Things to do in  Fort Lauderdale

Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale is a scenic waterfront promenade along the New River in Fort Lauderdale's historic downtown district. Stretching just over a mile (1.6 kilometers), it links a series of parks, plazas, and tropical walkways. Visitors come for relaxed riverside strolls, boat watching, and easy access to nearby shops, museums, movie theaters, cafés, and restaurants—the perfect mix of green spaces and city attractions.

The Historic Stranahan House Museum is the oldest surviving structure in Fort Lauderdale. It was built in 1902 as a trading post by Frank Stranahan, the founder of the city, and used by Stranahan’s wife, Ivy, as a school house. Over the decades it has also served as a post office, community center, and town hall. Today it’s a historic attraction that’s open daily for guided tours.

Thanks to more than 23 miles (37 kilometers) of pristine sand, visitors to the Fort Lauderdale beachfront are spoiled for choice when it comes to water sports and sunbathing spots. Spend the day swimming, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, or more—or stay on land playing volleyball, jogging, or just kicking back in a lounge chair.

You can spend a full day strolling up and down this eclectic South Florida district, which is filled with art galleries, boutiques, and al fresco dining options. The 10 blocks that span all the way to the ocean are lined with palm trees and Mediterranean architecture, and set the stage for a relaxing day or night in Fort Lauderdale.

Stretching 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) between the United States' Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway provides easy access to maritime activities and on-shore attractions along the 300 miles (483 kilometers) of inland canals that wind through south Florida's unmistakable sky-high resorts and Everglades ecosystem.

Sandwiched between the sizzling beaches of Miami and the white sands of Key West, Everglades National Park stands in stark contrast to its seductive neighbors—but don't make the mistake of passing it by. Visit the park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States—to discover for yourself why it draws more than one million visitors every year.

With soft, white sand and clean, calm waters ideal for families and people who like to wade and relax in the ocean, Las Olas Beach is the quintessential Fort Lauderdale beach. The beach offers great sunbathing, and you can also rent beach umbrellas and chairs.

The Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, which spans 80 acres (73 hectares) of land, is a ruggedly beautiful park in the middle of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There’s something for everyone here: paved paths for bicyclists, several nature trails for hikers, and more than 200 plant species. A freshwater lagoon is a great place for canoeing or kayaking, and you can fish here, too.

The NSU Art Museum is located on Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard, a key part of the vibrant art district. Visitors can view more than 6,000 works in the museum’s international collection, which has a strong focus on South Florida and Caribbean culture, with artwork by Cuban artists, William Glackens, and northern European CoBrA artists.

Everglades Holiday Park is a classic introduction to the Florida Everglades and its wild inhabitants. Geared toward the whole family, the 29-acre (11.7-hectare) park has been entertaining and educating visitors for almost 40 years and is also the home of Animal Planet’sGator Boys TV show.

More than 200 interactive exhibits await families at this Fort Lauderdale museum, which is dedicated to curiosity and exploration. With the largest captive live Atlantic coral reef habitat, an IMAX theater, an Everglades Airboat Adventure, and an FA-18 cockpit 7D simulator, the museum offers children and their parents a day of exploration.

Located only 30 minutes outside of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Sawgrass Recreation Park offers guided airboat tours in the Florida Everglades. Visitors can glide through the marshy swamp waters while learning about the local ecosystem and wildlife. Potential sightings in this area include alligators, native birds, pythons, and even black leopards. On land, there’s a wildlife sanctuary where visitors can see rescued reptiles and mammals.

Flamingo Gardens celebrates Florida’s native jungle ecosystem with a 60-acre (24-hectare) landscape that’s home to more than 3,000 plant and flower species. As well as being one of the oldest botanical gardens in South Florida, it also houses a wildlife sanctuary with diverse species, including alligators, panthers, and river otters. This makes it a fun day out for the whole family.

Hollywood Beach—located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale—is famous for its red-brick boardwalk, which has been named one of the best beach boardwalks in America. In addition to admiring the panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, visitors flock here for beach time, cycling, rollerblading, and jogging. There’s also a water playground nearby, as well as plenty of shops and outdoor cafés.

Shop until you drop at Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet and value retail destination in the country. Just outside Fort Lauderdale, the shopping center features more than 350 stores, with plenty for both high-end fashion lovers and bargain hunters. A movie theater, a family fun area, and lots of dining options round out the experience.