Anyone dreaming of a carefree, casual summer vacation in Florida should definitely shortlist Fort Lauderdale. The eighth largest city in the popular US state, nicknamed “Sunshine State”, has everything that makes a great beach vacation – and a little more. See Abbreviationfinder.org for acronyms about Fort Lauderdale.
Because Fort Lauderdale is recommended not only with wonderful weather and wide, miles of beaches. In addition to diverse gastronomy and a lively nightlife, it also offers high-quality shopping, a lot of culture and excursion options that leave nothing to be desired. Would you like a few examples? Please one Tour to the Everglades or one Boat trip over to the Bahamas are certainly trips that you cannot go on so quickly in any other holiday destination. The proximity to Miami is certainly not a disadvantage. From Fort Lauderdale, the largest city in Florida can be easily explored. If you have enough of the hustle and bustle in the evening, you can look forward to returning to the somewhat quieter Fort Lauderdale.
Welcome to the Venice of America
What’s the best way to get there from Europe? Fort Lauderdale has its own international airport with direct flights from several European countries. From Germany this is rarely the case, but it is still not a problem. Because Fort Lauderdale is only about 30 kilometers from Miami; So you can also use the big neighbor’s airport. From the first day of their holiday, sun worshipers are spoiled for choice: Fort Lauderdale offers around eleven kilometers of beaches that are great for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, playing and relaxing. If you like, you can enjoy an exciting underwater world while snorkeling and diving. So there really is nothing left to be desired when it comes to spending your free time in which the “beach” and life in the sun are the focus. Of course, this also includes boats of all types and sizes. So, fancy a beach vacation? We recommend our USA Beach Vacation Checklist.
Fort Lauderdale is not called Venice of America for nothing. The whole city is criss-crossed by smaller and larger canals. If you have the necessary change, you live on one of these canals and instead of a car, park a chic yacht in front of the property.
The really big pots can then be admired in Port Everglades. This is where the cruise ships dock, which either sail up to New York, head for Mexico or have the islands of the Caribbean as their destination. That sounds “busy”? In fact, the port is a real attraction, because it not only houses the largest container terminal on the east coast of the USA, but is also the largest cruise port in the world. Ten large cruise ships and more can be moored here at the same time and over 50,000 passengers per day can be handled. Definitely a worthwhile detour!
An absolute must: the Everglades
Visiting Fort Lauderdale without the Everglades? Unthinkable! On the contrary, Fort Lauderdale is the ideal gateway to this national park with its unique and fantastic flora and fauna. Regardless of whether you call the Everglades wet marshland or swamp, a trip in a flying boat over the shallow waters should always be one of the highlights during a Florida trip-Be on vacation. Parts of the Everglades are now a protected national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are still problems. They have to do with increasing pollution and the fact that the ecological balance is no longer right. In addition, certain species, especially the tiger python introduced from Asia, contribute to the threat to other animals. Still, to this day there is great wildlife viewing in the Everglades. Raccoons, wild flamingos, herons, alligators, crocodiles, ibises, storks – the list could (still) go on and on. The Americans are also making great efforts to make amends for the past damage. By the way, the Everglades are also home to some Indian tribes who have their reserves here. The Ah-Tha-Thi-Ki-Museum in the Everglades (34725 West Boundary Road, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, offers deep insights into the history of the Seminole tribe and the culture of the Indians. www.ahtahthiki.com). Allow some time to visit this place, which combines great scenic beauty with an effort to save the fate of the Native Americans from oblivion.
A day in the city
Of course, you don’t have to leave Fort Lauderdale permanently to appreciate and love it. The city has a lot to offer besides its wonderful beaches. There is the NSU Art Museum (1, East Las Olas Boulevard, www.nsuartmuseum.org) with a permanent exhibition that shows over 7000 objects mainly from the period after the Second World War. At the same time, challenging special exhibitions are regularly organized. The International Swimming Hall of Fame (1, Hall of Fame Drive, www.ishof.org). Their exhibitions and events are dedicated to the Olympic swimming legends of the world.
If shopping is at the top of your favorite pastime list, Fort Lauderdale is paradise. There are elegant malls with chic shops here and there. On the other hand, it is not so natural that the city has one of the largest discount shopping centers in the whole of the USA. In the “Sawgrass Mills” mall there are over 350 shops, bars and restaurants.
Fort Lauderdale with children
The weather, the ocean, and the beaches alone guarantee that kids won’t get bored in Fort Lauderdale. In addition, there are also various attractions such as amusement parks and child-friendly small museums, with which both little ones can provide variety. By the way, don’t worry if the offspring is in their teens. Gone are the days when Fort Lauderdale was flooded with drinking and smoking students during spring breaks. After alcohol and drug excesses increased, the city administration stopped this development. Conservative parents need to prepare, however, that the children will experience openly displayed homosexuality. Fort Lauderdale is a very cosmopolitan and liberal city,
Fort Lauderdale in a nutshell
- Eleven kilometers of sandy beach with all imaginable water sports
- As the third largest cruise port in the world, Port Everglades is definitely worth a detour
- Ideal starting point for a visit to the Everglades National Park with the Ah-Tha-Thi-Ki Museum of the Seminole Indians
- NSU Art Museum with a focus on contemporary art
- The Sawgrass Mills Mall is one of the largest discount shopping centers in the United States
