Fun Things to Do in Pembroke Pines This Weekend

Looking for fun things to do in Pembroke Pines this weekend? This west-Broward city sits right on the edge of the Everglades, which means the number-one must-do adventure in South Florida is practically in your backyard.

Pembroke Pines has grown into one of Broward County's largest and most family-friendly cities, with great parks, shopping and dining — plus one huge advantage over the beach towns to the east: the wild Everglades begins right at its western doorstep. That mix of suburban comfort and raw wilderness makes for an unbeatable weekend. Here's how a local would spend it.

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1. Take an Everglades airboat tour (the must-do)

The best of all things to do in Pembroke Pines starts at the city's western edge, where the suburbs give way to open sawgrass. An airboat tour near Pembroke Pines puts you face-to-face with wild alligators in minutes — no long drive required. It's the number-one must-do we send every local and visitor to, and you book direct with Aces Airboat Tours by texting or calling Captain Billy at 561-660-2419. Explore all our Everglades airboat tours to pick your ride.

What makes it special is the sheer convenience paired with genuine adventure. You can be watching a twelve-foot gator glide past your boat and be back home for lunch. Visiting relatives are always stunned that this kind of wilderness sits minutes from a quiet neighborhood — it's the ultimate local flex.

2. Explore C.B. Smith Park

This sprawling county park is a Pembroke Pines staple — a water park, boat rentals, batting cages, mini-golf and shady picnic areas. It's an easy, affordable way to fill a weekend afternoon with the whole family. Get there early on hot weekends; the water park fills up fast once school's out.

3. Walk or bike the Pines nature trails

The city's greenways and the nearby edge of the Everglades buffer offer flat, scenic trails for walking, running and cycling. Go early to beat the South Florida heat and catch the best birdlife. The Chapel Trail Nature Preserve, with its boardwalk over the wetlands, is a lovely, low-key way to sample the Everglades ecosystem on foot.

4. Shop and dine at Pembroke Gardens

The Shops at Pembroke Gardens is an open-air center packed with restaurants, a movie theater and shopping. It's the go-to spot for a relaxed dinner-and-a-movie evening after a day outdoors. The central fountain and green make it pleasant to stroll, and there's something for every taste from casual to date-night.

5. Make a day trip to the wider Glades

Turn a good weekend into a great one by pairing your airboat ride with wildlife viewing across the region. We operate throughout western Broward and beyond — see our full service areas to plan the perfect loop that combines the marsh, the parks and a great meal out.

6. Catch a game or a show

Pembroke Pines sits minutes from major venues. Sports fans can catch a game nearby, and the whole family can bowl, catch a movie, or hit an arcade or trampoline park on a rainy afternoon. For a weekend with kids, these easy indoor backups are worth keeping in your pocket alongside the outdoor adventures.

7. Farmers markets and local eats

Weekend mornings bring pop-up farmers markets and food-truck gatherings around the city — a low-key, family-friendly way to grab breakfast, sample local vendors, and let the kids run around before the heat sets in. Pair one with an early airboat ride and you've got the perfect Pembroke Pines Saturday.

8. Cool off at a splash pad or pool

South Florida heat is real, so build in water. Beyond C.B. Smith's water park, the city has splash pads and community pools that give kids an easy way to burn off energy in the afternoon. It's the perfect low-cost complement to a morning of adventure and a great way to wind down a hot day.

9. Visit the Chapel Trail Nature Preserve

This 450-acre freshwater marsh preserve gives you a taste of the Everglades ecosystem right inside the city. A long boardwalk winds over the wetlands, and a canoe and kayak launch lets you paddle among the sawgrass and spot birds, turtles and the occasional gator. It's peaceful, educational and free — a wonderful low-key morning for families before the day heats up.

10. Grab a bite at a local favorite

Pembroke Pines has a diverse, underrated food scene, from authentic Latin American and Caribbean spots to solid barbecue, sushi and family diners. Skip the chains and ask a local for their favorite hole-in-the-wall — you'll eat well for less. A great post-airboat lunch is the perfect way to refuel and swap stories about the gators you just saw.

Free and cheap things to do in Pembroke Pines

You don't need to spend much for a great weekend. Many of the best things to do in Pembroke Pines cost little or nothing: the Chapel Trail boardwalk, the city's parks and greenways, splash pads for the kids, and window-shopping at Pembroke Gardens. Pair one paid highlight — an Everglades airboat tour — with these free options and you've got a full, affordable weekend the whole family will love.

Rainy day options

Summer afternoons often bring a quick downpour, so keep indoor backups handy. Bowling alleys, movie theaters, trampoline and indoor-play parks, and the shops at Pembroke Gardens all make easy rainy-afternoon plans. Since Everglades wildlife is liveliest in the morning anyway, booking your airboat ride early neatly sidesteps the typical afternoon storm.

Seasonal events and festivals

Throughout the year, Pembroke Pines and the surrounding cities host farmers markets, food-truck rallies, holiday festivals and outdoor concerts. Checking the city's event calendar before your weekend often turns up something fun and local to anchor an evening. These community events are a great way to feel the neighborhood's friendly, family-first vibe.

