Fort Lauderdale, FL Things to Do and Attractions
Visitors to Fort Lauderdale will not want to miss this South Florida gem. Situated between the beach and Intracoastal waterway, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens features the historic home, gardens and art studios of American artists Frederic and
Visitors to Fort Lauderdale will not want to miss this South Florida gem. Situated between the beach and Intracoastal waterway, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens features the historic home, gardens and art studios of American artists Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett. Highlights include original paintings, murals on the ceiling, faux marble walls and floors, a collection of antique china, and 35 acres of pristine barrier island ecosystem inhabited by wildlife such as monkeys, swans, wading birds, foxes and manatees. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens offers a number of lovely, serene spaces for private events, including the Island Theater for small groups and the Veranda and Courtyard for larger groups.
The museum and gardens are open for public tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 12 to 4 PM. Admission is $16 for children ages 6-12, $20 for adults and $18 for seniors ages 60 and older.
This family favorite consists of 10 acres of lush gardens, jungle habitat and rainforest fluttering with thousands of vibrantly colored butterflies. The largest butterfly aviary in the world, Butterfly World features up to 50 different species of
This family favorite consists of 10 acres of lush gardens, jungle habitat and rainforest fluttering with thousands of vibrantly colored butterflies. The largest butterfly aviary in the world, Butterfly World features up to 50 different species of butterflies on any given day. Kids and parents alike will enjoy witnessing the miracle of metamorphosis at the lab encounter, getting lost in the garden maze, traversing the suspension bridge, and getting up close and personal with some intriguing insects at the new Bug Zoo. Additionally, Butterfly World features botanical gardens, exotic birds, fish ponds, waterfalls and an aromatic English Rose garden. After a day of discovery, guests can enjoy refreshments at the scenic Lakeside Café.
Butterfly World is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $16.95 for children ages 3-11 and $21.95 for adults.
The 1.5-mile palm tree-lined Beachfront Promenade, made famous by the 1960s film Where the Boys Are, has grown up since its former spring break days and is now showing off a new, casual sophistication. Designated as one of the cleanest, safest and
The 1.5-mile palm tree-lined Beachfront Promenade, made famous by the 1960s film Where the Boys Are, has grown up since its former spring break days and is now showing off a new, casual sophistication. Designated as one of the cleanest, safest and most user-friendly beaches in the country, Fort Lauderdale Beach offers pristine sands and warm, blue Atlantic waters. After enjoying the surf, visitors can take a leisurely stroll down the picturesque promenade, enjoy its signature wave wall, and stop in at the cafés, shops and restaurants speckled along its path.
Guests can set sail aboard a luxury yacht for an exhilarating sightseeing cruise through the "Venice of America". Riverfront Cruises glide through Fort Lauderdale's twisting inland waterways allowing guests an unparalleled view of historic landmarks,
Guests can set sail aboard a luxury yacht for an exhilarating sightseeing cruise through the "Venice of America". Riverfront Cruises glide through Fort Lauderdale's twisting inland waterways allowing guests an unparalleled view of historic landmarks, local attractions, grand celebrity estates and stunning mega-yachts. This narrated one-and-a-half-hour tour describes the sites, history and legends of Fort Lauderdale's wondrous waterways.
Cruises depart from Las Olas Riverfront Entertainment Complex daily at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM. Sunset Cruises depart Monday through Saturday at 6 PM. Tickets cost $4 for children under 4, $11 for juniors ages 4-10, $18 for adults and $16 for seniors.
Visitors to Fort Lauderdale will no doubt enjoy a scenic stroll down the lovely and lively Las Olas Boulevard. Dating from 1917, Las Olas, meaning "the waves" in Spanish, is home to some of the oldest sites in the region including the Riverside
Visitors to Fort Lauderdale will no doubt enjoy a scenic stroll down the lovely and lively Las Olas Boulevard. Dating from 1917, Las Olas, meaning "the waves" in Spanish, is home to some of the oldest sites in the region including the Riverside Hotel, the oldest hotel in Fort Lauderdale, and Stranahan House, the oldest existing structure in Broward County. Steeped in history, this sophisticated thoroughfare is lined with upscale bistros, chic boutiques, sidewalk cafés and art galleries. Offering everything from live jazz to antiques, this dazzling district in the heart of the city is perfect for window shopping, dining out or people watching al fresco.
One of South Florida's premier cultural attractions, the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale welcomes more than one million visitors annually. Opening in 1958 as the Fort Lauderdale Arts Center, the museum is housed in a modernist masterpiece designed by
One of South Florida's premier cultural attractions, the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale welcomes more than one million visitors annually. Opening in 1958 as the Fort Lauderdale Arts Center, the museum is housed in a modernist masterpiece designed by celebrated American architect Edward Larrabee Barnes. Its collection is comprised of more than 6,000 works by artists spanning the globe with a strong emphasis placed on the creative expression of South Florida and Caribbean cultures. Highlights of the permanent collection include significant works by the artists of the Northern European CoBrA avant-garde movement; ceramics by Pablo Picasso; a comprehensive collection of the works of American impressionist William Glackens; and a collection of contemporary Cuban art contributed by more than 125 artists. In recent years, the museum has become well-known for hosting such large-scale exhibitions as Diana: A Celebration and Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is available for private functions.
