Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

Since many Broward County attractions are close, it's realistic to pack a lot into a day -- if you have wheels. Catch the history, museums, and shops and bistros in Fort Lauderdale's downtown and along Las Olas Boulevard. Then if you feel like hitting the beach, head east to the intersection of Las Olas and A1A and you're there. Neighboring communities like Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach (to the north) or Dania Beach and Hollywood (to the south) have attractions of their own, and you may not even be aware when you've crossed municipal lines. As a result, you'll be able to cover most of the high points in 3 days, and with 7 to 10 days, you can experience virtually all of Broward's mainstream charms.

3 Days

With a bigger concentration of hotels, restaurants, and attractions than its suburbs, Fort Lauderdale makes a logical base of operations for any visit. On your first day, see the downtown, especially Las Olas Boulevard between Southeast 3rd and Southeast 15th avenues. After lunch at a sidewalk café, head for the nearby Arts and Science District and the downtown Riverwalk ; enjoy it at a leisurely pace in half a day or less. On your second day, spend some time at the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront, shopping or having a cooling libation at an oceanfront lounge if heat drives you off the sand. Tour the waterways on the third day, either on a rented boat from one of the marinas along Route A1A, or via a sightseeing vessel or water taxi. Reachable by water taxi are attractions such as Gallery at Beach Place, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Galleria Mall, Las Olas Boulevard shops, Las Olas Riverfront, and the Museum of Art and Museum of Discovery and Science/Blockbuster IMAX Theater ; restaurants such as 15th Street Fisheries, Grill Room at Riverside Hotel, Shula's on the Beach, and dozens of others; and hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, and Radisson Bahia Mar.

5 Days

With additional time, see more of the beach and the arts district and still work in some outdoor sports -- and you'll be able to rearrange your plans depending on weather. On the first day, visit the Arts and Science District and the downtown Riverwalk . Set aside the next day for an offshore adventure, perhaps a deep-sea fishing charter, a reef-diving trip, or some parasailing along the beach. Landlubbers might go for hiking at Markham Park or at Tradewinds Park (home of Butterfly World). On Day 3, shop, dine, and relax along the Fort Lauderdale Beachfront, and at the end of the day, sneak a peek at the Hillsboro Light, at Lighthouse Point. Day 4 can be spent at the Hugh Taylor Birch State Recreation Area. Enjoy your fifth day in Hollywood.