Greater Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America,” offers a unique coastal experience with over 300 miles of navigable inland waterways, stunning beaches, and a vibrant city vibe.
Located on Florida’s southeastern coast along the Atlantic, the city boasts a scenic coastline and lush landscapes that captivate visitors. From world-class museums and expansive parks to lively shopping districts, the city’s attractions provide something for everyone. For travelers, especially those on their first visit, Fort Lauderdale promises memorable experiences and a warm welcome to one of South Florida’s most exciting destinations.
So don’t wait, book your stay with us at one of our comfortable rental homes, providing easy access to the top things to do in Fort Lauderdale. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a short break, here are the 14 best activities to help you make the most of your trip.
1. Explore Fort Lauderdale’s Stunning Beaches
Photo Credit: Angela N Perryman
With warm temperatures year-round and a dry season from December to April, Fort Lauderdale offers ideal weather for strolling its beautiful beaches.
Fort Lauderdale Beach, the city’s main beach, is set along the beautiful Atlantic, with its wide sands, palm-lined promenade, and beachfront cafés. Beach time here is a must, whether you want to relax on the shore or take in the scenic ocean views. Fort Lauderdale Beach is also popular for water sports such as swimming and paddleboarding.
For quieter beach experiences, visit:
- Lauderdale-By-The-Sea: A charming small-town vibe with a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for snorkeling and diving along its coral reef.
- Hollywood Beach: Known for its lively Boardwalk, offering restaurants, shops, and family-friendly activities with a vibrant local scene.
- Dania Beach: Features a fishing pier, the Quarterdeck Restaurant and Sports Bar, Dania Beach is a more local, laid-back beach experience perfect for anglers and casual visitors alike.
2. Visit Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Considered Lauderdale’s own “Central Park”, this urban oasis is one of the city’s top parks, offering walking trails, kayak rentals, and picnic spots. Surrounded by nature, it’s a perfect escape from the city bustle with its calm lagoon and abundant wildlife.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park also features camping, wildlife sightings, and swimming, making it an excellent outdoor destination for families. Pavilions with water and electricity are even available for rental.
3. Take a Day Trip to the Everglades
Photo Credit: Todamo
Experience the unique “River of Grass” ecosystem with airboat tours that showcase alligators, wading birds, and mangroves. The Everglades is a vital natural ecosystem known for its unique wildlife and role in maintaining South Florida’s environmental health.
Visitors can easily reach the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale by car or on organized tours that provide convenient transportation to this remarkable wetland. Operators like Sawgrass Recreation Park offer a variety of tour options, including biologist-led adventures.
Tour operators to check out:
- Everglades Holiday Park — Open daily 9 AM–5 PM and offers 60-minute airboat tours through the wetlands, followed by a live alligator show featuring the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue team.
- Everglades Day Safari (EcoSafari) — A naturalist-guided full-day experience bookable from Fort Lauderdale that includes an airboat ride, nature walk, mangrove wilderness boat ride, and lunch. They are the only van tour permitted to operate in Big Cypress National Preserve and offer small, personal groups.
- Ride the Wind Airboat Tours — A private tour operator based near Weston offering a unique twist — passengers can actually take the controls and drive the airboat themselves in a safe section of the wetlands.
- Everglades Swamp Tours — Specializing in customized private and small-group airboat tours, they’re open seven days a week and also offer kayak rentals for those who want a quieter, closer look at the wildlife.
4. Discover the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Tour this historic 20th-century waterfront estate featuring art collections, tropical gardens, and wildlife at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. They offer guided tours showcasing their history and beautiful grounds. This is one of the top family-friendly activities in Fort Lauderdale, providing a glimpse into the city’s history and beautiful gardens. Morning visits are ideal to avoid crowds.
Where art, nature, and history intertwine amidst lush tropical gardens and charming wildlife, offering visitors a serene escape that beautifully captures the essence of Fort Lauderdale’s coastal heritage and is truly worth exploring for its unique blend of culture and natural beauty.
5. Hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi
Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze
Fort Lauderdale is often referred to as the “Venice of America” due to its extensive and picturesque network of inland waterways and canals. These scenic waterways weave through the city, offering waterfront views of stunning mansions and lush landscapes, making it a distinctive coastal destination.
