Fort Lauderdale "must see" spots?

Steve Canyon

Steve Canyon

New member
My 9 year old daughter is going to participate in the AAU Karate Nationals at the end of June through early July. (She won 1st place in Weapons, 2nd place in both Sparring and Kata in the regional tourney last month. Yes, I'm proud of her.) We are going to have a couple days to see the sights. We're thinking Everglades and Pennekamp for sure. I expect fireworks at the beachfront for the 4th.What recommendations would you folks offer. Reef shops, Waterparks, Tours? I'm completely open to suggestion.
 
You told me that she was doing really well, but that's great!!! I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for a year and now I'm trying to remember if I did anything fun there next to school and work. You need to check out the Toy Store Group. I think it is on Sunrise Blvd. If not Sunrise then Las Olas. It's a car dealership only dealing with Porsche and Farrari... it made my heart skip a beat everytime I drove by. I worked at a restaurant in a little outdoor mini mall on A1A call Beach Place (the mall, not the restaurant). It was a nice little mall then, maybe worth checking out. I don't remember where this one little adventure was, but if I remember correctly, it is on the property of a deceased elderly couple's estate. It is a monkey reserve... pretty cool from what I've heard. If you take A1A (Beach Front Ave) down the coast headed south, you'll go by my old college (The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale). There is a good Art museum around now that I think of it... you'll have to hunt that one out. I'll PM you if I think of anything else.
 
How exciting for your daughter and all her hard work. Congratulations to her. Best of luck to her as she continues.
 
Steve, Congrats and continued success to, if I remember correctly, Ayla. She was a super nice kiddo the time you guys stopped by my old house.

Never been to Lauderdale, but, per Mikes recommendations for Ferarris, dead people, and monkeys, sounds like a good time!
 
Funny, I just came back from a week long vacation in Fort Lauderdale, even got to hang with another RC member who happened to be there at the same time. I highly recommend going snorkeling at Sea Experience on the glass bottom boat. It was only $35/person and included a scenic tour of the intracostal (including all of the mega mansions and yachts). Saw a ton of cool fish and even caught some jellies. Fun for kids and adults, be prepared to get splashed!

Other than that, the Everglades tours are always fun, seeing (and for some, eating) the gators. A1A is the beachfront with tons of shops and restaurants; be warned, the food can be spendy.

If you haven't ever used it, Yelp is really convenient when traveling, especially when it comes to recommendations for food and attractions. Have fun!

PS- The "Swap Shop" Flea Market isn't much to see, but the owner of it has all of his cars on display publicly (including some of the most expensive cars on the planet; Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, and about 20 others).
 
My cousin is a Sargent in the Ft. Lauderdale police force and I have been there a few times.

I vote:
Sawgrass Mills Mall
Las Olas Strip (restaurants and shops)
Water Tour of the Homes of the Rich and Famous on the Carrie B (Las Olas)
Marlins Baseball Game
A1A Beaches
Old Fort Lauderdale

Have fun.
 
Thanks folks. Keep it coming!

Yup, Ayla's a sweetheart. But don't mess with her!!! haha. I've learned that at 9 years old and 90 lbs, she can really mess-up an old man like myself. Everytime we play fight, the round ends with me getting punched in the gut.
 
If you head West a bit to Tamarac where my family lives you can visit Big Al's Aquarium on North University.
 
Eastamherstbias said:
My cousin is a Sargent in the Ft. Lauderdale police force and I have been there a few times.

I vote:
Sawgrass Mills Mall
Las Olas Strip (restaurants and shops)
Water Tour of the Homes of the Rich and Famous on the Carrie B (Las Olas)
Marlins Baseball Game
A1A Beaches
Old Fort Lauderdale

Have fun.
Click to expand...

Thank you. We'll do our best to have too much fun!
 
Johnny C said:
Funny, I just came back from a week long vacation in Fort Lauderdale, even got to hang with another RC member who happened to be there at the same time. I highly recommend going snorkeling at Sea Experience on the glass bottom boat. It was only $35/person and included a scenic tour of the intracostal (including all of the mega mansions and yachts). Saw a ton of cool fish and even caught some jellies. Fun for kids and adults, be prepared to get splashed!

Other than that, the Everglades tours are always fun, seeing (and for some, eating) the gators. A1A is the beachfront with tons of shops and restaurants; be warned, the food can be spendy.

If you haven't ever used it, Yelp is really convenient when traveling, especially when it comes to recommendations for food and attractions. Have fun!

PS- The "Swap Shop" Flea Market isn't much to see, but the owner of it has all of his cars on display publicly (including some of the most expensive cars on the planet; Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, and about 20 others).
Click to expand...


thanks for the input. I'm not much of a traveller, so I've not heard of Yelp. I'll check it out.
 
Capt_Cully said:
Steve, Congrats and continued success to, if I remember correctly, Ayla. She was a super nice kiddo the time you guys stopped by my old house.

