There are many things to do in Fort Lauderdale, but the beautiful beach is a prime attraction. There parking just south of Las Olas Blvd or if that is full, there is plenty more under the Las Olas Blvd Bridge. The machines take cash or credit cards. There is more parking on A1A, North of Sunrise Blvd.

Athletes enjoy running along the road by the beach in the early mornings. On Saturdays mornings there is a continual stream. Best viewed from one of the numerous coffee shops or restaurants across the road from the beach.

You can rent a bicycle and explore along the beach, or head inland via Las Olas Blvd, to explore the upscale shops that line Las Olas towards the down town. From Las Olas the RiverWalk connects to the Arts and Entertainment district. Parking at some beach hotels is limited and with things quite close you will find bicycles are a good way to get around. Bicycle on the sidewalks if the traffic scares you.

You can go boating on the miles of waterways, take the water taxi, or take one of the river cruises like the Jungle Queen. There is also sport or deep sea fishing. If boating is not your thing, then you can just watch the boats go by from the many waterfront bars and restaurants.

There is plenty of shopping. The metropolis has lots of malls. The closest to the beach is the Galaria, about 10 minutes walk from the beach along Sunrise Blvd. The biggest by far is the huge Sawgrass Mills mega mall out on the west side of the city. With over 300 retail outlets it is one of the largest malls in the USA. There is also the 'Swap Shop', that bills itself as 'the largest Drive-In movie theater and daily flea market in the world.'

From Fort Lauderdale you can take a day trip to Miami's South Beach, or closer to home, Hollywood beach. Popping down to visit the night clubs and restaurants along Hollywood Blvd near Young Circle is a close and interesting evening outing.

On Friday and Saturday evenings the bars and clubs along SW 2nd Street come alive with young people. If you are under 35 this is the place to be on weekend nights. Known by locals as Cooley Hammock, this is the two blocks on SW 2nd St just West of the rail way tracks, near the Science Museum and Preforming Arts Center. For tourists, or people over 35, there is the RiverSide complex with bars and restaurants just East of the same railway lines.

You can take overnight excursions to the Florida Keys or the Bahamas, but both are just too far away to make good day trips. There are also organized coach trips to the theme parks in Orlando but again a bit too far for day trips. If you are only here for a week it may not make any sense to take several days out to buss hundreds of miles to a different city when there is so much to do here.

Sports

Golfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep sea fishing are very popular sports in the area. The metropolitan area also offers the following spectator sports:

• The Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League play at BankAtlantic Center in suburban Sunrise, Florida.
• The Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball and the Miami Dolphins play at Dolphins Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The stadium is 17 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale.
• The Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association play at AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami, located 23 miles south of Fort Lauderdale.
• The Baltimore Orioles conduct Spring training in the city at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.
• International Swimming Hall of Fame is located at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
• South Florida also hosts the college sports teams of Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and University of Miami.

Personal Fitness

Because the weather is good, there are year round events and races. Unlike the rest of the USA which closes up during the Winter, there are sports and events year round. There are so many local running races during the cooler months that there may be as many as three or four races on a week end. Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners keeps a central listing of running races on their web site. www.GFLRRC.org

• The swimming Hall of Fame pool complex is one block back from the beach. A world class venue where top athletes swim. There are a number of national swimming meets through out the year.
• There are a good number of local Triathlons, mostly the shorter sprint distances.

Other

• Jungle Queen. Dinner cruise featuring sites along the New River in and around downtown.
• Pier Fishing at Commercial Blvd, Atlantic Blvd, Hillsboro Blvd and Dania Beach. Each area has long piers into ocean, and fishing available.
• Bahia Mar Marina. Just across from the beach. You can walk around the marina and look at luxury boats and yachts owned by the well-heeled. On one jetty there is a monument and plaque announcing slip F-18 as an American Literary Landmark - this is where author John D MacDonald's fictional hero, Travis McGee, moored his 52-foot houseboat The Busted Flush (21 Travis McGee novels were published).

Fort Lauderdale Beach (The Strip)

The most popular section of beach is where A1A runs along side the beach, between Las Olas Blvd north to Sunrise Blvd.

The "Elbo Room" bar, located at Las Olas Blvd and A1A was featured in the 1960's film Where the Boys Are'. The movie led to the city's former reputation as a spring break mecca. The bar anchors the Sothern end of the 'Strip', a strip of eating and drinking establishments that run along the land side of the beach road.

Spring Break peaked in the mid 1980's and the city now attracts a more upscale crowd. Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of a luxury condo building boom, this is displacing the hotels that once lined the beach.