Cruise along the Intracoastal and New River on the Water Taxi, which connects travelers to many of the city’s attractions by stopping at key spots like Las Olas Boulevard, waterfront dining, the historic Stranahan House, and downtown attractions. The Water Taxi runs approximately every 30 minutes and covers pre-defined routes through the center of Fort Lauderdale. This is a great way to see the city’s famous waterways.
6. Experience the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is a premier venue that draws both locals and visitors with its impressive lineup of performances and elegant atmosphere. Catch Broadway shows, concerts, and jazz festivals in this cultural hub located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District.
For first-time visitors, the center offers a welcoming and sophisticated experience, featuring multiple theaters with comfortable seating, excellent acoustics, and modern amenities. Its riverside location provides beautiful views, making it a great place to enjoy a pre-show dinner.
The allure of the Broward Center lies not only in its diverse programming—from world-class musicals and ballets to intimate jazz concerts—but also in its role as a vibrant community gathering spot that showcases the rich cultural fabric of Fort Lauderdale.
7. Visit Family-Friendly Museums and Gardens
The Museum of Discovery and Science is a top choice for family-friendly activities in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, offering interactive exhibits and an IMAX theater. Visitors can enjoy a variety of amenities designed to delight all ages, including engaging educational play areas, delicious on-site dining options, and fully accessible facilities that ensure a comfortable and memorable experience for everyone.
Flamingo Gardens in nearby Davie features botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuaries, and offers a family-friendly experience with its diverse plant life and animal exhibits. Amenities at Flamingo Gardens include shaded picnic areas, stroller rentals, and guided tours for added comfort and convenience.
Butterfly World in nearby Coconut Creek is also another great spot for families to enjoy the beauty of thousands of butterflies, with amenities like gift shops, snack bars, and interactive gardens.
8. Take a Bike or Segway Tours along the Riverwalk
Explore the great outdoors in Fort Lauderdale with a variety of guided tours and outdoor adventures. Try Segway tours along the Riverwalk, bike rentals on the scenic A1A Coastal trail, or a kayak paddle down the New River — this city rewards you for getting off the couch.
Locals know that two wheels (or two motorized platforms) are genuinely the best way to soak in the “Venice of America” vibe, gliding past mega-yachts, celebrity mansions, and sun-drenched waterways that you’d completely miss from a car.
Tour operators to check out:
- Segway Fort Lauderdale — Open daily 8 AM–6 PM; their tours cover 5–10 miles along the Riverwalk past multi-million-dollar yachts and mansions. Options range from a short Riverwalk experience to a 2-hour, 8-mile Venice of America tour crossing the 17th Street Causeway bridge.
- Riverwalk Activities — Located along the New River in the historic Downtown Himmarshee Village, they offer multi-day bike rentals so you can explore at your own pace. Their Classic Fort Lauderdale Bike Tour winds through the Riverwalk, the charming Colee Hammock neighborhood, and down Las Olas all the way to the beach.
9. Window Shop Fort Lauderdale’s Boats
Explore private yacht charters, deep-sea fishing, sailing excursions, tiki boat tours, and sightseeing cruises that showcase the city’s waterfront mansions and superyachts. Fort Lauderdale has several great spots to do some serious boat-gazing:
- Bahia Mar Marina — Home to the famous Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, this is ground zero for superyacht spotting year-round. Walk the docks, and you’ll see some jaw-dropping vessels just sitting there.
- 15th Street Fisheries & Lauderdale Marina — Grab a drink at the dockside bar and watch massive yachts cruise in and out of Port Everglades. The tarpon feeding alone is worth the stop.
- Las Olas Marina — Right in the heart of downtown, this is a great perch to watch everything from sailboats to sport fishers come and go along the New River.
- 17th Street Causeway Bridge — Locals know this is one of the best free spots in the city. When the bridge lifts, you get a parade of yachts passing right in front of you.
- Riverwalk — A leisurely stroll along the New River gives you a front-row seat to the city’s floating real estate — some of the most expensive yachts in the world are docked here.
Don’t miss dining at marina hotspots like 15th Street Fisheries, which offers fresh seafood with waterfront views — and yes, you can hand-feed the resident six-foot tarpons right off the dock while you wait for your table. Locals will tell you: the water is Fort Lauderdale. Skip a day at the beach and get on it instead.
