Miami Springs, FL Indoor Activities

Arthur Stone spent six decades assembling the collection of classic Packard autos that makes up the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum. His love for the Packard's combination of engineering and elegance has resulted in the United States' largest Packard collection, containing one model from each year of the company's 58-year existence. The museum's 30,000-square-foot space mirrors the look of a 1920s Packard showroom, with heraldic-style gas-station signs hanging above gleaming specimens of auto history, all restored to full working order.

Models such as the 2201 Woodie wagon from 1948 demonstrate the manufacturer's innovation amid changing times, and the 1909 18 Speedster evokes an era when saddled cheetahs shared roads with cars. Original concept-design drawings line the walls, and an expansive library contains shelves laden with periodicals and fascinating reading materials.

While training themselves to perform at local events and salsa congresses, Nuevolution’s founders discovered their passion for teaching dance techniques and routines, leading them to open their own studio to share rug-cutting wisdom with fledgling hoofers. With great enthusiasm for rhythm and self-expression, the studio's energetic team of instructors introduces students of all skill levels to a variety of Latin dance styles, including salsa, bachata, Argentine tango, and more.

Zumba and Tae Bo fitness classes motivate participants to shimmy off pounds and strengthen muscles so they can bend crowbars into clef notes. The kids' dance program gives younger students their first taste of lyrical, hip-hop or music theater jazz techniques in a fun, lighthearted environment. Nuevolution schedules classes six days a week and can spice up special events with fiery, professional dance numbers.

Line drives whistle and skid across Sluggers Batting Cages, where hitters perfect their swings against machines that sling pitches toward the plate at 40–80 miles per hour. Rounds of 18 pitches keep bats hurdling consistently through the zone, including inside two fast-pitch and two slow-pitch softball cages. For one-on-one schooling, private lessons are available by appointment, and cage rentals let teams and coaches practice without the distractions of a regular field, such as rain puddles or the forlorn howls of hot-dog-vending spirits. Between rounds, batters can browse the onsite pro shop's equipment and apparel or fill their mitts with snacks hauled in from the concession stand.

Lauded by The Miami Herald’s Christine Dolen for their “high artistic standards,” Area Stage Company’s founder, John Rodaz, and its producer, Maria Rodaz, have been providing a spotlight for South Florida’s rising talent since 1989. In addition to staging Broadway hits, the group seeks out compelling scripts by Hispanic playwrights, presenting them in both Spanish and English. Now settled into the Riviera Theater, the company has expanded to include music and dance series, a professional theatre program, and an invisible supporting cast for one-man plays.

Founded as a sanctuary for flowers, birds, and their admirers, Pinecrest Gardens has flourished into a family-friendly retreat that entertains visitors with horticultural exhibits and artistic events in a scenic setting. Spanning 4.3 acres of forested wetland, the gardens harbor more than 1,000 rare and exotic plants, including a 100-year-old coco plum tree, orchids, and a banyan tree that spreads across three-fourths of an acre. Waterways full of fish snake through these plants, their inhabitants impatiently pursing their lips at visitors for handfuls of food.

Pinecrest Gardens offers other entertainment opportunities for youngsters, who can splash around in the water playground, spot wildlife at Swan Lake, or play with potbellied pigs at the petting zoo. In addition, the 500-seat outdoor Banyan Bowl offers concertgoers pristine acoustics and cool evening breezes along with complimentary views of the stars.

Inspired by their two children, owners Janice and Leandro Lissa work to make Jumpin' Jamboree a place where kids 12 and younger can enjoy active play in a safe environment. In doing so, they pack their 14,000 square-foot supervised facility with wall-to-wall inflatable jumps, slides, and obstacle courses. Video surveillance and personal ID bracelets monitor little ones as they shoot hoops or bound over jungle-themed structures. Elsewhere, toddlers stretch their imaginations at a soft play area, birthday celebrations unfold within three private party rooms, and parents browse for gossip on their favorite cartoon characters via free WiFi.