Hollywood Beach and Broadwalk

Hollywood Beach and Broadwalk Review

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), before the pedestrian Broadwalk begins. And that's a good thing. It's just a laid-back, old-fashioned place to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. The film Marley & Me, starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson and filmed in Greater Fort Lauderdale, spurred a comeback for dog beaches in South Florida, and ever since then, the year-round Dog Beach of Hollywood in North Beach Park has allowed dogs to enjoy fun in the sun from 3 pm to 7 pm Friday-Sunday (4 pm to 8 pm during Daylight Savings Time). Farther south on Hollywood beach, the 2.5-mile Broadwalk is a delightful throwback to the '50s, with mom-and-pop stores, ice cream parlors, elderly couples going for long strolls, and families building sand castles on the beach. Thanks to millions in investment, this popular stretch of beach has spiffy features like a pristine 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. Expect to hear French spoken throughout Hollywood, since its beaches have long been a favorite getaway for Quebecois. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.