101
Fun Things to do in the Greater Fort Lauderdale Area
 With
its abundant sunshine and temperate climate, Fort Lauderdale
is ideally suited for outside activities. It offers a
wonderful environment year round for sports, from golf
and tennis to fishing and parasailing. Fort Lauderdale
is also a very cosmopolitan area, rich in cultural activities
including opera, concerts and museum exhibitions. Whatever
you care to do, whether indoors or outdoors, highbrow
or lowbrow, is available here. This section provides
an overview — a veritable
banquet of fun things to do in “the Venice of America.” The
101 suggestions in this section are exclusive of restaurants or shopping,
which are covered in other parts of this program.
 1. Take a ride in a gondola. Stork’s
Café,
located at 1109 East Las Olas Boulevard, provides rides
in authentic Venetian gondolas. Find out first hand why
Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America. Reservations
are a must, the rate is $50 per couple for each half
hour. Phone 954-561-5650 or try their website, www.storkscafe.com
 2. Take a safari into the Everglades. The safari includes
an airboat ride, nature walk, nature drive, lunch and
a cruise in the mangroves among ten thousand islands.
Call 800-472-3069 for reservations. Adults pay $135;
children age 12 or under pay $99. www.ecosafari.com
3. See the Fishing Hall of Fame;
Go virtual fishing.
The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum located at 300
Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach, Florida, incorporates
a marina, wetlands and even live alligators to go along
with their exhibits. Try your hand at virtual fishing.
Open daily from 10 am – 6pm; 954-924-4312. www.igfa.org
4. Take the Fort Lauderdale Ghost
Tour. Stroll the banks
of the New River, S.E. 6th Avenue and portions of Las
Olas Boulevard to see certified haunted houses. Adults
pay $15 and children (ages 10 and under) pay $10. www.fortlauderdaleghosttour.com
5. Ride in a horse drawn carriage. There are few things
more romantic than a ride in a horse drawn carriage.
Look for the stand on Las Olas Boulevard and S.E. 8th
Avenue. The carriages run Thursday through Saturday starting
at 7 pm. Call 954-971-9820 for reservations. www.royalcarriagesfl.com
6. Take a ride in a glass-bottom
boat. Explore beautiful
coral reefs aboard a 60 foot glass-bottom boat, located
at 429 Sunbreeze Boulevard, just one block south of Las
Olas Boulevard. Adults pay $22 for the ride and $29 for
the privilege of snorkeling. Children pay $14 to ride
and $20 to snorkel. Call 954-467-6030 for more information.
www.prodiveusa.com
7. Take a Kayak Adventure. Take the opportunity to get
close to nature. Paddle your way on a two or three hour
guided tour. You can choose either a single or a tandem
Kayak. Phone: 954-328-5231; web: www.fullmoonkayak.com
8. Take in a Polynesian Review. No need to fly to Hawaii,
Tahiti or Bora Bora when the best in Polynesian entertainment
is available at The Mai-Kai Restaurant located at 3599
N. Federal Highway (U.S.-1). Call 954-563-3272 for more
information, or try their website. www.maikai.com
9. Visit the International Swimming
Hall of Fame. The
museum contains Olympic memorabilia from 100 nations,
information and videos on over 600 of the world’s
most famous aquatic stars. Adults $8, seniors $6, and
children under 12 free. Call 954-462-6536 for more information
or on the web at www.ishof.org.
10. Take a Stroll on the Hollywood
Boardwalk. Invite
your significant other on a 2.2 mile long promenade that
combines dramatic ocean views with outdoor cafés,
a farmer’s market, and numerous purveyors of ice
cream. Located on Highway A1A east to the ocean between
Sheridan Street and Hollywood Boulevard. www.hollywoodfl.org
11. Sample the Local Flea Market. You will find over
800 stores, some offering new brand name merchandise
at below outlet prices, and thousands of other items
straight out of a garage sale. Located at 2900 West Sample
Road in Pompano Beach, the Festival Flea Market is open
daily from 9:30 am – 5 pm. Go to www.festivalfleamarket.com or call 954-979-4555.
