Best Kid-Friendly Haunted Houses In South Florida

South Florida knows how to do Halloween. Practically every city has a haunted house of some sort but not every event is appropriate for young children. This can create a dilemma for parents who have children of varying ages since the younger children can't always participate in many of the Halloween activities that their older siblings can due to the scare factor. That's why this list of not-so-scary haunted houses is rated from one to five on the scary meter with five being the scariest thing you've ever seen. Check out this list to see where you're favorite haunted house stands.

Not So Scary Family Halloween Bash

Miami Children's Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway
Miami Beach, FL 33132
(305) 373-5437
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

Date: October 21, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Miami Children's Museum (MCM) is all about children so it makes sense that it would design a Halloween event that even young ones can enjoy. On October 21, the Not So Scary Family Halloween Bash includes a haunted house that will delight your child along with activities like a mad scientist lab, crafts, face painting and a costume contest. All ticket proceeds help MCM provide superior children's programming. The event is geared toward children ages three to teen and it ranks a one on the scary meter. It's a great way to introduce your child to Halloween.

Nightmare At 405 Haunted House

War Memorial Youth Center
405 University Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 460-5600
www.coralgables.com

Date: October 31, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The city of Coral Gables is hosting a scary haunted house on October 31. The Nightmare at 405 Haunted House ranks four on the scary meter since it is only suitable for children ages five and up. This makes it a great place to give kids their first scare but it's recommended for the less timid child. If your child is afraid to sleep in the dark, then this is not the haunted house for you.

Related: Places To Spend The Afternoon With The Kids Without Breaking The Bank 

A Family Halloween And Safety Festival

Kennedy Community Center
5555 Palm Tree Road
Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 452-2510
www.plantation.org/

Date: October 27, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On October 27, the city of Plantation will host a haunted house for children ages six and up. The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and is sure to give your child the creeps. This haunted house is also not for the faint of heart as it ranks a three on the scary meter. Be prepared for a scary good time.

Non Scary Haunted House

Coral Springs Gymnasium
2501 Coral Springs Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954) 345-2200
www.coralsprings.org

Date: October 26, 2012 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; October 27, 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Coral Springs Gymnasium is having a Non Scary Haunted House party complete with a bounce house. Let your children roam through scary scenarios like graveyards and pirate ships and afterwards give them a turn on the bounce house. The age requirement for the haunted house is at the parents' discretion, but this haunted house ranks a three on the scary meter. Proceed with caution or skip it all together and just enjoy the bounce house.

The Haunting of Fort Taylor

601 Howard England Way
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 292-6713
www.hauntedkeywestfort.com

Date: Kids Day - October 21, 2012 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; October 19-21, 2012 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; October 25-26, 2012 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; October 28-30, 2012 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.; October 31 from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m.

Fort Zachary Taylor has an event every year that scares the daylights out of young and old alike called The Haunting of Fort Zachary Taylor. It's part Halloween fun and part fundraiser for the Fort. Previous incarnations of the event have had a Kids Day where it featured a toned-down version of the haunted fort along with candy and magic. Who knows what surprises await your crazy kiddies this year. This haunted house rates a four on the scary scale and children under five are welcome but parents are encouraged to use their judgement in this matter. See the website for specific dates and times.

Related: Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in South Florida 

Niema Hulin was born in Newark, NJ but raised in Lexington, South Carolina for the bulk of her formative years. In 2002, she moved to Miami after graduating from the University of Florida. Since then, Niema has worked in film, television and commercials as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator. Some of her films have included Bad Boys II and I Am Number IV. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.