Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale with Teenagers

Teen-friendly Florida Vacations

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better vacation spot for teens than Fort Lauderdale. This vacation hotspot is jam-packed with activities that teenagers will be talking about for years. Here's a list of some of the things to do in Fort Lauderdale with teenagers.

A Shopaholic's Paradise

Watch your teenager's eyes widen during a trip to the Galleria Mall , one of Florida's biggest and most opulent malls. Or take them to Las Olas Boulevard , Fort Lauderdale's shopping and dining center. Featuring brands on every teen's must-have list and some they've only dreamed about, this Fort Lauderdale mall is one of the most crowd-pleasing things to do in Fort Lauderdale with teenagers. You can also pile your teens in the car for a trip down to South Beach to marvel at the too-beautiful-to-be-true cars, buildings, and (of course) people.

Send Them Out on the Water

If you haven't made it out on the water yet, it's not really a Fort Lauderdale vacation. Nicknamed "the Venice of America," Fort Lauderdale is filled with water-based activities and transportation. Send your teens out on the Water Taxi for a safe and easy way of getting around Fort Lauderdale. The taxi runs on every day of the year (except Christmas) with a wide variety of potential stops and sightseeing locations. Lake Olas also has plenty of riverfront cruise options for you and your family to choose from.

Go Ghost Hunting

Test your teens' bravery with a Fort Lauderdale ghost tour . This two hour walking tour takes you through some of downtown Fort Lauderdale's most haunted sites. Even if you don't see a ghost or ghoul, the history you'll learn alone is worth the price of admission. Keep in mind that reservations are required and make sure your teens are wearing comfortable shoes; tottering high-heels won't cut it on this walking tour.

Get Active

Adventure World at the Trump Resort has just about every action-packed activity available in Fort Lauderdale in one location. Take a jet ski or kayak/canoe guided excursion around the Fort Lauderdale waterways. Your teens will jump at the chance to rent an electronic mountain bike that can race at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. Adventure World also rents out fishing charter boats if your teens are begging to go one-on-one with Florida fish. Finally, Adventure World rents out Segways (self-balanced electronic transportation devices built for one person) for a unique way to explore the city. Introductory Segway classes are included with the excursion price. You can also rent out wave runners and power boats on-site.

So Many Things to See and Do

There are enough things to do in Fort Lauderdale with teenagers to keep you and your family busy for months. Don't forget all of Fort Lauderdale's beautiful beaches, either! Here's a word of advice for traveling with teenagers: you'll both want more privacy than a cramped hotel room will allow, so consider booking one of Fort Lauderdale's many rental homes instead. There's no need to share bedrooms (or beds, for that matter) and you'll have plenty of kitchen space and bathrooms - no need to fight for hotel bathroom space!

Planning a day, or full, trip to Miami? Check out our Fort Lauderdale versus Miami guide.