It’s no secret that Fort Lauderdale is one in every of the very best locations to go to in Florida, aka the beautiful Sunshine State. Fort Lauderdale’s status comes from many elements. One is its scenic canal system, which you’ll discover by gondola and shortly see why Fort Lauderdale is usually nicknamed the ‘Venice of America’.
The canals all hyperlink as much as New River, a tidal estuary. They’re good for water sports activities or a guided tour by gondola. Higher Fort Lauderdale is a complete metropolis, too, with a number of the greatest eating places in Florida and tons of extra formal points of interest. And that’s to not point out the seashores.
Visiting Fort Lauderdale is a complete deal with, and its heat Florida climate is simply the cherry on high. Briefly, there are tens of millions of wonderful issues to do in Fort Lauderdale.
Enjoyable Issues to Do in Fort Lauderdale
The Fort Lauderdale space is full of issues to do, whether or not you wish to chill on Fort Lauderdale Seaside, watch performing arts, or head to an out of doors science park. The choices are beneficiant, and that’s earlier than you even begin to think about day journeys (which we’ll squeeze just a few of into this information). So, let’s begin – what are the very best issues to do in Fort Lauderdale? Properly, these are the particular ones we managed to whittle it right down to.
1. Fort Lauderdale Seaside
Visiting the seaside is without doubt one of the hottest issues to do in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Seaside is well one of many greatest seashores in Fort Lauderdale – spreading 7 miles down the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Fort Lauderdale Seaside is backed by an unlimited promenade stuffed with eating places to eat at and bars to sip at, in addition to a mixture of impartial and chain retailers. It has an upscale and typical ‘Florida vibe’. The spacious sands are supreme on a sunny day, with loads of room to discover a spot for a towel and sunbathe.
Fort Lauderdale Seaside is roughly 20 minutes by bus from the town middle. It’s positioned on a barrier island and ideally mixed with a go to to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which is close by.
2. Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas interprets as ‘the waves’ in Spanish, and this heaving thoroughfare makes waves. It’s the place you’ll discover the primary hive of motion in Fort Lauderdale, with buying, all the very best eating places, and cute cafes. Genuine and action-packed, Las Olas Boulevard is a superb place to move for café hopping and people-watching. It’s primarily the guts of Fort Lauderdale. It stretches a – walkable – 2.5 miles and is lined with pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.
Las Olas Boulevard simply needed to be on this checklist. It’s good for unwinding and embracing the tradition of Fort Lauderdale.
3. Bonnet Home
Bonnet Home Museum and Gardens is a step again into Twentieth-century frontier America. The home is an ode to native household historical past, whereas open air, its gardens have been reworked into a gorgeous botanical gardens complicated. If you wish to mix historical past and pure magnificence, Bonnet Home Museum and Gardens is the perfect selection. Bonnet Home celebrates the Bartletts. The husband was an artist, and each had been artwork collectors, creating a stunning non-public artwork gallery that may now be seen inside the home in the present day.
Bonnet Home Museum and Gardens is without doubt one of the main issues to do in Fort Lauderdale if you’d like a extra typical attraction, like a gallery or museum. It’s also supreme for a day of dangerous climate – not a lot of Fort Lauderdale’s points of interest are indoors, so hold Bonnet Home in thoughts.
4. Dania Seaside
Dania Seaside is a coastal metropolis simply south of Fort Lauderdale. It has a quieter, extra pure vibe. Dania Seaside is a wonderful choice to your Higher Fort Lauderdale itinerary if you’d like an easy half-day journey. The mangroves are beautiful, with plenty of alternatives to expertise them from the water – you may even rent a kayak to serenely expertise the mangroves for your self.
Dania Seaside can be simply subsequent to Dr Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, so it’s the proper mixture. Dania Seaside is sort of a little coastal escape from busier Fort Lauderdale. We’d extremely suggest a detour when you’ve got greater than a few days within the metropolis.
