Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale gets treated as a stopover on the way to Miami by a lot of visitors, and that's a mistake. The city has 300 miles of navigable waterways, a 23-mile stretch of Atlantic coastline, and a downtown built around Las Olas Boulevard that has more going on than most people plan for in a single trip. This guide covers what's actually worth your time in 2026, organized by who you're traveling with and what you're looking for, with real prices and specific recommendations instead of a generic list of attractions.

Best Things to Do With Kids and Family in Fort Lauderdale

The Museum of Discovery and Science on SW 2nd Street is the easiest full day with young kids. It has an IMAX theater, a live animal exhibit with Florida species, and a hands-on physics section that keeps kids under 10 occupied for hours. Admission runs $23 for adults and $19 for kids as of 2026, and parking is included.

Sawgrass Mills, about 20 minutes west of downtown, is technically a mall but functions as a half-day activity for families who want air conditioning and a break from the sun. It's one of the largest outlet malls in the country, and there's an indoor play area for younger kids near the food court.

Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood, just south of Fort Lauderdale, has an observation tower and airboat tours through the mangroves that run about $12 per person. It's less crowded than the more famous Everglades tours and takes under an hour round trip, which matters if you have a toddler with a short attention span.

For something on the water, the Jungle Queen Riverboat has run out of Fort Lauderdale since 1935 and does a 90-minute sightseeing cruise along the New River past the mansions on the "Millionaire's Row." Tickets run around $28 for adults, less for kids, and it's mellow enough for a family with mixed ages.

Free Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach itself costs nothing beyond parking, which runs about $2.50 to $3 per hour at the metered spots along A1A. Get there before 10 AM on weekends if you want street parking rather than paying for a garage.

Las Olas Boulevard is free to walk, and the people-watching alone is worth the trip on a Friday or Saturday evening when the restaurants put out sidewalk seating. The Riverwalk Arts District has outdoor sculpture installations along the river that you can walk through any time.

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens charges for the house tour but the surrounding grounds have free days occasionally, worth checking their calendar before visiting. The Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, 20 minutes south, is completely free and runs 2.5 miles along the ocean without a single admission fee anywhere on it.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park has a small vehicle entry fee but once you're in, the hiking trails, the freshwater lagoon, and the picnic areas cost nothing extra.

Fort Lauderdale's beach and Intracoastal waterway, minutes from Las Olas Boulevard

Best Beaches in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach, the main stretch along A1A, has lifeguards, volleyball courts, and easy access to restaurants right across the street. It gets busy on weekends, especially near the Elbo Room, a bar that's been a beach landmark since 1938.

For something quieter, John U. Lloyd Beach State Park at the south end has less foot traffic and better shelling, plus mangrove kayak trails on the inland side of the park.

Fort Lauderdale at Night

Las Olas Boulevard is the obvious answer for dinner and drinks, with restaurants ranging from casual seafood to upscale Italian, most with outdoor seating that stays busy until midnight on weekends.

The Riverside Hotel has a piano bar that's been running for decades and draws an older, quieter crowd if you want conversation over volume. For something louder, the bars along Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard cater to a younger scene, especially near the Bahia Cabana.

Blue Jean Blues on Andrews Avenue books live music most nights of the week and covers everything from blues to jazz to funk, with no cover charge on several nights depending on the lineup.

Unique and Hidden Things to Do

The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is a 35-acre estate right off the beach that most visitors drive past without knowing it's there. It was the home of artist Frederic Bartlett and his wife, and the grounds have free-roaming swans and a shell museum that's genuinely strange in a good way.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame reopened in a new facility with an Olympic-standard pool that's open to the public for lap swimming, along with a museum covering the history of competitive swimming that most people have never heard of.

Stranahan House, the oldest surviving structure in Broward County, sits on the river downtown and gives a completely different picture of Fort Lauderdale before it became a spring break destination, back when it was a trading post.

Rainy Day and Indoor Activities

South Florida's rainy season runs roughly June through September, with short, predictable afternoon storms rather than all-day washouts. When one hits, the Museum of Discovery and Science and the NSU Art Museum downtown are the two best indoor options, the latter with a rotating collection that includes significant Latin American and Caribbean art.

Sawgrass Mills covers a full afternoon indoors if shopping is your thing, and the AutoNation IMAX theater downtown runs current releases if you just want a couple of hours out of the weather.

This Weekend and Day Trip Ideas

If you're asking what's happening in Fort Lauderdale this weekend specifically, check the Riverwalk events calendar and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts schedule, both of which post weekly and cover everything from farmers markets to touring Broadway shows.

For day trips, the Everglades entrance at Everglades Holiday Park is about 40 minutes west and runs airboat tours through actual sawgrass marsh, not the more tourist-focused version closer to Miami. Key Biscayne and South Beach are both under an hour south if you want to compare Fort Lauderdale to Miami's beach scene directly.

Fort Lauderdale for Couples

Las Olas Boulevard at sunset, followed by dinner at one of the restaurants with river-facing outdoor seating, covers most of an evening without needing a plan beyond that. The water taxi runs until late evening and a sunset ride along the Intracoastal is inexpensive and gives a different view of the city than walking does.

For something slower, Bonnet House's gardens are quiet enough for an actual conversation, and a lot of visitors skip it entirely because the beach gets all the attention.

Where to Stay Near Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels run expensive, especially anything within walking distance of Las Olas or the main beach strip, often $300 to $500+ per night in season. A practical alternative that a lot of repeat visitors use is staying in Hollywood Beach, about 20 minutes south via A1A or I-95, and driving up for the day. Ultra Spaces operates two beachfront properties in Hollywood Beach with this exact use case in mind.

★ 4.9

Fully Stocked Studios

The Mariner Suites

702 N Surf Rd, Hollywood Beach, FL · Directly on the Atlantic · Studios from $119/night · 20 min to Fort Lauderdale · 4.9 stars

Check Availability →

★ 4.8

Family Apartments

Ultra Blue Apartments

315 Buchanan St, Hollywood Beach, FL · 1-bed from $149/night, 2-bed from $199/night · Full kitchen, parking · 4.8 stars

Check Availability →

The Mariner Suites, at 702 N Surf Rd, has studios starting from $119 per night, directly on the Atlantic and steps from Hollywood's own boardwalk. Ultra Blue Apartments, at 315 Buchanan St, has one and two bedroom units from $149 to $199 per night with a full kitchen and covered parking, useful if you're planning several day trips into Fort Lauderdale and want to cook a few meals rather than eating out for every one. Both properties book directly through ultra-spaces.com with no platform fees added at checkout, and the 20-minute drive north puts every attraction in this guide within easy reach.