12. Take a spin on your roller
skates or your skate board. The Brian Piccolo Velodrome and Skate Park provides
a wonderful venue for you to try out your new skate board,
roller or in-line skates. Instruction is available. Located
at 9501 Sheridan Street, Cooper City, Florida. Phone:
954-437-2626.
 13. Attend a “Championship Rodeo.” Watch
professional cowboys compete in seven major rodeo events
including: bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling
and bull riding. Located at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds,
4271 Davie Road in Davie, Florida. Phone: 954.680.3555;
web: www.fivestarrodeo.com.
14. Enjoy a Jai-Alai Game. Everyone should experience
(and to have the opportunity to place a bet on) Jai-Alai
the world’s fastest game. Handed down from the
Incas, it is similar to handball or squash. However,
players use long narrow wicker baskets on one arm in
the fashion of a baseball mitt to receive and throw a
rubber ball at speeds well over 100 miles an hour. Try
Dania Jai-Alai, live game schedule Tuesday through Saturday
at 7 pm. For more information please visit, www.betdania.com on the web or call 954-920-1511.
 15. Take in a horse race. World class thoroughbred racing,
dining and entertainment are available at Gulf Stream
Park. 901 South Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach.
800-771-TURF (8873) www.gulfstreampark.com
 16. See the dogs run. See greyhounds race at the Mardi
Gras Racetrack. Or play the slots. Located at 831 North
Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, 954-924-3200; www.playmardigras.com
17. Take in an NFL Football Game. The Miami Dolphins
play at Dolphins Stadium, located at 2267 Dan Marino
Boulevard in Miami, some 30 miles south of Ft. Lauderdale.
The 2008 schedule has yet to be announced. Call 305-623-6100
for schedule information. Once you determine who the
Dolphins are playing on Sunday, October 12, 2008 you
may also call 888-FINS TIX. www.miamidolphins.com
18. Give acupuncture therapy a
chance. One billion people
cannot be wrong. Acupuncture is widely used in China,
both as a treatment for a variety of ailments and as
an anesthetic. The data in scientific literature is beginning
to prove its therapeutic uses. According to literature,
some of the best practitioners of native Chinese medicine
are located in south Florida. For example, check out
Four Gates Oriental Medicine. 954-326-7310.
19. Check out south Florida’s Antique
dealers.
South Florida is famous for its concentration of antique
dealers, many of whom are located in Dania, Florida.
One shop that is highly recommended in several tourist
guides is A. Bruce Kodner Galleries. Call 954-922-2120.
20. Attend an auction. Public auctions are held every
Saturday at Auction 84, located at 5440 Reese Road in
Davie, Florida. Call 954-792-0106 to check out what inventory
is being sold.
21. Try a little aromatherapy. A number of practitioners
offer their services in Fort Lauderdale with what they
claim to be great results. Among them is Immortal Scents.
954-820-1973.
22. Buy a piece of fine art. Fort Lauderdale is rich
in art galleries. Fine art is offered for viewing, but
also for sale. One popular store is Pocock Fine Art,
located at 400 East Las Olas Boulevard. 954-525-3400
23. See what the stars have in
store for you. Many people
are strong believers in astrology. If you care to have
an astrological reading there are many shops to accommodate
you, including, for example, the Astrology Gift Shop.
954-767-3322
24. Take a trip in a Hot Air Balloon. There are few
things more fun than sailing above the clouds in a lighter-than-air
balloon. Contact, for example, U.S. Inflatables at 635
NW 4th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. 954-767-0966
25. Search for the Perfect Beach. Fort Lauderdale is
known for its powder white sand and clear blue skies.
However, there is some argument among the locals as to
which municipality has the absolutely perfect Atlantic
Ocean beach. One guide claims it is Lauderdale Lakes,
another asserts that it is Fort Lauderdale Beach, and
a third touts the boardwalk area of Hollywood, Florida.
Visit all three and decide for yourself.
26. Enjoy a bicycle ride along
the ocean. There are
numerous shops offering bicycles for rent in Fort Lauderdale.
One example is Fun Rentals at 239 Almond Avenue, 954-768-9020.
Another that specializes in children’s bikes is
Family Rentals, 954-772-2288.
27. Enjoy playing a little pool. Billiards is a very
popular game in south Florida. You will have no trouble
finding excellent and well equipped billiard parlors.
