23 Finest Issues to Do in Fort Lauderdale

It’s no secret that Fort Lauderdale is certainly one of the very best locations to go to in Florida, aka the beautiful Sunshine State. Fort Lauderdale’s repute 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. Better Fort Lauderdale is a complete metropolis, too, with a few of the finest 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 prime. Briefly, there are thousands and thousands of fantastic 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 need to sit back on Fort Lauderdale Seashore, 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 consider 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 all the way down to.

1. Fort Lauderdale Seashore

Visiting the seaside is among the hottest issues to do in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Seashore is definitely one of many finest seashores in Fort Lauderdale – spreading 7 miles down the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Fort Lauderdale Seashore is backed by an enormous promenade filled with eating places to eat at and bars to sip at, in addition to a mixture of unbiased and chain retailers. It has an upscale and typical ‘Florida vibe’. The spacious sands are splendid on a sunny day, with loads of room to discover a spot for a towel and sunbathe.

Fort Lauderdale Seashore is roughly 20 minutes by bus from town middle. It’s situated 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 principle 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 good 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 record. 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 remodeled into a wonderful botanical gardens complicated. If you wish to mix historical past and pure magnificence, Bonnet Home Museum and Gardens is the best selection. Bonnet Home celebrates the Bartletts. The husband was an artist, and each have been artwork collectors, creating a beautiful non-public artwork gallery that may now be seen inside the home right this moment.

Bonnet Home Museum and Gardens is among the main issues to do in Fort Lauderdale in order for you a extra typical attraction, like a gallery or museum. It’s also splendid for a day of unhealthy climate – not a lot of Fort Lauderdale’s points of interest are indoors, so hold Bonnet Home in thoughts.

4. Dania Seashore

Dania Seashore is a coastal metropolis simply south of Fort Lauderdale. It has a quieter, extra pure vibe. Dania Seashore is a superb choice to your Better Fort Lauderdale itinerary in order for you an easy half-day journey. The mangroves are beautiful, with a lot of alternatives to expertise them from the water – you would even rent a kayak to serenely expertise the mangroves for your self.

Dania Seashore can be simply subsequent to Dr Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, so it’s the right mixture. Dania Seashore is sort of a little coastal escape from busier Fort Lauderdale. We’d extremely suggest a detour when you have 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 looks 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 would try Attract Day Spa, Camilla Day Spa, or The Spa at Harbor Seashore. After an extended flight or drive, and even in unhealthy 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 stunning nationwide park is famed for its underwater surroundings and, whereas it is probably not 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 little thing crocs, manatee, and birdlife associated, and you’ll 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. Nonetheless, 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 earth. You possibly can even spot the Florida panther there, so hold your eyes peeled and convey binoculars.

7. Flamingo Gardens

As you’ll have guessed, Flamingo Gardens are 60 acres of pure gardens. This attraction acts as a botanical backyard and wildlife sanctuary. You possibly can spot beautiful plants and tropical flora and get face-to-face with some beautiful animals. Most famously, you possibly can meet the attraction’s namesake flamingos. Lovely, proper?

Flamingo Gardens give a everlasting dwelling 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 little thing from hawks to otters. It’s the largest moral assortment of Florida’s native wildlife.

The standard 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 good spot to go to for anybody obsessed 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 non-public residence – a house for a neighborhood businessman and his household. Due to its historical past, it affords 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 Better Fort Lauderdale.

9. Lauderdale By The Sea

It might be controversial, however among the finest 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 town, round half-hour by bus or quarter-hour by automotive. Its successful issue is its completely completely 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. The truth is, some reefs begin as shut as 100 yards off the beachfront.

In fact, this additionally implies that for those who don’t scuba dive however are a assured swimmer, snorkeling is on the playing cards, too. Lauderdale by the Sea affords an excellent base to get nearer to Florida’s underwater world.

10. Butterfly World

Butterfly World is definitely one of the crucial enjoyable issues to do in Fort Lauderdale, particularly when you have youngsters. It’s also the world’s largest butterfly park – so that you’ll get some critical bragging rights and an acceptable ‘wow’ expertise.

There are over 20,000 butterflies that decision Butterfly World dwelling, and you’ll wander by means of open enclosures to rise up near them in moral encounters. The enclosure options every little thing from waterfalls to botanic gardens and is like entering into an entire 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 severely beautiful, and if you wish to re-enact your finest Promoting Sundown impression, touring Millionaire’s Row is among the finest Fort Lauderdale issues to do.

12. Hollywood Seashore

The golden sandy shores of Hollywood Seashore are identified for his or her ‘Outdated 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 Seashore’s neighborhood presence makes it much more interesting.

It’s lower than a 20-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood Seashore, 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 possibly can simply watch a recreation. However first, for individuals 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 every year. Their dwelling stadium is Amerant Financial institution Enviornment, which is situated virtually parallel to Fort Lauderdale and only a 20-minute drive away.

When you’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 Seashore

Pompano Seashore is a top-tier day journey selection for Fort Lauderdale issues to do. You possibly can simply go to this coastal metropolis, only a 12-minute experience on the Tri-Rail from Fort Lauderdale metropolis middle. Pompano Seashore is famed for its North Ocean Park and Pompano Seashore Fisher Household Pier. It’s a wonderful place to go to, with an enormous seaside tradition and even offshore shipwrecks for snorkeling and diving excursions.

