Fort Lauderdale is a popular tourist destination in the state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast, around 23 miles from Miami. Anybody who enjoys the beaches and is a nature lover should visit this city. There are numerous things to do in Fort Lauderdale besides the Blue Wave beaches and exotic Everglades. You can enjoy kid-friendly attractions, cruises for sightseeing, water sports, etc. The Fort Lauderdale Beach is the best beach destination for some sun and sand. You can also visit the Museum of Discovery and Science for some indoor activity.
Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Enjoy the Beach
The Fort Lauderdale beach is calmer version of the Miami Beach, but just as beautiful, with clean water and sugary sand. You can find families here along with some parties. You can rent out lounge cushioned chairs and beach umbrellas here and also avail the facilities of showers and restrooms along the beachfront. You can carry your own chair and umbrella, as the rent can be quite high. The promenade along the beach has lots of shops and restaurants. If you are looking for an even quieter or peaceful experience, you should visit the beach in the morning.
Get Enchanted in the Butterfly World
The Butterfly world is a 10 acre butterfly farm and research center. It is the birthplace of millions of butterflies and is also the largest free-flight hummingbird aviary in the United States. You can find over 150 species of butterflies here and it is a wonderful way to spend the day. Though some butterflies are seasonal, you can definitely see at least 50 species whenever you visit. The butterflies can come and sit on you, something which is very rarely experienced outside. You can also attend the butterfly gardening workshop and learn to create your own butterfly garden.
Visit the Most Unusual Park—Everglades National Park
If you are having some trouble with interesting things to do in Fort Lauderdale, try the Everglades National Park. The Everglades National Park is located at the southern tip of Florida and consists of an unusual combination of 1.5 million acres of swamps, saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles. It is the third largest national park. This National Park has 14 rare and endangered species like the American Crocodile, Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and a protected area for its indigenous history and unique flora and fauna. Visitors can walk in the park, camp or even canoe through ‘the river of grass’ i.e. the flat and watery park.
Learn at the Museum of Discovery and Science
The museum of discovery and science is a learning experience not only for the kids but also for the entire family. You will find over 200 exhibits in this museum and you can spend an entire day exploring it. The exhibits include Sharks, largest living coral reef in captivity, bats, 12 foot snake, pet alligators, turtles and iguanas. There is a nine cockpit simulator where you can test your pilot skills. The Space exhibit called the Runways to Rockets has simulated trips to the Moon and Mars. Children under the age of 7 can enjoy at the Discovery Center.
Get Thrilled at Gulfstream Park and Casino
This place is for the people who enjoy watching horse racing or gambling at casinos. It can be referred as a state approved Racino. The race track is also world class, with a turf course which is 170 feet wide. You can end up spending an entire day at this place. It has been in existence since 1939, but currently has state of the art clubhouse and elegant casino. It is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami and has South Florida’s finest poker room. The Village in the Gulfstream Park includes a shopping center, dining, entertainment and cultural activities which can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Window Shopping in Las Olas Boulevard
Shopping could be one of the wonderful things to do in Fort Lauderdale. Las Olas Boulevard is a must visit part of the Fort Lauderdale city. It has diverse restaurants and boutiques. It is a wonderful place to have a relaxing stroll, look around, go window shopping and enjoy the weather of Florida. You can find luxury items like chocolates, cheese and art here. It may seem expensive for the regular shopper. Since the parking rates are also high here, you can combine this with other trips to places like Stranahan House, Riverwalk and Musuem of Art in Lauderdale.
Tour Around the Bonnet House
The Bonner House has a romantic history that started in 1895, when a wealthy person bought the 35 acre house and named it after the lily that grew in the grounds. He gifted it to his daughter and her husband as a wedding gift. The house was donated to the State trust for Historic Preservation and now guided tours are conducted here. The estate grounds are lush and beautiful for a walk and even have some monkeys around. The home also has some artwork and is ornately decorated. Reservation has to be made in advance for guided tours and the entry fee might seem a little high.
Stranahan House
Located right off the Las Olas Boulevard, Stranahan House is the oldest residence of this city. You can visit this House to get a glimpse of the Floridian life in the 1900s. The owner – Frank Stranahan constructed the house as a trading post and later made it his home with his wife – the first school teacher of the city. It is a pioneer style home with period furniture around the house. After his death, the house was made into a post office, a restaurant and even a store. Guided tours are given three times a day and a moderate admission fee is collected.
For more things to do in Fort Lauderdale, you may watch the video below:
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