Long story short, middle aged Mom and 2 girls (16 & 20) are visting Grandma in S. Florida (Tamarac) for 2 weeks in late December. We were planning to visit Key West, but Grandma is having some surgery while we are there and someone needs to be with her during day, this had to be cancelled. Girls both drive. Between the 3 of us, looking for some fun day trips besides visiting beach and going shopping that 2 of us can do to pass the time. Like nature, outdoors, museums, cultural interests, don't want to venture more than 2 hours each way. Suggestions welcomed, thanks!

Bonnet House is an old estate, good for architecture and art, between the Intracoastal and the ocean, just southeast of the Galleria Mall on E. Sunrise Bl. in Ft. Lauderdale. There is also a water taxi which winds its way through the waterway to the Las Olas Bl. shopping & restaurant area. Butterfly World is a short distance north of Tamarac, and Morikami Gardens is just into Delray Beach, one of the finest Japanese gardens and cultural centers outside of Japan. Good shopping @ Mizner in Boca Raton, Atlantic Ave. in Delray, and Worth Ave. in Palm Beach. Norton Museum in West Palm Beach and Flagler Museum in Palm Beach are very nice.

The Everglades offers a variety of activities that cannot be missed. Airboat tours, hikes, etc. Definitely worth a trip

I don't think my favorite, Vizcaya, was mentioned in xkenx's very good list. It's a beautiful old mansion on the water near South Beach open now as a museum and gardens. You think you're in Europe. The Biltmore Hotel is also not far from it with a beautiful pool.

Do try to visit the Everglades NP and on your way to the park from Florida City stop at "Robert is Here" and have one of their world famous milkshakes.

http://www.robertishere.com/stand.htm

Ft Lauderdale has a nice Museum of art http://www.moafl.org/index.htm
Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood is also cool - they have a Indian Village along with shopping, dining, and gambling.

Miami
The Design District has many art galleries http://www.miamidesigndistrict.net/browse.php?catID=12

Wynwood in Miami is also a place with galleries http://www.art-miami.com/ME2/Audienc...52D0240FF17373

Lincoln Road on Miami Beach is a great place to grab a bite and people watch.

Try this site for things to do with kids
http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/

GL