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Greater Fort Lauderdale Destination Overview
"Blue Wave" beaches.  Endless waterways served by water taxis and yacht charters.  Big-city arts and culture. A vibrant, urban nightlife. A choice of over 4,000 restaurants - from fine dining to local favorites. Year-round outdoor sports. Relaxing spas. The shopping of Colonnade Outlets, Galleria Mall, Festival Flea Market and Las Olas Boulevard. And you want to get really wild? The Florida Everglades is our back yard.

The "Venice of America" and Yachting Capital of the World
Greater Fort Lauderdale's 300-plus miles of navigable inland canals - part of the Intracoastal Waterway - stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Everglades. A destination within a destination, the waterways offer everything from centuries-old mangroves to opulent multi-million-dollar mansions. They also connect the area's top activities, attractions, hotels, shopping areas and restaurants. Visitors can go snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean, towel off and cast a reel to land the catch of the day, then "dock and dine" and have their hard-earned meal prepared just the way they like it. The waterways help underpin the destination's casual chic lifestyle, distinguishing Greater Fort Lauderdale from other beach destinations.

With so much water, it's hard to know just how to explore the inland canals. Participating in a kayak tour or renting one for individual exploration are two options. Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to a multi-billion-dollar marine industry with more than 42,000 registered yachts. Celebrity-owned, eight-figure mega-yachts ease along the New River and dock in luxurious digs like the 250-slip Bahia Mar Resort & Yachting Center, which can accommodate up to 100 mega-yachts. For those with slightly more modest tastes, yacht rentals are both readily available and easily affordable. Greater Fort Lauderdale also boasts a water taxi system that takes passengers up and down the waterways' major arteries.

Natural Wonders: A Gateway to the Everglades and Much More
Fragile and fascinating, South Florida's Everglades is one of the great ecosystems of North America, where wildlife and culture combine for exotic, educational experiences. Aboard airboats, tour operators provide visitors the chance to witness exotic flora, fauna, and wildlife from alligators to Florida panthers. The Everglades also is home to the Seminole Indians, who invite visitors to learn about their proud, ancient culture at attractions including the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. At the Seminole's Billie Swamp Safari, visitors can get up-close with nature riding a swamp buggy through the "river of grass" witnessing exotic wildlife such as Asian Water Buffalo, Bison and Ostrich or for a truly immersing experience, spend the night in a native Chickee hut - a thatched-roof structure with no electricity or running water.

Greater Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of other nature experiences. Butterfly World features the largest indoor butterfly aviary in North America, as well as an impelling insectarium and a "buzz-worthy" hummingbird environment. 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.

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.

Year-Round Golf: Do Something "Green"
Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts more than 40 courses, including championship resort courses, exclusive private clubs and beautifully maintained municipal facilities designed by legends of the game. Among this collection of manicured greens, the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa claims the only five-star rated golf course in South Florida at the Diplomat Country Club & Spa.

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 Cero at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale and the soon to open Aquaknox at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort 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.