Fort Lauderdale, FL Hotels

Fort Lauderdale Beach itself has many things to offer visitors such as opulent hotels, fine dining, unique shops and even chartered yachts. There are also a number of budget-friendly attractions. Head down Las Olas Boulevardwhere you will find an IMAX cinema, the Stranahan House, and many art galleries to stroll through. Wherever you go in Fort Lauderdale you will find something to see, do, eat or experience – no matter what you want from your vacation.

Fort Lauderdale's Top 10

Fort Lauderdale History

• Fort Lauderdale Historical Society - An organization that maintains several historical landmarks.
• Stranahan House - One of Fort Lauderdale’s landmarks, this is the oldest home in the city. Frank Stranahan committed suicide in the 1920s over losses in the stock market.
• Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum - Three preserved 19th-century buildings. Children can see how kids lived in the past with hands-on exhibits.
• Old Davie School Historical Museum - Opened in 1918, this is the first school in the Everglades. See the original school building, two homes and a settler’s shack.
• Old Dillard Museum - Contains African and African-American artefacts.

Fort Lauderdale Art & Culture

• Museum of Discovery and Science - A fun science museum featuring exhibits like Runways to Rockets.
• Bonnet House Museum and Gardens - A beautiful subtropical garden featuring Brazilian squirrel monkeys.
• Museum of Art - Located in the renovated downtown area, this museum contains a collection of William Glacken’s art.
• Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum - This auto museum contains over 20 vintage Packards and other auto memorabilia.
• Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale - An interesting section of town where you can see street performers, browse unique gift shops and eat local fare.

Fort Lauderdale Shopping

• World of Jimmy Star - This store features wearable art that is focused on the trends in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
• Ruff Riders - An exclusive collection of jeans, belts, T-shirts and accessories.
• Clark’s Out of Town News - A unique place to get local and foreign newspapers.
• Jezebel - Get vintage clothing and accessories at this interesting clothing store.
• Las Olas Boulevard - This street contains a variety of small, trendy boutiques and sidewalk cafes.

Gay & Lesbian Fort Lauderdale

• Neighbourhood Bar - A bar for gay men. Features pool table, Internet access and daily specials.
• Club 9 Lounge - A neighbourhood bar for lesbians.
• Cozmos Lounge - A nightclub that is popular with the Fort Lauderdale GLBT community.
• The Pride Centre - An organization that provides support to the local GLBT community.
• Beach Betty’s - A beach-themed lounge with an area for pool and darts.

Fort Lauderdale Events

In January, the Las Olas Art Fair brings great food and music together in one weekend along the Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

The Florida Renaissance Festival and Craft Village in February is a month-long event in Fort Lauderdale that features royal cuisine, crafts, jousting and much more.

Lauderdale-by-the Sea Craft Fair in March offers visitors handcrafted items, plants and gourmet foods of Fort Lauderdale.

For April, the New Times International Beerfest is jamming in downtown Fort Lauderdale's Esplanade Park with radio Djs and live music along with plenty of food and more than 200 beers from around the world.

Celebrate Hispanic Fest in Fort Lauderdale during the spring and enjoy live music, Latin food, dance lessons and entertainment for the kids.

Join in on the Broward Beautiful Annual Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup each June.Visitors to Fort Lauderdale are encouraged to join residents in preserving, protecting and learning about the beach environment.

The July 4th Family Celebration celebrates Independence Day with free entertainment and a stunning fireworks display by the ocean in Fort Lauderdale.

In the fall, be sure to see the Air Fair at Pompano Beach Air Park near Fort Lauderdale. This fair honors military war veterans with more than 20 War Birds and other historic aircraft on display.

During November, the Riverwalk Blues and Music Festival gets grooving in downtown Fort Lauderdale at the Riverwalk. Here local and nationally known blues artists perform and celebrate the arts.

Holiday Fantasy Lights has Fort Lauderdale all aglow at the Tradewinds Park in December. Visitors can drive through and experience the joy of Christmas at the beach.

When To Go

Winter to spring (January – April), is a great time to visit Fort Lauderdale. Rainfall is minimal with average temps around 75°F (24°C).

Wear plenty of sunscreen during the summer in Fort Lauderdale, but know that the hurricane season begins in June and runs through November, with the largest storms in August and September.

Late fall and early winter are the last months of hurricane season and start out with high heat. By December the temperatures start to cool off with daily highs between 60°F (16°C) and 70°F (21°C).

Getting There

You can reach Fort Lauderdale by train on the Silver Meteor, Silver Star or the Palmetto Amtrak lines. These trains run daily from northeastern states to Florida.

When flying into Fort Lauderdale, most visitors will arrive at the Fort Lauderdale Int'l airport Most major airlines offer flights to the city and surrounding areas every day. Taxis, rental cars, shuttles and public transportation are available at the airport.

Greyhound offers bus service throughout the South Florida area, which includes Fort Lauderdale and surrounding cities.