Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

There are endless activities to please just about everybody in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Whether you have tastes for shopping, outdoor exploring, sporting events, or just relaxing surfside, Fort Lauderdale has just what you are looking for in recreational activities.

Fort Lauderdale Wildlife

There are over 500,000 acres of Everglades included in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. One way to explore this area is to visit the Flamingo Gardens and Everglades Sunbathing on Fort Lauderdale Beach

Wildlife Sanctuary. The Everglades were formed by centuries of constant overflow from Lake Okeechobee after heavy rains. In this sanctuary, visitors can take a one and a half mile-long guided tour train tour through citrus groves and rain forests. The Gardens and Sanctuary also boasts a free-flight aviary in which visitors can study native birds more closely. Observation of flamingos, otters, and alligators is also possible on the Garden's grounds. Other highlights of this sanctuary include a birds of prey exhibit, various gift and garden shops, and a fresh fruit patio. There is even a restaurant, appropriately named the Gator Grill, on the premises for visitors' enjoyment.

There are many parks throughout Fort Lauderdale in which to unwind and Empty Chairs on Fort Lauderdale Beach enjoy the Great Outdoors. One of these is the 244-acre John U. Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area. This state facility has two and a half miles of sandy beaches. Providing amenities for snorkeling, fishing, picnicking, and canoeing, this recreation area is a popular destination for families. Other great Lauderdale recreation areas include George English Park, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, and Joseph C. Carter Park.

Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Boulevard

Whether by land, boat or air, there are many different types of tours one can take to get a true appreciation for Fort Lauderdale. For great land tours, try Lauderdale's Downtown Trolley or Las Olas Horse and Carriage. The Downtown Trolley is both an affordable and comfortable way to see Lauderdale's downtown area. To see Lauderdale's Jogging on Fort Lauderdale Beach

famous Las Olas Boulevard, try a Horse and Carriage to take you to that perfect dining or shopping excursion. Though land tours are inexpensive and flexible, a water tour is perhaps a more thorough way to encounter all Fort Lauderdale has to offer. The most famous of these water tours is aboard the Jungle Queen. Operating over the last 50 years, more than six million visitors have enjoyed the Queen's four-hour tour of Fort Lauderdale. Including stops at Millionaire's Row and Indian Village, the Jungle Queen also offers a barbeque/shrimp dinner, complete with a vaudeville show and sing-a-long. For a truly unique tour of Fort Lauderdale, try hot-air ballooning. Hour-long tours are available every day of the week and are followed by traditional champagne, crackers Fort Lauderdale Beach

and cheese, and strawberries.

Shopping in Fort Lauderdale

The shopping enthusiast should find a myriad of ways to spend money in Fort Lauderdale. The Aventura Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the region, houses over 200 stores and restaurants, as well as four retail outlets. Bal Harbour Shops is another goldmine for Lauderdale shoppers. Unique for its lush garden settings, this collection of exclusive shops and boutiques is an open-air shopping area. The pinnacle of shopping in Fort Lauderdale, however, is Sawgrass Mills. Being the world's largest discount mall, Sawgrass Mills is sure to provide just the right bauble for the die-hard shopper.

Sporting Excitement in Fort Lauderdale

For sporting excitement in Fort Lauderdale, one can choose from football, Fort Lauderdale Beach

baseball, greyhound racing, or jai alai. Both the Miami Dolphins and the Florida Marlins call Lauderdale's Joe Robbie Stadium home. For greyhound racing, visit the second-oldest track in the world at Biscayne Greyhound Track. This four-story facility can hold up to 12,000 spectators. Or for something entirely Floridian, try taking in a game of jai alai at the Dania Jai Alai center. Operating five night a week, the center has three levels, including a restaurant and cafeteria.