Great Fort Lauderdale, renowned as Florida’s LGBTQ+ capital, is home to 38 kilometres of sparkling Atlantic coastline and eight different beach communities. With 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and an average year-round temperature of 25°C, this area is a beach lover’s paradise. All of the beaches are perfect for relaxing, soaking up the sun, swimming and water sports, and most also offer their share of exceptional hotels, shops, restaurants and entertainment. But beyond everything you’d expect from a typical day at the beach, there are also plenty of surprises. Here’s a look at a unique offering from each of these eight beaches.
Deerfield Beach
Feeling adventurous? Deerfield Beach is home to Ski Rixen USA, one of the first cable water-skiing parks in the nation. An innovative pulley and cable system pulls you along the 2,700-foot oval course and lessons are available, along with the skis or wakeboard. So, if you’ve always wanted to try waterskiing or wakeboarding, this is the perfect place. No boat needed! And it’s an amazing experience for experienced skiers and wakeboarders as well.
Hillsborough Beach
The stand-out offering on this beach is the historic Hillsborough Lighthouse, built in 1906. Tours are offered monthly and include a scenic boat ride to get to the southern end of the peninsula. You can climb the 175 steps of the spiral staircase to reach the 138-foot top for amazing views. You can also see the memorial statue of the barefoot mailman, who walked 40 miles each week to deliver mail between Palm Beach and Miami back in the late 1800s.
Pompano Beach
While there’s much to discover in Pompano Beach, such as concerts at its 3,000-seat amphitheatre or amazing scuba diving at Shipwreck Park, perhaps this is the beach to start your journey on Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Ale Trail. Download the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport and enjoy discounts and earn prizes. Stops in Pompano Beach include Odd Breed Wild Ales, Pompano Beach Brewing Company and 26 Degree Brewing.
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
This walkable beach town has the feel of a seaside village but its claim to fame is that it’s only one of two beaches in the continental USA where you can snorkel and dive on a living coral reef straight off the beach (the other is Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Hollywood Beach). Just 100 yards from shore, an easy five-minute swim, a view of the reef’s astounding variety of fish and critters awaits.
Fort Lauderdale beach
This is the area’s most famous beach with its iconic wave wall and bustling beachfront promenade. And at the corner of Sebastian Street and A1A, you’ll discover Sebastian Street Beach, named the “Hottest U.S. Gay Beach” by Out Traveler. You’re sure to encounter abundant eye candy and a lively crowd – the more the merrier!
Dania Beach
While dining delights abound at any beach in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach is one of the few that has dining right on the water. At the Quarterdeck Dania Beach Pier, you can enjoy a front-seat view of the ocean and the sound of the waves along with delicious seafood like smoked mahi dip and clams in garlic wine butter.
Hollywood Beach
The brick-paved Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is the star here, stretching over nearly three miles from Jefferson Street to Sheridan Street, ending at Hollywood North Beach Park and offering dramatic views of the beach. Bike, stroll, jog, people-watch, dine at an outdoor café or shop at the weekend Yellow Green Farmer’s Market.
Hallandale Beach
Get your perfect Instagram moment here with the Beach Ball Water Tower at the North City Beach Park, located right by those irresistible ocean breezes. And at nearby luxury shopping destinations such as Gulfstream Park, you can shop till you drop onto Hallandale Beach’s four miles of soft sand and crystal-clear water.
Plan your holiday now to Greater Fort Lauderdale at VisitLauderdale.com/LGBT and discover a beach playground unlike any other.
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