One example listed in a common directory is Classic Billiards.
954-748-3018. Another is the Hot Shots Sports and Billiard
Bar. Go to www.hotshotbar.com or call 954-748-4232.
 28. Charter a Yacht. There are few things that are more
enjoyable than to charter a sailboat or motor yacht and
take some of your friends for a tour of the Intracoastal
Waterway. There are numerous listings in the Fort Lauderdale
Yellow Pages, so you can have your choice of vessels,
cruise itinerary as well as food and drink. One example
is The Aquatic Center of Pier Sixty Six located adjacent
to the Hyatt Pier Sixty Six Hotel (954-523-0033). A second
is the Bahia Mar Yachting Center located near to that
hotel. Bahia Mar can be reached by (954-764-2233).
29. Check out a rare and used
bookstore. South Florida
has an excellent selection of booksellers such as Barnes & Noble
and Borders. It also has antiquarian bookstores such
as Big Apple Books (954-772-7761), Bookwise located in
Boca Raton (561-347-6455), and The Second Edition Bookshop
in Davie (954-922-2466).
30. Take the local chocolate tour. South Florida has
several stores specializing in fine home made chocolate.
You can arrange to take a tour of such establishments
and sample their wares. For example there is Little Dippers
Chocolate Fountains at 954-370-6780; Kilwin’s of
Fort Lauderdale located on Commercial Boulevard at 954-267-8991
or Palm Beach Confectioners which specializes in fresh
dipped chocolate strawberries and is located in Sunrise
at 954-846-2280.
31. Acquire some rare coins. Ft. Lauderdale is
famous as a haven for rare coin dealers and for collectibles
of all kinds. See for example, Fort Lauderdale Rare Coins
at 120l North Federal Highway. 954-561-9570
32. Add to Your Philatetic collection. If you are a
stamp collector there are many dealers in the Broward-Dade
County area. See for example, Tropical Stamps at 5170
North Federal Highway. 954-561-9570
33. Add to your baseball card
collection. It is amazing
how many people collect baseball cards and how valuable
they have become. Check out Florida Sports Cards at 4681
University in Coral Springs. 954-846-2645
34. Tour the Sports Immortals
Museum. Tour the Sports
Immortals Museum. Located at 6830 North Federal Highway
in Boca Raton this museum features over 1 million mementos
from the world’s greatest athletes. Some of the
exhibits are for sale to the serious collector. www.sportsimmortals.com or call 561-997-2575.
35. Add to your Collection of
Comic Books. Comic books
are another collectible which is rapidly increasing in
value. There are many great stores which sell them in
South Florida. See for example, Popular Comics at 1061
NE 45th in Oakland www.popularcomics.com 954-766-3664
or Past, Present and Future Comics and Games at 4952
North University Avenue. 954-742-0777
36. Learn to Cook. There are many fine cooking schools
in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area. See for example,
the Chef John Pierre Cooking School at 1436 North Federal
Highway (954-563-2700) or the Le Cordon Bleu College
of Culinary Arts in Miami located at 3221 Enterprise
Way in Miramar (1-888-321-9222).
37. Buy or rent a costume. With Halloween coming only
a few days after the NAHC Annual Meeting, there will
be great demand for costumes for both kids and adults.
Broward County has some of the best. Visit, for example,
Costume World at 950 South Federal Way in Deerfield Beach
954428-6266 , Jezebel at 1980 Sunrise Boulevard 954-761-7881
or the ABC Costume Shop at 575 NW 24th Street in Miami
305-573-5657.
38. Take Dance Lessons. Brush up on your foxtrot, polish
your waltz, learn country line dancing or take salsa
lessons. There are plenty of people waiting to teach
you in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area. Try the Atlantic
Dance Academy at 3515 Galt Ocean Dr. 954-630-8008; Arthur
Murray Dance School at 2820 North University in Sunrise
at 954-572-7505 or Kelly School of Dance at 2750 Glades
Circle in Weston 954-389-4344.