The city is more cosmopolitan than most, having lots of Europeans and gay residents. The beach culture reflects the laid back nature of the community. You will find European food in the restaurants and bathers in thong swimsuits.

• Beach Place, Located on A1A, north of Las Olas Blvd. A collection of bars, restaurants and retail stores connected to a Marriott hotel.  edit

• Bonnet House, 900 N Birch Rd, ☎ +1 954 563-5393.  edit

• Elbo Room, Las Olas Blvd and A1A. The most famous spring break bar, and one of the few remaining from that period. edit

Downtown/Las Olas Blvd

The downtown area, especially around Las Olas Boulevard, has seen dramatic growth in the past decade, and now hosts many new hotels and high-rise condominium developments. Other improvements include a wide array of new boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.

The entertainment district runs east-west along Las Olas Boulevard. East Las Olas Blvd has a mile of upscale shops and restaurants. Across the railway lines, West Las Olas caters to a younger crowd: There are funky nightclubs and restaurants between the railway lines and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. In between East and West, there is a new set of shops called Riverside.

East Las Olas Blvd has a mile of upscale shops and restaurants. Across the railway lines, West Las Olas caters to a younger crowed: There are funky nightclubs and restaurants between the railway lines and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. In between East and West, there is a new set of shops and bars called Riverside that sits on the RiverWalk. The RiverWalk runs along the north side of the new river, from the shops at Las Olas to the performing arts complex.

• Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave, ☎ +1 954 522-5334.  edit

• Las Olas Boulevard. An upscale collection of store, restaurants and bars near downtown. edit

• Museum of Art, E Las Olas Blvd, ☎ +1 954 525-5500.  edit

• Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., ☎ +1 954 467-9937, [23].  edit

• Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum.  edit

• Stranahan House, 335 SE 6th Ave, ☎ +1 954 524-4736.  edit

Wilton Manors

Wilton Manors, a city surrounded by Fort Lauderdale. It is a popular area for gays and lesbians. It has many guesthouses, restaurants, and bars/nightclubs catering to its gay clientèle. The busy center of the city is Wilton Drive near NE 26 Street. This is only two miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Suburban Fort Lauderdale/Broward County

Greater Broward County is home to 1.8 million people, and offers an wide array of activities.

• African American Research Library and Cultural Center.  edit

• Antique Car Museum, 1527 Packard (SW 1st) Av., ☎ +1 954 779-7300. Collection of pre-war Packard automobiles and other memorabilia. edit

• Boomers! Rollercoaster Park, 1801 NW 1st Street, ☎ +1 954 921-1411. Go here for exciting rides and to let lose. edit

• Butterfly World / Tradewinds Park, 3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek, ☎ +1 954 972-4400, [24]. Come here to see exotic butterflies and to get in touch with nature. edit

• Cypress Airboat Rides, ☎ +1 561 798-2884. Explore this ecosystem on a heart pounding ride, or a more relaxed airboat tour. Open year round. edit

• Florida Everglades Holiday Park, 21940 Griffin Rd (west to end of Griffen road), ☎ +1 954 434-8111. Here you can see our amazing wetlands and possibly an alligator or two. edit

• Flamingo Gardens and Wray Botanical Collection, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd, Davie, ☎ +1 954 473-2955. If you are an outdoors person, or just want to see our state bird you have to visit here. edit

• Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. A large indoor/outdoor flea market with the Thunderbird Drive-In Movie Theatre. edit

• Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.  edit

• Sawgrass Mills, Located in the suburburb of Sunrise, some 10 miles to the west.. One of the world's largest shopping malls. edit

By plane

South Florida is served by four airports:

• Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (IATA: FLL) (ICAO: KFLL), located just two miles south of down town Fort Lauderdale [2]. It is a major airport and popular low cost carrier destination. This is most convenient airport to Fort Lauderdale. Spirit Airlines maintains a hub here; JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Continental Connection all also have substantial operations here. FLL is the main domestic airport for the South Florida region. It is also an emerging hub for flights to and from the Latin America and the Caribbean. There are some limited charter flights to and from Europe. Many passengers are bound for or coming from cruises using Port Everglades, some two miles away. Many taxis, cruiseline busses, and hotel/motel shuttles make access to either easy.

• Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA), [3] is located 25 miles south of Fort Lauderdale. It is the major international airport in South Florida, and known as 'The Gateway to the Americas'. Home of American Airlines Latin American hub. There are frequent flights to Europe and many direct flights to the US West Coast; it is a 40 minute drive from Fort Lauderdale using I-95, but can be much, much slower during rush hour.

