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I’ve always believed that the very best way to see some of the gorgeous homes in Fort Lauderdale is on the water. There are lots of inexpensive opportunities for doing this, including the Jungle Queen, water taxis and other vessels that will haul you from here to there along the canals and rivers. But there are so many lovely neighborhoods in this city that it seems a shame to view only the largest multi-million dollar mansions. There is another way to get around, though, checking out some of the hidden homes tucked into these residential pockets. Just get in your car.
When I was a kid, my parents sometimes would pack us into the car and drive around nice neighborhoods where they would make comments about this rose garden or that three-car garage or something. The kind of houses they looked at weren’t really my style. Still aren’t. These were the classic huge Midwestern houses of the 60s, big and boxy and without much character, at least to my eyes. Not so the old homes of Fort Lauderdale. Or even some of the new homes. Many of them have style, character and sometimes real beauty.
If I wanted to get a sense of the most interesting neighborhoods, I’d start with Victoria Park. From Federal Highway and Broward Boulevard, head east on Broward and keep going. This will bring you directly into Victoria Park, with all the quaint, upscale houses spread around a very expensive part of town. Then I’d probably drive east on Las Olas until I came to the finger isles. This is a series of peninsulas that spread into the water like fingers. With a lot of beautiful homes sitting on them. Take your time to cruise up and down these streets, then cross Las Olas and cruise some more in the wealthy residential neighborhoods on that opposite side. After this, Sailboat Bend is always fun. Just take Broward Boulevard again, heading west this time to about SW 11th Avenue and then turn south. This historic community is a funky mix, something very different from the places you’ve just been. There are old homes and new homes here, pricey homes and rundown homes pretty much side by side. It’s a small, interesting piece of Fort Lauderdale. But well worth exploring by automobile. Even if you have to drag the kids along for the ride.
When I was a kid, my parents sometimes would pack us into the car and drive around nice neighborhoods where they would make comments about this rose garden or that three-car garage or something. The kind of houses they looked at weren’t really my style. Still aren’t. These were the classic huge Midwestern houses of the 60s, big and boxy and without much character, at least to my eyes. Not so the old homes of Fort Lauderdale. Or even some of the new homes. Many of them have style, character and sometimes real beauty.
If I wanted to get a sense of the most interesting neighborhoods, I’d start with Victoria Park. From Federal Highway and Broward Boulevard, head east on Broward and keep going. This will bring you directly into Victoria Park, with all the quaint, upscale houses spread around a very expensive part of town. Then I’d probably drive east on Las Olas until I came to the finger isles. This is a series of peninsulas that spread into the water like fingers. With a lot of beautiful homes sitting on them. Take your time to cruise up and down these streets, then cross Las Olas and cruise some more in the wealthy residential neighborhoods on that opposite side. After this, Sailboat Bend is always fun. Just take Broward Boulevard again, heading west this time to about SW 11th Avenue and then turn south. This historic community is a funky mix, something very different from the places you’ve just been. There are old homes and new homes here, pricey homes and rundown homes pretty much side by side. It’s a small, interesting piece of Fort Lauderdale. But well worth exploring by automobile. Even if you have to drag the kids along for the ride.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 11:38 AM
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