Fort Lauderdale stretches along South Florida’s Atlantic coast, nicknamed the Venice of America for its 165 miles of navigable canals and waterways. Fort Lauderdale Beach and Las Olas Beach anchor the city’s shoreline, while the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park offer quieter green space nearby.
The Museum of Discovery and Science, with its IMAX theater, is a favorite for families, and a Jungle Queen Riverboat cruise offers a classic way to see the canals from the water. Las Olas Boulevard mixes Caribbean, Latin American, and Southern-influenced dining with boutique shopping.
Winter and spring, from December through May, bring calmer seas and clearer water for snorkeling along with the mildest temperatures, while hurricane season runs June through November; budget travelers often find the best deals in late summer and early fall.
