Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide

Although it has garnered a (well deserved) reputation as Partytown USA, Fort Lauderdale might just surprise people with its number of historical and cultural sites.  This Spring Break capital of the planet has taken to smartening up its image in recent years, hoping to stake an even larger share of its tourism on the city’s intricate and expansive system of canals, so much so that it is known as the “Venice of America.”  Still, the city remains most famous for its beaches, boats, and bikini-clad beauties.

The majority of travelers to Fort Lauderdale are only concerned with what the weather’s going to be like over Spring Break.  This varying week in late March or early April is the best time to come if it’s beer-soaked debauchery and young “adults” cutting loose you’re interested in.  Otherwise, any other time of year is decent to visit, with a calmer atmosphere to boot.  Fort Lauderdale has a tropical climate with a pretty steady year-round temperature of 77°F, and an ample supply of glorious sunshine.  August – while the warmest month—also gets the heaviest rainfall.  In the winter you won’t see the mercury dip much below 65°F, with January being the “coldest” month out of the entire year.  Overall, from December to February is the ideal time to visit, as this period tends to be when both temperatures and rainfall are low.

Your options for places to stay in Fort Lauderdale are not only widespread but diverse in their level of accommodations.  Chain and local motels offer the bare necessities to budget and student travelers, while the mid-range hotels are more apt for visiting families and extended stay guests.  As with any prime destination vacation, Fort Lauderdale has an abundance of luxury hotels and beach resorts to ensure that world-weary travelers have every opportunity to leave their cares at the bar or on the pristine beaches.  The Harbor Beach Resort and Spa features a private beach and an 8,000 square foot “tropical lagoon” pool, and has been recognized as a top ten world’s best wreck diving, marine life and value dive destination, as it has two reefs and four separate dive sites located just ¼ mile off the shores of Harbor Beach.  As with any coastal destination, short term rental options are available.  Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals is one of the area’s largest agencies, and has 1, 2, and 3 bedroom houses with all the comforts of home available for rent.

There are many things to do in Fort Lauderdale, but make no mistake that the beautiful beaches are the number one attraction.  You can rent a bicycle and make your way along the beach, or even pedal inland to explore the upscale shops that line from Las Olas towards downtown.  Another tourist favorite is to go boating on the miles of waterways, or there’s always the water taxi and river cruise ships like the Jungle Queen.  You’ll also see many opportunities for all-inclusive overnight excursions to the Florida Keys or Bahamas, although it may not make good sense for you to take several days out of a weeklong vacation to travel hundreds of miles to a different city when Fort Lauderdale has so much to offer.  It is also entirely possible to spend the bulk of your time (and money) shopping in one Fort Lauderdale’s many malls, such as the gigantic Sawgrass Mills mega mall out on the west side of the city, which houses over 300 retail outlets and is one of the largest in the United States.

When traveling in and around Fort Lauderdale, you’ve got to be aware that the eastside of the city (between downtown and the beach) is crisscrossed with canals.  No matter if you’re in a car, riding a bicycle, or on foot, you’ll have to cross over the canals at where the bridges are.  A good map or portable GPS device can really save you a lot of backtracking here, as not every street corner is going to have one of these bridges.   There is also limited bus, train, and trolley service in and around the Fort Lauderdale region, but it’s more for commuters and somewhat of an inconvenient option for those wishing to travel much beyond the city interior.