Karl WP Beyer Fort Lauderdale residents did well with their choice of location. The big city in the southeast of the Florida peninsula has beautiful beaches, a good climate, well-kept residential areas amid subtropical vegetation and an extensive network of navigable canals. The city owes its nickname "America's Venice" to the canal network.
Fort Lauderdale - Stranahan River
Fort Lauderdale counts - as does the neighboring one Miami - one of the major tourist destinations in the USA. Broward County's city and region attract well over 13 million visitors annually. Almost four million guests come to the city to take a cruise from neighboring Port Everglades. We were repeatedly counted as part of the crusader circle and used our stay to explore Fort Lauderdale and its surroundings.
Regal Princess leaves Fort Lauderdale
Granted, Fort Lauderdale doesn't have any urban highlights. Visitors should not expect any significant buildings, cathedrals or monuments. Instead, Fort Lauderdale stands for long, well-tended beaches, hotels of all price ranges and canal-lined residential areas with their own yacht docks. The Riverwalk and Las Olas Boulevard are typical of Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale's top attractions
Beaches
Fort Lauderdale's beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in southern Florida. Between the Fort Lauderdale Jetties, next to the port inlet of Port Everglades, and the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in the north lie miles of wide, sandy stretches of beach.
Las Olas Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach
Highlights are Las Olas Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach. A well-tended promenade lined with palm trees flanks the guarded beaches. There are shops, cafes, bars and restaurants parallel to the beach. Behind it are several marinas with hundreds of boats and many hotels.
The beaches are easy to reach with rental cars, taxis or the regular water taxis. Beach chairs and umbrellas can be rented.
Hollywood beach
In addition to Fort Lauderdale's beaches, we also appreciate Hollywood Beach. Florida's "Hollywood" is located south of Fort Lauderdale and has a population of more than 140.000. Hollywood is much more tranquil than Fort Lauderdale or bustling Miami Beach. The four kilometer long sandy beach is little different from the one in Fort Lauderdale. Next to the beach is the brick-paved "Broadwalk" (no typo!). There, guests can find bars, bistros, restaurants, shops and a small mall. Sun chairs, a parasol and a windbreak can be rented quickly. Similar to Fort Lauderdale, palm trees provide the appropriate background scenery.
Hollywood Beach - Broadwalk and Beach
Las Olas Boulevard - Fort Lauderdales Koenigsallee
What for Düsseldorf the Kö or for Hamburg the Jungfernstieg are, for Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Boulevard is. We admit that the comparison is a bit slow; Nevertheless, Las Olas Boulevard is presentable. It starts on the beach and leads almost dead straight past good residential areas in the eastern part of the city to the downtown business district. Chic boutiques, ice cream parlors, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries await the visitor in the center.
The riverwalk
In downtown Fort Lauderdale, beneath Las Olas Boulevard, the footpath, which is appreciated by visitors and iguanas alike, runs on both sides of the New River.
Fort Lauderdale-New River Riverwalk
Fort Lauderdale - Sunbathing on the New River Riverwalk
We prefer the route along the northern bank. The paved Riverwalk begins at the level of the historic Stranahan House, runs along the water and ends in the southwest in front of the street "S Ave of The Arts".
Historic Stranahan House Museum
The museum, financed by donations, is housed in the oldest building in the city. In 1893, Mr. Frank Stranahan came to Florida from Ohio. At the time, the city of Fort Lauderdale did not yet exist. He traded with Indians of the Seminole tribes and operated a ferry service across the New River. The business flourished and from the profit he built today's museum. It was first used as a commercial building and later as a private residence. The house has been used as a museum since 1981. Guided tours take place every afternoon.
Stranahan House on the New River
Fort Lauderdale other activities and sightseeing
Boat tours
On board the old-fashioned Jungle Queen Riverboat, passengers “experience” the New River, Millionaire's Row with the estates of the rich and famous and their luxury yachts over the course of 90 minutes. The Jungle Queen IV is one of several passenger ships that operate on the branched canals.
Jungle Queen IV on the New River
Address: Bahia Mar Yachting Center 801 Seabreeze Blvd
Adult fare: $ 14,50
The yellow water taxis connect the center (Las Olas Riverfront) with destinations near the beach.
Address: Starting point next to the Historic Stranahan House
Fare: $ 28 for the longest tour
Gondola tours are offered on the canals. Electric motors are used to drive the gondolas. The 90-minute trips cost US $ 149 per boat and - depending on the scope of the services - significantly more.
Address: Starting point 1200 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale - New River - Water Taxi
Fort Lauderdale - New River - Romantic Venice
excursions
Everglades National Park
The Everglades, the "river of grass" is a unique ecosystem. A good half of the more than 6.000 square kilometers area is protected as Everglades National Park. This biosphere reserve has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Specialized providers carry out German-speaking tours for cruise tourists. The four-hour program package includes pick-up from the Port Everglades cruise port, transfers, an airboat ride and an alligator show. Such tours cost $ 300 or more.
Sawgrass recreation park
Significantly lower costs are incurred when visiting the Sawgrass Recreation Park in the Everglades. Those interested can rent a car and take Interstate W595 to the sanctuary. The distance is around 40 kilometers from the cruise port. For $ 25, visitors are offered a 30-minute airboat ride and an exhibition visit. During the course of the trip, participants will see alligators, fish, turtles and waders. Captive alligators, iguanas, turtles, snakes, and big cats are featured in the Park Center.
Address: 1006 North, US 27, Weston / Fl.
Shopping at the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Center
On the way back from Sawgrass Recreation Park to Fort Lauderdale, make a detour to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Center on the way. Those who shop in this huge outlet center stock up on the labels of well-known US manufacturers at good prices. Interested parties can find luxury brands such as Burberry, Gucci, Montblanc, Prada, Versace and others in the connected The Colonnade Outlets.
The offerings of the more than 350 stores of the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Center overwhelm the visitors. The facility, located 30 kilometers west of Fort Lauderdale, is easy to reach. The drive from Fort Lauderdale Airport to the Center takes less than 15 minutes by rental car in heavy traffic. Allow 50 to 60 US dollars for taxi rides from / to the cruise port.
Fort Lauderdale - Extended Stay Destinations
Fort Lauderdale
Museum of Discovery and Sciences - a science museum for all ages
Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale - contemporary art in abundance
Historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens - evokes life in the early 20th century
Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop - the world's largest daily flea market
Davie
Flamingo Gardens - 60 acres of nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary
Flamingo Gardens - Resident
Flamingo Gardens - Herons
Coconut creek
Butterfly World - the largest butterfly park in the world
useful hints
Fort Lauderdale has an excellent transport infrastructure. Enterprising guests of the cruise ships do not need any of the tours offered by the cruise lines. The scope of the possible excursions is based solely on the given layover time or the time of the return flight home.
Several car rental companies have locations near the cruise port. Free shuttle buses run by the rental car companies transport guests from the terminal to the rental company and vice versa. Car rental companies can also be found at the nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Free shuttle buses also run between the cruise terminals and the airport.
Update May 2023