Fort Lauderdale Beach is a popular tourist destination located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, clear blue waters, and a wide range of activities and attractions.
One of the most popular attractions on Fort Lauderdale Beach is the beachfront promenade, which runs along the beach and offers stunning views of the ocean. Visitors can take a walk along the promenade, rent bicycles, or simply relax on one of the many benches and enjoy the scenery.
In addition to the beach itself, there are many other attractions and special events in the area that are worth visiting. These include the many of the bars & restaurants, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Overall, Fort Lauderdale Beach is a beautiful and exciting destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, adventure, or entertainment, you’re sure to find it here.
About Fort Lauderdale Beach
The history of Fort Lauderdale Beach dates back to the early 20th century when the area was primarily used for fishing and farming. In the 1920s the area began to attract tourists, who were drawn to the area’s warm climate and beautiful beaches.
During this time, many hotels and resorts were built along the beach, including the Bahia Mar Hotel which originally opened in 1956. This hotel quickly became a popular destination for celebrities and other high-profile guests and today is home to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Fort Lauderdale Beach became known as a hot spot for spring breakers who flocked to the area to enjoy the sun, surf, and party scene. However, in the 1980s the city began to crack down on the rowdy behavior associated with spring break and the area’s reputation began to change.
Today Fort Lauderdale Beach is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from around the world. The area has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, with many new condominium residences, hotels, restaurants, and shops opening along the beachfront. Despite these changes, however, the area’s natural beauty and rich history continue to draw visitors year after year
Things to Do on Fort Lauderdale Beach
From the beach to restaurants, shops and year-round attractions, there are a number of amazing things to do along Fort Lauderdale beach.
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Relax on the Beach: Fort Lauderdale Beach is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, making it the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun. Visitors will find a number of amenities including restrooms, volleyball courts, bicycle rentals, beach rentals (beach furniture and water sports including jet skis, paddle boards and kayaks).
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Visit the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens: This historic home and gardens offers visitors a glimpse into the life of early 20th-century Florida, with beautiful gardens, art, and architecture. In addition to the house and gardens, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens offers a variety of educational programs and events throughout the year, including art workshops, lectures, and concerts.
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Take a Water Taxi: The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi offers visitors a unique way to explore the area, with stops at many popular restaurants, bars and attractions including Beach Place, Bahia Mar, the Hilton Marina, Las Olas Boulevard and the 15th Street Fisheries. An all day pass for per adult costs $35.00 with children ages 5 to 11 costing $15.00. Evening voyages are also offered from 5:PM to 10:00 PM for $20.0 and $15.00, respectively.
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Visit the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: This 180-acre park offers visitors a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. The park also features a large freshwater lagoon, which is popular for fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. The Birch House and other historic buildings are open for tours, and features exhibits on the history of the area and the Birch family.
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Enjoy the Shopping and Nightlife: The beachfront area is home to many shops and boutiques, offering everything from souvenirs to high-end fashion. Fort Lauderdale Beach also has a vibrant nightlife scene with many bars, clubs, and restaurants offering live music and entertainment.
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Fishing and Diving: The area is known for its excellent fishing and diving with a number of charter boats available for hire along Bahia Mar and the other local marinas in the area.
- Visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame: This museum and hall of fame honors the world’s greatest swimmers and divers, with exhibits and memorabilia on display. In addition to the museum, the Fort Lauderdale International Swimming Hall of Fame also features a large aquatic complex, which includes two swimming pools, a diving well, and a water polo pool.
Special Events
Fort Lauderdale Beach is known for a number of special events including:
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Fort Lauderdale hosts the world’s largest in-water boat show with more than 1,300 boats ranging from personal watercraft so several hundred foot megayachts. Over 100,000 people attend this five-day event which is held at a number of locations along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Click here to learn more about the boat show.
The Fort Lauderdale Air Show
The Fort Lauderdale Air Show is a very popular annual event that has featured a number of planes including the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. This amazing event takes place right along Fort Lauderdale Beach and brings several hundred thousand people to the area.
Spectators can purchase reserved viewing at a variety of price points including private “sand boxes” on the beach to a VIP event at the Pelican Grand’s tenth floor penthouse.
Click here to learn more about the air show.
The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade
Visitors get to see dozens of boats of all sizes get decked out for the holiday season. The annual holiday boat parade brings out around one million views on the 12 mile parade route.
- December 16, 2023
- December 14, 2024
- December 13, 2025
- December 12, 2026
- December 11, 2027
- December 9, 2028
The “official” parade viewing area is at the Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park which is located along Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale Beach at 80 Las Olas Circle. The viewing includes seating and live entertainment; food & beverages will also be offered.
Click here to learn more about the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade.
Recommended Hotels along Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale beach has a number of great hotel properties that range from luxury resorts to limited-service hotels. Following is a list of some of our favorites.
Marriott Harbor Beach
The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa is situated on 16-acres of direct beachfront property located at the south end of Fort Lauderdale Beach. In 2016, this spectacular 650-room hotel underwent a comprehensive $25 million renovation which included the common areas and guest rooms.
Amenities include a full-service beach club with lounge chair / umbrella service as well as water sports, a 22,000 square foot full service spa, a resort style beachside pool & a lap pool (spa use), fully equipped fitness center with cardio & strength training equipment and a “Surf Club” for kids.
Conrad Fort Lauderdale
The CONRAD Fort Lauderdale Beach is an all-suite resort also features one, two- and three-bedroom residences where guests can enjoy for a longer term stay. Located directly on the world famous Fort Lauderdale beach, this high-rise resort property is far from a traditional “resort hotel”.
Amenities at this property include an elevated pool deck overlooking the Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness and wellness center, the CONRAD Spa, and numerous dining venues.
Pelican Grand
The 156-room Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a luxury hotel that offers guests a variety of amenities and services, including beach access, an on-site spa and multiple dining options including the hotel’s Ocean2000 restaurant.
One of the highlights of the Pelican Grand Beach Resort is its location directly along Fort Lauderdale Beach. The hotel offers guests direct access to the beach, as well as beach chairs and umbrellas for their use. The hotel also features a swimming pool with lazy river that offers stunning views of the ocean.
Marriott’s Beach Place
Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers is a high-rise resort that is located in the heart Fort Lauderdale Beach. Situated just across from the ocean, this amazing family-friendly resort is a vacation club property that also rents rooms on a nightly basis just like a traditional hotel.
This 19-story, 206-room property was originally constructed in 1997 and sits above The Galley at BeachPlace which features three stories of trendy shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Property features include an outdoor pool that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, fully-equipped 24-hour fitness center with strength training and cardiovascular equipment, organized activities for kids, an on-site marketplace and access to the Spa at Marriott’s Harbor Beach resort.
If you thinking about staying at any of the amazing hotels, we would appreciate if you can use our links when making the reservations. Endless Summer is an affiliate with Marriott, Hilton and Expedia.com and receives a small commission for each stay that was referred by our website.