39. Check into a Day Spa. Most of the major hotels associated
with the NAHC Annual meeting include a spa which offers
skin care, manicures, pedicures, hair and nails care
and massages. Try for example the Hyatt Regency Pier
66 Resort and Spa at 954-738-3598; the Elizabeth Arden
Red Door Lifestyle Spa at 250 Racquet Club Road in Weston
954-349-5500 or the St. Regis Spa located in the St.
Regis Hotel, 1 North Ft. Lauderdale Beach Boulevard 954-465-2300.
40. Sample some Greek pastries. There are many fine
Greek restaurants in the area which feature Greek pastries.
Some of the best reportedly are to be found at a bakery
called International and Greek Pastries located at 4701
North Federal Way 954-776-0020.
41. Go Deep Sea Fishing. It is a way of life for the
locals, which you can experience for a day or two. See
for example, Bahia Mar Fishing at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard
954-764-2233 or Flamingo Fishing Charters at 954-426-9194
or Offsides Charter Fishing at 954-242-0407.
42. Send Home a Box of Fresh Fruit. Florida is famous
for its fresh fruit. Why not take advantage of the opportunity
to send a box or two home to friends and loved ones.
Try Flamingo Gardens Gift Fruit Shipping at 3750 NW 43rd
in Davie 954-473-2955, Incredible Edible Delights at
115 NW 43rd Court 954-568-7089 or Basket Case at 2524
West Oakland Park Boulevard 954-585-1000.
 43. Play Golf. Many of the finest courses in the U.S.
are located in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
Try for example the Tournament Players Club at Heron
Bay located at ll801 Heron Bay Boulevard in Coral Springs
954-796-2000. There are also numerous shops which will
sell you the latest state of the art golf clubs such
as Golfsmith at 3300 Oakwood Boulevard 954-923-3418 or
Edwin Watts at 5600 North Federal Way 954-771-3256.
44. Take Golf Lessons. Golf lessons are available at
most of the fine golf clubs in the area. They are also
available indoors at Golfsmith the golf supermarket mentioned
above.
45. Test Your Marksmanship. There are several facilities
in the area where you can test your hand-eye coordination.
For example, there is the Delray Shooting Center at 1505
Poinsettia Drive in Delray Beach 561-265-0700 or the
indoor shooting range at Big Al’s Gun and Pawn
954-927-8000.
46. Collect some Model Trains. Ready to Roll, the largest
model railroad store in the South is located nearby in
Opalika. Offering Lionel, LGB and all other major manufacturers
from Ho to N gauge are represented. Call 305-688-8868.
Another store, D & B Railways is located at 5195
West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach 561-496-5261
 47. Go Horseback Riding. There are plenty of opportunities
to ride in South Florida. Try Bar-B-Ranch at 3500 South
West 121 Avenue in Davie 954-424-1060 or Acts Two Acres
at 4250 North West Street in Coconut Creek 954-968-0225.
48. Search for the Perfect Ice
Cream Cone. Nothing goes
better with sun and sand, palm trees and ocean than ice
cream. Half of the fun is sampling the flavors. Ft. Lauderdale
has several gourmet providers in addition to the local
outlets of the national chains. Baskin and Robbins, Ben
and Jerry, Carvel, Haagen-Dazs, Maggie Moo’s and
Coldstone Creamery all have their shops here. Natives,
however, also recommend Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor
Restaurant, voted number one Cold Treat by the Food Network.
(128 South Federal Highway in Dania beach.) Also try
Gelato Dream 235 South Fort Lauderdale Boulevard.
49. Buy Gold and Diamonds, watches
and rings at Discount prices. There are many stores that reportedly offer such
bargains. One that was touted in a local publication
is The Diamond Center at 1280l West Sunrise Blvd in Sunrise.
Another is Bergees Jewelry and Watch Repair at 5130 North
Federal Highway. Also check out Beverly’s Jewelers
at 6280 North Federal Highway and Jewels in Time at 4400
North Federal Highway in Boca Raton.
50. Bring Your Dog/Cat on vacation
to a Country Resort for Pets. Why leave your dog/cat home or put him or her
in a kennel when you can have them stay at the Holly
Acres Hillton a resort which caters to celebrity canines.
