Fort Lauderdale Area, FL

What to do in Fort Lauderdale Area, FL

Intracoastal Cruises

This is a wonderful way to discover the magnificent inland waterways of Fort Lauderdale, as a luxury yacht takes you on a guided tour of the mansions of the rich and famous, and through Port Everglades. On a lucky day, you will even get a peek at a manatee!.

Casino Cruises

The Palm Beach Princess Casino Day Cruise takes you on a floating festival of full gaming hall fun and chance, a full buffet meal, quiet lounges, and a party bars.

Scuba Diving

The wrecks off Fort Lauderdale's shores are so spectacular that they won the Scuba Diving magazine's Reader's Choice Award for Best Wreck Diving in North America!.

Snorkeling

If you haven't yet learned how to dive, you can still enjoy the underwater treasures off these shores by just slipping on a mask and paddling around. New Times magazine recently named Lauderdale-by-the-Sea as the site of the Best Snorkeling in its "Best of Broward and Palm Beach" issue!.

Bonnet House

Old South Florida history is preserved inside this 35-acre beachfront estate. The 2-story home, built in 1921, showcases the timeless architecture and impressive artwork representative of fine homes of the period. Take some time to stroll through the lovely gardens, the setting of an enchanting bygone love story that the guides will happily recount.

Museum of Discovery and Science

Don't just observe the phenomenons of science, get involved! Kids and teenagers especially love getting their hands on the 200-plus exhibits at this "playground for the mind." Additionally, over 100 species inhabit the museum, including sharks, birds of prey, alligators, turtles, and bats. The all-new Gizmo City clues you in on enigmas of science and technology.

Stranahan House

Step into yester-year to see how the city began. This house, built in 1901, has been a trading post for Seminole trappers, a post office, town hall, and a general store. Restored to its original layout, it is now a historical museum that showcases early-1900 furnishings and paintings.

Florida's Most Beautiful Mile

Downtown, on Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk, you can weave in and out of shops, restaurants, and museums against a beautiful tropical setting. Great resting points include the gazebos, the native plant exhibits, and a butterfly garden.

Parks

Fort Lauderdale has many great recreational parks that offer an alternative to the beach scene. Visit George English Park, Holiday Park, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Joseph C. Carter Park for frisbee football, tennis, basketball, picnics, and more!.

Downtown Trolley

This free and air-conditioned tram runs every 10 minutes from early morning to late afternoon weekdays from Broward Blvd, through downtown, to the courthouse, and back. There are many stops along the way, so when you see something that interests you, just do the hop-on/hop-off thing at your leisure since another tram is always just a few minutes away!.

Las Olas Horse and Carriage

Walking around trendy Las Olas is enjoyable enough, but being drawn in a horse carriage along this upscale boulevard is simply superb. Try it before you shop to get a "once-over" and spot the really good places you wont want to miss!.

The Carrie B

This 19th-century paddleboat tour on the New River and Intracoastal Waterway floats along Millionaire's Row and Port Everglades. Enjoy the fabulous sights in the air-conditioned bottom deck or al fresco on the upper deck!.

Jungle Queen

This 4-hour cruise is a festive mix of all-you-can-eat dinner, a hilarious vaudeville show, and a sing-a-long. After cruising through Millionaire's Row, you will go on to Indian Village to see rare birds, monkeys, and alligator wrestling!.

Shopping

From flea markets to eccentric boutiques, shopping options are boundless. Enter the Sawgrass Mills to find your favorite brand name and designer outlets along with unique shops and varied restaurants. Or, if you enjoy bargaining head over to the Fort Lauderdale Swap Swap or the Festival Flea Market Mall. Of course, Las Olas Boulevard is the haute place to go for specialty shopping.