Things to do in Fort Lauderdale

[cruisingbajan]

My wife and I have been to Miami/Fort Lauderdale a few times pre/post cruise.

We have however never really done anything "touristy". We normally do some shopping and laze around and that's about it.

 

On our next post cruise stay in late April next year we would like to do some site seeing and places of interest. Any and all ideas and suggestions are welcomed.:)

 

Thanks in advance guys.

[CruiserBruce]

A quick read down the board would find many ideas, including the Water taxi...

[BlueHerons]

Definitely the water taxi. It is a tour and a form of transportation.

 

Fort Lauderdale is a city to see by water not by land.

[SMSACE6]

Water taxi and las Olas area!

[cruisingbajan]

Thanks for the responses so far guys. What does the water taxi entail?

 

I was also hearing about the everglades. Yay or Nay?

 

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[BlueHerons]

Thanks for the responses so far guys. What does the water taxi entail?

 

I was also hearing about the everglades. Yay or Nay?

 

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I don't see the big deal about the Everglades. It's okay but it's a lot of swamp.

 

http://www.WaterTaxi.com

 

If you go May-October, they usually run two for one specials on either groupon or Amazon.

[cruisingbajan]

I don't see the big deal about the Everglades. It's okay but it's a lot of swamp.

 

http://www.WaterTaxi.com

 

If you go May-October, they usually run two for one specials on either groupon or Amazon.

Thanks for the link. So at least one day or part thereof is taken care of. [emoji3] [emoji106]

 

Keep the suggestions coming folks. I am also reviewing your blog for ideas BlueHerons.

 

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[SMSACE6]

For the water taxi you purchase a day pass and you can ride it, get on and off all day long. There are two or three different routes. I admit I did not actually do this, but was planning to on my last visit to Fort Lauderdale, and did a lot of searching on the internet. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to do it. There is a website for the Fort Lauderdale watertaxi, but I dont know how to post links. You bet next time I am there I will make time!

 

Las Olas I visited a few years back, it is unique, with many great restaurants, and just nice to walk around, nice boutiques. Have fun.

 

aha..we can always count on Blue Herons! Thank you.

Edited May 25, 2015 by SMSACE6

[BlueHerons]

Aww, thanks guys!

 

Bajan, make sure you do the water taxi at night. Fort Lauderdale is amazing lit up at night from the water. Including the Las Olas stops the the Gallery One, there are a ton of amazing restaurants off the stops.

[capriccio]

While I love Fort Lauderdale (and live just north of it) and would recommend taking the water taxi and visiting Las Olas and the beach, I really think that everyone should experience the Everglades if they have the time. While there are local parks with airboats and alligator shows (check out http://www.sunny.org for info on them and other Fort Lauderdale attractions), the National Park is unique.

 

Since you will be visiting at the end of April (the end of the dry season just before our summer begins), this recommendation is based on the weather cooperating (i.e., not too hot, not rainy). During the dry season the animals and birds congregate around the water holes in the Everglades (and there aren't any mosquitos).

 

If you have an entire day you have plenty of time to do a portion of Everglades National Park (and it is cheap - only $10 a car). You won't get an airboat ride but you will be walking right around the alligators (they like to sun on the concrete paths) -- these are wild animals so don't try to touch them :D. If you enter the Park down near Homestead you should stop at the Ernest Coe Visitors Center at the entrance, then drive on about 5 minutes to Royal Palm. There is a nice trail and boardwalk at Royal Palm, lots of wildlife, and Ranger talks. Then back in the car and drive through the Everglades (about 35 miles but will probably take about an hour) to Flamingo. There you can take a boat tour (reserve in advance) of the Whitewater Bay backcountry and see crocodiles in the wild (and sometimes on the paths around the marina).

 

Check out http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm.

 

Finally make sure you stop at Robert is Here that you will pass right before entering (or after leaving) the park. This fruit/vegetable stand and petting zoo has the most incredible milk shakes! https://robertishere.com/

 

P.S. The Everglades shouldn't be dismissed as just a 'swamp.' The park encompasses sawgrass marshes, hardwood hammocks, mangrove swamps, lakes, and Florida Bay.

Edited May 26, 2015 by capriccio

[Cruznjuly]

While I love Fort Lauderdale (and live just north of it) and would recommend taking the water taxi and visiting Las Olas and the beach, I really think that everyone should experience the Everglades if they have the time. While there are local parks with airboats and alligator shows (check out http://www.sunny.org for info on them and other Fort Lauderdale attractions), the National Park is unique.

 

Since you will be visiting at the end of April (the end of the dry season just before our summer begins), this recommendation is based on the weather cooperating (i.e., not too hot, not rainy). During the dry season the animals and birds congregate around the water holes in the Everglades (and there aren't any mosquitos).

 

If you have an entire day you have plenty of time to do a portion of Everglades National Park (and it is cheap - only $10 a car). You won't get an airboat ride but you will be walking right around the alligators (they like to sun on the concrete paths) -- these are wild animals so don't try to touch them :D. If you enter the Park down near Homestead you should stop at the Ernest Coe Visitors Center at the entrance, then drive on about 5 minutes to Royal Palm. There is a nice trail and boardwalk at Royal Palm, lots of wildlife, and Ranger talks. Then back in the car and drive through the Everglades (about 35 miles but will probably take about an hour) to Flamingo. There you can take a boat tour (reserve in advance) of the Whitewater Bay backcountry and see crocodiles in the wild (and sometimes on the paths around the marina).

 

Check out http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm.

 

Finally make sure you stop at Robert is Here that you will pass right before entering (or after leaving) the park. This fruit/vegetable stand and petting zoo has the most incredible milk shakes! https://robertishere.com/

 

P.S. The Everglades shouldn't be dismissed as just a 'swamp.' The park encompasses sawgrass marshes, hardwood hammocks, mangrove swamps, lakes, and Florida Bay.

 

 

I really, REALLY would like to do this, but we are there first week in July- awful timing. [emoji53]

 

 

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[sddsddean]

Do the Segway tour with Jon. Great fun! Do the 2 hr tour.

http://www.segwayfortlauderdale.com/

Starts by Riverfront Cruises at Las Olas.

 

Simon

[cruisingbajan]

Awesome info capriccio and sddsddean. I will certainly look into these as well.

 

We have at least 2 maybe 3 days post cruise so how possible is it to do all of these things (and you know the wife will want to do some shopping:cool::)) without needing a vacation afterwards.:p

 

Thanks again guys.

[foflocruiser]

Jungle Queen

 

check out:

 

http://www.sunny.org/

Edited May 28, 2015 by foflocruiser

[pjo]

I second the Jungle Queen. Hello, Mr. Johnson!!! There is a dinner cruise at night.

 

Paul