5. Benefit from the Fort Lauderdale Spas
As nice as Fort Lauderdale’s seashores are, there’s one thing further particular about its spa scene. Nothing fairly appears like enjoyable in a sauna or getting a full physique therapeutic massage. Fort Lauderdale has loads of spa choices, and it’s a little cheaper than spa experiences in Miami or different main cities. You possibly can try Attract Day Spa, Camilla Day Spa, or The Spa at Harbor Seaside. After a protracted flight or drive, and even in dangerous climate or simply for self-care, Fort Lauderdale’s spa scene is fabulous.
6. Florida Everglades
Who has but to listen to of the Florida Everglades? This lovely nationwide park is famed for its underwater surroundings and, whereas it will not be one of many issues to do in Fort Lauderdale, it’s an absolute steal of a day journey. The pure park is famed for every thing crocs, manatee, and birdlife associated, and you may tour the Everglades by boat with rangers to get a extra immersive and academic expertise.
What are the Everglades precisely? Primarily, they’re only a flooded grassland. Nevertheless, because the nationwide park covers over 2,300 sq. miles of land in southern Florida, it dramatically impacts the state’s surroundings. It’s also the biggest Everglades on the planet. You may even spot the Florida panther there, so hold your eyes peeled and convey binoculars.
7. Flamingo Gardens
As you might have guessed, Flamingo Gardens are 60 acres of pure gardens. This attraction acts as a botanical backyard and wildlife sanctuary. You may spot beautiful vegetation and tropical flora and get face-to-face with some beautiful animals. Most famously, you may meet the attraction’s namesake flamingos. Lovable, proper?
Flamingo Gardens give a everlasting residence for wildlife which have both obtained long-term accidents that make them not possible to ethically launch or different non-releasable traits. There’s every thing from hawks to otters. It’s the largest moral assortment of Florida’s native wildlife.
The common-or-garden attraction began out as a citrus orchard and simply stored rising. Founders Floyd and Jane Wray took benefit of getting a lot land to advocate for native wildlife. It’s a great spot to go to for anybody captivated with nature and conservation. Seize your Skip-the-line ticket right here earlier than you go.
8. Stranahan Home
The historic Stranahan Home Museum is a former 1901 buying and selling submit transformed into a personal residence – a house for an area businessman and his household. Due to its historical past, it gives a singular perception into its buying and selling submit and societal operate, in addition to a glance behind closed doorways into the household lifetime of the interval.
It’s the oldest standing construction in Broward County and an actual slice of perception for teenagers and adults alike. Its spectacular vary of everlasting reveals is showcased on guided excursions from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and we’d actually suggest it for a little bit of historical past when visiting Higher Fort Lauderdale.
9. Lauderdale By The Sea
It might be controversial, however the most effective issues to do in Fort Lauderdale is to go away and go to Lauderdale by the ocean. This little seaside city is only a quick distance from the town, round half-hour by bus or quarter-hour by automotive. Its profitable issue is its completely totally different vibe, although.
The city has a a lot sleepier vibe, colourful seaside furnishings, and a surfer and scuba diving tradition. Lauderdale by the Sea is nicknamed the seaside diving capital of Florida, as there are so many scuba diving alternatives simply offshore. In reality, some reefs begin as shut as 100 yards off the beachfront.
After all, this additionally signifies that when you don’t scuba dive however are a assured swimmer, snorkeling is on the playing cards, too. Lauderdale by the Sea gives an excellent base to get nearer to Florida’s underwater world.
10. Butterfly World
Butterfly World is well probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Fort Lauderdale, particularly when you’ve got youngsters. It’s also the world’s largest butterfly park – so that you’ll get some severe bragging rights and an appropriate ‘wow’ expertise.
There are over 20,000 butterflies that decision Butterfly World residence, and you may wander by open enclosures to rise up near them in moral encounters. The enclosure options every thing from waterfalls to botanic gardens and is like entering into a complete new world. The dimensions and high quality of the expertise means we simply needed to embody it.
11. Millionaires Row
Millionaire’s Row is a small stretch of opulence alongside the financial institution of the New River in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a fashionable place to go to through boat journey, the place a information will inform you in regards to the homes and historical past whilst you take pleasure in waterfront views. The properties are critically beautiful, and if you wish to re-enact your greatest Promoting Sundown impression, touring Millionaire’s Row is without doubt one of the greatest Fort Lauderdale issues to do.
