Insider’s Guide To The Venice Of America

Fort Lauderdale is one of those rare destinations that surprises you. Yes, there are the beaches – 24 miles of them – but scratch beneath the surface and you will find a city with genuine personality: rotating rooftop bars, decade-spanning tiki culture, a street art scene that rivals Wynwood without the crowds, and a mermaid show that has been running since 1956.

Whether you are arriving for a long weekend or using Fort Lauderdale as a base for exploring South Florida, this guide covers the best and most unique things to do in Fort Lauderdale – from sustainable Everglades adventures to luxury waterfront dining.

1. Tour of Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

One of the most quietly beautiful things to do in Fort Lauderdale, Bonnet House is a 35-acre historic estate right on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Accredited by the American Association of Museums and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this extraordinary property blends art, history and nature in equal measure.

The house itself is a time capsule of bohemian elegance, filled with the personal collections of artists Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, while the surrounding gardens are home to an island theater, swans and a wealth of subtropical wildlife. It is utterly unlike anywhere else in South Florida – set aside at least two hours to explore properly.

2. Flamingo Gardens Wildlife Sanctuary

For nature lovers, Flamingo Gardens in Davie is a genuine hidden gem just west of the city. This botanical sanctuary spread over 60 acres is home to over 3,000 species of plants and trees, including one of the most significant collections of champion trees in Florida, as well as the largest collection of Florida native wildlife in the state. Most of the wildlife were badly injured at the time of their rescue, and they’re very well looked after here.

You will find wildlife encounter demonstrations, a narrated tram tour, the historical Wray Home Museum and resident flamingos in natural lagoon settings. There’s a large souvenir shop and also a cafe close to the flamingo enclosure.

3. Tiki Bar Culture: The Elbo Room and Beyond

Fort Lauderdale’s tiki bar scene is not a gimmick – it is a genuine piece of living history. The Elbo Room first opened in 1938 and is one of the oldest continuously operating establishments in the area, sitting at the corner of Las Olas Boulevard and A1A with just a two-lane road separating it from the Atlantic Ocean.

It gained nationwide recognition when it featured in the iconic 1960 film “Where the Boys Are”, which helped make Fort Lauderdale the spring break capital of a generation – and in 1996 it became the first commercial establishment in the world to broadcast live via webcam. Live music plays daily from 11am until close, and the Florida Panthers famously celebrated their Stanley Cup wins here. Part dive bar, part open-air shrine to beach culture – an essential stop.

Beyond the Elbo Room, Fort Lauderdale has a thriving tiki scene all along the waterfront. Look out for floating tiki bar boat tours along the New River, where you can sip rum punches while drifting past the mansions of Millionaires’ Row – a distinctly Fort Lauderdale experience.

4. An Everglades Day Trip

No trip to Fort Lauderdale is complete without venturing into the Everglades – one of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems and just a short drive from the city. Sawgrass Recreation Park offers the classic airboat experience, skimming across the grass river at speed with the chance to spot alligators, herons and turtles at close range.

For an immersive and sustainable option, take an expert naturalist-led small-group tour from Fort Lauderdale. Tours regularly sell out, so book ahead.

5. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Tucked between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of the city, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is Fort Lauderdale’s own version of Central Park. Gifted to the city by naturalist Hugh Taylor Birch in the early 1900s, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is home to over 200 bird species, gopher tortoises, turtles and a mile-long freshwater coastal dune lake.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals are available on site for exploring the ancient dune lake ecosystem, and the park also offers a monthly Full Moon Kayak Tour, where guests paddle the lake by moonlight with luci lights in hand. Rangers lead free guided nature walks on selected days. For a park surrounded by one of the most densely developed stretches of South Florida coastline, the sense of wilderness here is remarkable.

6. Fort Lauderdale Food Tour

A food tour in Fort Lauderdale typically takes in everything from fresh ceviche and Cuban bites to craft beer and locally made gelato – and it gives you the insider context that makes the neighbourhood make sense. We went on the Craft Food Tour and really enjoyed the mix of different eateries.

