Fort Lauderdale Travelers Recommend

Just beyond Fort Lauderdale lie the Florida Everglades, a magnificent subtropical wilderness—and lots of it—protected by one of the largest national parks in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about exploring this vast, wet, and wild “river of grass” on a tour from Fort Lauderdale.

Small-Group Tours

Small-group tours to the 100-mile-long (161-kilometer-long), 60-mile-wide (96-kilometer-wide) Florida Everglades from Fort Lauderdale offer travelers a budget-friendly way to experience this Wetland of International Importance, International Biosphere Reserve, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Options are varied depending on interest: On a typical Everglades day trip, you might enjoy a nature walk through a cypress forest; take an airboat ride through the Everglades National Park or Sawgrass Recreation Park to spot beautiful birds, panthers, and alligators; or explore the wilderness after dark to experience the sights and sounds of the Everglades by night.

Private Tours

Opting for a private tour of the Everglades affords several benefits, including greater flexibility of your itinerary and the chance to ask as many questions as you want of your very own tour guide while skimming across the water at speeds of up to 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour. A private Everglades airboat tour uses a small boat that can travel deeper into the Everglades for longer periods of time than larger boat tours. 

Things to Know

• Everglades day trips from Fort Lauderdale can last between four and 10 hours.

• Choose between the value of a small-group tour and the flexibility of a private tour.

• Many tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in Fort Lauderdale.

• Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent.

With two days in Fort Lauderdale, you can experience the best of this sophisticated coastal city and still have time to explore areas off the Florida coast, as well as nearby Miami. From fishing to airboat rides, take advantage of Fort Lauderdale’s canals and its proximity to other coastal attractions. Here’s how to make the most of two days.

Day 1: Explore the Waters

**Morning:**Sightseeing in Fort Lauderdale is best done via the city’s waterways, either on board a hop-on hop-off water taxi or by joining a guided tour. Dotted with pricey yachts and lavish homes, the city’s canals offer picturesque views and are a scenic way to get around town.

**Afternoon:**About a 30-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are a quick and easy excursion, with airboat rides that allow you to spot local wildlife such as alligators among the grassy waters. Visit Sawgrass Recreation Park to view rescued reptiles and mammals, plus see rare gopher tortoises and learn about the park’s conservation efforts.

**Night:**Watch a live performance by Polynesian dancers while enjoying a Cantonese and American meal at a local restaurant, where the tiki bar atmosphere hearkens back to kitschy 1950s Fort Lauderdale. Alternatively, book a pub crawl to help you navigate the city’s nightlife scene, which is still thriving minus the spring break atmosphere.

Day 2: Head to Key West

**Morning:**From daiquiri-fueled parties to mangrove tunnels and coral reefs, Key West offers a lifetime of ways to kick back, explore nature, and enjoy some island sunshine. But since Key West highlights are often just a stone’s throw apart, you can take in the scene even if your time is limited.

Alternatively, head out in the morning on an all-day fishing trip in Fort Lauderdale.

**Afternoon:**For those hanging around Fort Lauderdale, stroll down the city’s main thoroughfare, Las Olas Boulevard. Lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, the street provides plenty of fun distractions and is a relaxed way to spend the afternoon. You can also rent a Segway or join a bike tour to see more of the sights by land.

**Night:**Cap off your stay with a classic dinner cruise. Paddle steamboats travel along the waterways, stopping on land to dine or serving a meal aboard the boat. Alternatively, join a dinner tour of nearby Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale, and swing by various restaurants for tastings as you watch the sunset.

Called the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale boasts a network of yacht-filled canals lined with marinas. Just 23 miles (37 kilometers) north of Miami, this sophisticated city ditched its rowdy spring-break reputation years ago and has become a buzzing cosmopolitan base for experiencing Florida. Here’s how to see this city in one day.

Morning: Take a Water Taxi

See the sights of Fort Lauderdale from its famous waterways. While many cities offer hop-on hop-off bus tours, this Florida town offers the same service via water taxis, with routes that include stops at various scenic points. Tickets are usually valid for 12 hours, so you can use it throughout the day, allowing you to jump off for a drink and bite to eat before hopping back aboard. Or join a more structured tour aboard a grand paddle steamer along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway. Landlubbers can tour the town via Segway or bike or on foot.

Afternoon: See the Everglades

Located about 30 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are a unique Floridian landscape where you can spot local wildlife such as alligators, fish, turtles, and wading birds while on an airboat tour. Glide across the grassy water, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour) in this subtropical ecosystem. At Sawgrass Recreation Park, which features exhibit areas where rescued reptiles and mammals such as turtles, iguanas, and snakes live, you can learn about the park’s conservation efforts. Or join an afternoon food tour and stroll down Las Olas Boulevard, known for its restaurants, bars, and boutiques, stopping for tastings while window-shopping.

Night: Evening Cruise or Pub Crawl

End your day on a riverboat cruise, such as the popular Jungle Queen, which includes a stop on land to enjoy a buffet dinner and live entertainment. Travel down Fort Lauderdale's New River, sailing past the lavish homes of Millionaire's Row. Some cruises include dinner aboard the boat, or you can simply grab cocktails instead of a meal. Alternatively, join a party bike pub crawl for happy hour and pedal around Fort Lauderdale, stopping at bars along the way. It’s a fun, safe, and social way to explore the city’s nightlife scene.

Located on Florida's southeastern coast, Fort Lauderdale is known for its beaches, canals, and bustling arts scene. With a sophisticated vibe that’s a far cry from the spring-break setting of yesteryear, the city is a prime starting point for day trips thanks to its proximity to Miami and the Bahamas. Here’s how to make the most of three days in Fort Lauderdale.

Day 1: See It by Sea

Around 7 miles (11 kilometers) of Atlantic beaches stretch out from Fort Lauderdale, offering cooling breezes in this tropical climate that averages 85°F (30°C) in summer and a balmy 75°F (25°C) in winter. View the area’s over-the-top mansions from the water on a sightseeing cruise of the port and yacht marina before spending the afternoon on the sand. Alternatively, head out to the Everglades to spot alligators from an airboat. In the evening, take a dinner cruise with live entertainment aboard the popular Jungle Queen riverboat. Another option is a live Polynesian performance at a local landmark restaurant that serves Chinese dishes and tropical drinks; the kitschy 1950s tiki setting is fun for the whole family.

Day 2: Go Fish

Head offshore on a half- or all-day fishing trip to catch snapper, grouper, trigger fish, grunts, and amberjacks, or travel to the Everglades where you can snag bass. Half-day trips typically offer morning and afternoon departure times, and private charter options are available. For those who prefer their fish on a plate as opposed to a hook, stroll down Fort Lauderdale’s picturesque Las Olas Boulevard with a small-group food crawl to sample a variety of restaurants and bars. Alternatively, join a Segway or bike tour to catch more of the city’s sights, or rent a Vespa scooter and motor around on your own. At night, grab a cocktail aboard a sunset cruise or go barhopping with a pub crawl.

Day 3: Out and About

Spend your last day exploring beyond Fort Lauderdale. Less than an hour’s drive away, Miami is a popular option; guided tours that include round-trip transportation from Fort Lauderdale are ideal for first-time visitors. Alternatively, venture off coast with a ferry ticket to Freeport Harbour on Grand Bahama, where you’ll have free time to snorkel, sunbathe, and explore the island—just remember to bring your passport. A guided day trip to Key West involves a long bus ride, so it may not be ideal for some travelers, but it offers a taste of the Keys and the chance to see top attractions such as the Ernest Hemingway House without committing to a full stay there.