15. Take a Boat Tour

Better Fort Lauderdale is the place to be in relation to boat excursions. You possibly can tour the canal system, go on fishing excursions, or take normal sightseeing excursions from the water. Our prime advice is reserving an all-day water taxi cross. This will provide you with limitless entry to all of the Fort Lauderdale water programs and an opportunity to discover independently.

16. Broward Heart for the Performing Arts

The Broward Heart for the Performing Arts is a wonderful theater and a spot to go for all of your leisure wants. The theater has musicals, comedians, and even visitor audio system – you possibly can simply try their schedule on-line and see what coincides together with your journey.

It’s regularly ranked amongst the world’s finest theaters and has over 700 performances yearly, so it’s protected to say you might be in good fingers. 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 need to see Fort Lauderdale’s inland waterways, we recommend a kayaking or paddle boarding expertise. You possibly can 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’d on a – boat tour, plus you’ll get an lively expertise, which is incredible for out of doors exercise fanatics.

18. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which spans 180 acres, was named after a neighborhood legend, Hugh Taylor Birch, who initially owned the land and resided within the park till his loss of life in 1943. The pure state park is famed for its coastal surroundings. It has a wonderful freshwater lagoon the place guests can take pleasure in fishing and a community of mountaineering trails. It’s simply one of many prime actions and locations to go to in Fort Lauderdale for nature and out of doors exercise lovers.

19. Museum of Discovery and Science

The Museum of Discovery and Science is a agency favourite within the Better 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 affords 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 advice for issues to do in fabulous Fort Lauderdale may appear a little bit too normal. Nonetheless, Fort Lauderdale is an absolute treasure trove for water sports activities. You will discover distinctive actions, together with enjoying aqua flights. The entire expertise is simply wow in relation to water actions in Fort Lauderdale. It’s best to 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 primary nightlife hotspots are undoubtedly Central Seashore, the downtown space, and the close by hub of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Get your self down there for golf equipment and bar hopping.

In order for you a extra organized expertise or are touring alone or in a small group, think about a guided pub crawl. It’s a incredible technique to meet new individuals and ensures an ideal night time out.

22. Highway Journey Intracoastal Waterway

Day journey alert: the Intracoastal Waterway is among the prettiest areas close to Fort Lauderdale. Once we say street journey to the Intracoastal Waterway, we aren’t speaking a few single street. What we are literally referencing is the massive channel of water that sits between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. When you fancy a road-tripping day, simply drive to the Dania Seashore space after which stick with the North Ocean Drive. This route takes round 1 hour and 20 minutes to go a technique. Ultimately, you find yourself in Miami Seashore – subsequent to the Intracoastal Waterway.

You possibly can 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 Seashore. It’s a full-day exercise, however completely unmissable, particularly when you have a rental automotive. You’ll be experiencing the very best of Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the identical journey.

23. Sawgrass Mills

When you bag the only a few unhealthy days of climate Fort Lauderdale experiences every year, Sawgrass Mills is the place to move. That is additionally among the finest 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 possibly can snag offers of a minimum of 70% off, bagging some actual bargains. Greater than 350 shops are within the middle, that means you may have heaps to select from, together with Nike, Michael Kors, and Gucci. There are additionally a staggering 16 eating places on-site, so there’s no probability 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 superb Florida getaways. The town is a goldmine for something water-related, and its Venice-twinning canal system provides it a robust sense of character. Apart from its canals, Better Fort Lauderdale has a seaside tradition to impress even essentially the most reluctant of beachgoers and a wealthy array of museums and historical past.

Bear in mind these particulars earlier than reserving your excursions and planning an itinerary, although. These widespread FAQs will save the day when deciding on these last particulars.

What’s Fort Lauderdale finest identified for?

In just a few phrases, Fort Lauderdale is understood 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 stunning that it earned town the nickname ‘Venice of America’. Lastly, it has quick access to an extended shoreline of various seashores. When heading to Fort Lauderdale, canals, seashores, and historical past are the vibe.

What’s the single greatest vacationer attraction in Fort Lauderdale?

The canal system is definitely Fort Lauderdale’s most well-known and fashionable attraction. Probably the most sought-after technique to expertise it’s by gondola, a standard low-lying boat mostly related to Venice.

The right way 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 means of the canals earlier than heading for lunch at Louie Bossi. Spend a lazy afternoon on Fort Lauderdale Seashore. Both head out for a proper meal within the night or seize some takeaway dishes to arrange for an evening of partying in Fort Lauderdale.

Does Ft Lauderdale have a boardwalk?

One of many Fort Lauderdale seashores, Hollywood Seashore, has its personal boardwalk.

Why We Love Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale makes inspiration straightforward. There are a lot of unbelievable issues to do in Fort Lauderdale, whether or not you head memento buying at locally-owned retailers, gamble on the Seminole Onerous Rock Resort, or take a water taxi by means of its canals. There’s additionally its botanical gardens, Butterfly Backyard, and a lot greenery and beautiful seashores.

It might be referred to as a storm middle, too, however its climate is elegant. Fort Lauderdale’s sunshine simply hits completely in a different way. All of the pure magnificence and water actions make it the right place to take pleasure in some Florida sunshine.