The first time I drove The first time I drove through Fort Lauderdale on my way down to the Keys 9 years ago, I was in love. I think it was all the canals wending throughneighborhoods that got to me. It just had this certain feel to it that drew me in. I knew I would have to live there some day.
The atmosphere in Lauderdale is what drew me there. For the most part it's very laid back and accepting. Oh sure you have your transplants here and there with all their pre-conceived prejudices just like everywhere, and the city is pretty corrupt, but all that doesn't matter a bit the first time you walk along the beach on scenic A1A. In fact, all of life's problems seem to just vanish.
Besides the beach and the over all atmosphere, there are some major pluses to the place. There is no State income tax here. Less tax is always a good thing in my eyes, and there is no tax on groceries either. Booya. The city is clean, and even downtown it is safe to wander around in at night. That's a major plus. They survive from tourism here and they know it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~What To Do~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is just a ton of things to do while here. The fun never stops in sunny Lauderdale. DO bring your summer clothes year round, and possibly a light jacket during high season (Dec-March) for cooler evenings.
Shopping ~ One of the things you will want to know about are the Tourist Trap Shops... I've got the hook up for ya right here, baby! There are just tons and tons of these stores, and they carry the same or similar items, so don't pay more than you need to. Just to the north Of Cafe Del Mar (see where to eat below) is the highest priced of them all so go ahead and browse but don't pay their ridiculous prices. Go down south of Las Olas Blvd to that row of places instead. The last one south on that row even puts out specials racks on the sidewalk during low season (April-Nov) and I've scored a few $10 beach dresses and $5 shorts here. Also, up farther north (just south of Sunrise on A1A) is a little whole block of shops with great deals. Walk on back behind in there and be in tourist crap heaven!
Another good spot for souvenirs is farther up A1A in the Galt Ocean Mile area. Stop into Wings there on the right. This is a chain I always look for because they are always somewhere in every East Coast beach community and they have fabulous prices plus a huge selection.
Sea Escape ~ The Sea Escape is a gambling cruise liner. We're not talking a small party boat here, but a full size cruise ship. This particular ship was in fact used as a regular cruise ship for years and is registered in the Bahamas still. It's an 8-deck beauty that, quite frankly, surprised me with its allure. When a friend first said “gambling ship,” I was expecting all manner of ick. I was so very pleasantly surprised. It's a 5 hour cruise to nowhere, but what a great way to wile away an evening.
Water Taxi ~ You can pay $20 for one of those tour boats like the Carrie B, but you'll get the same info by just taking the Water Taxi... and it's only $7 for unlimited trips in the same day. This makes several stops along the Intracoastal Waterway so it is the most pleasant way to get around to all the usual tourist areas in Lauderdale. The staff is awesome and very informative in a most entertaining kinda way.
Las Olas Blvd ~ This is high end shopping and fine dining. Start at the Las Olas Riverfront and just stroll east toward the beach. Go ahead and set aside a whole day of browsing and eating... sure way to max out those lonely credit cards of yours.
Las Olas Riverfront ~ Touted as the newest and neatest Tourist Trap of all, I'd skip this one for now. The thing is, they opened this 'attraction' way too early and really there just isn't a whole lot there yet. Right now it's mainly chain restaurants and a few small boutique type shops, with a few museums and Stranahan House tossed in. As things get added it will eventually be a fairly cool spot (though not even close to the coolness of the San Antonio Riverwalk). If you do decide to stop in here though, eat at The Ugly Tuna (see below). There is a huge bi-level Movie complex here with 15 theaters and lots of arcade games though.
Lauderdale By The Sea ~ This is a small bedroom community in northern Lauderdale on the beach with some very good restaurants and unique shops. A pleasant day trip at the very least.
Go to a Florida Panthers hockey game at the Bank Atlantic Center for a really good time. The Florida Panthers play at home quite frequently so it should be easy to schedule one of these into your agenda.
...And of course there are the myriad of fishing charters, parasailing, jet ski rentals, and time-share tours strategically placed everywhere you go. You will not get bored in Lauderdale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Where to Eat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bier Brunnen ~ Great little pub with fantastic German food if you're in the mood for schnitzel. Lots of imported beers and a fun atmosphere.
Southport Raw Bar ~ Excellent seafood at good prices, nice view of the Intracoastal Waterway while you eat. Staff is friendly and efficient. DO try both the Catfish and the Old Bay Shrimp. yum!
Café Del Mar ~ There are quite a few really good places to eat along the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, but if you want to know the best you should always ask the locals. This is what I did when I first arrived down there, and they were unanimous in stating that I simply must eat at Cafe Del Mar... so I did. Several times. What's more, I'll eat there several more times.
EuroBread & Cafe ~ One of my favorite finds in Lauderdale for breakfast is the EuroBread & Cafe. They have 3 locations in southern Florida so far, and I frequent the one across the street from the Galleria on Sunrise. I have never been disappointed. This is a fairly large and open French bakery with the front wall being all windows. You will smell the wonderful aroma before you even get parked. Step inside and you will realize you have entered pastry paradise. Look in all those glass counters... oh my! What to choose? Some things vary from day to day but the one thing that remains constant is the wonderfully friendly French owners and the awesome quality of everything here.
New River Pizza ~ Sometimes you just don't feel like getting dressed and going out to eat, and you have zero desire to cook. That's when I'm very glad I discovered New River Pizza. Very extensive menu, good food delivered hot, reasonably priced.
