Florida 3 Night Vacation With Kids: Everglades, Beach, and Pool

See how to make the perfect family Florida vacation in just three nights!

Last April, Matt and I drove down to West Virginia for a rock climbing adventure for our ten year wedding anniversary. It felt so good to drive from New Hampshire’s depressing want-to-be spring to a place with actual leaves on the trees and flowers in the gardens, that I decided immediately after the trip that I had to “warm up” the following April break as well. I started researching trips and Florida seemed a great choice. No…not Disney (can’t afford and don’t like crowds). I proposed a trip for the family to the Everglades. I’d been a couple times before (here and here) and knew everyone would love the wildlife and unique ecosystem. My husband and kids loved the idea. I decided we could add in a day or two of pool and beach and it would be a fun and somewhat affordable trip.

By August of 2024 - my April 2025 trip was completely booked! So for nine months I’ve been waiting for this trip and it finally came. I can say without a doubt that our three night mini-vacation to Fort Lauderdale and the Everglades felt anything but “mini. From riding the waves of warm ocean beaches, to floating a lazy river, to seeing over thirty alligators in one day - it was a memorable trip of a lifetime. Here’s a breakdown of the trip. 

Family selfie from day 1 - on a nature walk just hours after landing!

Florida 3 Night "Mini" Vacation With Kids: Everglades, Beach, and Pool

Day 1 - Fly to Florida, Mangrove Nature Walk, Pool Time, Crab House (with Alligator Bites), and Dania Beach

We caught a 7 am flight out of Boston and was in Fort Lauderdale by 10 in the the morning. After picking up rental car (we used Avis), we looked at google maps to find an easy lunch spot and ended up grabbing lunch at Burger Fi at Dania Mall close to the airport. Still to early to check into our hotel, we drove to Secret Woods Nature Center. We were pleasantly surprised by this free location. It was the perfect intro to Florida - we walked the one mile boardwalk loop and saw lizards and mangrove forest. From there we drove to our hotel for night one (the Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port) in Dania Beach. I chose this for the first night since we would spend the whole next day at the Everglades. I wanted a clean, easy location with included breakfast and free parking and a pool for the kids. We loved the roomy suite and large outdoor pool. Plus, they let us check in early! Once there, the kids swam in the large outdoor pool, followed by an hour-long nap (since we had got up at 3 am for our flight)! We woke up ready for dinner and more fun. One of my husbands goals was to try alligator and he found it. Nearby was the Rustic Inn Crabhouse. This was an experience and reminded me of lobster pounds back home. The kids malleted their crabs, and we all tried alligator bites and fried frogs legs - tasted like chicken! The evening ended by driving to Dania Beach so we could put our feet in the sand and watch the sunset. It was a great first day in Florida.

Learning about mangroves on the interpretive trail at Secret Woods Nature Center

Cracking crab at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse

Getting silly with our mallets at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse

Day 2 - The Florida Everglades - Airboats and Alligators

The day started with a great continental (included) breakfast at the Residence Inn. We checked out and drove over to Homestead where we met up with Everglades Airboat Expeditions. This was second time using this company (see Florida Girls Trip Blog Post). We loved our one hour tour. Our guide, Mo, was knowledgeable and approachable. He explained all about the current dry season and wildlife behaviors - touching on the impact of invasive species and challenges to the fragile ecosystem. Reflecting on the whole trip - the airboat ride stood out as a favorite for the whole family.