12. Hollywood Seaside
The golden sandy shores of Hollywood Seaside are recognized for his or her ‘Previous Florida’ enchantment. It has one of many solely boardwalks on this space, which is lined with skaters, cyclists, and pedestrians. The swaying palm timber and open sands are idyllic, and Hollywood Seaside’s neighborhood presence makes it much more interesting.
It’s lower than a 20-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood Seaside, so it makes an ideal half-day exercise to your itinerary.
13. Watch the Florida Panthers
Though the Florida Panthers could be a Miami group, their stadium is way additional inland and north, so you may simply watch a recreation. However first, for many who don’t know, who’re the Panthers? The Florida Panthers are a well-known ice hockey group that competes within the Nationwide Hockey League, which runs from early October to early April annually. Their residence stadium is Amerant Financial institution Enviornment, which is positioned virtually parallel to Fort Lauderdale and only a 20-minute drive away.
For those who’ve by no means watched an ice hockey recreation earlier than or are already a die-hard sports activities fan, we’d suggest the expertise.
14. Pompano Seaside
Pompano Seaside is a top-tier day journey selection for Fort Lauderdale issues to do. You may simply go to this coastal metropolis, only a 12-minute experience on the Tri-Rail from Fort Lauderdale metropolis middle. Pompano Seaside is famed for its North Ocean Park and Pompano Seaside Fisher Household Pier. It’s a gorgeous place to go to, with a large seaside tradition and even offshore shipwrecks for snorkeling and diving excursions.
15. Take a Boat Tour
Higher Fort Lauderdale is the place to be in terms of boat excursions. You may tour the canal system, go on fishing excursions, or take normal sightseeing excursions from the water. Our high suggestion is reserving an all-day water taxi cross. This gives you limitless entry to all of the Fort Lauderdale water methods and an opportunity to discover independently.
16. Broward Middle for the Performing Arts
The Broward Middle for the Performing Arts is a gorgeous theater and a spot to go for all of your leisure wants. The theater has musicals, comedians, and even visitor audio system – you may simply try their schedule on-line and see what coincides together with your journey.
It’s ceaselessly ranked amongst the world’s greatest theaters and has over 700 performances yearly, so it’s secure to say you’re in good palms. It sits overlooking the New River in iconic Downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is a perfect factor to do within the night.
17. Tour the Inland Waterways by Kayak
If a ship tour appears too passive to your liking and also you particularly wish to see Fort Lauderdale’s inland waterways, we recommend a kayaking or paddle boarding expertise. You may rent your individual kayak or paddleboard a the Fort Lauderdale Marina or buy a guided tour. However you’ll have a extra genuine and sluggish expertise than you’ll on a – boat tour, plus you’ll get an lively expertise, which is improbable for outside exercise fanatics.
18. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which spans 180 acres, was named after an area legend, Hugh Taylor Birch, who initially owned the land and resided within the park till his demise in 1943. The pure state park is famed for its coastal surroundings. It has a gorgeous freshwater lagoon the place guests can take pleasure in fishing and a community of climbing trails. It’s simply one of many high actions and locations to go to in Fort Lauderdale for nature and outside exercise lovers.
19. Museum of Discovery and Science
The Museum of Discovery and Science is a agency favourite within the Higher Fort Lauderdale museum scene. It has tons of unbelievable services and options, together with an eco-center and IMAX theater. The museum emphasizes ‘immersion’ and gives hands-on experiences for nearly each exhibit. It’s appropriate for adults and fascinating sufficient for teenagers. And with 300 reveals on supply, it’s straightforward to see why we added it to this information.
20. Water Sports activities
Simply having water sports activities as a suggestion for issues to do in fabulous Fort Lauderdale might sound a bit of too normal. Nevertheless, Fort Lauderdale is an absolute treasure trove for water sports activities. Yow will discover distinctive actions, together with enjoying aqua flights. The entire expertise is simply wow in terms of water actions in Fort Lauderdale. You must carve out time in your itinerary to see what’s on supply – aqua flights, snorkeling, or diving excursions.
