There are almost as many coconut palms on Fort Lauderdale Beach as there are people. But the lush green palms, the clear blue water, the golden sands and the pedestrian-friendly section of Highway A1A that parallels the beach are only a few of the features that make Fort Lauderdale a top getaway destination. Art, history, fine dining, nature and sight-seeing offer seemingly limitless possibilities in this cosmopolitan city on the ocean.
Art, history, fine dining, nature and sight-seeing offer seemingly limitless possibilities in this cosmopolitan city on the ocean.


Home Away from Home

My fiancé and I love the beach, so we made our “home base” a Superior Small Lodging just a half-block away from the palm-fringed beach. The Granada Inn offered us conveniently located, comfortable, friendly accommodations at a budget-compatible price. The Inn is just steps away from a wide selection of beachfront restaurants and shopping, and it's close to the Water Taxi, which was our key to exploring parts of Fort Lauderdale without using our car.

There is so much to see and do in Fort Lauderdale. It helps to have a plan. I've put together a suggested itinerary for getaways of up to five days:

Day One

I recommend getting off to a good start by relaxing on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The section of beach between Sunrise Boulevard and South Beach Park is where all the action is. Pick a spot and enjoy one of Florida's top beaches. Take a stroll along the golden sands or along the brick-paved beach promenade, which is barely separated from the beach by a low white concrete “wave-wall.” Visit any of the shops that catch your eye, and stop in one of the many sidewalk cafes for a drink and a little something to eat. We relaxed outdoors with a view of the Atlantic Ocean at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company with a pile of tasty peel-and-eat shrimp.

If you'll only be here for one day, and if time permits, take a three-hour ride on the Jungle Queen, a three-level riverboat fashioned after the old steamships. You'll get an entertaining narrated tour of some of the most interesting parts of the city via the New River. If you are staying more than one day, consider taking the two-hour Trolley Tour on day one, because you'll be enjoying the Water Taxi tour on day two.

Day Two

Start the day with breakfast at your choice of restaurants overlooking the beach and A1A. We had a basic breakfast at The Deck Restaurant, but many of the hotels and restaurants along A1A offer a great variety of breakfast menus, and eating outside was possible at nearly every restaurant.

Catch the Water Taxi at one of the eleven regularly scheduled stops nearest you and enjoy a narrated tour full of laughs. Our captain pointed out many of the extravagant homes and yachts along the river, including homes once owned and lived in by personalities such as Dinah Shore, Sonny and Cher and Lucy and Desi Arnaz. We marveled at the gigantic home of the scratch-off lottery ticket inventor as well as many other fantastic excesses of the rich and famous who've built homes along the water.

Disembark the Water Taxi at the Riverwalk stop and stretch your legs with a mile-long stroll along the New River. If you're hungry, enjoy lunch by the river before beginning to explore. The Palm Grille and the Riverfront Briny Irish Pub are two popular restaurants you'll find on the river within steps of the Water Taxi stop. After dark you'll find music and entertainment adding to the relaxed atmosphere of the riverfront.

The best attractions are located within walking distance, including the Museum of Art - Fort Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale Historical Museum and Stranahan House. If you have younger children you don't want to miss the Museum of Science and Discovery. Even if you don't have kids you'll enjoy seeing an undersea movie in 3D at the Museum's IMAX theater.

Consider walking or take the Water Taxi to Las Olas Boulevard for dinner and ride back after dark. We liked Mangos Restaurant, which also features live music nightly.

Day Three

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is an oasis right in the middle of busy Fort Lauderdale Beach. Take a picnic lunch and eat on the waterfront bordering the west side of the park. Rent bikes for a bike ride around the two-mile, one-way loop road through the park, or sign up for a Segway tour. Rent a canoe and explore one of the coastal dune lakes within the park.  After lunch, if you've not had enough Fort Lauderdale history, visit Bonnet HouseMuseum & Gardens just a few blocks away. Plan your visit so you can take one of the tours to get the most enjoyment from this historical property. If you've still got more time available, drive over to Las Olas Boulevard and do some upscale shopping, or window shopping. While you're there, scout for a new restaurant for dinner.

Day Four

Time to explore a bit further away, to the north. Take a drive along the coast up to Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Take in the relaxed beach front and walk out on the Anglin Pier. Rent a fishing rod and try your luck in the Atlantic Ocean. If you are a snorkeling enthusiast, bring your gear and enjoy the clear waters and near-shore rock reefs that are unusually close to the beach in this area. After lunch, drive to Coconut Creek and spend the afternoon at Butterfly World.

Plan to spend several hours at Butterfly World touring six giant aviaries with thousands of live butterflies and hummingbirds while music and the sound of water fountains set the mood. Children will love hand feeding the lorikeets and crossing a pond on a real rope suspension bridge.

Day Five

Driving south on day five brings you to Hollywood Beach to take a walk on the wide paved Hollywood Beach Broadwalk which runs for several miles along this popular beach. Enjoy the beach, the water, and the tropical ambiance, but leave time for a trip to Flamingo Gardens to explore 60 acres of beautiful tropical botanical gardens where you'll get a close look at native Florida wildlife - wading birds, bobcats, panthers, otters and birds of prey - enough to keep you entertained for hours.

Fort Lauderdale is a friendly, relaxed city on the Atlantic. Opulence and excess are woven into the fabric of the city, and are an attraction in and of themselves. The highlights of our trip were the beach, the Riverwalk, the Water Taxi, the IMAX theater undersea movie, Butterfly World and sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the beach with peel-and-eat shrimp and a smoothie.

We'll be going back to Fort Lauderdale because there's always more to see and do in this south Florida city of palms.