Story Ideas
Come play on our beaches!
Most destinations have only one beach to brag about. Greater Fort Lauderdale has eight, with their own unique personalities and surrounding communities which incorporate hundreds of restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels and superior small lodgings. From singles and families to affluent couples, to a rainbow experience and a destination that caters to a multicultural audience, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers more to do than most destinations in southern Florida.
Take a tour of our unique beach communities and see why we're able to cater to so may different audiences. Is it Fort Lauderdale Beach is the epitome of beach chic style, yet with a refreshingly low-keyed friendliness that appeals to all walks of life. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is most famous as the "shore dive capital of south Florida. Pompano Beach is popular with fans of picnicking, sun-worshiping, surfing and sport-fishing. Or Hillsboro beach, home to the most powerful lighthouse on the eastern seaboard. Deerfield Beach has casual beachfront eateries - popular with locals and visitors for lunch, dinner, drinks and dancing. Dania beach is home to John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, a favorite destination for recreation enthusiasts. And at the southern tip, Hollywood beach has a retro-cool Broadwalk where you can dine in open-air cafes, bike or blade along the brick promenade or swim in the pristine waters.
A family-friendly experience - come see Greater Fort Lauderdale's natural wonders
Greater Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of other nature experiences. Butterfly World features the largest indoor butterfly aviary in North America. Flamingo Gardens & Wray Botanical Collection offers 60 acres of diverse native plants and trees, a Bird of Prey Center with a free-flight aviary, and the chance to view alligators, flamingos, bobcats and Florida panthers. At Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood, kayak through narrow canals where mangrove trees create a tangled canopy. Look out for spiders!
Pet friendly GFL
The "pet set" will have no problems keeping Fido happy in Greater Fort Lauderdale. With 73 pet-friendly hotels, recreation areas, and even spas and restaurants that welcome pets with open paws, Greater Fort Lauderdale is proving that every dog (and other pet) does indeed have its day. With 73 pet-friendly hotels, recreation areas, and even spas and restaurants that welcome pets with open paws, Greater Fort Lauderdale is proving that every dog (and other pet) does indeed have its day.
Educational excursions in Greater Fort Lauderdale combine learning with leisure
What do deck shoes, protective headphones, a sand wedge, camera, wetsuit and a butcher's block have in common? All can be part of an engaging and enriching vacation experience in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Travelers increasingly combine learning with leisure. Greater Fort Lauderdale offers visitors a variety of participatory learning opportunities, whether this means studying a fascinating native culture or pursuing a personal hobby.
Looking to explore the destination and take to the water? Work the jib aboard the deck of a sailboat, practice equalizing your air pressure underwater, learn how to fly above the waves, or take snapshots of Florida wildlife while coasting in an airboat. Landlubbers can learn flambé techniques from a renowned chef, improve their killer slice on the golf course, or camp under the stars in an authentic Seminole Indian Chickee hut.
Lauderdale Luxe: Upscale Hotels Highlight the New Luxury Story
Greater Fort Lauderdale's upscale hotels have arrived, placing a luxury stamp on an already casually sophisticated destination. In 2007, the 373-room Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort with a zero-entry pool, grocery and beach concierges arrived. In May 2007, the $240 million, 166-room The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale opened with a stylish gourmet restaurant and a wine room featuring more than 1,000 different bottles. In 2009, the W Fort Lauderdale will add another 346 luxury rooms to Greater Fort Lauderdale, as well as a signature Stephen Starr restaurant and renowned Bliss® Spa. And "The Donald" will bring a new luxury property from the hotel mogul, the Michael Graves-designed Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale in 2009.
Greater "Fork" Lauderdale: Re-discover the top restaurants that make dining here so Lauderlicious
The new luxury hotels are bringing a windfall of elegant eating to Greater Fort Lauderdale. Featured restaurants such as the soon-to-open Todd Emglish eatery, da Campo Osteria, at il Lugano Suite Hotel (November2008) and Cero at The Ritz-Carlton join instant successes like Trina, a "New Mediterranean" masterpiece at The Atlantic Resort & Spa - and Council Oak steakhouse at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. However, visitors looking for other exciting, eclectic options won't stay hungry for long. Floribbean (think Florida fresh + Caribbean spice) hot spots such as Johnny V, a "dock and dine" dinner at Blue Moon Fish Company, and a burger that's been voted America's Best at the funky Le Tub (what else do you call a place with pastel bath tubs everywhere?) are just a few of the possibilities.
Las Olas Boulevard - Where the Beach Meets Chic
Translated "the waves" in Spanish, Las Olas Blvd. has historically been the road that connects the beach with the city. Today it's known as Greater Fort Lauderdale's "style mile," lined with independently owned boutiques featuring couture, jewelry, home décor, art galleries and specialty gifts. Acclaimed restaurants like Johnny V make up a virtual restaurant row, while lively lounges and cafés with sidewalk seating provide laid-back people watching and colorful nightlife. Las Olas also is the starting point for canal tours in authentic Italian gondolas, as well as a major stop along Greater Fort Lauderdale's water taxi system - two ways to discover Greater Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway.
Get Your Feet Wet: Learn to Dive then Dive Right In
One of the country's top scuba diving destinations, Greater Fort Lauderdale features more than 100 wreck dives of various depths and skill levels to complement its three-tiered natural coral reef system. The result is an eclectic undersea world of living coral and resting ships, one whose gulfstream currents bring a treasure trove of brilliantly colored exotic aquatic wildlife. Dozens of dive operators in Greater Fort Lauderdale cater to all ages and skill levels.
Currently, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is offering "Train and Try" opportunities for VIP media. Get certified where you live, then experience Greater Fort Lauderdale's tremendous scuba scene. For a preview, consumers can visit www.sunny.org/scuba to watch a special destination dive video.
Simply SUN-Sational: Memorable Meetings
From its signature SUN-Sational Service program to free convention center floor space when booking large groups for August and September meetings, Greater Fort Lauderdale continues to be an innovative leader in the meetings industry. The 600,000-square-foot Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and the destination's 30,000 hotel rooms are just the start of the story. Meetings venues in Greater Fort Lauderdale are as diverse as the destination itself: a sprawling flamingo garden, a renowned performing arts center, a beachfront boardroom. Meeting professionals are encouraged to visit www.sunny.org/meetings to order a free Meeting Planners Guide. Stay tuned for more news on the planned 1,000-room, waterfront hotel serving as the new anchor hotel for the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. More to come soon!
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