21. Nightlife
Fort Lauderdale has a vibrant nightlife that kicks off with out fail by early night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. The principle nightlife hotspots are undoubtedly Central Seaside, the downtown space, and the close by hub of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Get your self down there for golf equipment and bar hopping.
If you would like a extra organized expertise or are touring alone or in a small group, take into account a guided pub crawl. It’s a improbable option to meet new folks and ensures a terrific evening out.
22. Street Journey Intracoastal Waterway
Day journey alert: the Intracoastal Waterway is without doubt one of the prettiest areas close to Fort Lauderdale. After we say highway journey to the Intracoastal Waterway, we aren’t speaking a few single highway. What we are literally referencing is the large channel of water that sits between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. For those who fancy a road-tripping day, simply drive to the Dania Seaside space after which follow the North Ocean Drive. This route takes round 1 hour and 20 minutes to go a method. Ultimately, you find yourself in Miami Seaside – subsequent to the Intracoastal Waterway.
You may cease off at seashores like Hollywood and Hallandale alongside the best way. And, in fact, permit a minimum of a few hours for South Miami Seaside. It’s a full-day exercise, however completely unmissable, particularly when you’ve got a rental automotive. You’ll be experiencing the very best of Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the identical journey.
23. Sawgrass Mills
For those who bag the only a few dangerous days of climate Fort Lauderdale experiences annually, Sawgrass Mills is the place to move. That is additionally the most effective locations to go to and issues to do for anybody who’s a self-claimed shopaholic – Sawgrass Mills is an outlet buying middle.
This implies you may snag offers of a minimum of 70% off, bagging some actual bargains. Greater than 350 shops are within the middle, that means you could have tons to select from, together with Nike, Michael Kors, and Gucci. There are additionally a staggering 16 eating places on-site, so there’s no likelihood of you getting burned out from buying.
Finest Issues to Do in Fort Lauderdale: FAQs
It’s straightforward to see why so many individuals flock to Fort Lauderdale for wonderful Florida getaways. Town is a goldmine for something water-related, and its Venice-twinning canal system offers it a robust sense of character. Moreover its canals, Higher Fort Lauderdale has a seaside tradition to impress even probably the most reluctant of beachgoers and a wealthy array of museums and historical past.
Keep in mind these particulars earlier than reserving your excursions and planning an itinerary, although. These frequent FAQs will save the day when deciding on these remaining particulars.
What’s Fort Lauderdale greatest recognized for?
In just a few phrases, Fort Lauderdale is thought for its canals, seashores, and historical past. Fort Lauderdale has over 4,000 years of indigenous and colonial historical past. Its canal system is so lovely that it earned the town the nickname ‘Venice of America’. Lastly, it has easy accessibility to a protracted shoreline of various seashores. When heading to Fort Lauderdale, canals, seashores, and historical past are the vibe.
What’s the single largest vacationer attraction in Fort Lauderdale?
The canal system is well Fort Lauderdale’s most well-known and fashionable attraction. Probably the most sought-after option to expertise it’s by gondola, a conventional low-lying boat mostly related to Venice.
Learn how to spend a day in Ft Lauderdale?
Begin your day with breakfast and a stroll alongside the long-lasting Olas Boulevard. Then, take a late morning boat tour by the canals earlier than heading for lunch at Louie Bossi. Spend a lazy afternoon on Fort Lauderdale Seaside. Both head out for a proper meal within the night or seize some takeaway dishes to organize for an evening of partying in Fort Lauderdale.
Does Ft Lauderdale have a boardwalk?
One of many Fort Lauderdale seashores, Hollywood Seaside, has its personal boardwalk.
Why We Love Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale makes inspiration straightforward. There are numerous unbelievable issues to do in Fort Lauderdale, whether or not you head memento buying at locally-owned retailers, gamble on the Seminole Onerous Rock Lodge, or take a water taxi by its canals. There’s additionally its botanical gardens, Butterfly Backyard, and a lot greenery and beautiful seashores.
It might be often known as a storm middle, too, however its climate is classy. Fort Lauderdale’s sunshine simply hits completely otherwise. All of the pure magnificence and water actions make it the proper place to take pleasure in some Florida sunshine.