From the boat ramp, we drove to Robert is Here Fruit Stand right outside the park gates where we had delicious smoothies and Cuban sandwiches for lunch. They have a wild collection of rescued animals out back and the kids loved seeing tortoises and emus! It wasn't too busy when we went but I've had to skip it before when the lines get too long. Next, we drove into the National Park and stopped at the Ernest F Coe Visitor Center. The kids got a stamp in their National Park Passport books. We were informed there was a wildfire near the road in the park and we wouldn't be able to do all the hikes which was fine. The hike I wanted to take the family on was at the Royal Palm Stop - here the Anhinga Trail takes visitors on a one mile boardwalk loop where we saw alligators, herons, turtles, and more. The kids were getting tired and we wanted to make it to the other end of the park so we drove the 45 minutes to Flamingo. We visited the visitor center, stared at the gulf coast water, and searched for manatees and crocodiles in the marina. We found a croc but sadly no manatees - I was sad for my daughter who wanted to see one so badly. By then it was afternoon, and we wanted to get back to Fort Lauderdale. It took about three hours to get to our new hotel due to distance and traffic. A quick McDonald's dinner on the way and we checked into our final destination - a resort on the beach. We stuck our feet in the sand and crashed - ready for a relaxing day the next day.

Little Sis was nervous to do the airboat ride
but now she says it was her favorite part of the trip.

Smoothies at Robert is Here

Soft-shelled Florida Turtle on the Anhinga Trail

We saw so many alligators

Day 3 - Resort Life - Beach, Pool, and Lazy River

I searched hard for a resort that we could stay at and essentially not leave for our last final day. I wanted a beach, a kid-friendly pool, and a restaurant on site. The Pelican Grand Beach Resort fit the bill. It had a warm zero entry pool, fun lazy river to tube down, and private beach with attendants to set up lounge chairs and order drinks. The resort also had a lounge/bar, restaurant, and ice cream shop on site. I got the room on Expedia for about $250 a night but with fees, parking, a resort fee, and meals - it obviously racked up quite a bill. That said - the two nights were the full Florida relaxation experience. On Day 3, we ate breakfast on the restaurant veranda while the sun rose on the Atlantic. Then the kids suited up and we spent hours in the pool. They had great attendants and it wasn’t busy. We took a break from the sun for lunch on the lounge deck before applying more sunscreen and popping down to the beach. The hotel provided lounge chairs and umbrellas that they set up for you. We raised a flag on our spot and a waitress came and took our drink orders. Our New Hampshire kids loved the warm ocean waves and played in the sand. The hotel also had boogie boards and beach toys but I’d brought a few from home too. We went back to the lounge for dinner before crashing after a great day in the sun!

One of the main reasons I chose this hotel is
we wouldn't have to drive (or walk) to the beach!

The lazy river pool was a deciding factor in choosing this hotel.  It didn't disappoint!

We ate all our meals on the outside portion of the hotel restaurants

Views from the hotel - Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Lunch at the lounge next to the pool and ocean

Day 4 - One Last Swim Before Leaving

Our hotel was only twenty minutes from the airport and with a 1 pm flight, we were able to leisurely leave on our last day. We had breakfast outside again on the hotel deck, then went to the pool one last time before packing up and heading to the airport. 

It was a perfect vacation!

Wrapping Up Our Florida Mini-Vacay

Even with just three nights, it felt like we crammed in a full adventure: wildlife thrills, beach play, pool splashes, and palm-tree sunsets. We did keep an eye on costs (the Residence Inn cost us less than $200 a night on Expedia, thanks to the free breakfast, and we splurged on two nights at Pelican Grand for about $690 total for the two nights). It was worth every penny for the memories. We saved money by not booking any tours besides the airboat ride ($180 for four), packing snacks from home, filling water bottles in the hotel, and doing a couple cheaper meals. Still, this short trip added up to over $2,000 with airfare added. 

This little escape was exactly what our family needed. We got a healthy dose of sunshine, science lessons on reptiles, and plenty of goofy family selfies in flip-flops. Honestly, between tropical smoothies, a friendly alligator wave, and the kids naming every iguana on the hotel property - the trip felt priceless – a reminder that the best souvenirs are laughter and time together.

The perfect family vacation does exist!

Interested in Similar Adventures? Check out these past posts:

Ogunquit, Maine For Families
3 Family Friendly Nights in Acadia National Park
4 Family Friendly Days in Olympic National Park
South Florida Girls Trip

Follow me on Instagram at FreelanceAdventurer to see similar adventures or DM me with questions!

