Our take on Fort Lauderdale, a city on the southwestern tip of Florida featuring pristine beaches, boating canals, upscale outdoor restaurants, bars, luxury hotels and a number of attractions
Situated north of Miami at about half an hour's drive, Fort Lauderdale is the seat of Broward
County in the state of Florida. One of the most desirable places to reside in the Miami
metropolitan area, the city abounds with miles and miles of resplendent coastline and an
alluring sun beaming throughout the year. Fort Lauderdale is widely known as an all-out
travel haven with plenty of rejuvenating patches of greens, classy yet sumptuous dining, with a thrilling bonanza of scintillating experiences and lastly for making wonderful memories.
Places to Eat
Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show
The extravagant eatery is popular for its grilled steak and Peking duck among other Cantonese seafood. Situated just north of Oakland Park Boulevard on the Federal Highway, should be easy to find!
Rustic Inn Crabhouse
The aura emanating from this joint despite its impressive size, is that of an authentic crab shack stacked with weathered wood, a sublime nautical decor with the mesmerising water views. Rustic Inn scores incredibly well on its ‘heavy-hitting’ seafood ‘obsessed’ menu, from the jumbo fried fresh shrimp (a local favourite) to the Alaskan queen crab legs, complemented amazingly by the crusty buttery potatoes and a wooden mallet.
If you happen to get a table on the outside, top it with ice-cold craft beer and the best garlic
crabs in town, accompanied by the gorgeous views of the canal. The party season is slightly extended here, and the government-operated Bordello is another localized party dimension. A two-day salsa festival due to its proximity to Venezuela, and diverse musical circuits from reggae and samba are all available.
Southport Raw Bar
A jewel best hidden away, secretly, the Southport Raw Bar beats all other seafood joints ‘hands-down’ in the town. Notable as a family-friendly eatery serving just beer and wine, Southport has been around since 1973 and is a definite favourite amongst the locals for its bitter-sweet ‘Old Florida’ feel. Interestingly, a great alternative to this place is Kelly’s Landing, just half-block south on Cordova Road with its New England seafood and fried belly (Ipswich) clams.
Some great options from Southport’s menu is the smoked fish dip, the Key Lime pie for dessert, the gorgeous cheesesteak and roast pork hoagies as well as the roast pork served on garlic bread with duck sauce.
Places to See
Museum of Discovery and Science
Barely a mile away from the iconic Las Olas Boulevard, The Museum of Discovery and Science is one of the best places for spending some quality time with family and kids. The centre is brimming with interactive stations and engaging activities for kids and grown adults alike! Attractive exhibits include the ‘Mysteries of Egypt’, Fishy Fossils, the Aviation station, prehistoric ‘dinosaurs exhibit’, space mars rover, weather patterns at the Storm Center, orange grove production, interactive 3D printing, motion ride on airboat, water conservation techniques live sea otters and alligators, a breathtaking 7D capsule theatre and a captivating AutoNation IMAX etc are just to name a few of the things here……..
The place fares pretty low on food, as the only outlet is a Subway, though The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is right across with fabulous restaurants. The Museum operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from Noon to 6 p.m. only on Sundays.
Everglades Holiday Park
An immensely educational alligator show/exhibit, all from the safety of a large-covered airboat in the waters. Enjoy your vacation at Fort Lauderdale with the EHP that’s convenient and exciting enough for a day trip in the wild waters. Check out the brawly alligators basking in the sun, and don't miss out on the 18th-century-style American Indian village, and perhaps you might get a glimpse or two of alligators wrestling or swimming, alongwith loads of information from the trained guides. If you’re lucky enough, you could even get some gator teeths, and that’ll certainly take your kids over the moon.
Take loads of free photos on the simmering boat ride, as you learn about life in swamplands
in the most beautiful parts of Florida. Interestingly, the 30-acre park also served as the
filming set for Animal Planet's Gator Boys.
We hope you liked our favourites in Fort Lauderdale. Reach out to us if you need articles and blogs about travel and culture.