‘Mom, we’re bored!’ The 10 coolest ways to spend winter break in South Florida

The presents have been ripped open, the leftovers are chilling in the fridge, the kids are off from school, and you took some time off work.

Now, what is there to do in South Florida during this period of festive limbo, before the new year begins?

Well, we’ve got you covered with a roundup of 10 family activities in Broward and Palm Beach counties that are perfect for the winter break. These are sure to get everyone stepping out of the house and into memory-making moments!

Shark Wake Park Ropes Course

Sky Trail, a multilevel challenge course with swinging beams, bridges, rope elements and a zip rail, highlights the new dry-land additions that debuted this month at Shark Wake Park, 1440 Eshleman Trail, inside Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach. RCI Adventure Products created the new course attraction, which also includes Sky Tykes for younger kids. Both ropes courses are self-guided, and no experience is necessary. One Sky Trail session is $25 ($10 per additional session) and one Sky Tykes session is $10 ($10 per additional session). Shark Wake Park also features a full-sized cable water-sports park and a floating Obstacle Island course, with varying ticket prices. Visit sharkwakepark.com.

Escapology

Yes, it’s December but you can still enjoy a haunted house or a Scooby-Doo mystery. At Plantation Walk, find Escapology Escape Rooms, 341 N. University Drive, Suite 1400, which offers these themes as well as adventures with pirates, Batman and more. The private, immersive rooms have hidden clues and puzzles to solve to make an escape, and you have one hour to complete the mission. Participants younger than 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or a legal guardian. Admission is $44.99 a person, $34.99 for children age 7 to 12, and free for guests age 6 and younger. Visit escapology.com/en/plantation-fl.

HoloTheater

The Museum of Discovery & Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, recently opened its new HoloTheater, which uses holographic projection, laser imaging and spatial audio to drop you smack dab into the middle of prehistoric worlds. Its developers, BASE Xperiential and MacGillivray Freeman Films, combine that technology with storytelling and STEM education for the debut film, “Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure.” To see the show, purchase a regular admission ticket (prices vary), then upgrade to the Discovery Pass Plus for an additional $4.50, which includes exhibitions, one IMAX documentary and one HoloTheater show. Visit mods.org/holotheater.

Bonfires and Night Market

The new year is coming in hot (literally) at the Lake Worth Beach Complex, 10 S. Ocean Blvd. The city’s Bonfires and Night Market event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. the first and third Fridays of the month, through Feb. 20. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to spend one of winter break’s final days, Jan. 2, under the stars and around the flames with entertainment by DJCHICO561. Stroll the market featuring goods for sale from local artisans and crafters. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/LakeWorthBeachPBC.

Tuft-it!

Learn the art of rug-making with classes at Tuft-It!, 770 S. Military Trail, Suite N, West Palm Beach. Use a tufting gun and colorful yarn to make your own creation — large or small. No experience is necessary. Choose from sports logos, emojis and cartoons to holiday themes and abstract designs. Prices vary. Visit tuft-it.com.

The Smashit House

Need a way to release some of that holiday stress? Grab a baseball bat and break some stuff at The Smashit House, 5635 S. University Drive, Davie. A variety of packages are available, allowing you to work it off with glass, furniture and electronics. If that’s not enough excitement for one day, visitors can throw axes and knives, smash plates, shoot at a paintball target or get creative in the Black Light Splatter Paint Room. Note: Participants must be age 14 or older; those younger than 18 need a parent or legal guardian’s signature. Prices vary. Visit thesmashithouse.com.

Ice bumper cars

Boca Ice is one place where it’s OK to spin out of control. You can do that by jumping into one of their LED Ice Bumper Cars, which are available on various days and times during winter break at the facility, 900 Peninsula Corp Circle, Boca Raton. Cool off and challenge friends to a duel, target their sensors and watch them spin on the ice. Cost is $9.35. They also offer public ice skating. Visit bocaice.com.

Bluefoot Pirate Boat Tour 

Arrghhh you ready? Your one-hour pirate ship adventure awaits aboard the Bluefoot, a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected and -certified vessel that’s ready to search for treasure in the Intracoastal Waterway in Dania Beach. Feel free to wear pirated-themed costumes for this family cruise. While the kids are on the hunt, the adults will be regaled by the captain’s tales of the area along the shore. Tickets are $32.90 a person, and $16 for kids age 2 and younger. Departure times vary from the Dania Beach Marina, 151 N. Beach Road. Visit bluefootpirates.com.

Art installations

The city of Boca Raton has wrapped up its 100th anniversary celebration with newly completed public art pieces at Wildflower Park, 551 E. Palmetto Park Road, along the Intracoastal Waterway. Find large-scale mosaic murals by Boca Raton-based artist Laura Tanner at the central pavilion, as well as the permanent return of the “Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0” house-shaped, LED-lit swings and an enhanced splash pad. Look for columns on the Palmetto Park Bridge painted by artist Nadia Serenyi, who was inspired by land, water, movement and light. Park admission is free. Visit myboca.us.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

Climb the 105 spiral steps all the way to the top of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, 500 Captain Armour’s Way. After absorbing the views from the waterfront lighthouse built in 1860, explore the museum, the Tindall Pioneer House, the Keeper’s Workshop & Deck, a Seminole Chickee and a natural area. Tours are available; holiday hours vary. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 veterans and seniors age 60 and older, $8 for guests age 6 to 18, and free for age 5 and younger. Visit jupiterlighthouse.org.