Things to do with kids in Pompano Beach
Easy beach days, a pier to explore and a few good trips for when they need something new. Planned by hosts who see a lot of sandy flip-flops.
2-minute walk to the beach
Free parking
Courtyard pool
Book direct
The beach, done the easy way
With kids, the beach works best when it is close. Ours is about a 2-minute walk, so you can go for an hour before breakfast, come back for naps, and go again in the late afternoon without loading the car. Beach towels and chairs are available for guests.
The city’s swimming areas are guarded by lifeguards seven days a week, 9 AM to 4:45 PM. Swim near a lifeguard stand, read the warning flags, and keep little ones within arm’s reach in the water. Along the beach there are restrooms, outdoor showers, a picnic shelter with tables and grills, and a children’s playground on the beach.
- Go early or late. Midday sun is strong year-round.
- Learn the flag colors: green is calm, yellow is moderate, red is high hazard, purple means marine life like jellyfish.
- Pack a small shade tent for toddlers and refill water often.
- Fill in sand holes before you leave, for safety and for the turtles.
The pier
Walking the Fisher Family Pier is free, and kids like looking down at the water and watching what the anglers catch. If they want to try fishing, the bait shop rents rod packages with bait and a bucket, and you do not need a Florida fishing license on the pier. Children 10 and under must be with a guardian. See fishing the Pompano Beach pier for the rules.
Pools, in and out
Our courtyard pool is the simplest afternoon plan: a swim, a snack and a nap in a quiet courtyard instead of a crowded resort deck. For a bigger pool, the city’s Pompano Beach Aquatic Center at 820 NE 18th Avenue has a 50-meter pool and a 25-meter teaching pool, with public swim hours on most days. Hours shift with swim meets, lessons and holidays, so call the center or check the city’s parks site first.
Public swim hours, admission and lifeguard schedules change. Check the City of Pompano Beach parks website before you go.
Butterflies and birds
Butterfly World in Coconut Creek is a short drive west and an easy half day. It is mostly outdoors, with walk-through butterfly aviaries and a lorikeet encounter where kids can feed nectar to the birds (it is a small cash purchase). Go in the morning, when it is cooler. Our Butterfly World guide has hours and tips.
A science day in Fort Lauderdale
The Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale is a reliable hit, and a good answer to a rainy day. It has more than 30 interactive exhibits, an outdoor science park, live animals and a giant-screen theater. The Great Gravity Clock in the atrium, a 52-foot kinetic sculpture, keeps younger kids staring for longer than you would think. Check the museum’s site for hours and tickets.
The lighthouse and a boat ride
At the north end of town, Hillsboro Inlet Park is a good place to watch boats come and go through the inlet. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society runs a small museum there. Lighthouse tours are offered to society members and leave by boat, and the society’s rules require climbers to be at least four feet tall. See our Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse guide.
For a ride kids will remember, the Pompano Beach Water Taxi runs along the Intracoastal Waterway with several stops in the city, including Alsdorf Park and Hillsboro Inlet Park. It operates daily from 10 AM to 10 PM. Fares and stops change, so check the water taxi’s website before you plan around it.
Seasonal extras
From November through April, the Pompano Beach Green Market runs on the second and fourth Saturdays, 9 AM to 1 PM, on the Pompano Beach Cultural Center campus at 50 West Atlantic Boulevard. Admission is free, and the city has offered kids’ crafts and music on market days. Check the city’s events page for current dates.
In summer, keep an eye out for sea turtle nests on the beach. Kids love spotting the marked nests and crawl tracks in the morning. Our sea turtle season guide explains how to look without disturbing them.
When it rains
Summer afternoons often bring a short thunderstorm, and the beach clears when lightning is near. Have a plan B: our rainy-day ideas page covers indoor options, and a movie in the living room of a suite is a perfectly good one.
Sample family day
A day that works for most ages: beach before 10, while it is cooler and the lifeguards are settling in; lunch and a rest back at the suite; a swim in the courtyard pool; then the pier or the playground in the late afternoon. Save the bigger outings, like Butterfly World or the science museum, for one or two mornings of the trip.
Where families stay
Most families choose one of our suites: they sleep 4 to 5, with a separate bedroom, a living room and a full kitchen for breakfasts and packed lunches. Guest laundry is on site for the sandy pile. See our family vacation rentals page for more on staying with kids.
The Pompano Breeze Standard
Clean every time
Every unit is cleaned and inspected before every arrival.
We reply fast
A real person answers calls, texts and emails.
Steps to the sand
Towels, chairs and the beach, a 2-minute walk away.
FAQ
Is Pompano Beach safe for kids to swim?
The city’s swimming areas have lifeguards seven days a week, 9 AM to 4:45 PM. Swim near a stand, follow the warning flags and keep young children within reach.
Is there a playground on Pompano Beach?
Yes. The city lists a children’s playground on the beach, along with restrooms, showers and a picnic shelter.
What can kids do in Pompano Beach when it rains?
The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale is a short drive and has more than 30 interactive exhibits and a giant-screen theater.
Is Butterfly World good for toddlers?
Yes, most young children enjoy it. It is mostly outdoors, so go in the cooler morning and bring water and sun protection.
Room for everyone, close to the sand.
Suites sleep 4 to 5 with a kitchen and living room, a 2-minute walk from the beach. Book direct and pay no platform fees.