A morning in the Everglades, an afternoon in the city

The magic of Pembroke Pines is the contrast. Spend the cool morning hours out on the marsh watching wild alligators from an airboat, then spend the afternoon back in town at a park, a splash pad, or over a great lunch. Few places let you swing from genuine wilderness to comfortable suburbia in the span of a single day — and that's exactly what makes a weekend here so easy and so memorable.

Making it a day trip

Coming from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or the Palm Beaches? Pembroke Pines makes an easy day-trip base thanks to its central west-Broward location and quick Everglades access. Do the airboat tour first, explore a park or the nature preserve, grab lunch, and you've had a full day of the real South Florida. See our service areas to plan the drive.

Great for families and visitors alike

What makes Pembroke Pines special is how much sits within a short drive — suburban comfort on one side, raw wilderness on the other. Families love that a genuine wildlife adventure doesn't require a road trip, and visiting relatives are always blown away that wild alligators live minutes from a quiet neighborhood. It's the kind of contrast that makes the area one of the most underrated spots in Broward for fun things to do on vacation.

Why the airboat tour tops the list

Pembroke Pines has plenty of everyday fun, but nothing else here delivers the raw adventure of skimming across the Everglades past wild gators. It's fast, it's unforgettable, and it's minutes from home — the ultimate fun thing to do on vacation or on a lazy local weekend. Check pickup locations for the closest launch.

Best things to do in Pembroke Pines with kids

Families are spoiled here. Beyond the alligator-filled airboat ride that kids never forget, C.B. Smith Park's water park, the Chapel Trail boardwalk, splash pads, mini-golf, batting cages, and indoor-play and trampoline parks all keep little ones busy. Weekend farmers markets add easy, low-cost fun. The mix of outdoor adventure and kid-friendly attractions makes Pembroke Pines one of the easiest places in Broward to entertain the whole family for a full weekend.

Date night in Pembroke Pines

It's not all family fun — couples do well here too. Pair a sunset airboat ride with dinner and a movie at Pembroke Gardens, or find a cozy local restaurant for a relaxed evening. The nearby beaches and the wider Broward nightlife are a short drive away when you want to make a bigger night of it. A little adventure followed by a good meal is a date-night formula that's hard to beat.

Getting outdoors and staying active

Pembroke Pines is a great base for an active weekend. Beyond the airboat adventure, you can bike the greenways, paddle at Chapel Trail, jog the park loops, or play a round of golf at one of the area courses. The flat terrain and sunny weather make it easy to stay moving. Just start early — the midday heat is real — and hydrate well between activities.

Seasonal weekend ideas

What's best depends on the season. In the cooler, drier months (November through April), lean into the outdoors — airboat tours, the nature preserve, biking and park days are all at their best, and the Everglades wildlife viewing is prime. In the hot, stormy summer, book the airboat ride for early morning and keep water parks, splash pads and indoor spots ready for the afternoon. Either way, an early start beats the heat and leaves the whole day open.

Making a full day of it

To squeeze the most out of a Pembroke Pines weekend, stack complementary activities. A classic full day: an early airboat tour to see gators while it's cool, a mid-morning walk on the Chapel Trail boardwalk, lunch at a local favorite, an afternoon cooling off at a splash pad or C.B. Smith's water park, then dinner and a movie at Pembroke Gardens. That kind of variety — wilderness to water park to date-night dinner — is exactly what makes the area so easy to love.

How Pembroke Pines compares to other Broward cities

Coastal Broward cities have the beaches, but Pembroke Pines has the Everglades on its doorstep and a quieter, more residential feel. That makes it a fantastic home base: you're minutes from wild alligators to the west and a short drive from the coast to the east. For visitors who want both nature and comfort without big-city congestion, few Broward cities strike the balance as well.

Plan your weekend

Our tip: do the airboat tour first thing Saturday morning while it's cool and the wildlife is active, then fill the rest of the day with parks, trails and dinner out. Weekend slots fill quickly, so text or call Captain Billy at 561-660-2419 to reserve. Sunday, sleep in and hit a farmers market or the pool to round out a perfect Pembroke Pines weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Pembroke Pines this weekend?

An Everglades airboat tour tops the list, along with C.B. Smith Park, the nature trails and dining at Pembroke Gardens.

How close is the Everglades to Pembroke Pines?

Very close — the city's western edge borders the Everglades, so airboat launches are just minutes away. See our pickup locations.

Is an airboat tour good for families in Pembroke Pines?

Yes, it's one of the most popular family activities in the area. Kids love the alligators. Book direct or call 561-660-2419.

Do I need to book an airboat tour in advance on weekends?

We recommend it — weekend morning slots go fast. Text or call Captain Billy at 561-660-2419 to guarantee your spot.

What can families do in Pembroke Pines besides the Everglades?

C.B. Smith Park, Chapel Trail Nature Preserve, Pembroke Gardens shopping, splash pads and farmers markets all make for a great family weekend.

What's the best time of day for an airboat tour near Pembroke Pines?

Early morning — it's cooler and wildlife is most active. It also leaves the rest of your weekend free for parks and dining.