You dog will stay in a super size VIP suite, be fed great
food, massaged and pampered and even taken on a supervised “river
romp.” Call 954-434-1535. See also Four Your Paws
Only in Sunrise 954-748-1900 for the best in pet grooming
and Chateau Poochie a luxury hotel, grooming center,
modeling agency and wellness center for dogs located
at 4301 North Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point. A
hotel and resort for cats only is Jean’s Place
the Country Cattery Hotel at 1991 South West 136th Avenue
954-472-7276.
 51. Go Fly a Kite. The beach is the perfect place
to fly your kite. Great ones are available from R.C.
Hobbies 6800 North University Drive in Tamarac 954-721-5720.
52. Take a Ride in a stretch Hummer
Limosine. A stretch
H2 Hummer or stretch Cadillac Escalade is the perfect
way for you and a bunch of your friends to see South
Florida. If you band together just like some of your
pals did to get them to the senior prom, it can actually
be quite cost efficient as well as fun. Many livery services
can be found in the phone book including A-Affordable
Stretch Limousines featuring what is described as “the
longest stretch S.U.V. in Florida”. See also Angel
Limousine at 954-525-1005 and Ocean Drive Limo at l-888-664-7182.
53. Pick up some new Luggage. If you are anything
like the typical traveler then you will need to buy a
new bag to help take home all the books, free gifts and
acquisitions that you picked up at the convention. Check
out the Luggage Gallery which has a great selection of
handbags, jewelry, watches, leather goods and belts as
well as luggage by Tumi, Hartman, Travelpro and Swiss
Army. Located at 6331 North Andrews Avenue 954-202-0606.
 54. Pick Up that Harley. If you are like a good many
of the Baby Boom generation you, then you like to go
fast and few things might please you more than riding
a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. You can get a great deal
on a new or used Harley in Florida. See for example,
Harley-Davidson Buell of Ft. Lauderdale 443 State Road
7 in Plantation 954-791-6295.
55. Buy, Sell or Trade your Guitar. Whether electric
or acoustic, big names like Fender and Gibson or less
expensive versions, The Guitar Exchange has it all. It
is located at 7688 Wiles Road in Coral Springs 954-227-9111.
See also Dixie Guitar Traders 5068 North Dixie Highway
954-772-6900.
 56. Go Parasailing. You have seen it in the movies.
Hitched into a harness tied to a parachute you are pulled
at speeds upways of 45 miles per hour by a speedboat
until you reach heights of several hundred feet. Then
you fly through the air with the greatest of ease until
the boat runs out of gas or slows down so that you land
gently. Aloha Water Sports of 3030 Holiday Drive 954-462-7245
offers such services. So will Watersports Unlimited at
301 Seabreeze Boulevard 954-467-1316.
57. Buy a Puppy; Take home a new
Pet. Why not take home
a souvenir and reminder of your trip to Ft. Lauderdale
in the form of an adorable new puppy, a kitten or an
exotic bird? There are several pet Supermarket outlets
on Federal Highway. For example, Petland located in Pompano
Beach and Davie has a great selection. Poochie Moochie
Puppies specializes in small and toy breeds. If you are
after a parrot or a cockatoo then check out Bill’s
Exotic Birds in Davie at 954-791-3720.
58. Learn to Sail. Gliding on the ocean in a sailboat
is a pleasure that has been celebrated since the very
beginning of time. There are unlimited opportunities
to go out in a sailboat captained by others in Ft. Lauderdale.
There also are great opportunities to learn to sail and
take the wheel on your own boat. To learn how, contact
the Blue Water Sailing School at 922 North East 20th
Avenue 954-763-8464 or the Ocean Master Sailing Academy
at 954-791-1199.
59. Get a Tan: Stock Up on your
Vitamin D. Billy
Crystal famously said, “It is better to look good
than to feel good.” After a few hours in the Ft.
Lauderdale sun you will look “marvelous” and
feel better, too. One reason for this is because you
will have replenished your supply of vitamin D. Grab
a tan. Be the envy of your friends and neighbors when
you get back home! You can go to an indoor tanning facility
or do it the old fashion way, on the beach.
60. Play Tennis or Take Tennis
Lessons from the Best.
