About Maddie S
Lives in London, United Kingdom
Since Sep 2014
Hello! I'm Maddie- a native NYer whose Wanderlust has taken her abroad again and again. Having lived in six countries, and visiting others for school, work, leisure, and sport, I've adopted many localities, and am an admirer of a great many more. An avid scholar of language and culture, I hope to keep expanding my travel repertoire, and sharing great stories with the rest of the travel community. To give you some background on my travels, I spent months each year since childhood in Old Montreal, where part of my family lives. Summers were spent visiting folks in Ft. Lauderdale and L.A. My first big trip outside of the US on my own was to Australia & New Zealand at 12- I caught the bug early! I then moved to Japan where I studied for part of high school & uni. I am very familiar with Japanese cities, Sapporo and Osaka especially. Some of my favourite travel destinations include Goreme, Dubai, Marrakech, and Queenstown. (Plans for 2015 include China & Uganda!) Nice to meet you!
If you've only got one day to spend in Fort Lauderdale, optimizing your time is key. Luckily, many of the city's unique systems of transportation, from its water taxis to its trolleys, take you right up along some of the best destinations for food, fun, and sun.
10 Places
3 City Tips
10 Places
Tramways
Beaches
Beaches, Parks
Bodies of Water
Flea & Street Markets
History Museums
Gift & Speciality Shops
Bowling Alleys, Room Escape Games, Game & Entertainment Centres
Theatres
Theatres
All Aboard! Get your day off to the right start on the Sun Trolley - it goes directly to the beaches and is cheap to ride. In addition to the main beach, you can take it most anywhere in the city, from Las Olas Street to central Broward. Best of all, there's air conditioning on board for those stifling months!
If you're in Fort Lauderdale, you're probably here with the beach in mind. Well, all 23 miles of it boast silky sand and clear, mild waters, perfect for swimming or getting up on a surf or boogie board - especially if it's your first time trying! Along the beach are also some of the city's best restaurants and shopping areas, so tuck in, and prepare to spend a day combing the landscape in your favorite swimsuit.
Located directly on the beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach Park features an array of volleyball courts, picnic tables, public-use grills, and a children's playground. It's a great place to stop over and enjoy an outdoor lunch or a friendly match, right on the water.
The canals of Fort Lauderdale have given the city its famous nickname, the "Venice of America." Whether you take a tour boat or a water taxi, the views along the Intracoastal Waterway are breathtaking. Millionaire's Row offers a look at some of the most expensive waterfront homes and yachts, or you can use the water taxi to access some of the best eating and shopping along the canals.
Accessible by water taxi and located in the famous Lauderdale Marina, 15th Street Fisheries restaurant offers you the freshest catches while giving you a waterfront view of the busy dock and the restaurant's own tarpon fish nursery.
Historic Stranahan House and Museum is located in one of the city's oldest and most historic buildings. Inaugurated in 1901 by one of the Fort Lauderdale's founders, Frank Stranahan, today Stranahan House is home to a number of important artifacts and well-preserved rooms which detail the city's economic, governmental, and cultural past, while also narrating the stories of some of its most prominent early advocates.
After a day at play, it might be nice to cool off and do something relaxing. At Joe Picasso's, a local favorite, you can glaze ceramics, create mosaics, or even paint canvasses - creating your own unique souvenir. Geared toward both children and adults, and offering classes as well as free-paint, Joe Picasso's will make sure you'll leave having made something truly one of a kind.
Just in case you'd like some adventure, the XBK Zone offers a nice break from the beach and the sun while still being high-energy. Complete with an indoor go-kart race track - the longest in Florida - the XBK zone is one part arcade, one part indoor entertainment center.
Ending your night at one of the city's wonderful theaters will give you an experience to remember. At the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, touring Broadway shows make local stops, and musical and theater productions are always on. Check out timetables and don't miss a show!
A great stop for a late-night show, the Parker Playhouse is an extremely professional venue for theater and live performance, presented in an intimate space.
TripAdvisor uses cookies to improve your site experience. Learn more or change your settings. By continuing, you consent to our cookies.