Based in and around Las Olas Boulevard, it included a good selection of savoury and sweet treats. Running east from downtown towards the beach, the mile-long stretch is lined with independent restaurants, craft cocktail bars and waterfront dining spots that reflect the city’s multicultural influences. After your tour, pop into Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar, a family-run establishment in operation since 1976.

The soul of Fort Lauderdale runs along Las Olas Boulevard, a mile-long stretch from downtown to the beach lined with boutique shops, art galleries, independent restaurants and cocktail bars. It is endlessly walkable and genuinely characterful, with beautiful waterfront homes and tropical landscaping on either side as you approach the ocean end.

7. Luxury Shopping at Sawgrass Mills

Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet shopping destination in the United States, sitting just west of Fort Lauderdale in Sunrise. This is not your average outlet mall – the complex includes the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, which houses luxury and premium brands including Prada, Gucci, Burberry and Michael Kors at significant discounts.

With over 350 stores across a sprawling complex, it warrants a dedicated half-day at minimum. Go early on weekday mornings to shop without weekend crowds.

8. Historic Stranahan House

Built in 1901 as a trading post on the banks of the New River, the Stranahan House is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale’s most storied building. Home to city pioneer Frank Stranahan and his wife Ivy – a teacher to the Seminole Tribe – the house has served as a post office, community centre, town hall and residence over its 125-year history, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guided tours run most weekdays, walking visitors through the beautifully restored rooms and the fascinating, occasionally haunted history of the family who built Fort Lauderdale from scratch.

9. The Rotating Bar at Pier Top, Pier Sixty-Six

The Pier Top bar at Pier Sixty-Six is one of Fort Lauderdale’s most iconic experiences. Sitting atop the resort’s historic tower – which has been given a landmark designation as part of the property’s recent billion-dollar transformation – the rotating lounge offers 360-degree views across the Intracoastal, the city skyline and the Atlantic.

Order a cocktail and let the city slowly turn around you. There is genuinely nothing else quite like it in South Florida.

10. Dock and Dine at Sotogrande, Pier Sixty-Six

Pier Sixty-Six reopened in January 2025 after a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar transformation, and its culinary scene has become one of the most talked-about in Fort Lauderdale. Among several dining destinations on site, Sotogrande is the waterfront centrepiece – a sun-drenched homage to Southern Spain and the Eastern Mediterranean, with bold, shareable plates, communal tables and an outdoor patio that overlooks the resort’s superyacht marina directly.

With 5,000 linear feet of deep-water dockage accommodating vessels up to 400 feet, Pier Sixty-Six draws some of the most spectacular boats on the eastern seaboard – making lunch at Sotogrande one of the finest spots in Fort Lauderdale for watching the waterfront theatre unfold. Arrive by water taxi for the full effect.

11. A Sunset Cruise Along Millionaires’ Row

Few things to do in Fort Lauderdale match the romance of a sunset cruise along Millionaires’ Row, the stretch of Intracoastal Waterway lined with celebrity estates, waterfront mansions and some of the world’s largest privately owned yachts. The Sea Rocket Sunset Cruise is the only ocean-going sunset option, heading out past the Intracoastal to the Atlantic for unobstructed views as the sky shifts through shades of orange and pink.

Water Taxi also operates a monthly Sunset Music Cruise with live entertainment. Whichever you choose, an hour on the water at golden hour is one of the defining Fort Lauderdale experiences.

12. A Day Trip to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Just north of Fort Lauderdale proper, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is its own incorporated town – a deliberately low-key seaside village that feels worlds away from the high-rises further south, and well worth a half or full day out.

The centrepiece is Anglin’s Pier on Commercial Boulevard, which first opened in November 1963 and stretches 876 feet out to sea – the longest fishing pier in South Florida. Walk its full length for sweeping ocean views, or pay the small entry fee to fish alongside the regulars. There is a tackle shop at the entrance selling bait and gear.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is also known as Florida’s beach diving capital, with an excellent shallow reef and several accessible shipwrecks just offshore. It’s one of the best spots in the state for a beginner-friendly dive or snorkel straight off the beach, no boat required.

The town centre around El Mar Drive is dotted with low-rise boutique hotels, ice cream parlours and seafood shacks, giving it a genuinely old Florida charm that has mostly disappeared on this stretch of coast. Dunes Plaza offers Adirondack chairs and colourful umbrellas – an excellent spot for people-watching.

