Fort Lauderdale: All Types of Fun in the Sun
Soak up everything Fort Lauderdale has to offer on your next vacation! This beautiful city is known as one of the country’s top tourist destinations. With an average temperate of 75 degrees, this is one city that can be enjoyed all year-round. On a trip to Fort Lauderdale there will be something for everyone to enjoy. You can take a stroll on one of the many internationally known, and gorgeous, beaches throughout the area. However, this South Florida paradise offers more than just its beaches. There’s so much you can do during your stay in Fort Lauderdale. The city’s most popular museums, gardens and parks are there to be explored for some relaxing and cultural fun. If shopping is your thing, there are many options for you to shop until your heart is content. Foodies will enjoy unique restaurants that only Fort Lauderdale can offer. The city is also a huge contender in the LGBT community; placing as one of the top spots that gays and lesbians visit for vacations. This is definitely a city that everyone can enjoy.
Hanging Out at The Beach
Your trip to Fort Lauderdale must include a day on one of the beautiful beaches! Perhaps even two or three days, but hey, who’s counting! You could spend your whole trip on one of Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, if you wanted. They offer crystal clear water and gorgeous white sand; perfect for swimming and lounging around. You’ll find that the beaches in Fort Lauderdale are more low-key and will give you a chance to relax. There are also beaches for the more extravagant type to enjoy. One example is Fort Lauderdale Beach. Originally known as a place where college students spent their spring or summer breaks, Fort Lauderdale Beach has been transformed. Often being referred to as ‘beach chic’, this beach is great if you want to do some fancy people watching. You can also spend the day at Las Olas Boulevard which offers a casual, but stylish, shopping and dining experience. This is one of the most popular places to eat and drink in Fort Lauderdale. Of course, you can take a stroll along the beach for some free fun. You should definitely bike or rollerblade along the beachfront promenade as well.
Staying along, or even near, the beach will be a tad bit pricey. However, if you can afford the splurge you should definitely do it. Just imagine waking up every morning, with instant access to one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, you will see that it’s totally worth it. The priciest example of this is, Sonest Fort Lauderdale. The selling point for this hotel is that it’s right on Fort Lauderdale Beach. You could walk out of the hotel’s door and the water could be almost at you’re the tips of your toes. This hotel is also eight miles from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and it’s a 15-minute drive from some of the city’s other attractions. There’s an onsite spa and a restaurant. Staying further away from the beach, will save you a bit more money. However you won’t have to sacrifice location with activities, because a hotel like Hotel Tara is still close to everything. At this hotel, you’re a couple of miles from the beach as well as, museums, and gardens.
Other Activities
Some of you may wonder, what else is there to do in Fort Lauderdale besides spending time at the beach? Your trip can’t end without visiting the most popular museums, gardens and parks within the city. Start with the Everglades. Everglades National Park is one of the unique public parks in the United States. It’s located on the southern tip of Florida and is made up of 1.5 million acres of swamps, sub-tropical jungles and saw-grass prairies. The park is home to 14 endanger species, including the American Crocodile, the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. During a visit, you can walk around the park, explore by canoe or even camp within the park! Another popular ‘park’ is Gulfstream Park and Casino. This place offers a combination of horse racing and casino gaming, within a park atmosphere. You can actually spend the whole day at this place, if you’re into gambling or love horse racing.
If you’re looking for family friendly fun or fun for all ages, there are a few places you should definitely check out. The Museum of Discovery and Science, is a great place to take your children. The museum is home to over 200 exhibits, including the largest living coral reef. There’s also an IMAX theater. Butterfly World is another great spot you should check out. A 10-acre butterfly farm and research facility, will give you the opportunity to have educational fun – unless bugs aren’t your thing. The Secret Woods Nature Center is actually located slightly outside of Fort Lauderdale, but it shouldn’t be missed. The preserve park offers a great way to reconnect with nature, for you nature lovers out there. It’s a great place to visit with or without children.
You’ll need to stay in a centralized location, so you can enjoy all of the activities Fort Lauderdale has to offer. A great affordable option for this is Oasis Motel. This motel offers access to Fort Lauderdale’s shopping malls, museums and the Port Everglades. Another decent option, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale is Extended Stay Fort Lauderdale. This hotel is about mid-price range, but it’s close to the Port Everglades and the airport. This is a great option if you don’t mind commuting to the beaches.
All activities, and sights, in Fort Lauderdale can be enjoyed by everyone. The city is also a tropical paradise for gay visitors and locals alike. There are many activities geared specifically for the gay community. The city offers gay beaches, gay bars and clubs, and gay resorts – which includes gay friendly hotels and motels. Although not one of the super popular gay resorts, the Royal Palms Resort is a great option because it’s in a central location. This resort is close to downtown, the airport, museums and shopping. It also has its own day spa and has three outdoor swimming pools.
Your trip won’t be complete unless you take a Jungle Queen Riverboat Tour. The company offers two distinct tours. One is the popular sightseeing tour, which can be booked for the morning or afternoon, and takes up to three hours. It’s worth it, because you get to see the city in a whole new way. The second tour is the Bar-B-Que and Shrimp dinner cruise that lasts four hours. This cruise also includes a tour, but you stop on an island for dinner and a show. With so many options for fun in Fort Lauderdale, it’s no wonder you can enjoy this city every day of the year. You’ll definitely have to make more trips to see it all.