Hi Seagull, I'm really lucky as my cousin lives there, and although we're far apart in distance, we're very close. Our mums were sisters and my cousin used to get sent over to stay with us during the school holidays, so we spent the summers together till we were 17. Which is a long way of saying we stay with her! She now lives on the intercoastal in Boca, but used to live in Ft Lauderdale, then Plantation. So not much help there am afraid.
FL has a lot of nice hotels right on the beach, tho' I've not stayed, I've eaten( and drinkied) in them) Depends what you're after. Obviously quieter than Miami. Los Olas is the upmarket street, with nice restuarants and shops.
We always visit Butterfly World here when we're over. Started when dd was 2 and is now 11, and still loves it. Also go to the movies to get a film that's not out yet at home. Some of the movie theatres have the outdoor centres next door, and are for older children, not toddlers, like here.
I've been going over since 1977, and love it, am very of you!
If I can catch my cousin, I'll ask her for ideas too.