Things to do in Ft. Lauderdale?

[mrs3m]

We are getting into town a day early to do some sightseeing, does anyone have any suggestions on what to do, where to go, places to eat?

 

Thanks,

Melissa

[Bequia]

Tour downtown Fort Lauderdale, especially Las Olas Boulevard between Southeast 3rd and Southeast 15th avenues. Lunch at a sidewalk café, then head for the nearby Arts and Science District and the downtown Riverwalk.You can spend some time at the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront, shopping or having a cooling libation at an oceanfront lounge if heat drives you off the sand.

Tour the waterways either on a rented boat from one of the marinas along Route A1A, or via a sightseeing vessel or water taxi. The latter can be boarded at points along the Intracoastal Waterway. Reachable by water taxi are attractions such as Beach Place, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Galleria Mall, Las Olas Boulevard shops, Las Olas Riverfront, and the Museum of Art and Museum of Discovery and Science/Blockbuster IMAX Theater; restaurants such as 15th Street Fisheries, Grill Room at Riverside Hotel, Shula's on the Beach, and dozens of others; and hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, Bahia Mar, Riverside Hotel, and Pillars Waterfront.

Cruise up the New River on the Jungle Queen see the plush waterfront homes, downtown Fort Lauderdale, great yacht and storage basins, a bit of the Everglades.

There's also airboat tours of the Everglades, a visit to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, shopping at Sawgrass Mills all a short distance from downtown Ft Lauderdale.

[Techie]

Bequia, what do you know about Flamingo Gardens? My SIL found this on the web and thought it looked interesting. We'll be there with my BIL/SIL/ and 2 nieces - 9 and 11. Can you suggest some stuff kids would enjoy. We're doing 2 days post-cruise - booked at the Renaissance Ft Lauderdale. thx,

 

Joan

[Bequia]

techie, Flamingo Gardens is a wonderful place to visit. Their tropical gardens are amazing, plants I've never heard of or seen are in abundance there. The aviary is well done, the animal encounter is fun for both kids and adults, don't pass on the tram tour, enlightening to say the least. http://www.flamingogardens.org/new_attractions.htm

 

Might I also suggest an airboat ride in the Everglades. You can't visit FL without seeing a gator or two. http://www.evergladestours.com/ The glades are quite spectacular close up.

 

Sawgrass Mills is one of the largest outlet centers in the country. You could shop the entire day and still miss a store or two. Within the Sawgrass Mills is Wannado City for the kids. Wannado City, a kid-geared theme park named that so they can use the marketing slogan, "Where kids do what they wanna do!". The first in the USA with several to follow. The realistically designed city, the size of three football fields, will transport kids and their imaginations into a world of their own where they can take on roles as a firefighter, archaeologist, actor, TV or news reporter, chef, judge, airplane pilot, doctor and a host of other professions. http://www.sawgrassmillsmall.com/

 

Boomers in nearby Dania has plenty for the kids, go-karts, bumper cars, arcades, mini-golf, batting cages. Naskart racing and Sky Coaster. The miniature golf there has three courses to choose from. A great time for the entire family. Visit when the sun goes down, it's hot here. http://www.boomersparks.com/

 

A wonderful state park with a gourgeous beach minutes from your hotel http://www.floridastateparks.org/lloydbeach/default.cfm

 

The Museum of Science and Discovery as well as the adjoining Imax theater is worth checking out. http://www.mods.org/

 

If you need more suggestions, let me know. :)

[Techie]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! They all sound like the girls would have a great time. I liked some of your first ideas on the waterways and las Olas Blvd so I'm pretty sure we'll have a packed 2 days. In 05 we were on a cruise that ended in Florida and we took a tour before heading to the airport, an airboat ride. It was fantastic. I've already said I have to do this again!

 

We thought Florida was great (for the 5 hours we were there!) that we wanted to spend some extra a few extra days this time. Also, anything to avoid a Manitoba winter when we get back :rolleyes:

 

Joan

[shipknotshore]

Bequia - We are doing a back to back cruise and will be in Ft. Lauderdale for the day and would like to do some laundry (crazy, I know, but can't go 16 days without doing some.) Anyway, do you know where a laundromat close to the port would be? Thank you.

[Bequia]

Bequia - do you know where a laundromat close to the port would be? Thank you.

 

Sure, there's a nice one right on 17th Street, 5 minutes from the port:

Southport Coin Laundry & Clnrs

(954) 522-5107

1063 SE 17th St

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

[shipknotshore]

Bequia - Thanks soooo much.

[slineberry528]

thanks so much for all of the ideas of things to do in Ft. Lauderdale. We will be there for 2 nights in March before our cruise on the Enchantment.

[Bequia]

Another option that could be fun, the Broward Performing Arts Center.

Perhaps a play, concert or other neat event will be in town the same time as you. ;)

 

http://www.browardcenter.org/html/ticketing.asp

 

 

The BankAtlantic center in western Broward offers some excellent events as well.

 

http://www.bankatlanticcenter.com/

 

Keep an eye on the upcoming events at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex too.

 

http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/

[RunningDeer]

We spent a whole day riding the waterways on the water taxi.........cheap ($1-$2) and you can get off and on as many times as you want. And there are some neat places to eat at some of the stops.

[mrs3m]

Thank you so much for all the info. We are staying off Las Olas blvd so that will be great. And the airboat sounds like an adventure.