You can catch the Tri-Rail from Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale station for about $5 a head. Then catch the linking bus, or get a cab from the station to the hotel. (More on Tri-Rail below). You can take one of the shuttle vans from Miami Airport to Fort Lauderdale, price varies by destination but will be around $50 to $70 a head.

• Palm Beach International Airport (IATA: PBI), 1000 Turnage Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Phone: (561) 471-7420, [4]. Primarily serves the Palm Beach area with flights to the Northeast Corridor. You can use Tri-Tail to get from Palm Beach Airport to Fort Lauderdale.

• Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (IATA: FXE), West Commercial Boulevard and NW 21st Av. One of the ten largest general aviation airports in the country. It is located in the Cypress Creek area of the city. This is where you arrive if flying your private plane.

By train

• Tri-Rail, 1-800-TRI-RAIL, [5]. Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in Florida. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The 72-mile system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast. The train connects to the Metrorail in Miami at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station. For more detailed information refer to the WikiPedia entry. From Miami International Airport you can catch the Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale, and then a bus connects you the last mile downtown. Tri-Rail runs less frequently on weekends, so check the schedule [6].

• Amtrak [7], 200 SW 21 Terrace, 1-800-872-7245. Provides service to cities up the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Amtrak has two stops in the Fort Lauderdale Area, one in Fort Lauderdale located on Broward Boulevard and I-95, and another one in the suburb of Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard and I-95. The train goes south to Miami and north to Boca Raton.

By car

• Interstate 95 (I-95) is the major North-South artery along the East side of the city. It connects Fort Lauderdale with the downtowns in Miami and West Palm Beach and goes north to Jacksonville and beyond.
• Florida's Turnpike runs North-South west of the city. To the south it connects to Homestead and the Florida Keys. To the North it connects to Orlando and North Florida.
• I-595/I-75 connects Fort Lauderdale to Florida's West Coast (including Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area).

By bus

• Greyhound Bus Lines, 510 NE 3 Street downtown, telephone 1-800-229-9424, [8].

The East side of Fort Lauderdale, between down town and the beach, is criss crossed with canals. It doesn't matter if you are in a car, on bicycles, or on foot, you have to cross the canals where the bridges are. This is one town where a good map can save you a lot of backtracking. Surprisingly the best road map of the East side of town is the 'Dolphus Waterway Map".

NOTE: Federal Highway, (US1) does NOT intersect with Las Olas blvd. Your map is wrong. US1 passes under the river in a tunnel, and goes under Las Olas too, only re-emerging at Broward Blvd to the North. This confuses many people trying to navigate around Fort Lauderdale.

By car

The easiest way to get around Fort Lauderdale and South Florida is by car. If renting, it is substantially less money to rent a car from a location outside of the airport. The city is set up on grid system, and is fairly easy to navigate. Downtown is roughly 2 miles west of the beach. You need to consult a map when on the the East side of town because the canals divide up the city and you need to find the bridges.

Broward County is served by three major Interstates (I-75, I-95, I-595) and some U.S. Highways including U.S. Highway 1, US 27 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike and State Highway 869, also known as the Sawgrass Expressway.

On Airport Car Rental Companies include:

• Alamo Rent A Car, ☎ +1-800-462-5266, [9].  edit

• Avis Rent A Car, ☎ +1-800-331-1212, [10].  edit

• Budget Rent A Car, ☎ +1-800-527-0700, [11].  edit

• Dollar Rent A Car, ☎ +1-800-800-3665, [12].  edit

• E-Z Rent-A-Car, ☎ +1-800-277-5171, [13].  edit

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, ☎ +1-800-261-7331, [14].  edit

• Hertz Car Rental, ☎ +1-800-654-3131, [15].  edit

• Thrifty, ☎ +1-800-847-4389, [16].  edit

Off Airport Car Rental Companies with Shuttle include:

• Sunshine Rent A Car, ☎ +1-888-786-7446, [17].  edit

By taxi

Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place.

• Yellow Cab, ☎ +1 954-777-7777. The largest company in the city. edit

• Water Taxi, [18]. via the Intracoastal waterway and New River. A different way to see the city, its beautiful waterfront mansions, and stately yachts. edit

By bus

• Broward County Transit (BCT), ☎ +1 954-357-8400, [19]. The county bus system. BCT provides for connections with the bus systems in other parts of the metropolitan area: Metrobus in Miami-Dade County and Palm Tran in Palm Beach County. Buses are available, but often slow and inconvenient. There is a push to increase bus service. edit

• Sun Trolley, ☎ +1 954-761-3543, [20]. An inexpensive trolley serving the downtown, beach, and convention center areas. It also provides a link from downtown to the Broward Blvd Tri-Rail station. If you're looking for a cheap scenic tour through Fort Lauderdale, ride the Sun-Trolley or take the 11 bus along Las Olas Blvd and A1A. edit

