Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Beaches

A wave-capped, 20-mi shoreline with wide ribbons of golden sand for beachcombing and sunbathing remains the anchor draw for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.

Fort Lauderdale isn't just for spring breakers. In fact, ever since investors started pouring money into the waterfront scene, beginning in the '90s, the beach has lured a more upscale clientele. That said, it still has great people-watching and opportunities for partying.

Beyond the city, Broward County's beachfront extends for miles without interruption, although character of communities along the shoreline varies. To the south in Hallandale, the beach is backed by towering condominiums, while tee times and nightlife beckon in Hollywood. Deerfield Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to the north are magnets for active families, and nearby Pompano Beach attracts anglers. Many places along Broward shorelines—blessedly, for purists—are uncluttered with nothing but sand and turquoise waters.

Safety Tips

Avoid unguarded waters, and be aware of color codes. In Fort Lauderdale, double red flags mean water is closed to the public, often because of lightning or sharks; a lone red flag signals strong currents; purple signals presence of marine pests like men-of-war, jellyfish, or sea lice; green means calm conditions. In Hollywood, orange signals rip currents with easterly onshore winds; blue warns of marine life like jellyfish; red means hazardous; green signals good conditions.

Fort Lauderdale's Best Beaches

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Alone among Florida's major beachfront communities, Fort Lauderdale's beach remains gloriously open and uncluttered. A wave theme unifies the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront setting - from the low, white, wave-shaped wall between the beach and beachfront promenade to the widened and bricked inner promenade in front of shops, restaurants, and hotels. Walkways line both sides of the beach roadway, and traffic has been trimmed to two gently curving northbound lanes, where in-line skaters skim past slow-moving cars. On the beach side, a low masonry wall doubles as an extended bench, separating sand from the promenade. At night the wall is accented with pretty ribbons of fiber-optic color, often on the blink despite an ongoing search for a permanent fix. The beach is most crowded between Las Olas and Sunrise boulevards.

Hollywood's Broadwalk

The name might be Hollywood, but there's nothing hip or chic about Hollywood North Beach Park, which sits at the north end of Hollywood (Route A1A and Sheridan Street). And that's a good thing. It's just a laid-back, old-fashioned place to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. No high-rises overpower the scene here. Parking is $5. The main part of the Broadwalk is quite a bit more fashionable. Thanks to a $14 million makeover, this popular beach has spiffy new features like a pedestrian walkway, a concrete bike path, a crushed-shell jogging path, an 18-inch decorative wall separating the Broadwalk from the sand, and places to shower off after a dip. Fido fans take note: the 2008 film Marley & Me, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson and filmed in Greater Fort Lauderdale, spurred a comeback for dog beaches in South Florida, including the year-round Dog Beach of Hollywood.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

For a small village with a pier, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea packs a big punch for beach pleasure. Especially popular with divers and snorkelers, this laid-back stretch of sand provides great access to lovely coral reefs. When you're not down in the waters, look up and you'll likely see a pelican flying by. Gentle trade winds make this an utterly relaxing retreat from the hubbub of the Fort Lauderdale party scene. Things do liven up with nightly entertainment at a couple of local watering holes, but L-B-T-S, as it's known, still provides a small-town, easygoing, family-friendly feel.