Never been to Lauderdale, but, per Mikes recommendations for Ferarris, dead people, and monkeys, sounds like a good time!
Click to expand...

I'm more of a Pontiac guy vs Ferarris, but the dead people and monkeys sound like a (4) barrel of fun!
 
Coral Seas is a good store right in Margate. Owned by hobbyists, nice coral.
Barrier Reef in Boca also has some nice stuff sometimes.
Aquacon is also something you might check out. But they are known for not having the best treatment of animals. Cheap stuff, though.

Everglades are beautiful. So is Pennekamp. I'd hit the latter if I was choosing only one. Very beautiful.

Delray beach is my favorite of the beaches there- clean, scenic, in close proximity to the shops on Atlantic. Way fewer people than Fort Lauderdale strip (where Beachplace is). Beach Place has really gone down hill since the economic downturn, most shops are empty. If you do Ft. Lauderdale beach, do Las Olas. Also, you might check out Riverfront (las olas)- there's also a museum of science there (Discover/y?).

For sight-seeing you should also check out Vizcaya in Miami. Old mansion, must-see.

I don't know how long you'll be there, or who you're entertaining, but if it were me and I was there for a week-10 days my trip would be:

Pennekamp (2 nights, sun and scuba/snorkel, leave early then go to ... )
Everglades park (2 nights, rent Segways maybe, do paddling tour, leave early go to ...)
Vizcaya (stay all day, enjoy the area, then drive at night back to...
Fort lauderdale (maybe do Riverfront at night, Las Olas shopping and dining the next day, then the following day...)
Delray beach (park near Atlantic Ave, enjoy a beach day, lunch on the water, dinner at Dada's (my favorite restaurant, very relaxed, can eat outside, etc.)).

Feel a sense of accomplishment in your tan. :)

Cheers,
Angela
 
Newreeflady said:
Coral Seas is a good store right in Margate. Owned by hobbyists, nice coral.
Barrier Reef in Boca also has some nice stuff sometimes.
Aquacon is also something you might check out. But they are known for not having the best treatment of animals. Cheap stuff, though.

Everglades are beautiful. So is Pennekamp. I'd hit the latter if I was choosing only one. Very beautiful.

Delray beach is my favorite of the beaches there- clean, scenic, in close proximity to the shops on Atlantic. Way fewer people than Fort Lauderdale strip (where Beachplace is). Beach Place has really gone down hill since the economic downturn, most shops are empty. If you do Ft. Lauderdale beach, do Las Olas. Also, you might check out Riverfront (las olas)- there's also a museum of science there (Discover/y?).

For sight-seeing you should also check out Vizcaya in Miami. Old mansion, must-see.

I don't know how long you'll be there, or who you're entertaining, but if it were me and I was there for a week-10 days my trip would be:

Pennekamp (2 nights, sun and scuba/snorkel, leave early then go to ... )
Everglades park (2 nights, rent Segways maybe, do paddling tour, leave early go to ...)
Vizcaya (stay all day, enjoy the area, then drive at night back to...
Fort lauderdale (maybe do Riverfront at night, Las Olas shopping and dining the next day, then the following day...)
Delray beach (park near Atlantic Ave, enjoy a beach day, lunch on the water, dinner at Dada's (my favorite restaurant, very relaxed, can eat outside, etc.)).

Feel a sense of accomplishment in your tan. :)

Cheers,
Angela
Click to expand...

Thanks Angela.
We are staying at the Ocean Sky. I chose it because it was inexpensive. I hope I didn't make a mistake. We got prime time flights, compact car and hotel for 3 of us, for 10 days for under $1800 includings taxes. The hotel is on the beach, so I'm thinking that will be most of our swimming entertainment. I hope to find an affordable, yet worthwhile airboat tour. Not inclined to shop much, except reef shops that is. I used to dive a lot in the '70s. I still have my PADI card. I think I was #134 or something like that. I really should try to find my logbook. We used to do a lot of night dives off Grand Cayman, Deep dives well below 200ft. All before the days of even having BCs. 72 cf steel tanks, k valves, haha. We thought accessories were a great big US Divers knife strapped to your calf. Sea Hunt / LLoyd Bridges influence I guess.
We are sortof tied down to the area because of the tournament. It's over on the 2nd of July. We fly out early on the 6th. The tourney is likely to be a few hours most days between the 27th and the 2nd though. It really depends on the bracketing for the competition.
Soooo.... that said. what might you suggest for a few hours at a time during the competition days? and day trips for the rest of the time?
 
If you are near orlando.....quite a hike from lauderdale.... World Wide Corals is an absolute must see, I imagine you will be flying into west palm or miami though?
 
reefboarder said:
If you are near orlando.....quite a hike from lauderdale.... World Wide Corals is an absolute must see, I imagine you will be flying into west palm or miami though?
Click to expand...

Rochester to Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale.
I'm tempted to drive to Orlanda, but I doubt it'll happen. I think it's just too far.
 
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