Most major hotels have tennis courts. There are also
an abundant number of them in the more than 100 local
parks. For those who are really serious about the game,
you can enroll in the Jimmy Everet Tennis Academy which
is run by the father of world champion player Chris Everet.
Call 954-828-5378 for more information. For details about
tennis in the parks check out www.broward.org/parks.
61. Go Ice Skating. Check out Incredible ICE, a huge
skating facility with an open air design featuring two
National Hockey League regulation surfaces. The Florida
Panthers (NHL) practice at this facility, which is also
open to the public. 954-341-9956
62. Go Swimming in a World Class
training Facility. The
Coral Spring Aquatic Complex is a training site for U.S.
Olympic team hopefuls. It is state of the art. Put on
your Speedo, and goggles and take your shot at setting
the world freestyle record. 954-345-2121
63. Play Video and interactive
Games. You will
have a blast at Gameworks at Sawgrass Mills. This 20,000
square foot arena features interactive games for kids
of all ages. 954-845-8740
64. Figure Out What You Want to
do When You Grow Up.
Everyone with the possible exception of Peter Pan will
find great benefit (and fun) in visiting Wannado City
which is located in Sawgrass Mills. It is a 140,000 square
foot venue where kids of all ages can imagine what they
want to do when they grow up. 954-838-7100 www.wannadocity.com
65. Take in an Opera. What is your favorite Opera? Carmen,
Madame Butterfly? Whatever it is, you can bet that it
will be beautifully staged and performed by the Florida
Grand Opera. Check out the schedule by going to www.fgo.org.
 66. Take in a National Hockey
League Game. Most sporting
buffs will agree that nothing compares with a NHL game
for pure action. Ft. Lauderdale is home to the NHL Florida
Panthers who have been quite competitive. For more information
go to www.floridapanthers.com or call 954-835-7000.
67. Have a Picnic on the Beach. Hugh Taylor Birch
State Park located right on the ocean provides beach
access, volleyball, in-line skating and picnic table
to host your moving feast. Have you ever notice how much
better food tastes in the open ocean air? A hot dog or
hamburger grilled on the beach is sheer ecstasy.
68. Visit the Museum of Discovery & the
Blockbuster IMAX Theater. There are plenty of hands on/ interactive
exhibits at the museum which does a good job of holding
the attention span even of young children. The IMAX Theater
presents images on a screen six stories high and the
width of a football field. Some productions are even
more up close and personal because they are presented
in 3-D or high definition. Call 954-467-6637.
69. Get Ideas for Rearranging
Your Furniture or your next home renovation. The Design Center of the Americas
in Dania Beach is world famous. It features the best
in floor and wall coverings, curtains, paintings, lamps
and other furnishings. The designer furniture showcase
is a particularly big draw. Go to www.dcota.com or call
954-920-8066.
70. Go to a Comedy Club. The philosopher who said “Laughter
is the best medicine” probably had in mind the
Improv Comedy Club at the Seminole Paradise Hard Rock
Hotel and Casino. This venue of hijinx and hilarity is
located in Hollywood. Go to www.seminoleparadise.com for more details.
71. Try Your Luck at Games of
Chance. Broward County
is home to the largest casino in Ft. Lauderdale. Seminole
Paradise is owned by the Seminole Indian Community and
appropriately is located in Hollywood, Florida. The casino
features 2,100 slots and video poker games and 48 table
games. For more details go to www.seminoleparadise.com.
72. Ride a Wooden Roller Coaster. This fun ride whose
structure is made out of wood has a charm all of its
own. Once you reach the top of 3200 feet you will descend
at 55 miles per hour wondering all the while if the structure
is going to hold up. It always has done so but the “antique
look” is part of what makes this a great thrill
ride. Go to www.xcoaster.com or call 954-921-RIDE.
73. Gaze at the Stars. There are new
ones being born all the time and old ones vanishing into
hyperspace. Few things are more exciting than to watch
them strut their stuff. The Bulcher Planetarium and Observatory
located on the campus of the Broward Community College
is the perfect place to expand your horizons. For more
information go to www.iloveplanets.com or call 954-201-6681.
74. Go Waterskiing. What would Florida be without waterskiing?
Want to test your skills? If so, head over to Ski Rexen
at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. More details?
