Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is one of the most visited areas by tourists in Broward County and Florida. The city’s tourism surpasses all other cities in the County combined.

Alongside the boating and other water activities, there are many other things to do in Fort Lauderdale. Some of these activities are located in adjacent cities. Butterfly Garden in Coconut Creek is a perfect example of these destinations.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America

There are hundreds of miles of navigable waterways along the Intracoastal. Most of these waterways have ocean access making Fort Lauderdale a boaters’ paradise. Intracoastal Waterways run parallel to the ocean. The luxury homes on the Intracoastal have made the area one of the most costly real estate cities. There are boat tours dedicated to previewing these magnificent properties. These high-end homes have high-end toys. There are over 50,000 registered yachts in Fort Lauderdale. That is why Fort Lauderdale is also known as the Yachting Capital of the World.

Fort Lauderdale Beaches and Spring Break

The beaches of Fort Lauderdale are known around the world. The term Spring Break was coined in Fort Lauderdale in 1938. The event started with a swimming forum and ended with bringing students to white sandy beaches during their Spring break. Although the event brought a lot of business the City in the 1980’s they eventually pushed out the Spring Breakers. This did not diminish the popularity of Fort Lauderdale beaches recognized both nationally and internationally. Today, Fort Lauderdale Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach Park are two of the most famous beaches around.

Fort Lauderdale Art and Culture

Fort Lauderdale is not all about beaches and college kids having fun. The City has been quietly transforming the city into a serious cultural center. The art scene is kind of different here. The artists are more accessible and most venues are free of charge to the public. The Broward Center for Performing Arts and NSU Art Museum are the flagships of art and culture in Fort Lauderdale. Besides these two well-known centers, there are many others in the City. The Girl’s Club is a contemporary art center as well as a foundation The Club is dedicated to promoting women artists nationally and internationally.

Beaches in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach – The beaches of Fort Lauderdale are the number one attraction point for visitors to the area. The four miles of coastline of Fort Lauderdale Beach makes it the main beach in the area. Visitors can enjoy the white sugary sands and warm clear waters in a family environment. Fort Lauderdale Beach is similar to the famed Miami beach minus the crowd. For an even less crowded area of Fort Lauderdale Beach try the northern part. There are many wonderful restaurants and watersport equipment rentals in the immediate area.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park – This park offers more activity than any beach in the area. Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is located south of Las Olas Blvd. It is less than a mile away and could be reached walking if you are in the Las Olas area. The Park can be reached by car, bus, or water taxi. Most visitors are pleased by the selection of amenities offered at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. There are many activities to choose from in addition to swimming in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The volleyball and basketball courts along with playgrounds and picnic areas can be found at these facilities. The parking is not free and fees vary based on the day you are visiting. There are also a limited number of spots so get there early.

Other Beaches Near Fort Lauderdale – the 24 miles of Broward County’s coastline travel through many municipalities. Each area boasts a wonderful beach with different settings and amenities. Some of the best places are the less known beaches like Deerfield Beach. Both Deerfield and Pompano Beach immediately north of Fort Lauderdale are great places to enjoy the beach. To the south, visitors can relax and enjoy the beaches of Dania Beach or Hollywood Beach.

Fort Lauderdale Museums and Cultural Centers

Broward Center for Performing Arts – Has the distinct honor of ranking among the top ten theaters with the most visitors worldwide. The Center offers over 700 performances annually. The shows are attended by over 700,000 people a year. The Art-In-Education Program attracts more than 150,000 students every year. The shows cover a vast variety from famous Broadway shows to ballet and educational workshops. Broward Center for Performing Arts was inaugurated in 1991. The opening show was none other than the famed Broadway musical, Phantom of Opera.

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale – Opened in 1958 and museum is located Downtown. The area is known as Fort Lauderdale Arts and Entertainment District. The museum’s current location was opened in 1986. The celebrated architect, Edward Larrabee Barnes is responsible for the design of this modernist structure. The museum covers 8,300 square feet of building area. A 2,500 square feet area is dedicated to permanent exhibits. There is also an auditorium with 256 seating capacity. Included in the museum is a cafe and store.

Girls Club – This is one of our favorite places to visit. Girls Club is a humble yet impressive place for arts. The not-for-profit foundation in Fort Lauderdale has done a great job to create a sanctuary for female artists. The Girls Club in Broward County offers many educational programs for girls and women. They collaborate with many other organizations with similar missions to help women in the area. Susan B, Anthony Recovery Center, PAGE Center for Girls, and Young at Arts Museum are some of these entities. Most of the art collections have been donated by two artists who have founded the Girls Club. Francis Bishop Good and David Horvitz’s art collection of over 30 years include over 800 artworks. Most of these works are by woman artists.

The cultural scene in Fort Lauderdale does not end with museums. There is a great selection of galleries and cultural events held in the area. Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk is one of the prime areas to enjoy such events. Additionally, visitors can enjoy jazz concerts through their brunch or simply shop for souvenirs.

Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi

Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi – The water taxi is the best way to see and enjoy Fort Lauderdale. This is not just another boat tour. Water Taxi is a hybrid transportation vehicle offering the movement of passengers in a fun environment. Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas Blvd are where most activities are centered at. Driving through the busy traffic Downtown and parking is time-consuming and costly. Using Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi will eliminate the need to drive and allow the freedom of exploring different stops. There are 10 stops in Fort Lauderdale and one in Hollywood. The Water Taxi departs every 35 to 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and every hour from Hollywood. Passengers can get in the Eater Taxis at any point Water Taxi runs in a loop, there are no start or end stations.