Even though the coastal stretch of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach is one of the most upscale vacation spots in the US, you can still explore the charmingly beautiful and vibrant area without breaking the bank in Fort Lauderdale. The central attraction is East Las Olas Boulevard, filled with stylish boutiques, upscale fashion houses and charming sidewalk cafés. For admiring the sea, the 7-mi (11.27-km) Fort Lauderdale Beach is one of the best and cleanest beaches in the country, with separate family-friendly, dog-friendly and gay-friendly sections.
With a large urban population, the city also has plenty of indoor attractions and things to do, which become even more popular during the summertime. To learn more, scroll down and explore the top things to do indoors in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1. Let your children learn and play in Museum of Discovery and Science
With science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based exhibits and hands-on activities, Museum of Discovery and Science is the perfect place to take your kids. Here, you can also find an IMAX theatre with one of the largest screens in Florida, making for an immersive film-watching experience. From time to time, the museum also organises kids’ overnighters, which include science shows and activities, exhibit exploration, a pizza platter and an IMAX add-on. Private overnighters with a minimum of 45 children and 5 adults can be arranged as well.
For the post-museum empty stomach, the museum features Elements Café, which also has healthy options, such as sandwiches and salads.
Museum of Discovery and Science
Address: 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, United States
Website: Museum of Discovery and Science
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
Price: From 22 USD
2. Have fun with kids at Flippo's Fort Lauderdale
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Flippo’s is an indoor kids’ playground with facilities, such as a sports court, an arcade zone and a toddler zone, among others. Children who want to do something more adventurous can opt for rope-walking with the rope courses or rock climbing with the tropical rock wall. After your children have had fun, satiate their hunger at the on-site Flippo’s Café, which offers a full menu.
The establishment also organises birthday parties starting at 599 USD, which include a play area for the whole day, private party room access and refreshments, among other benefits.
Flippo's Fort Lauderdale
Address: 1455 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, United States
Website: Flippo’s Fort Lauderdale
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 9pm
Price: From 12.99 USD
3. Catch a live play at Broward Center for the Performing Arts
With two main theatres, one of which has a capacity of 2,658 seats, Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of the best live performance theatres in Florida. From Broadway musicals to comedy singles, the centre hosts a wide array of shows, making it popular among people with different tastes.
The centre is the official home of the renowned group Slow Burn Theatre. Other acclaimed theatre groups that do regular shows here include Miami City Ballet and Florida Grand Opera, to name a few.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Address: 201 SW 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312, United States
Website: Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Price: Varies as per the show
4. Get active and adventurous at Xtreme Action Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
If you are a fan of indoor adventures and entertainment, such as bowling, roller skating and mini golf, among others, then Xtreme Action Park is just the place for you. For an adrenaline rush, you can enjoy go-kart racing. You can also play a few rounds of laser tag with your large group to have an exciting team-building adventure.
With a wide variety of indoor entertainment, the place is frequented by people with all kinds of preferences. The venue also features an eatery and a bar, allowing you to relax and sate your appetite after an adventurous day.
Xtreme Action Park
Address: 5300 Powerline Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States
Website: Xtreme Action Park
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12am (Hours vary during the summers)
Price: From 11 USD
5. Stroll in the extensive gardens of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Within an eight-minute walking distance of Fort Lauderdale Beach, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens holds historical, environmental and artistic significance.
Created by American artist Frederic Clay Bartlett, the house features various artworks made and collected by him. In another gallery in the house, you can also find art made by his third wife. Another charming aspect of the estate is the five distinct ecosystems, including a primary and secondary dune, and the natural vegetation, including arid plantations and a hibiscus garden. The garden receives throngs of migratory birds every year, making the estate even more charming.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Address: 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, United States
Website: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
Price: From 8 USD (Free for children aged five & under)
6. Have a fun night at Glitch Bar
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
With an easy-going bar atmosphere and retro arcade games, Glitch Bar is one of the best places in Fort Lauderdale to catch up with old friends or hang out with new ones.
The bar serves canned and bottled beer, on-tap draft beer, hand-crafted cocktails and a selection of wines and spirits. With the happy hour between 5pm and 8pm, you can get a draft beer for 5 USD. In addition, it also has a small food menu that you can pair with your drinks.
Some of the famous vintage games that you can play include Contra, Ms. Pac-Man and Pinball, to name a few.
Glitch Bar
Address: 905 NE 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, United States
Website: Glitch Bar
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 5pm - 2am; Fri: 5pm - 3am; Sat: 12pm - 3am; Sun: 12pm - 2am
Price: 7 USD (Adult game pass)
7. Explore city's past in History Fort Lauderdale
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Featuring four galleries of exhibits dating back to the time of pre-historic First Nation People, History Fort Lauderdale is one of the best places to explore and research the history of Fort Lauderdale.
It’s run by the History Fort Lauderdale Society and has other museums nearby, including Pioneer House Museum and 1899 Schoolhouse Museum. Sitting on the site of the historic New River Inn hotel, the museum offers group tours as well, with which you can check out the other museums.
History Fort Lauderdale
Address: 231 SW 2nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, United States
Website: History Fort Lauderdale
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: From 5 USD (Free for children aged six & under)
8. Feel the adrenaline rush at Escapology Escape Rooms Fort Lauderdale
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The next time you are in Fort Lauderdale, visit these escape rooms and make the most of your quick-thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Part of a fast-growing escape room franchise, Escapology Escape Rooms Fort Lauderdale features seven escape games of varying difficulties and themes, allowing you to have different adventures on your subsequent visits. With popular-culture-based escape rooms, such as Cuban Crisis, Murder on the Orient Express and Scooby-Doo and The Spooky Castle, it provides unique and immersive experiences for players.
Escapology Escape Rooms Fort Lauderdale
Address: 17 S Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316, United States
Website: Escapology Escape Rooms Fort Lauderdale
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri & Sat: 10am - 11pm
Price: From 39.99 USD
9. Walk back in time at Historic Stranahan House Museum
Once the residence of the founding father of Fort Lauderdale, Frank Stranahan, the house was restored and opened as a house museum in 1984. Sitting beside the New River, it was also used as a trading post and a community hall in its early years, making it one of the most significant structures in the history of Fort Lauderdale.
People can check out the historic house by taking hour-long tours that are offered every day at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. The tours are led by experienced docents who will tell you about the house’s history.
Historic Stranahan House Museum
Address: 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, United States
Website: Historic Stranahan House Museum
Price: From 7 USD
10. Shop the latest trends at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Galleria Fort Lauderdale is open December 12th through December 23rd from 9am – 10pm. Happy Holidays .
Posted by Galleria Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, December 11, 2022
With over 100 top fashion retailers, The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale is one of the most premium shopping centres in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida. At the mall, you can also find top diners and restaurants, such as Blue Martini, The Capital Grille and the Asian restaurant P.F. Chang’s, to name a few. Blue Martini also has live music, and you can enjoy happy hours from Wednesday to weekend.
For the convenience of the visitors, valet parking is available and costs 8 USD until 5pm and 10 USD after that. In addition, electric vehicle charging stations are also available in a few parking garages.
The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
Address: 2414 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, United States
Website: The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm
Explore the exciting indoors in bustling Fort Lauderdale
With a wide array of attractions, including museums, entertainment arenas and arcade bars, Fort Lauderdale has no shortage of indoor activities. So, the next time you are in this vibrant city and looking for attractions to beat the heat, review this list of the top things to do indoors and have an exciting time.
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