Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide

We recently had an amazing family vacation in beautiful Fort Lauderdale. We stayed at two different locations and we loved it so much, we wished we could move there! We’re definitely planning a trip back soon (hopefully this October)! 

Fort Lauderdale is a city on Florida’s southeastern coast, known for its beaches and boating canals. The Strip is a promenade running along oceanside highway A1A. It’s lined with upscale outdoor restaurants, bars, boutiques and luxury hotels. Other attractions include the International Swimming Hall of Fame, with pools and a museum of memorabilia, and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, featuring trails and a lagoon. ― Google

Where To Stay

Pelican Grand Beach Resort: The Pelican Grand is located in the quieter part of Fort Lauderdale and mostly surrounded by high-rise condos. This resort was absolutely beautiful with it’s boho-chic, coastal vibes! We had an ocean front queen suite with 2 two queen beds. It also hade a really nice living room area with a couch and a gorgeous balcony overlooking the beach! The bathroom was really nice and modern! I loved the walk-in shower.

It’s directly on the beach and has private beach area for resort guests. Our favourite part- it had a lazy river and huge pool! We played in the lazy river most of the time and had such a blast. The beach is absolutely beautiful with calm, warm water.

It says that it’s about 5-15 minute drive to Las Olas Blvd. and we thought we could walk but it was too much for the kids. With that being said, we did end up spending quite a bit on Uber as most of the places we wanted to check out, were on Las Olas. I would suggest a rental car if you plan to go there often or want to check out the outlets at Sawgrass Mills. I believe valet parking is about $48 USD a night so that can also add up quickly!

The resort also has a spa, fitness room, restaurant, bar/lounge area and gift shop/ice cream shop. Kyle and I took turns using the fitness room in the mornings. It wasn’t too big but had most of what you could need including treadmills, a rowing machine, a cable machine and weights!

We had breakfast outside on the balcony one morning and it was just such a beautiful setting eating while looking out at the ocean! They had some live music at night and also some fire pits with seating around them. The kids loved walking around the beach at night!

The pool staff were so wonderful and friendly! There were some local iguanas that hung out and the kids loved seeing them! We had lunch at the pool and it was SO delicious! The tropical nachos are a MUST! They’re absolutely delicious!!!

Another thing to mention, there is a daily resort fee of about $41 USD but depending on who you book through, it does come with some perks like 1 free beverage per person (up to 2) per day. Be sure to look into the perks when you book!

We absolutely loved staying here so much and we’re definitely planning to stay again when we go back to FTL!

Where To Eat

Java & Jam: This local restaurant is one of the reasons we fell in love with FTL. The city is extremely dog friendly and we met the sweetest lady and her two pups when we went for breakfast! The restaurant was such a vibe and it made the perfect breakfast spot for our family! We sat outside and it was perfect!

The food was absolutely delicious! I had the banana bread French toast and it was absolutely heavenly! I also had the cereal milk cocktail which is “three olives loopy vodka, kahlua, fruity pebbles infused milk, pop tart”. I think they forgot the poptart that day lol but it was still delicious! I also had a coffee but next time, I’m definitely getting the Cinnamon Toast Crunch chai! The kids had pancakes and grilled cheese and Kyle had the corned beef bowl which he loved!

We highly recommend check them out!!

Fogo De Chao: This is one of our favourite dinner spots to visit when we go to the US! It is a chain but the Fort Lauderdale one was definitely the best one we’ve been to as we loved their outdoor patio! It’s an all you can eat Brazilian meat house and the staff are always fantastic! The food is always absolutely delicious! The key lime cheesecake is my dessert must have, I get it every time!

Louie Bossi’s: This is a local Italian restaurant and they have another location in Boca Raton. It’s located on Las Olas Blvd. and the atmosphere in their outdoor dining area is incredible! It’s so chic and still very kids friendly!

I cannot even begin to tell you how AMAZING the food is! I had the pacherri (mushroom pasta) and Kyle had the strozapreti with meatballs, they were both divine!

I had the tiramisu for dessert and it was the BEST I’ve ever had! You absolutely have to stop by here but make sure to make reservations as it books up quickly. Also, try to sit outside in the garden, it’s stunning!

Lona Cocina & Tequileria: Lona is another local favourite and must visit! It’s right across the beach and the patio is the perfect atmosphere! The food is amazing and so are the drinks!

I had a La Mariposa cocktail and it was so beautiful and delicious! The tacos were pretty good and so were the chips and guac (we ordered traditional but I wish we would have tried the crispy bacon)! The ceviche was one of the best I’ve ever had (tied with Javier’s in Orange County). If you’re looking for fun and great food, definitely add them to your list!

Things To Do:

Visit the beach: Fort Lauderdale is known for its beautiful sandy beaches. Spend a day sunbathing, swimming, or simply strolling along the shoreline. Las Olas Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach Park are popular choices.

Take a Water Taxi: Fort Lauderdale is often referred to as the “Venice of America” due to its extensive canal system. Hop on a water taxi to experience the city from a unique perspective and enjoy the scenic views.

Explore the Riverwalk: Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk is a picturesque promenade that runs along the New River downtown. Enjoy a leisurely walk, rent a bicycle, or take a riverboat cruise to enjoy the views and discover shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Go shopping: Las Olas Boulevard: Known for its charming atmosphere, Las Olas Boulevard is a premier shopping destination in Fort Lauderdale. It offers a mix of upscale boutiques, art galleries, and specialty shops. You can find fashion, jewelry, home decor, and unique gifts along this vibrant street.

Sawgrass Mills: Located in nearby Sunrise, Sawgrass Mills is one of the largest outlet malls in the United States. It features over 350 stores, including high-end luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Versace, as well as popular retailers like Nike, Gap, and Levi’s. If you’re looking for great deals, this is the place to go!

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale: Located on East Sunrise Boulevard, The Galleria is an upscale shopping mall with over 100 stores. It features renowned brands like Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Apple, and Pottery Barn. The mall also houses a variety of restaurants and a luxury movie theatre.

Beach Place: Situated right on Fort Lauderdale Beach, Beach Place is a popular shopping and entertainment complex. It offers a mix of stores, souvenir shops, restaurants, and bars. You can shop for beachwear, pick up souvenirs, and enjoy a meal with an ocean view.

Go to the movies: This may not sound really exciting to some but where we live, we don’t have those upscale theatres that have the huge seats and serve food/alcohol! We went to an AMC theatre there and seen Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 and we had so much fun! What a great experience!

Ride around Las Olas: Everywhere we looked they seemed to have these multi passenger, electrical vehicle, golf cart type of things! They were so much fun to drive around in a not too pricey! The kids had a blast going to and from our resort in these!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post of Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide and it hopefully gave you some great ideas for your next trip! We can’t wait to go back!!!