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I’ve been on cruises to great ports in many countries, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean to South America. I mention this because I’ve developed a system for those one-day shore excursions. You know – eight hours to see Oslo. I’ve talked with other experienced travelers about this, including my former editor Arthur Frommer, and we agree that eight hours is enough to sample a city, letting you decide whether to return and spend more time. I aim for a good mix of seeing key sights and experiencing the people, food and atmosphere of the place. With that in mind, here is what I would do on an eight-hour, first-time shore excursion to Fort Lauderdale:
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Grab a taxi from the dock and ride over the 17th Street bridge to Las Olas and A1A. This should be a 10-minute drive. Pick one of the many seaside cafes for a relaxed breakfast, enjoying the incredible view and great people watching.
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Take a walk along the ocean. There are shops and the large Beach Place retail complex if you’re so inclined. Or just take time to smell the salt air.
12 – 12:30: Find another taxi for a brief tour of the downtown area. Go west on Las Olas to Andrews Avenue, swing a bit north to Broward Boulevard, then east to tour the beautiful homes in Victoria Park. Head west again on Broward a short distance to Riverwalk. Half an hour or so should be plenty of time for this.
12:30 – 3: Stroll around Riverwalk, then find a Water Bus at the Riverfront shopping complex. Ride the boat to see Fort Lauderdale from the water, the most beautiful perspective of this city. Stop for lunch at Bahia Cabana, a funky very-Florida waterside restaurant with excellent conch chowder. Hop the boat back to Las Olas.
3 – 5: Shop downtown on Las Olas. There are some great stores here, with everything from inexpensive keepsakes to fashionable clothes to very pricey art works. Take a taxi back to the ship: Federal Highway to 17th Street, about 15 minutes or so. And come back to spend more time on your next visit. There’s a whole lot more to see and do, both in and outside Fort Lauderdale. Bon voyage!
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Grab a taxi from the dock and ride over the 17th Street bridge to Las Olas and A1A. This should be a 10-minute drive. Pick one of the many seaside cafes for a relaxed breakfast, enjoying the incredible view and great people watching.
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Take a walk along the ocean. There are shops and the large Beach Place retail complex if you’re so inclined. Or just take time to smell the salt air.
12 – 12:30: Find another taxi for a brief tour of the downtown area. Go west on Las Olas to Andrews Avenue, swing a bit north to Broward Boulevard, then east to tour the beautiful homes in Victoria Park. Head west again on Broward a short distance to Riverwalk. Half an hour or so should be plenty of time for this.
12:30 – 3: Stroll around Riverwalk, then find a Water Bus at the Riverfront shopping complex. Ride the boat to see Fort Lauderdale from the water, the most beautiful perspective of this city. Stop for lunch at Bahia Cabana, a funky very-Florida waterside restaurant with excellent conch chowder. Hop the boat back to Las Olas.
3 – 5: Shop downtown on Las Olas. There are some great stores here, with everything from inexpensive keepsakes to fashionable clothes to very pricey art works. Take a taxi back to the ship: Federal Highway to 17th Street, about 15 minutes or so. And come back to spend more time on your next visit. There’s a whole lot more to see and do, both in and outside Fort Lauderdale. Bon voyage!
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 8:53 AM
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