It is a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Fort Lauderdale, making it an easy half-day addition to any itinerary – particularly for those who want a quieter, more residential stretch of beach than Fort Lauderdale Beach itself offers.

13. The Wreck Bar

The Wreck Bar is a nautical-themed bar designed to resemble the interior of a sunken Spanish galleon, complete with aquariums and salty décor throughout – plus large portholes that look directly into the hotel’s pool, creating the uncanny effect of gazing out from an underwater shipwreck. It sits inside the B Ocean Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and it remains one of the most genuinely unique things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

This bar also runs the only mermaid show in South Florida, operating in some capacity since 1956, when the property was known as the Yankee Clipper Hotel. The schedule runs Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday and Thursday evenings offer atmospheric mermaid sightings from 7:30pm, open to all guests.

Friday and Saturday nights bring the Siren Serenade Showgirls Mermaid Show, with the 21 and older evening starting at 9pm. The Sunday Mermaids and Mimosas brunch is a more family-friendly option. Book well in advance – it fills quickly and seating is limited.

How to Get To Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of South Florida’s best-connected airports, with direct flights from across the US, Canada and Europe. It sits just 4.8 miles from Pier Sixty-Six, making it one of the easiest major airport arrivals in Florida.

If you are travelling from within Florida, the high-speed Brightline train offers a comfortable, stress-free journey from Miami, Aventura, Boca Raton or West Palm Beach, with the Fort Lauderdale station conveniently located just a short walk from Las Olas. Brightline connects Fort Lauderdale to Miami or West Palm Beach in around 30 minutes.

Premium tickets include lounge access, food and beverage service and a ride credit to your final destination. It is by far the most civilised way to travel along the South Florida corridor.

How to Get Around

Fort Lauderdale is refreshingly navigable without a car, particularly if you are staying near the beach or downtown.

The Sun Trolley is free on most routes and runs every 30 minutes throughout downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard and Fort Lauderdale Beach – a brilliant option for daytime exploring at no cost. The Riverwalk Water Trolley is a free water-bus service making 8 stops along the New River, with guided commentary as you travel – scenic as well as practical, and a lovely way to move between Riverwalk, the arts district and the marina area.

The Water Taxi connects Fort Lauderdale’s top waterfront destinations for a modest fare and is one of the best ways to move between the beach, Las Olas and the marina while enjoying the views. A Brightline+ add-on to your train fare also covers a ride to Las Olas, downtown or the beaches within 5 miles of the station.

Uber and Lyft are widely available for anything further afield. A hire car is worth considering if you plan to visit the Everglades, Sawgrass Mills or Flamingo Gardens, all of which are most easily reached by road.

Where to Stay

The Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood – We stayed at The Diplomat during our visit, and it makes an excellent base for exploring both Fort Lauderdale and the wider South Florida area. This iconic beachfront resort in Hollywood – just south of Fort Lauderdale – has two 36-storey towers, 1,000 rooms, direct beach access, a full-service spa and a pool complex that is one of the finest on the South Florida coast. The location, midway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, makes it ideal for day trips in either direction.

Pier Sixty-Six – For those who want to be at the centre of the Fort Lauderdale waterfront scene, Pier Sixty-Six offers 325 sleek guest rooms and 88 luxury residences, set on the Intracoastal Waterway with superyacht views from every angle. The 13,000 sq ft Zenova Spa and Wellness includes a snow room, vitality pool and ceremonial sauna. With twelve dining experiences on site and a resort shuttle running daily, it is the most immersive luxury option in the city.

Omni Fort Lauderdale – Opened in early 2026, the Omni is Fort Lauderdale’s newest flagship luxury hotel, with 801 guest rooms and 82 suites across 29 floors on the Intracoastal Waterway. The 29-storey property features six dining venues, more than 120,000 sq ft of event space, a full-service Mokara Spa and the Ibis Sky Lounge on the rooftop – currently the highest bar in Fort Lauderdale, with nearly 360-degree views across the city, ocean and waterway. It is a genuinely impressive addition to the city’s hotel landscape.

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