The 10 Best Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale For The Perfect Vacation

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Fort Lauderdale is a city made for beach bums and nature lovers. People who like sun, sand, and surf like to go to Fort Lauderdale. Most tourists come to see the beaches, but there are many other things to do here as well. Fort Lauderdale is a resort city where most people live. It has a network of canals and waterways like Venice.

The city’s wide boardwalks and seemingly endless number of restaurants and shops give it a laid-back vibe that sun-starved northerners look for when they go on vacation to Florida. Fort Lauderdale has a lot more to offer than just sand and sun.

You can’t go wrong with our list of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale right now, no matter what you choose to do while exploring the busy town.

Fort Lauderdale should be on everyone’s list of places to visit. It has everything from waterways and sandy beaches, Las Olas Boulevard, Las Olas beach. Here is a list of the 10 best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the Sunshine State.

Check out our list of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, FL for more ideas. Check out these most charming small towns in Florida, if you must plan your vacation to this exciting city.

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Best Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, FL

When it comes to a vacation in Florida, Fort Lauderdale has everything that people want. It lives up to its name as the “Sunshine State” because it has a lot of great beaches, fun things to do in warm weather, and beautiful people.

If you’ve never been to Florida before, going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a great experience. We’ve made a great list for you of the best and most fun things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

Here are some of the best places in Fort Lauderdale, FL that might make you want to visit again.

1. Fort Lauderdale Beach

Fort Lauderdale Beach | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Want a beautiful beach in Florida without all the crazy partying? You might find what you want at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Here you’ll find a quieter, less crowded version of Miami Beach, but the same sugary sands and clear water.

Even though there are still parties, you are more likely to see families relaxing or walking along the waterline than loud groups of college students. Backing up to the beach, the palm tree-lined promenade is full of people shopping and eating at the many places along it. Near the shore, you can also rent beach chairs and gear for water sports.

Recent visitors loved Fort Lauderdale Beach for its long, wide beach, and some said that it didn’t feel crowded even when there were a lot of people there. Many people were also impressed by how clean the beach is and said that the calm water makes it a great place to bring kids.


2. Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk

Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Most tourists don’t go to the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk because it’s hidden and hard to find. However, if you have the time, it’s well worth going there. This peaceful and beautiful 2.5-mile trail is not on the usual tourist route. It follows the New River as it flows towards the ocean, passing historic homes and condos along the way. One of the most beautiful places in Fort Lauderdale.

Along its path, the Riverwalk goes through 10 parks, and each park has its own things to do. Some have beautiful gardens, others have places to work out, and some have structures for kids to play on. You can walk the route or take the free Riverwalk Water Trolley that goes through the water every day. Along the river, there are many restaurants with shady patios that are great for a leisurely lunch or a nice dinner.


3. Las Olas Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

From downtown Fort Lauderdale to the ocean, Las Olas Boulevard is the place to see and be seen. Here, there are a lot of tourist spots and things to do, like shopping at more than 100 stores and eating at more than 100 restaurants. Some of the best stores in Fort Lauderdale are here, and they sell things like high-end clothes, art, and jewelry.

People also like to go to Las Olas Boulevard to eat. The street is full of cafés and bistros, and many of them have patios. A popular thing to do is to find a good spot on a comfortable patio and get ready to do a lot of people watching. Or, after a hot day, have dinner with a candlelight under the fairy lights that hang from the palm trees along the road.


4. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a mix of art, architecture, history, and ecology. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been named a Fort Lauderdale landmark. One of the top attractions in Fort Lauderdale.

Frederic Clay Bartlett made the plans for the historic house, which was built in 1920. Collections of art and personal treasures are on display. The Birch/Bartlett family used to spend the winters there when it was 36 acres in size. In the middle of all the commercial development along the Fort Lauderdale beachfront, the estate’s grounds are still an oasis of coastal wilderness.

The grounds are a barrier island habitat with five ecosystems. There is a beach, dunes, a maritime forest, a freshwater slough, and delicate mangrove wetlands. There is a hibiscus garden, a desert garden, and the Orchid Display House in the formal gardens.


