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RV Lifestyle guide
Top 9 locations in Fort Lauderdale
byRV Lifestyle and
Michal Ben-Ari and
Mike Wendland and
Wendy Bowyer
Live update: Updated June 18, 2022Copy link
Copy link1. Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
RV LifestyleIn the heart of downtown, the Riverwalk covers both the north and south banks of the New River.
There's everything from museum and historic buildings, to fashion boutiques and art galleries, to remarkable restaurants, cafes, and cocktail bars.
You could spend all afternoon strolling along this famous street and riverfront, taking in all the city has to offer.
One of the best ways to get around is the free Riverwalk Water Trolley which stops at 8 points along the Riverwalk, 4 on each side. The trolley runs daily from 10 am-10 pm.
To read about the best things to do in For Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
2. Riverwalk Water Trolley
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleTo read about the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
3. Museum of Discovery and Science ("IDs)
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleWith two floors and packed with hundreds of interactive exhibits, the Museum of Discovery and Science explores a variety of different fields of science.
You can explore the wetlands of the Everglades with a ride on the Everglades Airboat Adventure. Then experience hurricane-force winds in the Storm Center.
Plus, understand Florida’s prehistoric past with a giant prehistoric megalodon, saber-toothed cat, and an Imperial mammoth.
And enjoy the playful antics of North American river otters in their two-story indoor/outdoor habitat. There’s also a spectacular six-story-high IMAX theater.
The museum is open year-round, Mon-Sat from 10 am-5 pm, and Sun from 12 pm-5 pm.
To read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
4. History Fort Lauderdale
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleHistory Fort Lauderdale houses a historic village with the largest concentration of historic buildings remaining in Broward County.
There are four different museums here that explore and preserve the local history including:
Fort Lauderdale History Museum
1907 Pioneer House Museum
1899 Schoolhouse Museum
Hoch Heritage Center/Research Library
The museum is open year-round, hours are 12 pm-4 pm Mon-Fri and 9:30 am-4 pm on weekends. There are guided tours daily at 1, 2, and 3 pm. Always call and check ahead.
To read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
5. Historic Stranahan House Museum
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleThe Stranahan House showcases the home built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale’s founding father and his wife Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area's first school teacher.
The house has served as a trading post, post office, community center, town hall, and home to the Stranahans. This is a place that has been pivotal to Fort Lauderdale since it was built and played a significant role in the economic and social life of this community.
Admission to the museum is by guided tour only. Tours are given daily at 1, 2, and 3 pm and last about 45-60 minutes.
To read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
6. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleTo get some more local history, take the trolley north to its final stop at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens.
The Bonnet House was created by Chicago-born artist Frederic Clay Bartlett in 1920. The land where the house was built was given to him and his wife, Helen Louise Birch as a wedding gift from her father Hugh Taylor Birch.
Both lovers of art and ecology, they decorated and built this unique house to compliment the surrounding land. It served as a winter retreat where Helen could compose music and sing while Frederic, a talented and aspiring artist, could work on his art in a place full of inspiration and natural beauty.
Frederic’s art is one of the main attractions of the Bonnet House Museum, as well as the artwork that they collected over the years.
It is gorgeous here, the house gets its name from the beautiful Spatterdock Lily or Bonnet Lily and there are ponds with bonnet water lilies and tropical gardens surrounding this historic 35-acre courtyard-style waterfront home.
The inside is magnificently ornate as well. You can explore the Main House and gardens but don’t miss the Shell Museum Complex. It showcases shells from around the world, Orchid House, and the Bartlett’s private Bamboo Bar.
The Bonnet House is open 9 am-4 pm Tues-Sun and guided tours are available every day on the hour from 9:30 am to 3:30pm. Make sure you check ahead to verify the schedule.
To read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
7. FL Las Olas Beach
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleTo read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
8. Beach
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleTo read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
9. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:RV LifestyleA short walk from the Bonnet House and the hustle and bustle of local restaurants, shops, and beachside condos is another gem in the Florida state park system, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
In 1893, Chicago attorney Hugh Taylor Birch came to South Florida in search of a secluded area for his home. He settled in a small village called Fort Lauderdale that included a store, a few houses, and the remains of the old Fort Lauderdale Army Post.
Purchasing ocean-front property for about a dollar per acre, he eventually owned a three-and-a-half-mile stretch of land along the beach.
In his twilight years, Birch wished to preserve his subtropical paradise from the development springing up around it. He donated his estate for use as a public park on December 31, 1941.
Today, the park is one of the most unique features in Fort Lauderdale. It is frequently compared to Central Park in New York City as both are seen as an island of peaceful green vegetation in the midst of a bustling city.
There are several hiking and biking trails throughout the park as well as spectacular beaches.
The Exotic Trail runs through the middle of the park and traces a path through the exotic gardens of the former estate of Hugh Taylor Birch, Terramar. There are more than 200 species on display and the trail leads you past interesting botanical species such as Arjan from India, natal plum, and a Zulu fig tree.
To read more of the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, head to our website: https://rvlifestyle.com/7-best-things-to-do-in-fort-lauderdale-fl/
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