Go to www.skirixenusa.com or call 954-429-0215.
75. Experience weightlessness. Do you want to lose a
few pounds or perhaps feel like an astronaut floating
weightless in space? Now you can. A specially outfitted
Boeing Aircraft makes this possible for you to experience
zero gravity. Just wait till the gang back home gets
a load of the photo with you wearing an astronaut’s
suit floating in the air. To make your dream of floating
a reality, go to www.gozerog.com or call 954-797-0007.
76. Visit Stranahan House. See where it all began.
This is the oldest structure in Broward County. This
turn-of the- century beauty is filled with antiques and
looks just as it did when the Stranahan family lived
there more than a century ago. For more information go
to www.stranahanhouse.com or call 954-524-4736.
77. Try your hand at Miniature
golf. Boomers at Dania
Beach is a great place for the young and young at heart.
It features five miniature golf courses, batting cages,
go karts, 600 video games and facilities for laser tag.
For more information go to www.boomersparks.com or call
954-921-1411.
78. Go to a Designer Discount
Mall. Check out Sawgrass
Mills. It is one of the most popular destinations in
the Sunshine state. Florida’s largest retail and
entertainment complex features 350 high quality stores,
restaurants and entertainment venues. Go to www.sawgrassmills.com or 954-847-2350.
79. Drive A1A — the Scenic Route. No visit to
the Sunshine State would be complete without a drive
along the ocean. A1A runs adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean
for most of South Florida. You will see the beautiful
white sand and palm-tree- lined beaches for which Ft.
Lauderdale is famous. Stately houses, hotels, shops and
restaurants also line the route. It is here, for example,
in the Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel that you will find
Don Shula’s (former Miami Dolphins football coach)
Famous Steak House. Great food, great service and a view
of the ocean that is to die for. Call 954-355-4000 for
reservations.
80. Take a Day Cruise. The Discovery
Cruise Line runs ships daily to Grand Bahama Island which
has its own brand of lay back charm. Whether you want
to lay by the pool, enjoy the ample buffets or cash in
at the onboard casino, this is an adventure you won’t
soon forget. Go to www.discoverycruiseline.com or call
800-937-4477.
81. Visit the African American
Research Library & Cultural
Center. At this museum there is an exhibition hall and
theater along with more than 75,000 books, documents
and artifacts which focus on Americans of African decent.
For more information go to www.broward.org/library/aarlee.htm or call 954-625-2800.
82. Go to the Poor House. This landmark is one place
the locals go to hear up and coming musicians. Located
at 110 SW 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 954-522-5145
83. Visit the Elbo Room Bar. This watering hole is located
where Las Olas Boulevard meets the ocean. It became famous
when it was featured in the movie “Where the Boys
Are.” It is packed to the gills most of the time.
Stake out a seat near the rail on the second floor which
offers a commanding view of the ocean, beach, and Highway
A1A. Call 954-463-4615
84. Experience Butterfly World. Stroll through 10 acres
of lush flowering tropical gardens with millions of brightly
colored butterflies floating overhead. It is surreal.
For more information go to www.butterflyworld.com or
call 954-977-4400.
85. Do a little birdwatching. Check
out the Anne Kolb Nature Center, a 1,500 acre sanctuary
for wild birds. You can get even closer to them by renting
a canoe or kayak or by taking a nature walk or an environment
friendly boat tour. Go to www.broward.org/parks or
call 954-926- 2480.
86. Visit the Round Up Bar. If you are looking
for some country western music or a place to go boot
scooting, The Round Up located on State Road 84 in Davie
is a great place. Call 954-423-1990.
87. Listen to a Little Jazz Music. New Orleans has nothing
on Ft. Lauderdale when it comes to jazz music. There
are many great outlets for such music including, for
example, O’Hara’s Jazz and Blues Cafe located
at 722 E. Las Olas Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL (954) 524-1764.
Go to www.oharasjazzcafe.com for more information.
88. Order some custom made shoes. Did you know that
everyone has one foot bigger than the other. No wonder
that machine made shoes never seem to fit. Few things
compare with the luxury and comfort of custom-made shoes.
Invest in a pair of alligator pumps, oxfords or boots.
