Things to Do in Margate

Each staff member at Life's A Beach Watersports is certified by NACWO, the National Association of Commercial Watersports Operators. The team uses its expertise to safely dole out adrenaline rushes, whether in the water or the air, to locals and tourists alike. Atop waverunners, ocean kayaks, or standup paddleboards, guests can finally help their goldfish find its deadbeat dad. The shop also rents out cabanas, chairs, and umbrellas for relaxing days on the beach, and package rentals grant their purchasers everything required to enjoy a day on the water.

Aboard Gondolas West’s 22-foot boat, you may notice a strange sound coming from the vessel: silence. That’s because the boat is electric, and its burble-free ride allows captain Chris McCoy to get his passengers up close and personal with the wildlife that inhabits Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic ecosystem. His tours explore the narrower waterways around the city, many of which prove too tiny for larger boats and vacationing humpback whales to navigate. Whether a two-hour voyage or private tour, the enthusiastic captain narrates each trek, regaling passengers with city history and information about the wildlife and ecology of the area. In the interest of preserving that delicate ecology, the electric boat produces zero emissions and leaves no footprints, handprints, or paw prints on the environment.

C By Me Creative Clothing & Art Studio invites customers of all ages to make bold statements with their outfits by helping them turn everyday articles into vibrant, eye-catching pieces. Amid the studio's pristine white decor and stainless-steel tables, fashion experts help visitors design their own threads by starting with a blank clothing canvas and adding rhinestones, ribbon, and colorful paint. With the kaleidoscopic arsenal of colorful adornments, customers turn anything from shirts and shoes to wallets and tote bags into wearable works of art akin to Michelangelo's fashionable attempt to cut a head hole in the Mona Lisa.

The 36 holes of Orangebrook Golf & Country Club nestle amid verdant fairways and palm trees, patiently waiting for the clink of a golf ball. Before they hit the green, duffers can stock up on balls and other golf-related necessities at the pro shop and fuel up afterward at Nikki’s On The Green with omelets, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. The lighted driving range, open until 10 p.m., lets putters enjoy a moonlight round without the hassle of constantly relighting the candles affixed to their wedges. Throughout the daytime hours, Orangebrook director of golf and PGA--certified instructor Bob Mallek doles out expert tips on form and swing. Orangebrook also hosts the Women's International 4-Ball golf tournament, the longest-running women's amateur event in the United States.

With a fleet that ranges from the low-key Cessna 172 to the turbocharged Piper Saratoga, the FAA-licensed pilots of Beach Aviation take to the skies for short jaunts and longer, privately chartered flights. Scenic tours depart from the Pompano Beach Airpark and cruise the wild, blue yonder along the coast, unveiling a bird’s-eye view of the local wildlife of the Everglades, runaway balloons over Delray Beach, and other picturesque scenery. Beach Aviation’s seasoned airmen also run instructional courses for aspiring pilots, teaching them the art of ascending, descending, and dodging territorial weather balloons.

At the center of Playtown Cafe’s child-size indoor town, servers escort gourmet sandwiches, wraps, and flatbreads to parents and kids seated at café tables. As their parents continue to munch and mingle, children frolic in and out of small storefronts painted in bright colors, pretending to run a bakery, create masterpieces in an art gallery, and shoplift from La Boutique. Youngsters dress up as superheroes and princesses in the boutique; play air hockey, arcade games, and dual Nintendo Wiis inside the garage; and manipulate a train set in the building zone, which is designed to resemble an unfinished house.

To burn off boundless stores of energy, kids can cross the play-city’s traffic-free road to cavort in a turf-floored indoor park, where staffers monitor them as they scale climbing walls, cross blue climbing bars, and shoot down wavy orange slides. Playtown’s staffers show an additional commitment to safety as they oversee a separate play area and ball pit designed just for toddlers, which is free of boogie monsters.