there is someplace to store them (lockers?) while we "adventure" around that'd be great!

doug_stallings

To be honest, I can't think of anything you can do easily without a car. I suppose you could take a taxi to downtown Fort Lauderdale and walk along the beach. There are plenty of hotels and businesses there. If you had a car, there would be plenty you could do, and you could probably rent in Miami for the day without a drop-off charge in Fort Lauderdale. I'd prefer doing that if it were me. Then you'd be able to do some different kinds of activities in the area.

I really do hate the Fort Lauderdale airport, so I'd try to stay out of there as long as possible. There aren't even good places to eat.

GillsinEurope

Thanks Doug. I did look into renting a car since it didn't seem to be that much more than taking a shuttle. However, they charge for car seats...and that gets a bit costly. I thought we could drop our bags off at the airport if they had lockers and then do something fun for the kids, but I have to look into how far the airport is from everything else in the city. We don't mind taking public transportation at all, just don't want to lug everything around with us.

Any other suggestions?

doug_stallings

There's no real public transit in Fort Lauderdale or Miami, so you have to take a taxi, and I don't really see much difference in taking a taxi without car seats or renting a car without them.

GillsinEurope

Alright so I booked a car instead. Now that we have our own ride and all day, any suggestions for a free day in Miami? We have two girls, ages 1 and 3.

Placename

Beach? Museum?

GillsinEurope

We'll just be getting off of a cruise so no real NEED to go to another beach. Kids are a bit too young for an adult type museum. Is there a children's museum nearby? Maybe a good playground, shopping center, or a good kid friendly restaurant?

doug_stallings

Take a look at Jungle Island. It's very family friendly and only reachable by car. Or in the vicinity there's Billies Swamp Safari for an airboat ride.

ILuvLexie

Jungle Island is a great idea or if you want to be closer to the Fort Lauderdale airport the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Science is in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is a hands on science museum for children with an Imax theater. You could spend a few hours there and then head over to Las Olas Boulevard for lunch (there's a Cheesecake Factory) or there are a few restaurants within walking distance of the museum. You will only be about 15 to 20 minutes from the airport.