They will look great and last you until you graduate
to the next dimension. Try the Elitar Factory at 1984
East Sunrise Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale 954-764-2408.
89. Check Out a Local Sports Bar. The Hot Shots Sports
and Billiards Bar at 3868 North University in Sunrise
boasts 17 pool tables, and 75 plasma television sets,
some room size. If the sport is being broadcast on TV,
they will have it here. You will think you are in Las
Vegas. Go to www.hotshotsbar.com or call 954-748-4232.
90. Treat yourself to a new pair
of Sunglasses. The
Sunglass Hut International, Lenscrafters and other national
chains are well represented here. Reportedly, Clearsight
Opticians located at 1378 S.W. l7th has the largest selection
of eyeglass frames in all of South Florida. Call 954-761-3937.
 91. Learn to Scuba. Ft. Lauderdale has many experts
who will teach you how to scuba. Among them is Scuba
Emporium Florida located at 7685 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke
Pines. Go to www.divers.unlimited.com or call 954-98-SCUBA.
92. Get Married in Style. There are few things
more romantic than to be married at Sunset onboard a
yacht. Sun Dream Yacht Charters located at 852 North
East 20th Avenue 954-765-1460 will take care of all the
details. So will Wedding by the Sea (www.weddingsbythesea.net)
954-568-0518 or A Seaside Wedding (www.
ASeasideWedding.net).
954-234-5199
93. Have a Tattoo Removed. The Center for Cosmetic
Enhancement located at 201 North West 2nd Avenue in Plantation
has Board certified dermatologists on hand to remove
any tattoo using state of the art laser equipment. Call
954-473-6750.
94. Take Some Yoga Instruction. Those who are into meditation
and yoga seem to live longer and to have more fulfilling
lives. Local resident, Jimmy Barkan has perfected that
he calls the Barkan Method of Yoga Instruction. Students
reportedly will be amazed at their new found flexibility
and peace of mind. Located at 1119 North Federal Highway
954-563-0488.
95. Take a water taxi to dinner. Whether you are going
to a local restaurant or just seeing the sights in Ft.
Lauderdale, a water taxi is the best and most scenic
way to get around. For more details concerning route
and schedule, call 954-467-6677.
96. Take a stroll on the Riverwalk. This walking tour
will direct you along the banks of the New River (a redevelopment
area) which links Las Olas Blvd. with the science district
and Broward Center for the Performing Arts. For more
information, call 954-468-1541.
97. Visit the Goodyear Blimp Base. You have seen this
fleet of lighter than air craft hovering above every
major football game providing you with unbelievable pictures
from overhead. Goodyear Blimps have a base which you
can visit at 1500 North East 5th Avenue in Pompano Beach.
Call 954-946-8300 for more information.
98. Visit Lion Country Safari. This is a theme park
where the animal run free and you are confined to your
car. No convertibles, please. You will see zebras, giraffes,
gazelle, chimpanzees, white rhinos, cape buffalo and,
of course, lions. The park is not for the faint of heart
but it is exciting. Located at 2003 Lion Country Safari
Road in West Palm Beach. Go to www.lioncountrysafari.com or call 651-793.1084.
99. Order a Custom Made Suit. Ft. Lauderdale has several
well reputed custom tailors. See for example, Anna from
Rome at 2762 East Oakland Park Boulevard or call 954-565-0813.
Pina Fine Italian Tailors is located at 1263 East Las
Olas Boulevard 954-467-7750. London Tailors can be found
at 242 Commercial Avenue in Lauderdale By The Sea with
a phone number of 954-772-8298.
100. Visit a Native Village. You have the opportunity
to visit an authentic native village located on the Seminole
Indian Reservation at 3551 North State Road 7. Of course,
they also have a casino there nearby should you tire
of history and yearn to return to modernity. Call 954-961-4519
or 954-963-6600.
101. Ride the Jungle Queen Riverboat. This Mississippi
style paddlewheeler runs three hour tours on the waterfront
past Millionaires Row on to the Everglades and back.
Four hour excursions are offered in the evening featuring
all you can eat shrimp or BBQ dinners. The boat leaves
from the Bahia Mar Yacht Center. Go to www.junglequeen.com or call 954-462-5596. |
