Best Outdoor Amusement Venues In South Florida
Boomers!
1700 NW 1st Street
Dania Beach , FL 33004
(954) 921-1411
www.boomersparks.com
Located right off of I-95 in Dania Beach, Boomers amusement park is a one stop shop for miniature golf, roller coasters, and the latest and greatest arcade games. A main destination for kid's birthday parties in South Florida, Boomers is also home to fast-paced lazer tag and a six-lane bowling alley. After climbing the 32-foot rock wall you can cool off with a spin in the bumper boats. Each boat comes with it's own water cannon. For the motorheads of South Florida, you can take on the race track and go head to head with your friends and family members in a high-octane go-cart competition at Boomer's. Prices at the park vary depending on what you want to do. Families who want to do it all can purchase a super pass which includes: Unlimited Miniature Golf, Family Speedway, Bumper Boats, Lazer Tag, and Rock Wall for around $35/person. Group rates and birthday specials are also available.
Tip: If you want to enjoy Boomer's facilities and save a little cash, check out '$12 Buck Days,' every Tuesday and Thursday. Unlimited golf and video games for just $12. For an additional $10, you can enjoy unlimited attractions.
Santa's Enchanted Forest
7900 SW 40th St
Miami , FL 33155
(305) 559-9689
www.santasenchantedforest.com
Each year around the holidays, the world's largest Christmas theme park takes over Tropical Park in Southwest Miami-Dade County. Santa's Enchanted Forest runs through January 5th and has been an annual tradition for many South Florida families since doors opened 28-years-ago. The park boasts over 100 Christmas themed rides, games, attractions, and shows as well as South Florida's largest Christmas Tree. Over one-million colorful lights decorate the large outdoor park and there are attractions for every age group. Santa is available to accept letters and pose for pictures every day the park is open. Daily admission to the park is around $28.97 for adults, $19.63 for children ages 9 and under and Senior Citizens.
Rapids Water Park
6566 N. Military Trail
Riviera Beach, FL 33407
(561) 842-8756
www.rapidswaterpark.com
Just to the north of the Broward County Line you'll find South Florida's premiere amusement park for thrilling water slides. A total of 29 slides range in intensity from, mild to wild at Rapids Water park. The 22-acre water park is home to 'Big Thunder,' the largest water slide in the entire state of Florida and 'Pirates Plunge,' an electrifying slide that shoots thrill seekers down a 7-story drop. The 'Lazy River,' is a local favorite, you can hop in a tube and cruise for a quarter-mile through an aquatic rain forest. For the youngsters in your group, check out the 'Tad Pool,' a wading pool with floating swamp animals. The park is seasonal and opens when South Florida's weather is warmest, from mid-March through mid-October. General admission is around $33 Mon-Fri, $36 on weekends, and children under 2-years-old get in free.
Tip: There are no refunds for bad weather so it's a good idea to closely monitor the forecast before visiting the park.
Tip: You will also have to pay for $10 to park in the general lot, or $20 for preferred parking.
Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 361-5705
www.miamiseaquarium.com
Open 365 days a year, the Miami Seaquarium is home to Killer Whales, Manatees, and thousands of other species of marine life. The 'Flipper Dolphin show,' is a main attraction and fans come to Key Biscayne from all over the world to see TV's Flipper perform in the lagoon that served as the backdrop for the original show. A Stingray Exhibit is the newest addition to the park and visitors can actually feed and feel the rays as they soar through a 10,000 gallon touch pool. The immense park spans a total of 38-acres and is one of the few places in South Florida to offer 'Dolphin Interaction Programs,' where you can swim along with the intelligent mammals for an additional fee. The Seal and Sea Lion Feeder Pool and Salty's Pirate Playground are kid favorites. General admission is around $38 for adults and $28 for children ages 3 to 9. Parking will also cost you around $8 a day.
Tip: Click Here for a coupon that will save you $2 on each general admission ticket.
Tip: Florida residents are eligible for 30% off all 'Dolphin Interaction,' programs from September 7th through December 17th.
Zoo Miami
1 Zoo Blvd
12400 SW 152nd St
Miami, FL 33177
(305) 378-6381
www.miamimetrozoo.com
Zoo Miami, formerly known as Miami Metro Zoo, recently celebrated thirty years in South Florida and is the only tropical zoo in the Continental United States. Home to over 2000 animals, including 40 endangered species, the park provides almost 3-miles of scenic walkways that wind you through a zoological garden. Some of the marquee animal exhibits include: Koalas, Bengal Tigers, Jaguars, Anacondas, and African Elephants. 'Dr. Wilde's World,' is one of the main attractions at Zoo Miami, an exhibit of over 10,000 Italian honey bees. For kids, check out the 'Meerkat Exhibit,' and petting zoo. The zoo's communications director is wildlife expert and local celebrity Ron Magill. He regularly appears on national news programs like The Early Show on CBS touting the zoo's unique species. Zoo Miami is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day of the year. General admission is around $16 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 2 get in free.
Tip: Discounts on park admission is available to all Miami-Dade employees, Military personnel, Senior Citizens, AAA members, Travel Agents, and Tour Operators.
The Swap Shop
3291 W Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(954) 791-7927
www.floridaswapshop.com
The largest daily Flea Market in the entire world is right here in our own backyard. The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop is the place to buy and sell antiques and used goods for bargain prices. In addition to the flea market, a 180,000 square-foot indoor shopping complex features vender booths with new and brand-name items. You can also pick up fresh Florida grown produce at a large farmers market. In addition to shopping, you can catch the latest box office hits at The Swap Shop's 14 screen drive-in theatre, the largest in the world. Uncle Bernie's Theme Park is located on-site, complete with amusement rides, games, and a giant video arcade. You can also check out the free car museum, featuring a Ferrari Enzo, Maserati MC12, Hudson Hornet, Ferrari FXX, and Ford GT to name a few.
Tip: You can bring your garage sale items to the Swap Shop to sell. It costs around $25 to rent a space and an additional $4 if you want to rent a table as well. There are early bird specials as well Saturdays. Click Here for more info.
Tip: The Swap Shop has many specialty vendors that you may be surprised to find including: Watch repair, Cell phone kiosks, and an Adult Video Store.
