Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" due to its expansive and intricate canal system. It is in Broward County, Florida, United States. Population is over 170,000. The city is most famous for its beaches and boats.
While the city of Fort Lauderdale is relatively small, the term 'Fort Lauderdale' is often used to refer to the larger metropolis that has grown up around it. It is the county seat for Broward county, and is in the middle of the South Florida metropolitan area (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach), which has over 5.5 million people.
PLACE TO VISIT
The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop - is a 14-screen drive-in theater in Lauderhill, Florida, USA, that doubles as the largest drive-in and largest daily flea market in the world (local broadcast advertising states it to be "Florida's second-biggest tourist attraction"). The largest tourist attraction is supposedly Walt Disney World. From 1989-2006 the Hanneford Family Circus had been performing daily (except Tuesdays) in the Swap Shop food court, entertaining the roughly 12 million people who visit each year.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) - is a hall of fame devoted to the aquatic sports located in Fort Lauderale, Florida, United States. It is recognized by FINA as the official hall for the aquatics sports.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park - is a Florida State Park located in Fort Lauderdale, on East Sunrise Boulevard, between SR A1A and the Intracoastal Waterway. Among the wildlife of the park are the gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake, butterflies, and turtles. Visitors also can see gray squirrels, marsh rabbits, and opossums, as well as more than 200 species of wading birds, hawks, and ducks.
The New River Tunnel - is one of three underwater road tunnels in Florida (the other two are in Walt Disney World), that replaced the Federal Aid Highway Bridge, a drawbridge opened on August 26, 1926 and closed in 1958. It carries U.S. Route 1 underneath the New River and Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Beach (The Strip) - The most popular section of beach is where A1A runs along side the beach, between Las Olas Blvd north to Sunrise Blvd.
Beach Place - Located on A1A, north of Las Olas Blvd. A collection of bars, restaurants and retail stores connected to a Marriott hotel.
The "Elbo Room" bar - located at Las Olas Blvd and A1A was featured in the 1960's film Where the Boys Are'. The movie led to the city's former reputation as a spring break mecca. The bar anchors the Southern end of the 'Strip', a strip of eating and drinking establishments that run along the land side of the beach road.
Wilton Manors - Wilton Manors is a city surrounded by Fort Lauderdale. It is a popular area for gays and lesbians. It has many guesthouses, restaurants, and bars/nightclubs catering to its gay clientèle. The busy center of the city is Wilton Drive near NE 26 Street. This is only two miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Jungle Queen - Dinner cruise featuring sites along the New River in and around downtown.
Pier Fishing - at Commercial Blvd, Atlantic Blvd, Hillsboro Blvd and Dania Beach. Each area has long piers into ocean, and fishing available.
Bahia Mar Marina - Just across from the beach. You can walk around the marina and look at luxury boats and yachts owned by the well-heeled. On one jetty there is a monument and plaque announcing slip F-18 as an American Literary Landmark - this is where author John D MacDonald's fictional hero, Travis McGee , moored his 52-foot houseboat The Busted Flush (21 Travis McGee novels were published).
Flamingo Fishing - A drift fishing boat that makes 3 trips daily from the Bahia Mar Marina. The boat supplies all the equipment and supplies needed for deep sea fishing.
Miss Bonita 2 Sport Fishing - The Miss Bonita II is a sport fishing charter that takes 3 trips daily from the Bahia Mar Marina. Our Trips includes all the equipment and supplies needed for deep sea fishing. Call for special rates and all inclusive trips
Shops on Las Olas Blvd - Little specialty shops and upscale restaurants line Las Olas Blvd, starting down town and running East on Las Olas Blvd for a mile, to SE 15th Avenue. Most shops and restaurants are open late in the evenings.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - South Florida is served by four airports:
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport located just two miles south of down town Fort Lauderdale. It is a major airport and popular low cost carrier destination. This is most convenient airport to Fort Lauderdale.
Miami International Airport is located 25 miles south of Fort Lauderdale. It is the major international airport in South Florida, and known as 'The Gateway to the Americas'. Home of American Airlines Latin American hub. There are frequent flights to Europe and many direct flights to the US West Coast; it is a 40 minute drive from Fort Lauderdale using I-95, but can be much, much slower during rush hour.
Palm Beach International Airport Primarily serves the Palm Beach area with flights to the Northeast Corridor. You can use Tri-Rail to get from Palm Beach Airport to Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport One of the ten largest general aviation airports in the country. It is in the Cypress Creek area of the city. This is where you arrive if flying your private plane.
By train - Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami Airport, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in Florida. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The 72-mile system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast. The train connects to the Metrorail in Miami at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station.
Amtrak - Provides service to cities up the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Amtrak has two stops in the Fort Lauderdale Area, one in Fort Lauderdale located on Broward Boulevard and I-95, and another one in the suburb of Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard and I-95. The train goes south to Miami and north to Boca Raton.
By car - Interstate 95 (I-95) is the major North-South artery along the East side of the city. It connects Fort Lauderdale with the downtowns in Miami and West Palm Beach and goes north to Jacksonville and beyond.
Florida's Turnpike runs North-South west of the city. To the south it connects to Homestead and the Florida Keys. To the North it connects to Orlando and North Florida.
I-595/I-75 connects Fort Lauderdale to Florida's West Coast (including Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area).
By Ship - Port Everglades, on the south side of the city center, is the most active container port and second most active cruise port in Florida. It supports a high number of cruise ships with about ten thousand passengers arriving and departing each week.