By train

Tri-Rail, ☎ +1 800-872-7245, [21]. Commuter train which runs north and south parallel to I-95, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Tri-Rail provides access to South Florida's three major airports, as well as links to Miami's Metrorail. However, Tri-Rail trains can sometimes be thirty minutes to an hour late, and you will probably have better luck taking the city bus system. Tri-Rail also does not offer a very scenic tour it is just a commuter line through the back sides of town. edit

By boat

Fort Lauderdale is America's yachting capital, and as such has numerous boat charter and rental companies. There are many restaurants and bars along the intracoastal that cater to the passing yachtsmen and their guests.

Water Bus [22] has 11 pick up/drop off locations in east Fort Lauderdale along the Intracoastal Waterway and New River. Float to and from the hotels, shopping, restaurants, beaches and nightlife. Slow and costly, but worth it for the view and romance.

By bicycle

When you visit the beach you will see that many locals bike to the beach. Things in Fort Lauderdale are close, but often further apart than a quick walk. A bike makes everything much closer, and you don't have to find parking. By bike, it's only 10 minutes from the beach to downtown, the supermarkets, or the malls. A bike creates it's own breeze so biking is not only quicker and less effort than walking, it's often cooler too.

You can rent a bike or if you know you are going to be staying more than a couple of days it may be more cost effective to buy a $100 bike from a big discount store and sell it or pass it on when you go home. (If you stay a week you can just about pay for a bike in the money you save on parking.)

There are bike lanes on the road by the beach, (A1A) and on Las Olas Blvd going between the beach and downtown and the Riverwalk. Ride tin the same direction as the traffic. It is common to take to the sidewalks on the bridges or or on major roads when the bike lane disappears.

Because most things are quite close, and Florida is very flat, bicycles are a very green, very sane, and relatively quick way to get around. You also get to see more, hear more, and can easily stop along the way to take pictures. (Something that is difficult to do when in a taxi or car.)

Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida in general, is a shoppers paradise. There is something to satisfy everybody's shopping desires. Here are is a list of some of the main districts/destinations:

• Shops on Las Olas Blvd,Little specialty shops and upscale restaurants line Las Olas Blvd, starting down town and running East on Las Olas Blvd for a mile, to SE 15th Avenue. Most shops and restaurants are open late in the evenings.
• Galleria Mall, Sunrise Blvd and Bayview Dr. Fort Lauderdale's regional mall. Has over 200 stores including: Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Dillard's, and Saks Fifth Avenue. This is only 1/4 of a mile, about ten minutes walk from the beach.
• Sawgrass Mills, located in city of Sunrise at Sunrise Blvd and NW 136 Ave. One of the world's largest malls for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
• Broward Mall, located in Plantation at Broward Blvd, and University Drive.
• Coral Square Mall, located in Coral Springs at Atlantic Blvd. and University Dr.
• Festival Flea Market, located in Pompano Beach on Sample Rd, just east of Florida's Turnpike. Large indoor flea market.
• Pembroke Lakes Mall, located in Pembroke Pines at Pines Blvd. and Flamingo Rd.
• Pompano Square, located in Pompano Beach at US1 (Federal Hwy) and Copans Rd.
• Aventura Mall, large, upscale regional mall located in Aventura.
• Boca Town Center, large, upscale regional mall located in Boca Raton.
• Swap Shop. 1+954-583-2221. The Swap Shop is an older flea market located west on Sunrise Blvd. at a drive-in movie. Along with getting your hair braided you can shop for fruits, vegetables, clothes, nick knacks, and practically any other things other locations would not have.

Independent Stores

• Archives Book Cafe, 1948 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Phone: +1 954-764-8212. Good selection of hard to find books and has a small coffee shop and cafe.
• Clothes Encounters, 1952 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Phone: +1 954-522-2228. Huge selection of funny t-shirts along with basic swimwear and gifts.
• Flagler Antiques, 720 Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale. 10,000 Square Feet of antiques.
• Shop at Swap Shop. Get your hair braided there Phone: +1 954-583-2221. The Swap Shop is an older flee market located east on Sunrise Blvd. Along with getting your hair braided you can shop for fruits, vegetables, clothes, nick knacks, and you can practically find other things that other locations would not have.
• Zoo 14, 1208 NE 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Phone: +1 954-763-9666. Men's designer clothing and club wear.

Fort Lauderdale has countless dining options. Among the most popular areas are Las Olas Blvd, Olde Town Fort Lauderdale, and the Beach.

