Travel Eye on Fort Lauderdale (Florida, USA)

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Overview:

Fort Lauderdale is quickly replacing Palm Beach as the upmarket S Florida destination. Its 300 mls of major waterways and canals have earned it the nickname Venice of America and a place as the pleasure-boating capital of the East Coast of the US; some of the better hotels in the area even have their own marinas. The main beach road (the A1A) once called the Strip, is now an elegant boulevard for fine dining and entertainment, and, owing to the refinements, is now commonly referred to as the promenade. An enhanced Port Everglades cruise-ship dock sits alongside the Convention Center and attracts some of the largest and most luxurious cruise liners. A redeveloped downtown boasts the attractive, lushly landscaped Riverwalk (with its mixture of trendy restaurants, shops and bars) and the nearby Arts and Science District. Fort Lauderdale is a rambling, irregularly shaped city that runs for approximately 8 mls along the coast, extending inland about 6 mls at most in places. Around its perimeter are smaller, sedate communities, such as Hollywood and Dania Beach.

Locality:

Fort Lauderdale is located in the SE United States, towards the very SE of Florida State, about 30 mls N of downtown Miami and Miami International airport. It is set on low-lying coastal land laced by rivers, bays, inlets and canals.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

While there are some pleasant hotels along the beach, for the most part the properties that line the promenade are of the 2nd-tier variety. With the exception of the Marriott Harbour Beach Resort, none are extraordinary. However, there is a general feeling of revitalisation in the air and many properties are now under new ownership and are undergoing renovation. Some nice properties can be found on stretches farther along the beach known as Galt Ocean Mile, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Lighthouse Point.

A long, almost unbroken stretch of soft, pale sand runs the length of the resort, populated by the usual concessionaires providing loungers, snacks and water sports and lined with bustling restaurants and bars. The attractive beachfront promenade is popular with walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, sightseers and street performers. It's busier at the weekends, when parking can be a problem. Just a few miles SE of downtown is lively, crowded Hollywood Beach, 3 mls of white sand fringed with palm trees and lapped by blue waters; its busy promenade is lined with popular shops and restaurants.

In Fort Lauderdale, shopping is a form of entertainment. The Galleria Mall on Sunrise Blvd has designer shops as well as major upmarket department stores, and you can arrive via boat. Beach Place shopping and entertainment complex. Popular Las Olas Boulevard has exclusive stores, some fine restaurants and a little bit of jazz. Bargain hunters may want to visit the Swap Shop, an 80-acre flea market with more than 2,000 vendors. Malls in the surrounding suburbs. Sawgrass Mills Mall, a massive discount shopping mall, about 10 mls W of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Entertainment and activities consist of day cruises, with food, casino gambling and entertainment. Sightseeing cruises. Several golf courses. Tennis courts at some hotels. Deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, jet-skiing, para-sailing and water-skiing. Boats for charter at the main marina. Museum of Discovery and Science (aimed at younger visitors). Bonnet House, a 35-acre beachfront estate with art gallery. The Museum of Art, with works by famous 20th-century European and American artists. The Baltimore Orioles baseball team have their spring training grounds here. Variety of large parks for nature walks, hikes and even camping out. Nightlife consists of broadway productions, opera, ballet and well-known entertainers playing the halls and clubs. There are a selection of bars, nightclubs and cafes, some with live music.

There is a wide choice of eateries, including Asian, Italian, French, Mexican, steakhouses, home-style cooking and vegetarian. Seafood is abundant and of excellent quality. Some of the best restaurants can be found along Las Olas Blvd and in the Arts and Science District. Regional cookery combines fresh seafood with citrus and tropical fruits; key lime pie is a Florida speciality.