Spaggia ~ Spaggia opened just 2 years ago as of this writing, and already had a loyal local following among the beach folks within the first week. This is indeed the best pizza I have ever tasted. Don't let that give you the wrong visual here, though, this is not your run-of-the-mill pizza parlor. Oh no. It's a fairly upscale techno kinda place serving much more than the best pies in the country.
Greek Islands Taverna ~ The walls have grape leaves hanging, there are wine racks everywhere, and interspersed you will find a lot of Greek woven handicrafts. The atmosphere is low-key yet decidedly Greek, and the owners are full blooded Greeks. Very out going and friendly. They care a great deal about the quality of their food, even down to growing their own marvellous tomatoes. DO try the Ladoregano Half Chicken with a side of their awesome Tzatziki.
Bahia Cabana ~ This one is beach-bar kinda place with live music situated on the Bahia Mar Harbor so it has a great water view and a fun atmosphere. Leave the kids at home; avoid the Conch Fritters... other menu items like the Prime Rib are a good bet though.
Hooters ~ This Hooters is located in Beach Place, and has an excellent ocean view from their second floor balcony. Do try the Crab Legs and Hot Shrimps.
Ugly Tuna Saloona ~ The owners of the Adobe Gilas and Lulu's Bait Shack have decided to take fun one step further. The result is Ugly Tuna Saloona. This is located in the over-hyped Las Olas Riverfront tourist trap in Ft Lauderdale. Ugly Tuna Saloona is almost reason enough by itself to grab the Water Taxi and head on over to this silly spot. Good food, fun atmosphere, reasonable prices.
The Margarita Café ~ This one is on the main strand overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Great view, good food, party atmosphere, but a bit pricier than it should probably be.
The Floridian ~ On Las Olas, this is open 24 hours for us night owls. Great down-home food for a very reasonable price. It is one of my favorite spots.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Where Not To Eat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15th Street Fisheries ~ The first thing I saw on the menu was, of course, lobster... and for only $15.95 on the lunch menu! Woohoo! I'm a shellfish freak so this was what looked like a definite score. Looked like. What I got was this whole lobster that was just so damn tough and tasteless accompanied by the grossest tasting version of pseudo drawn butter I've ever cared to come across. This is the first time in my 47 years that I have left a lobster unfinished. BLECH!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Where to Stay… or Not~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sea Beach Plaza ~ MAYBE. Looking for an old fashioned actual beachy-type place to stay while in Ft Lauderdale? Tired of all those over-priced Sheratons and want a feel of old Lauderdale? Want to stay with other Divers for a good rate? This is your spot... just avoid that old rickety elevator.
Ask Me Inn ~ MAYBE. I liked this one so much I stayed for 3 months. This is a small, affordable motel on the Barrier Island. Clean, charming, and has tons of character, along with being in a great location. The problem is the sometimes-unpredictablebehavior of the owner.
Courtyard Ft. Lauderdale East ~ DO. Not the best location, but not too far from Lauderdale By The Sea. A very decent mid-range property at around $150 in high season. Great for families with a medium income budget.
The Atlantic ~ DO. This one just opened in July 2004 and is fabulous! It's right on the beach (which means across the street here) and the staff is just the best ever. The catch here is this one will run you a minimum of about $500 in high season for a regular room, and upwards of a grand for a Junior Suite. In low season you may be able to score a room in the $200-ish range. It is sooo worth the splurge though.
Holiday Inn Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel ~ MAYBE. Stay at this one only if you are a family on a very tight budget. They do have a nice outdoor pool and a small closet of an exercise room. It's in a great location too and reasonably priced for the beach... but the rooms are kinda blindingly gaudy and the staff just ain't all that.
Ocean Holiday Motel ~ NOT. When I pulled into Ft. Lauderdale I had been driving for days and was just at that brain dead point. I was looking for somewhere affordable to stay a few days to get my bearings and decide what to do next when I spied a sign along A1A that promised really cheap rooms right there on the beach. I ended up with a room for the week at the Ocean Holiday Motel for $280 plus tax. You really can't beat $40 a night right on the beach, right? You get what you pay for. That was off-season prices and so NOT worth it at all... I do suggest you read my full review and avoid this one.
Days Inn Airport South ~ MAYBE. The location for vacationers could be a bit better, but for business travellers it's perfect. The rooms are clean and nice, and the staff is terrific. If you're looking for affordable and don't mind driving to attractions, go ahead and check in here.
Wish You Were Here ~ MAYBE. Great location, so-so rooms. Nice little inn with buckets of local flavor, but be careful... they have been known to charge more than their posted maximums for the rooms. That is a big no-no.
~~~~~~~~~Had Enough Yet?~~~~~~~~~~~
Fort Lauderdale is absolutely worth planning an entire vacation around. There is a lot of construction along the south end of the beach right now with old hotels coming down and new Condos going up, but even that can't take away from the fabulous weather and ocean fun. Come on down!
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Comments: 18
As far as the interview process goes, I will not be back in the US until March, when I will be in Houston for approx 3 months. After that I will be off again, this time to Hungary and Romania.
Great overview on Fort Lauderdale. You definitely sound like someone who has spent a lot of time there.
I decided to give this correspondent thing a try as well and posted my review on the Tower of London. Let's see if they lure me away from Epinions.
Adrienne
Robin... thanks for the reminder. There is one right now I need to work on.
B
Barb... sorry about the delay. I went down to watch a movie right after sending that to you.
I will be in Houston the end of Feb thru the end of May for the purposes of your interviewing itinerary. I sent an emailo inquiring as to the time frame of these interviews, along with other information, but have yet to receive a response. I hope this within your range.