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With pristine beaches, beautiful scenery and so much to do for every type of traveller, Fort Lauderdale has everything you need for your trip to Florida on Swoop! Whether you’re planning to lounge on the beach, do some retail therapy or explore the iconic Everglades, you can do it all from Fort Lauderdale. Check out the list below for some of the top things to do while you’re in town:
If you’re looking for a clean, sunny beach that’s a bit more calm than nearby Miami Beach, look no further than Fort Lauderdale Beach. The water is very calm here, so it’s a great place to bring kids or lounge around. There is also a promenade along the beach, so there’s no shortage of food and shopping opportunities here. If you’re looking for more than just a beach, nearby Fort Lauderdale Beach Park has many facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts, picnic tables and grills, and a playground.
If you’re craving a close encounter with an alligator, the Everglades is the perfect place to check it off your bucket list. The Everglades is a wetland ecosystem that spans two million acres across central and south Florida and is home to many unique species of plants and birds, as well as alligators, crocodiles, manatees, bottlenose dolphins and the endangered Florida panther. With many companies providing air boat tours less than an hour from Fort Lauderdale, there are many adventurous options to choose from – you can go on a guided tour or rent your own boat for fishing. In some places you can even camp overnight or go on a nighttime boat ride to see the Everglades after dark.
Whether you want to window shop or shell out the big bucks, Las Olas is a shopaholics paradise! The stores along the boulevard tend to have a higher price tag, but there is also an abundance of restaurants (many with patios), art galleries and other amenities. If you’re looking for a fun night out, there are also a couple clubs and many venues for live music. You can also check out the Las Olas Boulevard website for a list of events that are happening there.
Hop on a Water Taxi and see why Fort Lauderdale is known as “the Venice of America”. You can buy a hop-on-hop-off pass and spend the whole day exploring, with 12 stops in Fort Lauderdale and 5 in Hollywood. Cruise past luxurious yachts and grand mansions and stop for a visit at Margaritaville Hollywood or Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which both have dedicated taxi stops. You can also get discounts on nearby restaurants and activities that are part of the Cruise & Save Partner program.
Built in 1920 by Frederic Clay Bartlett, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a 36-acre estate that is full of art, architecture, history and ecology. You can visit the house and enjoy their expansive private collection of artwork or take a guided tour through the orchid greenhouse or the family’s private living quarters. The estate is also home to five ecosystems, including a beach, maritime forest and mangrove wetlands, and the formal gardens include the Orchid Display House, hibiscus garden and desert garden.
Written by Andrea Zakaib