The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale is open Wednesday through Monday from 11 AM to 7 PM. It is closed Tuesday. Admission is $7 for children ages 6-17, $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and military.
A bustling hive of activity, the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District is at the center of Fort Lauderdale's cultural renaissance. Home to the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Florida Grand Opera, Broward Center for the Performing Arts and
A bustling hive of activity, the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District is at the center of Fort Lauderdale's cultural renaissance. Home to the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Florida Grand Opera, Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, this thriving district offers something to satisfy every appetite. A charming place to meander amidst ocean breezes and swaying palms, visitors can relax at a waterfront park, take a chartered yacht tour or pop in and out of galleries, boutiques and cafés. After an exciting day at Riverwalk, guests can hop aboard an old fashioned trolley or hail a water taxi back home.
For those in need of retail therapy, there is no better place to find a bargain than South Florida's famed Sawgrass Mills Mall. Conveniently located just 15 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, it is the world's largest
For those in need of retail therapy, there is no better place to find a bargain than South Florida's famed Sawgrass Mills Mall. Conveniently located just 15 miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, it is the world's largest discount and entertainment mall. With over 350 designer outlets including Nordstrom Rack, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH and Neiman Marcus Last Call, Sawgrass is a shopper's paradise. The recent addition of the new Colonnade Outlets offers even more high-end designer purveyors including Burberry, Coach and David Yurman. After a day of bargain hunting, guests can enjoy one of several dining options including The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Legal Seafoods.
Located just eight miles from the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center and six miles from the airport, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, promises to up the ante on Florida fun. The 130,000-square-foot casino features more than
Located just eight miles from the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center and six miles from the airport, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, promises to up the ante on Florida fun. The 130,000-square-foot casino features more than 2,500 Vegas-style slots and games, including such favorites as video keno and video roulette and 48 poker tables with daily and mini tournaments. After trying their luck at the tables, guests can shop at the many retail and specialty stores, dine in one of several restaurants, grab a cocktail, or see an exciting live show. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino boasts 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space including a 16,000-square-foot ballroom.
Located in a two-story Mediterranean-style villa from the 1920s, the picturesque Casablanca Café recreates the romantic mystique of its legendary namesake with rich Moroccan décor, slow spinning ceiling fans, stucco walls, glowing candlelight and a
Located in a two-story Mediterranean-style villa from the 1920s, the picturesque Casablanca Café recreates the romantic mystique of its legendary namesake with rich Moroccan décor, slow spinning ceiling fans, stucco walls, glowing candlelight and a piano bar. The inspired menu combines contemporary cuisine with tropical, Asian and North African accents. Offerings include entrees such as tarragon seared yellowfin tuna with blue crab-eggplant risotto and Korean-style roasted duck Kal bi. Casablanca Café features live music Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and can accommodate groups up to 50 people. The café is open daily from 11:30 AM to close.
A Fort Lauderdale foodie favorite, Himmarshee Bar & Grille serves up fresh, exotic cuisine in a hip, snazzy atmosphere. Located in the lively Entertainment District, Himmarshee features a welcoming décor of earth tones, organic materials and airy,
A Fort Lauderdale foodie favorite, Himmarshee Bar & Grille serves up fresh, exotic cuisine in a hip, snazzy atmosphere. Located in the lively Entertainment District, Himmarshee features a welcoming décor of earth tones, organic materials and airy, high ceilings. Executive Chef and Partner Youssef Hammi dishes creative, contemporary cuisine with cross-cultural accents such as roasted half duckling with a vegetable spring roll and baby bok choy, and mac 'n cheese with crab crab meat, french beans, three cheeses and chives. Himmarshee also features a chef's table, an extensive wine list and an array of decadent libations such as the "Truffletini" made from ciroq vodka and white and dark godiva liqueurs. After dinner, guests can saunter over to the adjoining Side Bar to enjoy music, cocktails and dancing.
Himmarshee serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and dinner daily from 5:30 PM to close. Entrees range from $23 to $30. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Making waves on Fort Lauderdale's cuisine scene, the palate pleasing Tommy's Las Olas is a welcome addition to the stylish stretch of boutiques and bistros along Las Olas Boulevard. The open front allows the action of the bustling boulevard to seep
Making waves on Fort Lauderdale's cuisine scene, the palate pleasing Tommy's Las Olas is a welcome addition to the stylish stretch of boutiques and bistros along Las Olas Boulevard. The open front allows the action of the bustling boulevard to seep through to its warm ambiance with beaming copper sculptures and richly colored walls offset by sparkling chandeliers and tables topped with graceful orchid sprays. Along with an extensive wine list to complement its selections, Tommy's serves up a blend of classic and contemporary American surf and turf such as grilled barbeque swordfish and succulent 20-ounce Delmonico served au jus. Boasting a late night kitchen and live entertainment Thursday through Saturday, Tommy's invites guests to sit back and enjoy the experience.
Tommy's is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 to 2 AM and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 3 AM. Dinner entrees range from $18 to $38. Reservations are strongly recommended.
