Fort Lauderdale: Where the Florida fun
is
The
fun in big-city Fort Lauderdale starts at the beach and spreads wide to a
full slate of cultural, historical and social activities. Beach-blanket
movies such as "Where the Boys" Are made Fort Lauderdale famous
among the young decades ago. It has grown up now. Still a bustling center
of sunning, watersports, nightlife and other happy goings-on, it also
appeals to families and couples with a science museum, shopping, fine
restaurants and beachside festivities.
 The beach action centers along Atlantic Boulevard and Beach Promenade,
popular with walkers, cyclists and inline skaters. At its heart, Atlantic
Boulevard meets up with Las Olas Boulevard, the chic strip for shopping
and noshing. Poke around the edgy galleries and distinctive boutiques.
Nearby Beach Place provides another festive shopping scene right across
the street from the beach.
From Las Olas, walk over to the riverside Stranahan House, the city’s
oldest home, to learn about Fort Lauderdale’s early days as a
turn-of-the-20th-century Indian trading post. Continue then along
Riverwalk, which skirts the New River as a linear recreational area
perfect for strolling or cycling. Show up the first Sunday of each month
for Jazz Brunch. The mile walk passes close to most of the city’s best
cultural and social fare: the Museum of Art featuring changing exhibits,
Museum of Discovery and Science (hands-down one of the best hands-on
museums in Florida), Fort Lauderdale Historical Society’s Old Fort
Lauderdale Village & Museum, and Las Olas Riverfront shopping, dining
and entertainment district.
Riverwalk Park is also the place to catch a Water Taxi, which can drop you
at any number of waterfront clubs, restaurants, shops and resorts; or take
you sightseeing along the backyards of the rich and glitzy. Water is the
way to go in Fort Lauderdale, known as “Venice of America” for its
extensive system of canals and waterways. A number of tours specialize in
fishing, sightseeing and nature-watching. At Christmastime, catch
Winterfest, one of the first and grandest lighted boat processions in the
state.
On land, experience nature in the area’s wealth of parks and gardens.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens spreads 95 acres in the middle of town
for swans, monkeys, orchids and other exotic plants. Two state parks offer
an added measure of seclusion to the Fort Lauderdale beach experience.
Hugh Taylor Birch
State Park occupies 180 acres between
ocean and Intracoastal waters and provides canoeing and hiking
opportunities in addition to beach recreation. South of Fort Lauderdale in
Dania Beach, on the other side of the Port Everglades cruise ship port,
John U. Lloyd State Park has rock jetties along the pass, great for
fishing and watching ship traffic.
Butterfly World, in Coconut Creek, gives
wing to fantasy with soothing gardens, lorikeets, hummingbirds, an
insectarium and, of course, butterflies from around the world. In Davie,
observe birds of prey and other rare species at Flamingo Gardens. Cooper
City boasts the only banked bike racing track, known as a velodrome, south
of Atlanta at its Brian Piccolo Park, a family mecca also for
skateboarding, in-line skating, cricket matches and tennis.
Hollywood is home to the 1,500-plus-acre Anne Kolb Nature Center and
Marina, a recreational dreamland with trails, canoeing, fishing and boat
tours. Hollywood Beach presents a entirely different beach scene from Fort
Lauderdale, with its so-called Broadwalk lined by beach shops and sidewalk
cafes with a French-Canadian flair contributed by its wintering residents.
Between Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Dania is home to a children’s
hands-on art museum and the state-of-the-art IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame
& Museum, where you can even reel in a virtual tarpon. Downtown is
known for its antique shops. But the coliseum of shopping adventure in the
area is undoubtedly Sawgrass Mills, counting more than 400 brand-name
stores plus family play areas, restaurants, movie theaters and other
attractions.
Head west for the old Florida side of things. At Sawgrass Recreation Park,
jump aboard an airboat for a look at Everglades ecology. The Everglades is
Seminole tribe territory. Learn about native culture at the fascinating
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum (meaning “learn” in Seminole tongue) or on a
swamp buggy adventure with Billie Swamp Safari. |
