Location for our stay (6 nights)

Question

Hi all

I'm planning a trip to South Florida in November. We are a family of 4, boy is 11 and girl is 9.

So far, based on the price of redemption. I'm planning for a round trip from Toronto to West Palm Beach

During our stay, we are likely to do the following:

- Visit alligator park/air both tour

- See NBA Miami Heat

- Go to a Waterpark (Rapid Waterpark or Tidal Cove)

- Mini golf/ movie/outlet shopping

=> Where should we stay?

Is there a way to minimize the drive?

Answer

For a family of four visiting South Florida in November and planning activities like an alligator park/airboat tour, NBA Miami Heat game, waterparks, mini golf, movies, and outlet shopping, choosing a central location will help minimize driving and maximize enjoyment.

Considering your round-trip flight to West Palm Beach and your planned activities, staying somewhere in the Miami metropolitan area or just north of Miami could be ideal. This allows reasonable access to Miami Heat games, waterparks, and attractions while keeping the drive to alligator parks and outlet shopping manageable.

Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood area: A good balance between Miami and West Palm Beach. Close enough to the Miami Heat game (about 30–40 minutes to the FTX Arena in Miami), near beaches and family-friendly attractions, and only about an hour drive to some alligator parks or airboat tours. Also convenient for shopping at Sawgrass Mills Outlet.
Miami / Miami Beach: Ideal if you want to be closer to the NBA game, waterparks, and city activities. Miami has more family-friendly hotels and restaurants. Downsides: more traffic and slightly longer drives to some attractions north of Miami.
West Palm Beach: Staying near your arrival airport minimizes airport transfers and is convenient for northern excursions like Rapid Waterpark in Riviera Beach or Tidal Cove in Sunny Isles. However, it is about a 1–1.5 hour drive to Miami for the Heat game.

Tips to minimize driving and maximize your experience:

Plan your days by geography: dedicate certain days to Miami activities, other days to northern excursions around West Palm Beach.
Consider booking a hotel with family-friendly amenities (pool, kitchenette) to make downtime easier after long drives.
Use Uber or Lyft for Miami city activities like the Heat game to avoid parking and traffic hassles.

Overall recommendation:

If your priority is minimal daily driving and being centrally located for all activities, the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood area offers the best compromise.
If attending the Miami Heat game is a top priority and you don’t mind longer drives north, staying in Miami may make sense.
If minimizing airport transfers and northern excursions is more important, stay in West Palm Beach, but expect a longer commute to Miami-based activities.

In summary, for a family trip combining sports, waterparks, and shopping, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood is likely your best “home base” to balance all the activities while keeping drives manageable.

Location for our stay (6 nights)

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