The Greater Fort Lauderdale is famous for its beaches, arts, culture and events. Experience Fort Lauderdale's landscaped beachfront promenade, with its signature white wave wall and brick paved path. Go shopping at the popular Sawgrass Mills Mall or on Las Olas Boulevard. Take a sightseeing cruise on the canals, visit the historical districts, see the mansions and yachts dotting Millionaires Row. The climate boasts more than3,000 hours of sunshine each year and a balmy 77 degrees average annual temperature. Explore the Greater Fort Lauderdale's culinary scene, including romantic waterfront restaurants, trendy steakhouses, Sunday brunches, sports bars, winebars and several places to "dock and dine" along the Intracoastal Waterway. Go beyond the basics, and you'll find an endless supply of hidden gems. Welcome to the Greater Fort Lauderdale, where your vacation is limitedonly by your imagination.
Florida's Gold Coast, The Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County present a delightful middle ground between the posh Palm Beaches and the extravagance of Miami. Anchored by the New River and an eclectic downtown hub, Fort Lauderdale comprises high-rise condos, deluxe hotels, along with single-family homes, museums, parks, and attractions. Las Olas Boulevard's boutiques, sidewalk cafés, and restaurants complement 23 miles of sparkling beaches. From Fort Lauderdale, it's about a four-hour drive to Orlando with its attractions or the southernmost city, Key West.
What To Do:
Everglades
Holiday Park / Sawgrass Recreation Park / Billie’s Swamp Safari
Everglades National Park is a preserve on the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida. Often compared to a grassy, slow-moving river, the Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species. Among the Everglades' abundant wildlife are alligators, the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee.There's no better way to see the Everglades than by airboat. There are daily tours by airboat or swamp buggy rides to introduce you to the elusive wildlife that resides in Florida.
Bonnett House Museum and Gardens
An historic artist’s estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Be magically transported to the beginning of the 20th Century, and the days of gracious living, charm and whimsy when Florida was one of the nation’s last frontier. This 35-acre subtropical estate endures as a tribute to Old South Florida. Hugh Taylor Birch purchased the site in 1895. Birch gave it to his daughter Helen as a wedding gift when she married Frederic Bartlett, and the newlyweds built a charming home for a winter residence in 1920. Years after Helen died, Frederic married his second wife, Evelyn, and the artistically gifted couple embarked on a mission to embellish the property with personal touches and surprises that are still evident today. This historic place is a must-see for its architecture, artwork, and horticulture.
Butterfly World
Butterfly World is located in Tradewinds Park. It opened in 1988, and is the largest butterfly park in the world, and the first park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. More than 80 native and international butterfly species live inside the first and largest butterfly house in the United States. The 3-acre site has aviaries, observation decks, waterfalls, ponds, and tunnels.
Flamingo Gardens
Flamingo Gardens is a 60-acre, not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary, aviary, and botanical garden located just west of Fort Lauderdale. The Arboretum of Flamingo Gardens features hundreds of native and exotic trees, accented with lush under-story plantings, ponds, stream, and a waterfall. Flamingo Gardens holds the distinction of having the largest collection of towering Florida Champion Trees, twenty in total, as certified by the Florida Forestry Service as the largest of their species. Flamingo Gardens Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary gives residence to permanently injured and non-releasable birds and animals, and is home to the largest collection of Florida native wildlife- including alligators, bear, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacocks and flamingos. Wander through the aviary, arboretum wildlife sanctuary, and the historic Wray Home. The building was restored in 1991 to depict a typical South Florida country home of the 1930s.
Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
To preserve the history of the Packard, a long-vanished luxury American car company, Arthur O. Stone and his wife, Shirley, set up a foundation and a showroom in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum boasts a one-of-a-kind setting, with the largest collection of Packard cars and historical memorabilia from 1900 and on. In addition to the vast number of cars, observers will find an array of hood ornaments, old gas station signs, carburetors, gear-shift knobs, horns, lighters & ashtrays, lamps, vintage magazines & photos, an entire exhibit dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and so much more. The collection includes about two dozen of the buggy-style Packards (all in pristine and working condition) made in the Midwest from 1909 to 1958.
Historic Stranaham House Museum
The Stranahan House was built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, credited as Fort Lauderdale’s founding father, and his wife Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area’s first school teacher. It is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and has served as a trading post, post office, town hall, and home to the Stranahans. The house is a wood-frame vernacular structure with wide porches and a stunning view of the New River. The house is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. This home remains Fort Lauderdale's principal link to its brief history and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973.
Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas Boulevard is at the forefront of everything from fashion boutiques and art galleries, to memorable restaurants, sidewalk cafes and bars... set the stage each evening for South Florida’s most architecturally unique, authentic, and eclectic shopping and dining district. Stroll the boulevard, duck in and out of our cool breezeways, and be delighted by what you discover. Las Olas Boulevard stretches from the beach at A1A, immaculately lined with palm trees and beautiful people, rising over the fabulous Intracoastal Waterway with magnificent views of million-dollar homes and spectacular yachts.
Museum of Discovery and Science and IMAX Theater
Spend a day of discovery exploring two floors of fascinating interactive exhibits at the Museum of Discovery and Science! See sharks and the largest living Atlantic coral reef in captivity, hang out with bats, be charmed by a 12-foot snake, plus pet alligators, turtles and iguanas. Test your pilot skills in nine cockpit simulators and learn about Florida's amazing Everglades in the Living in the Everglades exhibit. Discover our place in aerospace at Runways to Rockets, our space exhibit, and take a simulated trip to the Moon or Mars. Make it a play date at the Discovery Center, designed especially for children under seven. No visit is ever complete without experiencing an IMAX film adventureon the five-story-high screen at AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater, home of the BIGGEST screen in South Florida. With an 80-ft. x 60 ft. screen and 32,000 watts of digital surround sound broadcast from 56 speakers, The IMAX Experience is truly an unparalleled fusion of sight and sound.
Sawgrass Mills Mall
Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the United States. With more than 350 stores, including outlet locations from Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Gap, plus value retailers OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Marshalls and electronics stores. Sawgrass Mills has everything from fashion and jewelry to electronics, sporting equipment, beauty products, home accessories, toys, restaurants and more. There is something for everyone in this enclosed, air conditioned and climate controlled mall located just 15 minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Located in the center of South Florida's Gold Coast, midway between Palm Beach and Miami, Greater Fort Lauderdale stretches from Deerfield Beach and Pompano in the north to Hollywood and Hallandale Beach in the south. Sprawling across 1,200 square miles that include 505,600 acres of Everglades on the western edge. Renting a car is the best way to get around is highly recommended. You'll find the freedom and ease of driving around town a joy.
Transportation:
The Pelican Hopper is a free,air-conditioned shuttle transportation service provided by the Town of auderdale by the Sea.
Sun Trolley operates service with routes along the beach and through downtown, as well as to Las Olas Boulevard (all routes are free except for the Las Olas and BeachLink Routes).
Water Taxi is like a trolley on the water. Get on and off where you like for one all day price. Enjoy a leisurely cruise along Fort Lauderdale's world-famous waterways. Come to the beach, shop and dine on Las Olas Boulevard and see the cruise ships at Port Everglades.
Broward County Transit (Bus) is your number one public transportation option for getting around Broward County. We can take you practically anywhere you want to go – work, schools, shopping, libraries, parks, cultural and civic activities, and other places of interest.
Train:
Brightline offers express train service between Fort Lauderdale & West Palm Beach.
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
SuperShuttle offers airport transportation: Shared-Ride, Non-Stop Shuttle or Car Service to/from airports.