Downtown/Old Town/Las Olas Blvd

• Big City Tavern, 623 E.Las Olas Blvd. Great atmosphere, outside seating available. Sandwiches to steaks served. edit

• Capital Grille, Galleria Mall. Upscale restaurant featuring excellent service and great steaks. Incredible wine selection. edit

• Cheesecake Factory, 620 E.Las Olas Blvd, ☎ (954)463-1999. Located at base of Riverside Hotel where Las Olas meets the Tunnel. Popular chain featuring a large menu and countless desserts. edit

• Chima, E.Las Olas Blvd. Excellent Brazilian rodizio. Great salad bar too.  edit

• Jalisco, 700 N.Federal Hwy, ☎ (954)462-9695. Small, family owned Mexican restaurant. Looks can be deceiving as excellent, yet affordable cuisine is served with a smile. edit

• Jackson's Steakhouse, 450 E.Las Olas Blvd. Excellent steakhouse and cigar room available. Jackets required. edit

• Laffing Matterz, 219 S. Andrews Avenue, ☎ 954-763-5236. After you dine on chef-prepared fare, their cutting-edge musical satire will leave you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes! edit

• Mango's, 900 E.Las Olas Blvd. Popular and reasonably priced. Outside seating is available and there is often live music. edit

• PF Chang's, Galleria Mall. Popular national chain, serving non-traditional Chinese food. edit

On the Beach/The Strip

• Monster Subs, 1978 E Sunrise Blvd, ☎ 954-463-7997. Sub shop known for handing you some of the meat to sample while you are waiting for them to make your sub. edit

• Trina, Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd (A1A). At The Atlantic Hotel. Award winning restaurant featuring a Florida-Caribbean cuisine. edit

• St Barts Coffee Shop, On the beach (A1A), 2 blocks south of Las Olas Blvd.. Outside tables under umbrellas. It's where the locals go for coffee and breakfast.  edit

Wilton Manors/Close In

• Mai Kai, 3599 N. Federal Highway. Phone: +1 954-563-3272. Along Polynesian food, you can view a show with fire.
• Rosie's, Wilton Drive. Great hamburgers and lite fare, with large outdoor seating area. Fun gay-themed restaurant, with live music on weekends.
• Tasty Thai, 2254 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors, Phone: +1 954-396-3177. True authentic Thai Cuisine, get there early for dinner and get a complete meal at a reasonable price.
• Georgies Alibi, 2266 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors, Phone: +1 954-565-2526. Gay bar & casual restaurant (hamburgers & sandwiches). Friendly, diverse "straight-friendly" crowd; lunch & dinner served both indoors & outside under covered patio area. Very reasonably priced.

Lauderdale by the Sea area

• Pomperdale' 3055 East Commercial Boulevard (954) 771-9830 An excellent New York Jewish style deli.

Surrounding Area

• LeTub, Hollywood. Considered to have the best hamburgers in America.
• Rustic Inn, Dania Beach. Home of the Garlic Crabs.

Fort Lauderdale's former reputation was built by Spring Break, and the city still does not disappoint. There are countless places to have a drink from little 'hole in the walls' to the ultra chic.

Downtown/Old Town/Las Olas

• O'Hara's Jazz Bar on Las Olas Blvd. Great live jazz music.
• Riverfront is a collection of stores and bars on the west side of the downtown district.
• Tarpon Bend, 200 SW 2 Street (Old Town). Great beer specials and popular on weekends.
• Voodoo Lounge, 100 SW 2 Avenue,Old Town. Popular dance club.

Beach/The Strip

• Beach Place is located on A1A across from the beach. It has many bars and restaurants, and is very popular on the weekends.
• Elbo Room famous spring break landmark at Las Olas Blvd and A1A.
• Fat Tuesday's, Beach Place. Great ocean views and strong frozen drinks. Perfect combo for fun.
• Shooters is located on the Intracoastal Waterway, south of Oakland Park Blvd. Very popular with the yacht crowd, as there are boat slips available.

Hole In The Wall

• Grady's Bar at 905 S. Andrews Avenue is a hangout for locals, open since 1940. Cheap drinks and food, cash only.
• Flossie's Bar and Grill 3985 Angler's Avenue on the opposite side of I-95 from the airport. Outdoor tiki bar with live music some nights. Popular biker hangout.

Wilton Manors/Gay & Lesbian

• Georgie's Alibi, [25] at the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. Wilton Dr. and NE 6 Ave.
• Boom, [26] a nightclub at Shoppes of Wilton Manors. Wilton Dr and NE 6 Ave.

Oakland Park

• Roxanne's on Main, [27] on the corner of Dixie Highway and Oakland Park. Music, drinks and food.