Fort Lauderdale suggestions?

[MichelleCanada]

We have a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale next summer so we can check our the new Lighthouse Island. We have never been there before and we are coming a long way. Any suggestions as to how many days to add to the trip and what to do in the area?

 

[Calantha]

We have a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale next summer so we can check our the new Lighthouse Island. We have never been there before and we are coming a long way. Any suggestions as to how many days to add to the trip and what to do in the area?

So, my great uncle lives down there and we've visited a few times. I can't say that it is a great destination to do things at (like Orlando). We went to the beach and went around in his boat (on the intercoastal waterway). There's a Science Museum and a Flamingo Reserve. I know a lot of people use a day to do an Everglades Tour. You could drive down to Miami for the day (an hour or so). There's tons of stuff to do down there (eat or see Miami Beach). Another time we drove all the way down to the Keys, but that was a several day turn around.

 

[starvenger]

Outside of the beach and maybe outlet mall shopping I would say that there's nothing much to Fort Lauderdale that you haven't seen before.

With that said, Miami is nearby, and if you've got a few days, a trip to the Keys might not be a bad trip. We were actually planning on doing something like this back in 2020 before our Symphony cruise, but that of course never ended up happening.

For the sportsball fans you could probably catch a Marlins game or see the Dolphins do an open practice. And apparently Inter Miami is based in Fort Lauderdale so maybe you can see Messi play.

 

[MichelleCanada]

Thank you for the suggestions!! Miami sounds like a good idea. And we are definitely sports fans - so also a great suggestion!! We thought about booking a second cruise and doing a B2B. But maybe just some beach time and checking out the area is a better plan for our money.

 

[auntlynne]

Post-cruise, I dropped off my niece at the FLL airport, rented a car, drove to Key West, and was back at the airport to catch a late evening flight.

Even without going all the way to Key West, the water in the Keys would be worth getting away from the Florida Atlantic Coast.

If I had a few days (and some $$), I would head to a Key West, do a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park (ferry or float plane - I did the latter), then back to FLL.

Last year, we stayed at Ft Lauderdale Beach; there was nothing particularly pretty nor charming about it or the area. Same could be said for Miami. (I have enjoyed vacations to lots of places. Actually, it is FL in general that holds little interest for me - other than as starting ports to other places. And WDW. The Gulf beaches are more appealing). South Beach in Miami looks to be prettier than Ft Lauderdale.

I would also consider Everglades (2 hr away) and Biscayne National Parks (just South of Miami).

 

[DisneyConvert]

"Elbo Room"?

 

[princesscinderella]

"Elbo Room"?

That is a neat little bar, one of the hotels too on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale has a mermaid show, it used to be called the Yankee Clipper.

A great place to stay is at Dania Pointe pre cruse it has a few hotels around there and a nice outdoor restaurant shopping complex to get a bite to eat or pick up something if you forget to pack it and it’s close to the port.

Hollywood beach is a much nicer beach with a nice boardwalk you can rent bikes and ride down than Ft. Lauderdale as it’s shoreline has receded greatly after the last few storms and you are right next to A1A and it’s always busy with cars.

The Everglades is a beautiful thing to see and unique to Fl. Billy swamp safari is way west in broward county if you didn’t want to trek down to Miami. Driving is not for the faint of heart down here some drivers think they are in the movie fast and furious.

 

[grantclaire]

Another vote for Hollywood beach and area. Nice beach,lots of restaurants. There is a water taxi stop and you can travel along the intercoastal with an all day pass. Downtown Fort Lauderdale is also very nice.