5. Fort Lauderdale Beach Park

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park is less than a mile south of Las Olas Boulevard. It calls to families who want to do more than just swim and lay out on the beach. At this free beachfront park, people can use volleyball and basketball courts, outdoor showers, restrooms, a playground, and a picnic area with tables and grills.

Also, the park’s beach is less crowded than nearby Fort Lauderdale Beach, and there are always lifeguards on duty during the day. Every day from 5 a.m. to midnight, people can go to Fort Lauderdale Beach Park.


6. Museum of Discovery and Science

Museum of Discovery and Science | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

There are both permanent and changing exhibits and programs at the Museum of Discovery and Science that are fun and educational for the whole family. In the Prehistoric Florida exhibit, you can meet dinosaurs and look at real fossils. You can also learn about the ecosystems of modern Florida, including one of the largest living coral reefs on display.

The Storm Center and the Wall of Wind both talk about hurricanes and how they affect all parts of life. Immersive activities include the Everglades Airboat Adventure and the IMAX theater, where you can watch both nature films and movies.


7. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Hugh Taylor Birch gave this state park to the people of Florida as a gift. Between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean is a 180-acre park that used to be his home.

This green area is a welcome oasis where you can go for a quiet walk on the trails or have a picnic in the afternoon. You can rent canoes or bring your own stand-up paddleboard and head out onto the freshwater lagoon to watch wildlife or fish.

The park has access to the beach and paved paths where you can ride a bike or rollerblade. Guests shouldn’t miss the Birch House Museum, where they can learn about the history of the park and its founder, as well as the ecological importance of its location as a barrier island.


8. NSU Art Museum

NSU Art Museum | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

The NSU Art Museum is a modern, three-story building in Fort Lauderdale’s upscale Las Olas neighborhood. It has more than 7,000 permanent works of art. Some of the most important exhibits focus on the work of women and artists from different cultures, Latin American and Cuban art, and African and Oceanic Tribal Arts.

David Horvitz and Francie Bishop Good have given more than 100 pieces from their collection to the NSU Art Museum. Works by Cecily Brown, Catherine Opie, and Kiki Smith, among many others, are among the best. There are also educational programs, special events, and traveling exhibits at the museum all year long.


9. Everglades Holiday Park

Everglades Holiday Park | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

In recent years, “Gator Boys” on Animal Planet has made Everglades Holiday Park more well-known. Cast members now host daily live gator shows at the park. The shows are not only fun, but they also teach people about the alligators and where they live.

The park also offers airboat tours of the surrounding wetlands. On these tours, you can learn about the unique plants and animals of the Everglades.


10. Butterfly World

Butterfly World | Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

Since 1988, people have been coming to Butterfly World to enjoy the fun of getting close to colorful butterflies. As you walk through the large gardens, there will be thousands of flying insects all around you. Over the course of a year, up to 50 different kinds of butterflies will live at Butterfly World. But that’s not all. Butterfly World also has aviaries with tropical birds, like cute lorikeets, that you can interact with.

Ronald Boender, a former electrical engineer who was interested in raising butterflies, came up with the idea for the 3-acre attraction. He is also known for starting the “Bring Butterflies Back” campaign in 1988. This led to the creation of thousands of new habitats for butterflies and an increase in butterfly populations all over North America.


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FAQs About Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What is Fort Lauderdale best known for?

The beaches, arts, culture, and events of Fort Lauderdale are well known. This is the “Venice of America,” with shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, gondola rides on the canals, and a historic riverfront. Along Las Olas Boulevard, you can shop, eat, and see old buildings.

What is there to do in Fort Lauderdale for 4 hours?

Best Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk.
Las Olas Boulevard.
Rent a Bicycle.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens.
Paddle the Venice of America.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. 

What is the nicest area of Fort Lauderdale?

Central Beach.
Harbordale.
Rio Vista.
Sailboat Bend.
Tarpon River.

How far is Fort Lauderdale from Disney?

There are 182 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Walt Disney World. The road is 208.5 miles long.

Which beach is better Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?

I think you would like Fort Lauderdale better than Hollywood Beach, where most of the people are older. There are more clubs and bars for young people, and the atmosphere is generally more lively. Hollywood Beach is beautiful, but it can be quiet at times.


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