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MAC Fort Lauderdale - Art & Entertainment
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Fort Lauderdale is nothing if not entertaining.

From—thankfully—long-gone days when an unremarkable film called Where the Boys Are skyrocketed the city to collegiate fame, to these simply sunny days when sophisticates have taken over the sands and ousted the undergrads, the city has learned many a lesson about entertainment.

Today, you won't find cavorting students hanging from the lampposts but you will still find the satisfying selection of to-dos that has long drawn sun-seekers. Diversions are wide- ranging, from discos to down-under adventures among the just-offshore reefs, from alligator feedings to riverboat rides through a myriad of canals that have given this seaside city the nickname Venice of the Americas.

Disneyworld

Disneyworld and all its offshoot attractions are just a few hours drive away, but most folks do not come to Fort Lauderdale for wild rides—although those are available—and endless lines. Rather, they come here to recover from those and other stresses on more than 20 miles of soft sands that bake in sunshine that is just as reliable in the sludgy, slushy days of February as in the breezy days of May.

Temperatures here rarely reach below 60 and generally stay at a toasty 70-plus; rains may be torrential but they are short-lived; and C-O-L-D is considered a four-letter word. That means that any time of year you can come out to play here and find plenty of ways to do it.

Nature Fans

Nature fans head to such spots as Everglades Holiday Park, where strange contraptions known as airboats skim across shallow waters for a look at that vast "river of grass" heralded by authors and closely guarded by environmentalists. Here baby alligators play, deer seek refuge on high spots, birds swoop and squawk, and visitors marvel at miles and miles and more miles of tropical trees, greenery and grasses as far as the eye can see.

For a man-made look at the creatures with whom we share the planet, a stop at Lion Country Safari is a not-to-be-missed diversion. Animals of the African veldt roam free while you stay caged in your car as they stare curiously at those strange creatures behind the glass—a nice twist on the zoo scene and an intriguing way to go nose-to-nose with a giraffe.

Gold Coast Options

Those set on having a toe or a whole body immersed in water as often and as long as possible can find no more serene spot on the Gold Coast to do just that. Of course, the beauty of serenity is in the eye of the beholder, so various parts of the city's famed seven-mile strip of uninterrupted sand is staked out by a variety of special interests. There are beach areas favored by families, by alternative-lifestyle folks, by teens and coeds, by tourists and locals, so you are sure to find a crowd that suits your style.

Many are prepared to help you find your diversion du jour, whether it be a rip-roaring ride across the waters on a speeding race craft, or a slow sail along the coastline in a sleek sailboat. If you would rather be under the water than atop it, dive shops will sail you off to nearby reefs where rafts of rainbow-hued marine creatures will give you a curious look as you snorkel or scuba through their realm.

Himmarshee Village

If history is your book, the city's small Himmarshee Village area focuses on the past. The city's first hotel sits serenely by the water, and some of its first homes are now on display, or in use as chic riverside restaurants. Star of the history scene is tiny Stranahan House, the antique, New River home of the city's founders: she a teacher, he operating the ferry that was once the only way to cross the river and make your way to Miami.

Palm Beach

Farther north, in Palm Beach, the home of railroad entrepreneur Henry Morrison Flagler provides a look at quite the other side of the housing coin, with its dozens of gilded, marbled rooms, and its towering facade.

The Seminoles

In the urbanity that now characterizes the Gold Coast, it is easy to forget that an unusual tribe of runaway Creek Indians from Georgia and the Carolinas were among the first inhabitants here. To learn a little about the Seminoles, whose flight from their own tribe ended in yet another flight from British, Spanish, and American usurpers, visit Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum, in the heart of Big Cypress Reservation. One Seminole, a member of the Billie clan, created the Everglades' Billie Swamp Safari. You can paddle a dugout canoe, tune in to a Seminole storyteller, or stay overnight in palm-thatched "chickee" huts.

Sports

If sports are the diversion of choice, Fort Lauderdale and environs present not dozens but hundreds of golf courses and tennis courts, a bicycle velodrome, a skateboard park, and plenty of oceanfront rollerblading space.

Stage and Screen

Stage, ballet, and opera performances take place at a variety of venues throughout the city, with touring Broadway plays going on stage at the showy waterfront Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Just across the street, the Museum of Discovery and Science offers its own kind of theater in a huge-screen IMAX Theater, as well as in a variety of intriguing exhibits, even including a spot that's for children only, off-limits to adults. Theater productions also take place at cozy Parker Playhouse, the city's first full-fledged theater, and touring bands and singers take to the boards at the Sunrise Musical Theater.

Nightspots

Nightclubs, discos, dance spots? Of course. Fort Lauderdale didn't earn its Fort Liquordale nickname for nothing!

Jungle Queen Riverboat

Finally, to unite history, water, nature—and to toss in a little dining, singing and comedy that's tame enough for any age or sensibility—a visit to Fort Lauderdale simply must include a lunch or dinner sail aboard the venerable Jungle Queen Riverboat, one of the state's oldest attractions. As you float by, homeowners come out on their lawns to wave, proving once again the joys of a small town that's small, but significant.







Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Broward Center for the Performing Arts


The theatrical hub
 201 Southwest Fifth Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
United States
+1 954 462 0222 		Located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this venue hosts a wide variety of events, including the Fort Lauderdale Broadway Series, the Florida Philharmonic, the Florida Grand Opera, the Gold Coast Jazz Society and the Miami City Ballet, to name a few. Ray Charles, Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme, Wayne Newton and Shirley Bassey have all appeared at this center. Call for a schedule of events and for reservations. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Broward Center for the Performing Arts photo by Tom
Photo: Tom
 

 
Everglades Holiday Park


Everglades airboat tours, camping and more
 21940 Griffin Road
(take West Exit from I-95)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332
United States
+1 954 434 8111 / +1 800 226 2244
http://www.evergladesholidaypa... 		Airboats (and alligators) are the primary diversions at this campground, which is located on the edge of the Everglades marsh. Fishing, boat rentals and tent and RV camping feature both full and partial hookups. Campground amenities include gas, showers, laundry facilities, restrooms and a grocery store. One-hour airboat rides are USD20 for adults, USD10 for children under 12. Rental boats are USD93 for five hours on a four-passenger boat.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Everglades Holiday Park photo by Alison Barbour
Photo: Alison Barbour
Everglades Holiday Park photo by Gregory Bartlett
Photo: Gregory Bartlett
Everglades Holiday Park photo by Corina
Photo: Corina
Everglades Holiday Park photo by Allan MacBain
Photo: Allan MacBain
Everglades Holiday Park photo by Mirana Yuen
Photo: Mirana Yuen
 

 
Jungle Queen Riverboat


A south Florida institution
 Bahia Mar Yachting Center
Route A1A
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
United States
+1 954 462 5596 		For more than 50 years, visitors have traveled on this stately riverboat. Tours sail past estates while an entertaining monologue by the captain points out the homes of the famous and the infamous. On three-hour day tours or four-hour dinner voyages you can sail to an island where you will dine amid tropical foliage. Evening cruises feature a dinner of barbecued ribs and shrimp, with a variety revue and sing-a-long cruising back.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Jungle Queen Riverboat photo by Martin Cadorette
Photo: Martin Cadorette
Jungle Queen Riverboat photo by Dave
Photo: Dave
Jungle Queen Riverboat photo by Denis Marquis
Photo: Denis Marquis
 

 
Museum of Discovery and Science


Dynamic, hands-on science
 401 Southwest Second Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
United States
+1 954 467 6637
http://www.mods.org 		This enjoyable museum for children of all ages is known for its interactive, hands-on displays, which change frequently. The Special Exhibits Gallery features some of the best science exhibits in the United States. The museum also allows its guests to touch live animals that are native to Florida and to view the world's largest captive Atlantic coral reef. The Blockbuster IMAX 3D theater is also on-site. Admission: $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $7 for children ages 2-12, free for children age two and under.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Museum of Discovery and Science photo by Mark Sadowski
Photo: Mark Sadowski
Museum of Discovery and Science photo by Cindy Ware
Photo: Cindy Ware
Museum of Discovery and Science photo by Michael
Photo: Michael
Museum of Discovery and Science photo by Matthew Harris
Photo: Matthew Harris
Museum of Discovery and Science photo by Keith Keller
Photo: Keith Keller
 

 
Stranahan House


Fort Lauderdale's oldest home
 335 Southeast 6th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
United States
+1 954 524 4736
http://www.stranahanhouse.com/ 		Built in 1901 by the "father of Fort Lauderdale," this is the oldest residence in the city and now an historic riverside museum. The elegantly restored house contains antiques, turn-of-the-century furnishings and old photographs of the area. It is also is an example of classic "Florida Frontier" architecture. Previously used as a post office, town hall and general store, it is now occasionally used for concerts and other events. Admission: USD6 for adults, USD5 for seniors and USD3 for children.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Stranahan House photo by Mark Christianson
Photo: Mark Christianson
Stranahan House photo by Mark Christianson
Photo: Mark Christianson
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Fort Lauderdale - Art & Entertainment"
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale - Historical Background
Fort Lauderdale - Neighborhood Guide
Fort Lauderdale - Where to Stay
Fort Lauderdale - Dining & Drinking

Other nearby cities:
Miami (51 miles)
Florida Keys (158 miles)
Fort Myers (188 miles)
Orlando (286 miles)
Tampa (310 miles)
Jacksonville (483 miles)
Atlanta (939 miles)
New Orleans (1063 miles)
Chattanooga (1106 miles)
Nashville (1275 miles)

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