The Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale is a lovely coastal city with a unique charm to it. While it does harbour the reputation of being first class, it doesn’t break the bank to visit it and that’s what makes it so much more special especially for a solo trip. At Fort Lauderdale, fun is always just around the corner. Head out to explore miles of beautiful beaches and bask in the sunshine, check out the vibrant art scene, go on gondola rides on canals, dine along the lovely seaside promenade, escape into the beauty of nature at the Secret Woods Nature Center, join hundreds of jazz enthusiasts at the Sun Trust Sunday Jazz Brunch in the downtown area or dive into the history of the place at the numerous museums around town. Join us as we take you through some of the best things to do alone and enjoy around Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
1. Grab a beer at Funky Buddha Brewery
Leading the local brewery scene with funky craft beers unlike anything you’ve ever had is this spot which is successfully drawing large and diverse crowds to its doorstep. Find yourself a place in the large taproom with seating for over a 100 people, done up in modern furnishings and with flat-screen televisions all around while you watch through the large glass windows separating the taproom from the brewing warehouse to see where your amazing drink comes from before it reaches you.
Funky Buddha Brewery
Address: 1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park
Website: Funky Buddha Brewery
Opening hours: 11:30am - 12am (daily)
2. Enjoy a romantic meal at the 3030 Ocean Restaurant & Bar
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Head straight to one of Fort Lauderdale’s showcase restaurants hosted at the Marriott’s Harbor Beach Resort and Spa to sample some tasty bites and pretty plates featuring fresh, local seafood in an ever-changing menu. Besides the scrumptious food, the casual yet chic oceanfront ambience and great service makes this place a hit among locals and tourists alike. The restaurant predominantly serves American-style seafood with a unique and passionate combination of flavours in the candlelight-filled bistro. The 3030 Ocean Bar serves carefully crafted artisan cocktails from 11 am - 1:30 am.
3030 Ocean Restaurant & Bar
Address: Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale
Website: 3030 Ocean Restaurant & Bar
Opening hours: 11am - 1:30am (daily)
3. Delve into history at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Spread over 35 acres (14 hectares) and nestled between the beach and the Intracoastal Waterway, this period museum will teach you about the city’s history, art, nature and more. This property, previously residential, has been turned into a museum and art gallery filled with the family’s collection of paintings. The home is built in a plantation style and guests can also enjoy the surrounding gardens namely the desert garden, the tropical garden and the hibiscus garden.
Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Address: 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale
Website: Bonnet House Museum and Gardens
Opening hours: 9am - 4pm (closed on Mon)
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4. Experience the best of Fort Lauderdale with the FAT Village Art Walk
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Art walks are organized on the last Saturday of every month except in the month of December and attract a diverse crowd to experience the best of art, music, food and fun that FAT Village has to offer. The galleries, the artisan shops, cafes and delis, studios, craft coffee shops make for an interesting mix on this walk.
FAT Village Art Walk
Address: 521 NW 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale
Website: FAT Village Art Walk
Opening hours: 6pm - 11pm (daily)
5. Check out some historic records at Radio-Active Records
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This local spot located just a few minutes from the beach and downtown is the best record store around town. Both new and used vinyl with a healthy mix of genres can be found here with a dedicated section for local artists too. All records are meticulously arranged in alphabetical order with a lot of the artists having their own section within their respective genres. You could also enjoy a new release’s listening party over food and drinks here.
Radio-Active Records
Address: 845 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale
Website: Radio-Active Records
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 8pm; Fri: 11am - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
6. Show some pride at the Stonewall Museum & Archives
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This not-for-profit gallery urges you to show some pride and is dedicated to further the understanding of and within the LGBTQ+ community. The museum features unique, permanent and rotating exhibits including the likes of the pair of sneakers worn by Ellen DeGeneres for her cover shoot with TIME where she came out, and a rainbow flag honouring the shooting victims of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub incident. While admission to the museum is free, a 5 USD donation is suggested.
Stonewall Museum & Archives
Address: 1300 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
Website: Stonewall Museum & Archives
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 6pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 9pm
7. Walk on a trail and explore the Secret Woods Nature Center
This 57 acre (23 hectares) park is a great spot to spend your vacation in the lap of nature and rediscover serenity at this unspoiled location. The park is set amidst an oak forest and is surrounded by swampland. It has primarily two trails to offer, both of which are less than a mile long. One trail is through the mulch where you’re very likely to spot crabs and the other over the water along an elevated boardwalk. The park also boasts of a butterfly house and an interpretive centre with a working beehive and a reptile habitat. Admission and parking are free.
Secret Woods Nature Center
Address: 2701 W State Rd 84, Fort Lauderdale
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Price: No entry fee
8. Visit the oldest home in Fort Lauderdale
This property built in 1901 holds the claim to fame of being the oldest home in the city and has been restored as a stop for history buffs. Used as a trading post before it became the residence of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, the guided tours make you step back in time and offer plenty of insight from over the years. Experience the expert guided tours offered Monday through Sunday at 1, 2 and 3 pm to learn about the incredible cultural and historical significance of this property in the area.
Stranahan House Museum Tour
Address: 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale
Website: Stranahan House Museum Tour
Opening hours: 1pm - 4pm (daily)
Price: 7-12 USD
9. Browse through fascinating exhibits at the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
For those who go weak in the knees over four-wheeled beauties, this local gem is not to be missed. The museum showcases stunning automobiles from Packard Motor Company dating back to the early 1900s, all of which are in perfect working condition. Set up as a non-profit venture not only to showcase the company’s history but also the development that has taken place in automobile engineering over decades, this museum hosts thousands of automobile memorabilia as well.
Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
Address:1527 SW 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale
Website: Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4pm (Sat by appointment)
10. Snorkel without swimming using SEABOB adventure (from USD 160.0)
Experience a new way of moving through water and go snorkelling without swimming by combining three activities- snorkelling, jet skiing and scuba diving where the wetsuit, mask and harness keep you connected to the SEABOB. Enjoy the views of hundreds of fish and the beautiful aquatic life within five local reefs along a 5 km (3 miles) long snorkelling trail. This tour departs from Fort Lauderdale Beach and the price includes all equipment, a tour guide and taxes. It takes anywhere between 70-90 minutes to complete the whole tour.
90-Minute Snorkel & Seabob Underwater Guided Reef Tour in Fort Lauderdale
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Enjoy unique experiences at Fort Lauderdale
When you have everything from beaches to adventure sports, art and culture to history, music and shopping here at Fort Lauderdale, why would you go anywhere else? Hop aboard and head to the lovely coastal city of Fort Lauderdale.
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