Water sports and swimming in Fort Lauderdale

Before you head out to open water, it helps for everyone in the group to feel confident in the pool. The nest’s shallow sun shelf is a safe, easy place for beginners to practice floating and putting their heads under — a good warm-up before Fort Lauderdale’s bigger water days, and a reassuring first step for nervous younger swimmers. Once everyone’s comfortable, here’s how to build the family’s water days out from there.

The beaches

Fort Lauderdale Beach has miles of sand for a family day. For calmer water and scenery, Las Olas Beach and the beach at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park are good picks — the state park has shade, picnic areas and a lagoon, which makes it easy on a long day with kids. Watch the lifeguard flags and aim for a guarded stretch with young swimmers; the beach days with kids guide covers the family-friendly stretches, parking and facilities.

Snorkeling and diving

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is one of the best places to snorkel right off the beach, with reef and tropical fish a short swim out and no boat required — which makes it ideal for a family’s first snorkel. For a guided trip, Sea Experience and South Florida Diving Headquarters both run snorkel and dive tours for a range of ages and skill levels. See the snorkeling guide for entry points and what to bring.

Parasailing and boats

For a view from above, Aloha Watersports and Hollywood Parasail run rides over the coastline — usually with a minimum age or weight, so check before you book with little ones. To get on the water yourself, Blue Water Boat Rentals and Aqua Flight rent easy-to-run boats, which are perfect for anchoring at a shallow sandbar for swimming. If you’d rather fish, the fishing guide covers family-friendly charters and the pier.

The water taxi

For a low-key way to see the city, the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is a hop-on, hop-off service with stops at waterfront restaurants, shopping and attractions along the canals. It’s a favorite with kids — part boat ride, part sightseeing — and an easy afternoon when you want to be on the water without steering. The water taxi guide has the routes, stops and day-pass details. For a slower option, the kayaking and paddleboarding guide covers the calm launches.

Home base at the nest

Whatever you pick, the nest — with its private pool and room for ten — makes an easy home base. Come back to rinse off, nap the little ones, and let everyone dry out before the next outing. The pool is the reliable win on any day the ocean’s too rough or the group’s too tired to go far.

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