We were in Miami recently, en route to the Florida Keys and stopped off at the Fairchild Botanic Garden in Miami with kids. Wow. We LOVED it. Except for the heat. It was super hot. The garden is really big, so plan for enough time, like a few hours. And some time to get a drink or ice cream there.
Off the side of the road in Tavernier Florida on the Florida keys is the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. It doesn’t look like much from the road (granted, nothing in the Keys looks like much from the road), but it’s worth pulling over to see the birds here.
We had a ridiculous amount of fun at the Everglades Alligator Farm, in spite of it dumping rain on us an hour after the photo below was taken.
The Everglades Alligator Farm claims to be the oldest alligator farm in South Florida, with 2,000 alligators. They are located near the entrance of Everglades National Park. It was super touristy, but still a good visit.
The airboat ride boats at the Everglades Alligator Farm. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan
We got there as the hourly airboat ride was getting read to board, so we went straight there. It’s a good thing we did because the rides an hour later got delayed/cancelled because it was raining so hard. Our driver told us that when it’s raining hard, they worry about the visibility. If a boat is out of commission, it’s hard to get another boat out there to rescue it.
When visiting the Florida Keys, take 2 hours to visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. This nonprofit rescues injured and sick turtles in the area, rehabilitates them if possible, and releases them back into the wild. If they’re not able to be rehabilitated, they stay at the center.
We visited the Whitney Biennial shortly after it opened. It will be there through September 5, so there is time to go! Should you go to the Whitney Biennial with kids?
I’ve seen the ads for Holland Ridge Farms, and finally went – on opening day. What a glorious place! What’s it like to go to Holland Ridge Tulip Farm with kids? Here’s the scoop.
It’s nice to be able to travel again! We spent a weekend in Philadelphia. If you missed our series a while back about Philadelphia for families, check it out. There’s a lot you can cover in a day or two. Here are some ideas: Federal Donuts, the Constitution Museum, Reading Terminal Market, and the Museum of Illusions.
Federal Donuts
For weekend in Philadelphia breakfast, head to Federal Donuts. There are a bunch throughout the city.
The Harry Potter store opened in NYC in June, and I’m guessing it’s still as busy now as it was when it opened. We went last weekend (mid-December) on a Sunday, which is probably one of the busiest times we could have gone. To find out more about the virtual queue system, scroll to the bottom. Getting INTO the 21,000 foot store is an ordeal. What to Expect at the Harry Potter Store in NYC? Read on.
If you’re looking for some things to do this holiday season in NYC, Jersey Kids has some ideas, brought to you by CAMP.
CAMP wants to help you have tons of fun at their immersive in-store experiences, help you make unique and clever gifts for your family and friends, and to show you some great toys (ahem, good presents!). Whether you live in NYC or are visiting, you’ll have options for great seasonal outings.