10. Shop and Dine on Las Olas Boulevard
This lively boulevard is lined with independent boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, and popular restaurants where you can eat, such as Louie Bossi. For Mexican food and appealing happy hours, try El Camino. If you’re in the mood for sushi, 17th Street Thai Sushi is highly praised for its quality. It’s perfect for shopping, dining, and enjoying evening entertainment.
11. Visit Sawgrass Mills and the Galleria Mall
For bargain shopping enthusiasts, Sawgrass Mills stands out as the largest outlet mall in the United States, featuring over 350 stores with a wide range of brand-name and designer goods at discounted prices. It’s a shopper’s paradise offering everything from fashion and accessories to home goods and electronics, making it an ideal destination for visitors looking to score great deals. While not directly in Fort Lauderdale, it’s nearby in Sunrise.
On the other hand, the Galleria Mall offers a more upscale indoor shopping experience, with luxury retailers, fine-dining options, and elegant boutiques.
12. Experience Fort Lauderdale’s Nightlife
Relax with drinks and live music on Las Olas Boulevard or along the beach promenade. The nightlife here is vibrant but more laid-back compared to Miami, offering a variety of bars, lounges, and live music venues where you can enjoy everything from jazz and blues to contemporary hits.
You can sip cocktails by the water, enjoy craft beers at a local brewery, or dance the night away at a lively club. Many venues feature outdoor seating with views of the ocean or dazzling city lights at night, creating an inviting atmosphere to unwind after a day of exploring the city’s attractions and stunning beaches.
13. Attend Annual Events and Festivals
Plan your visit around major events for unique local experiences. Here are some of the key annual events in Greater Fort Lauderdale:
- Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: Held every October, this is one of the largest boat shows in the world, showcasing luxury yachts, marine accessories, and watercraft.
- Las Olas Art Fair: Occurring twice a year, typically in March and November, this fair features works from local and national artists along Las Olas Boulevard.
- Tortuga Music Festival: Usually held in April, this popular beach music festival attracts country and rock music fans with multiple stages and top performers.
- Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade: Taking place in December, this festive parade features decorated boats cruising along Fort Lauderdale’s waterways, celebrating the holiday season.
14. Explore the Historic Stranahan House Museum
Step back in time by visiting the Stranahan House Museum, the oldest surviving structure in Broward County. This charming wooden home, built in 1901, offers a fascinating glimpse into Fort Lauderdale’s early days and pioneer life. Guided tours provide stories about the city’s founders, Frank and Ivy Stranahan, and the development of the area from a small trading post to a bustling coastal city.
The museum also hosts special events and exhibits throughout the year, making it a unique cultural experience that enriches your visit to Fort Lauderdale beyond its stunning beaches and waterways.
Tips for Getting Around Fort Lauderdale
Getting around Fort Lauderdale is a breeze, thanks to a variety of transportation options designed to help you make the most of your stay. Here’s what locals and savvy visitors rely on:
- Rent a Car — Offers the greatest flexibility for exploring attractions, beaches, and nearby neighborhoods on your own schedule. Recommended if you plan to venture to the Everglades or beyond the city core.
- Sun Trolley — Free and easy, with routes connecting downtown, Las Olas, and the beach. A great option for avoiding parking headaches on busy weekends.
- Broward County Transit Buses — Affordable routes to popular destinations across the city, making it simple to hop between Fort Lauderdale’s best beaches and local attractions without a car.
- Water Taxi — For a truly unique experience, cruise the city’s famous inland waterways between stops like Las Olas, the Riverwalk, and the beach. It’s transportation and sightseeing rolled into one.
- Bike Rentals — Ideal for exploring neighborhoods and beach areas at your own pace. The A1A Coastal trail is a local favorite for a reason.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) — Readily available throughout the city and a convenient option for nights out when you’d rather not worry about parking or driving.
No matter how you choose to get around, Fort Lauderdale makes it easy to discover its vibrant waterfront scene and beautiful shoreline.
Start Your Fort Lauderdale Adventure!
Fort Lauderdale is truly a gem on Florida’s southeastern coast, offering an unbeatable mix of stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and endless activities for every type of traveler. Soak up the sun on Fort Lauderdale Beach, cruise the city’s famous waterways, or explore charming neighborhoods and local attractions—there’s always something new to discover in Fort Lauderdale.
Ready to make your visit unforgettable? Book your stay with us at one of our comfortable rental properties and enjoy easy access to all the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale. Come experience the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure—your next great getaway awaits!
