Florida Guide > Other Florida
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is the largest city on the gold coast and has a lot of culture and some superb beaches to visit. It has a very nice downtown district and one of the features of this district is the Venice of America. This is a network of canals and islands which has some beautiful waterfront properties.
The new river also winds through the city centre linking to a handful of historic sites and cultural landmarks including a 1and a half Mile River walk. We decided to take a tour round this fascinating town; one of the places to visit is called Stranathan House which is the oldest surviving house in the town. The history behind this property dates back to when The Stranathans used to entertain a railway baron called Henry Flager. The tour guide who took us round the property told us that this was around 1913-15 and that this home was typical of a Florida home owned by the rich in this era. The tour went onto a small local museum laid out in a former inn in the Old Fort Lauderdale district and the River walk ends at the Broward Centre for the Performing Arts.
Fort Lauderdale’s main shopping and dining district is Las Olas Boulevard. It’s an attractive tree shaded street that has a Museum of Art. This Museum has some wonderful 19th and 20th century art that is a mixture of European and American art, its well worth a visit. Another Museum worth looking at is the Museum of Discovery and Science; this is a fascinating place which has a spectacular range of exhibits, interactive displays and an IMAX cinema.
Another place to see next to Fort Lauderdale’s sandy beach is Bonnet House; it’s a delightful Old Florida house. The two storey plantation house was built by Frederic Bartlett in 1920 and the interior really has to be appreciated. It is a wonderful eccentric work of art covered in murals, canvasses and decorations which have been fashioned out of beach combing treasures. They also have some beautiful gardens around the house which have black and white Australian swans in a miniature lake flanked by yellow lilies.
If you venture south further along the beach front you come across the Headquarters of the Bhatia Mar Marina where the Jungle Queen riverboat departs for the New River cruises.
Yes I can fully recommend a vist to Fort Lauderdale, especially if yopu like shopping, they have some wonderful shopping malls in the centre of town.
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