Fort Lauderdale, nicknamed the ‘Venice of America’ was once known as a great spring break destination. However, the Floridian community has now shed its reputation of mayhem and hard partying after it began the process of discouraging students from taking their vacations there. As a result, the community now caters to a more mature class of tourists, with sophisticated tastes.
During the Second World War, a series of forts were built by Major William Lauderdale, a commander of the United States Army. After the war, the city was left abandoned for 50 years, after which people and communities moved back in and the development began.
This was in 1858. Since then, Fort Lauderdale has grown in leaps and bounds to become a leading tourist destination that caters to many tastes and serves both individuals and families as a fantastic vacation destination, even if only for a day or two.
Experience the Great Outdoors
If you’re a lover of the great outdoors, then the Hugh Taylor Birch State park is a must see, especially if you’re travelling with younger ones. Activities such as canoeing or hiking on practically deserted nature trails should keep everyone entertained.
Water lovers are recommended to head to the beach. The white sand and crystal clear waters are fantastic all year round and are barely crowded at all.
Get Your Dancing Shoes On!
The arts and entertainment district of Fort Lauderdale is known as the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. On the west side is the Broward Centre for Performing Arts, which runs through to Las Olas and intersects at Fort Lauderdale beach. There are about 120 nightclubs in the area, which is also the setting of an annual music festival known as Langerado. More than 1.3 million people attend the festival every year.
View the Largest Living Coral Reef in Captivity
The Museum of Discovery and Science is a great attraction for adults and children alike. There are over 200 exhibits in the museum, one of which is the largest living coral reef in captivity. There’s also an IMAX theatre and the Runways to Rockets Aerospace Exhibit.
Visit the Buehler Planetarium & Obsevatory
Located on the Broward Community College campus lies the Buehler Planetarium and observatory, offering a wide range of planetarium events and is one of the most advanced of its kind in Florida. It’s rarely crowded and is a truly fascinating attraction for science or nature lovers.
Got More Than a Day?
Located right on the very southern tip of Florida state and just over an hour drive from Fort Lauderdale, Everglades National Park features more than a million acres of swampland and is home to rare and endangered species such as the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee.
Due to the park’s vastness, most of it remains unexplored and highly primitive. You can also tour the flamingo gardens which are a 60 acre sanctuary with exotic and native plants and wildlife.
See Our West Coast America Cruises
Did you like this post? Then take a look at our guide to the best things to do in Florida (Disney not included!)
Image credits: Daniel Dudek-Corrigan, Chris Gosselin, Rasmus Bøgeskov Larsen