Six Hours Each Way for Dinner: A Pilgrimage to Au Pied de Cochon’s Sugar Shack

My third year making a pilgrimage to Quebec to visit a
 very special Sugar Shack for the best meal of my life.

Some meals are worth traveling for. And then there’s Au Pied de Cochon’s Sugar Shack, a seasonal feast so indulgent, so outrageously rich, that we willingly drive six hours each way just to experience it. This year marked our third time dining at this legendary maple season pop-up, but for the first time, we made a weekend of it—spending the night in Quebec instead of heading straight home.

The meat-heavy, decadent Quebecois cuisine is the brainchild of chef Martin Picard.

What Is Au Pied de Cochon’s Sugar Shack?

Nestled in the Quebec countryside, the Sugar Shack (Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon) is the brainchild of renowned chef Martin Picard. Known for his love of foie gras, maple syrup, and over-the-top Québécois cuisine, Picard first gained international fame with Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal. The Sugar Shack, open only during maple season, takes his signature excess to another level. Reservations open on December 1st and sell out fast—within hours, if not minutes. We first heard about it from Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, and ever since, it’s been an experience we can’t resist.

The Feast: Maple, Foie Gras, and Everything in Between

If you’re picturing a casual pancake breakfast, think again. This is a multi-course extravaganza where every dish is a masterpiece of decadence. Highlights from our visit included:

• Foie gras-stuffed pastries drizzled with maple syrup

• Wood-fired meat pies drenched in rich, silky gravy, cheese, and organ meat

• Mouth-watering fish dishes like the shrimp and lobster omelet with hollandaise and squid ink sauce.

• Maple-smoked ham cooked to perfection

• A dessert spread that defied all logic—think maple taffy, maple crème brûlée, and crepes soaked in syrup and cooked in duck fat

Every plate arrives family-style, and by the end, you’re torn between never eating again and wondering when you can return. 

The sugar shack itself is a modest timber building - a one room dining hall.

Guests are seated for the time they sign up for - there are 1-3 serving sessions a day (Thurs-Sun during the season)

Getting There: Drive or Fly

For fellow USA adventurers willing to make the trek, here’s how to get there:

• By car: From Boston, it’s about a six-hour drive (longer with border crossings). From Montreal, it’s just over an hour.

• By air: Fly into Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) or Mirabel Airport (YMX) and rent a car.

** You need a passport to cross the Canadian border. Make sure you are familiar with border-crossing rules.

Stay

This year, we opted to stay overnight in an Airbnb in Saint-Julienne, a small rural town about 45 minutes from the Sugar Shack in Mirabel, and about an hour from Montreal. In years past, we've stayed in Vermont, and even driven back home on the same day.  Our friends have opted to stay in Montreal in the past since there's lots to do.

We shared an AirBnb about an hour from the Sugar Shack. 

Things to Do in the Area

While the Sugar Shack is the main event, there’s plenty to explore before or after your meal:

• Montreal’s Food Scene – If you have time, grab a meal at the original Au Pied de Cochon (we’ve dined there twice, and it’s always worth it).

• Old Montreal – Stroll through cobblestone streets, visit the Notre-Dame Basilica, and soak in the city’s charm.

• Mont Tremblant – If you’re up for skiing or outdoor adventures, this famous resort town isn’t far away.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. This wasn’t just dinner—it was an experience, a tradition, and a reminder that some meals are truly worth the journey.

Pro-tip: Bring your own tupperware/to-go containers. You will have leftovers!

Would you make a 12-hour round-trip for a meal? More video and photos at my Instagram: FreelanceAdventurer.

We've gone as a couple, a big group, and this time - good friends. Food is served family style - so it's fun to share!

Check out these similar adventures:

- Spring Weekend in the White Mountains
- Ogunquit, Maine overnight for families
- Affordable Family weekend in the Whites

Quebec's sugar shack culture and amazing food is as good as it gets

at Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon.