9 Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale, Florida

things to do in fort lauderdale florida
Tabassum
Tabassum 
Updated
| 3 min read

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, is a popular tourist town that is 28 miles (45 kilometers) north of Miami, Florida. It is one of the ten largest cities in Florida. Located by the Atlantic Ocean and other bodies of water, Fort Lauderdale is known as the “Venice of America”. Here are some places to visit, while here:

1. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

 Best Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Marine 69-71 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Panoramic photo taken by David Warren Photogaphy

Posted by Bonnet House Museum & Gardens on Friday, 30 March 2012

This is a house, garden and history museum, in Fort Lauderdale. Also known as the Bartlett Estate, it is a waterfront home where you will find ponds with bonnet water lilies, as well as a tropical garden. An interesting fact to note: Fort Lauderdale’s first theater, the “Island Theater”, is also located here. In 1984, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Then, in 2002, it was given the honor of being listed as a historic landmark, by the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Address: 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

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2. Las Olas Boulevard

LasOlasBlvd
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chaplin62 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Welcome to Las Olas Boulevard, the <3 of Fort Lauderdale.

Posted by Las Olas on Monday, 21 May 2012

This is a nice, waterfront, outdoor complex that is perfectly situated in downtown and is 17 blocks long. Here, you will find everything your heart desires, with a scenic view to boot. There are a variety of fashion boutiques, art galleries, restaurants like the popular Cheesecake Factory, as well as sidewalk cafes and bars. A fun fact: Las Olas means “the waves” in Spanish - a fitting name for a great place to socialize and hang out with friends, any day of the week.

Las Olas Boulevard

Address: East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Las Olas Boulevard

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3. Historic Stranahan House Museum

Posted by Historic Stranahan House Museum on Thursday, 27 May 2010

Posted by Historic Stranahan House Museum on Thursday, 27 May 2010

Open daily, from 1 pm-4 pm Eastern time, the Historic Stranahan House was built by Frank Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale’s founding father, and his wife, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area’s first school teacher. It was originally built as a trading post and the historic home has been the site of a post office, community center, town hall and the home of the Stranahan’s. Interestingly, this historic house is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and was given the honor of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another honor it has received is that It has been voted the #1 Museum in all of South Florida.

Historic Stranahan House Museum

Address: 335 Southeast 6th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Historic Stranahan House Museum

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4. Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

Posted by Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum on Thursday, 30 June 2011

Posted by Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum on Friday, 20 February 2015

The Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum is a museum that showcases the largest collection of Packard cars, as well as historical memorabilia, such as hood ornaments, old gas station signs, carburetors, gear-shift knobs, horns, lighters, ashtrays, lamps, vintage magazines and photos and an entire exhibit dedicated to former United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Last, but not least, visitors of all ages will enjoy this place while enjoying the many exhibits and cars on display.

Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

Address: 1527 Southwest 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

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5. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Did you know you could sponsor a bench here at the park? It will have a bronze plaque on it commemorating your favorite saying. More information available here: http://birchstatepark.org/bench-campaign/

Posted by Friends of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park on Wednesday, 28 June 2017

It doesn't get much better than this ...

Posted by Friends of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park on Tuesday, 28 February 2017

This is a lovely park where you can picnic, camp, swim or canoe. You will also find a walking trail here, where you can catch some natural and beautiful scenic views. Visitors also have the opportunity to tour the house of Hugh Taylor Birch, who donated his estate to the state of Florida. It is located between the Intracoastal Waterway and SR A1A, in Fort Lauderdale.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Address: 3109 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

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6. Fort Lauderdale Beach

Posted by Ft Lauderdale Beach on Sunday, 28 May 2017

Posted by Ft Lauderdale Beach on Monday, 17 October 2016

Photo by Cece Petkova

Posted by Ft Lauderdale Beach on Monday, 6 March 2017

This is a very popular beach for locals and tourists. It is very beautiful and the most famous beach in Fort Lauderdale. There is a park here, as well, which offers everything from sand volleyball to boat ramps. There are grills and picnic areas, so you can bring a picnic lunch, a full basketball court and outdoor showers.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Address: 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: Fort Lauderdale Beach

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7. Museum of Discovery and Science

Museum of Discovery and Science (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tamanoeconomico used under CC BY-SA 4.0

There are lots of interactive exhibits to explore at the Museum of Discovery and Science, located in Fort Lauderdale. For example, you will get the opportunity to learn about the Everglades, in the Florida EcoScapes exhibit. You can also visit with the bats, turtles, sharks, alligators and a 12-foot-long (3.7 meter) snake! Everyone will love being able to sit in and experience the FA-18 cockpit simulator. Last, but not least, catch a film at the five-story-high film adventure, located in the AutoNation® IMAX® Theater, which is the biggest screen you will find in South Florida.

Museum of Discovery and Science

Address: 401 Southwest 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale FL

Website: Museum of Discovery and Science

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8. NSU Art Museum

Posted by NSU Art Museum on Sunday, 8 February 2015

This Saturday & Sunday is Bank of America Museums On Us Weekend. View #Kiefer, #Opie, #Bedia, #Levinthal, #Glackens and...

Posted by NSU Art Museum on Friday, 2 June 2017

The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Art Museum is a museum and art gallery, where, inside a modernist building designed by the renowned architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, you will find exciting exhibitions, art collections, programs and a studio school. The museum’s permanent collection consists of more than 6,000 works by American and Latin American artists.

NSU Art Museum

Address: 1 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Website: NSU Art Museum

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9. Sawgrass Recreation Park

Stunning summer sunsets! Visit Lauderdale VISIT FLORIDA #lovefl #hellosunny

Posted by Sawgrass Recreation Park on Thursday, 1 June 2017

This is what freedom feels like.... memories created daily at Sawgrass Recreation Park! VISIT FLORIDA Visit Lauderdale #lovefl #hellosunny

Posted by Sawgrass Recreation Park on Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Gator sighting! VISIT FLORIDA Visit Lauderdale #lovefl #hellosunny

Posted by Sawgrass Recreation Park on Thursday, 15 June 2017

About half an hour from Fort Lauderdale, you will find the Sawgrass Recreation Park. There are private airboat rides here, as well as many exhibits to see. The captains of the private rides are knowledgeable and friendly and tourists love coming here to try out the popular ride.

Sawgrass Recreation Park

Address: 1006 North US Highway 27, Weston, FL

Website: Sawgrass Recreation Park

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Beautiful Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale is a town by the ocean, which offers lots to see and do besides its beaches. Be sure to visit this place and take in some of the fun activities, listed above!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Tabassum Rahmani, a technical writer born and raised in the United States to Indian parents, boasts over a decade of writing experience. She has a passion for sharing her life's adventures and...Read more

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