Pompano Beach and surrounding area
 

Will be doing a road trip in mid September/Oct..which includes 3 nights in Pompano Beach.
Am interested in doing some visiting to nearby areas. Does anyone have a recommendation for interesting sight seeing and/or best beaches? Is Fort Lauderdale worth exploring? Cape Canaveral worth the drive? Highlights in Bocca Raton? Del Ray?
Other ideas? We are young 60's. Like history, sun and fun, people in general, good food, fun pubs and walking.. Thanks, guys.
I've done 6 month long road trips, and Fodorites have helped steer the way many times.

I live IN Fort Lauderdale and, frankly, driving from Pompano all the way to Cape Canaveral is not something I would ordinarily recommend.

The beach in Pompano abuts, more or less, the beaches in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Fort Lauderdale so they really aren't all that different. What IS different, sometimes, is the ability to park you car and access the beach. And you WILL have to do that unless you are staying within walking distance.

In terms of history, you might enjoy some of the buildings open to the public in so-called "Old Fort Lauderdale" along the banks of the New River.

In terms of food, no worries. There are many really excellent restaurants in this area.

Is that six month-long road trips . . . or . . . six-month long road trips. Big difference :)

OK, Janis, and what does that have to do with making recommendations for this one?

Are you looking for restaurant recommendations? I have spent the last two winters not far from there and am fairly knowledgeable about markets and restaurants. Happy to offers suggestions if you tell me more about your taste in food.

Sounds like you might like the Atlantic Avenue blocks in Delray Beach..cute shops, restaurants, people watching.

Pompano has some interesting ethic restaurants that range the gamut....we drive there for Italian food a few times each season.

Are you interested in "nature centers" or Japanese Gardens?

http://www.pbcgov.com/parks/location...m#.U-p1AiiAdUQ


http://www.morikami.org/

Agree with Atlantic Ave in Delray. Also look at Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale. Maybe an airboat ride in the everglades?

Sawgrass Mills Mall is a huge discount retail center, with many upscale shops.

Thanks guys. Yes EK! would love some ideas re restaurants.
Love Italian, seafood, and about any other fare. Even enjoy good pub food sometimes. Also, will look into the Japanese Garden, airboat rides and Old Fort Lauderdale.
(btw have done six road trips. Never on the road longer than a month. Wish I could though.

Oh. And.... Dukey1....think we have eliminated the trek to Cape Canaveral. Doesn't sound too doable and pretty expensive to "tour".

Cafe Max in Pompano for so-called "fine dining" or the Sea Watch a little further down the beach for seafood or Chadwick's in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; JAlexanders or JMarks both on Federal Highway are also possibilities; the Riverside Hotel's outside venue on Las Olas; and there are numerous other places with various cuisines all along Las Olas once you get a bit west of the beach; there are several nice places to eat adjacent to the Fort Lauderdale Galleria; 3030 Ocean at the Marriott Harbor Beach (pricey); Blue Moon Seafood in Fort Lauderdale; there are simply too many good restaurants to enumerate here; you will not go hungry for certain.

Oh, Italian: Kitchenetta on Fed Hwy make a RESERVATION for sure.

Want a really FUN place for lunch where none of the men will hit on you? Rosie's on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.

Second Dukey's recommendation for Sea Watch and Blue Moon Fish Company. Royal Pig on Las Olas. Rocco's Tacos same location. Also Casa Maya Grill in Deerfield Beach.

On the beach casual, OK food but great atmosphere, Aruba Beach Cafe in Ft L

Bpries: In Delray Beach, we used to like Max's Harvest, but have not been since they changed chefs. It is in Pineapple Grove, off Atlantic. Can get very noisy at peak dining hours. Prices for this, and many others in the area, are on the high side with main courses from $23 to $36. Popular for brunch.

http://maxsharvest.com/



On Atlantic Avenue, Scuola Vecchia has good pizza.

http://scuolavecchiapizzeria.com/



Pompano Beach is home to an Italian restaurant that we go to fairly often, Cafe La Buca. It is a quirky place; no written menu; very little atmosphere; reminds me of a basic trattoria in southern Italy. BYOB (liquor store across the street). Menu remains much the same all year, though. Service can be brusque. The caveat here is to stick to the appetizers (They have a case in front where you can see them, like a tavola calda in Italy)
and the pastas and forget the second (main)protein courses, which I do not think are as good.
You must book ahead of time; they seat diners at about 6pm and again about 8 or 9pm.
There are only about 10 tables; owners and some of the staff are from the Naples area.
No website. 451 South Cypress, Pompano Beach. Again, there is no atmosphere to speak of.
Two do-not-miss appetizers: Brussell sprouts with pancetta, which they seem to have most of the year, and the roasted red peppers and, if you are not counting calories, the mozzarella-draped spiedini. They also have excellent pizza. Dinner for four usually costs about $100, with lots of food, but no main courses.


There is a good cheese maker in an industrial area of Pompano, from Puglia. You can buy directly from him: Burrata, mozzarella, scamorza, etc.


http://www.mozzarita.com/


The best pizza in the entire area is inn Lantana, but that is far from you. If you want details of that, and another of my favorite, further north, just ask!!!