Dr. Joe Thomas wants you to know – if you are considering Fort Lauderdale for your next vacation, this is a wise choice since we are speaking of a city with miles of stunning beaches, made for nature lovers and those looking for a variety of attractions. It is one of the rare places that have something for everyone, starting with the famous Fort Lauderdale beach to the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. It is inevitable – Fort Lauderdale has its charms.
So, what are the best places to visit and most exciting things to do in Fort Lauderdale? Read on to find out.
1. Las Olas Boulevard
The Las Olas Boulevard runs through the center of the city, from the Central Business District to Fort Lauderdale Beach. This is a modern street with unique shops and galleries, as well as buzzing restaurants and busy nightclubs.
Once you visit this place, you will instantly feel the Mediterranean influence in its buildings’ architecture. This is the most famous street in Florida and a great place to start exploring the city.
If you get there in the right period, you may be part of some of the many festivals and events hosted on this street, such as the Olas Art Fair or the annual Las Olas Food and Wine Festivals.
2. Beaches in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is a heaven for those who love the beach, being the home of 23 miles of sandy beaches. What you probably do not know is that most of these beaches are actually certified as Blue Wave Beaches by the Clean Beaches Council of Washington DC. For this reason, this is the ultimate spot for those who enjoy beach sports, starting from swimming and surfing to water skiing and beachcombing.
Pompano Beach has the warmest, clearest waters in all South of Florida. You can enjoy a variety of beach sports here from harness horseracing to golf.
Dania Beach Ocean Park comprises of a fishing pier where you can enjoy a tasty plate of freshly caught seafood.
Hollywood Beach is perfect for biking, walking and rollerblading, as well as boating, swimming and golf. It is basically a paradise for men!
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is ideal spot for diving and snorkeling due to its natural coral reef system.
3. Fort Lauderdale Beach Park
Located south of the Bahia Mar Resort, the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park offers various amenities and facilities that will make your vacation so much fun! The park features grills for cooking and picnic areas, outdoor showers and playground for your children. Additionally, you can play basketball and volleyball on the courts.
4. Broward Center for the Performing Arts
If you are interested in arts, this is the right place to be! The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is a performance venue where you can enjoy educational opportunities, quality entertainment and get some inspiration.
This theatre is actually rated as one of the top ten most-visited in the world, being the host of over 700 concerts, shows and performances. Aside from ballets, plays, concerts, ballets, multi-cultural events and operas, you can also visit the center for lectures, workshops and the biggest arts-in-education program in Florida.
5. Stanahan House Museum
Being the oldest surviving structure in the County, the Stanahan House is a house museum where you can learn about the history of Fort Lauderdale. The house was built in 1901 as a trading post, after which it was converted into Frank and Ivy Stranahan’s residence. These people were the pioneers of Fort Lauderdale.
You can pay for a daily guided tour to learn more about Fort Lauderdale’s history. After all, this museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and for those who enjoy history, it is the best place in the city to visit.
6. Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum
Honoring the World War II heroes, the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum is the only remaining structure of the complex that was built in 1942. This complex comprised of 200 buildings and was located on Merle Fogg Field. At this point, it houses the only military museum in Broward County.
7. Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum
Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum or the Historic Fire Station #3 was built in 1927 after the hurricane, with the goal to display the history of the fire department service in Fort Lauderdale.
Visit this spot to check out the historic equipment, fire engines and alarms and take a look at videos, photos and uniforms that speak of the story of its 1920s’ firefighters.
8. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
If you were looking for a tropical oasis, the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is the best place to start your journey. The location of this park is between the Intracoastal Waterway on East Sunrise Boulevard and the Atlantic Ocean.
The park used to be the home to Hugh Taylor Birch before he donated his estate to the public, allowing us to enjoy an array of wildlife and wide range of activities such as hiking, swimming, canoeing, cycling and inline skating. In this park, you can see turtles, the gopher tortoise, marsh rabbits and over 200 bird species.
9. BlueFoot Pirate Adventures
Bluefoot Pirate Adventure offers fun cruises every day, so take your family or friends to an exciting pirate adventure where you will hunt for hidden treasures, don the garb of pirates and fight attackers. Every crewmember is certified and ready to entertain you on a 90 minutes’ boat adventure!
10. Tropical Sailing
Sail on the Spirit of Lauderdale to enjoy the beauty of Florida! This is the largest catamaran in the area and at the same time, the most comfortable sightseeing cruise spot. If you are a beach person and would like to get to an adventure with snorkeling and water trampolines, this is your perfect getaway.
Are you ready for your Fort Lauderdale vacation? If you were considering other options, leave them for later. Now is the time for a tropical holiday for you, your friends or your family because after all, Fort Lauderdale is a unique spot that offers it all!
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