 |
Orientation
to Florida and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Area
Florida has always been a very attractive destination.
It ranks as the most visited of the 50 states. It is
easy to understand why. Florida is gifted with abundant
natural resources and gorgeous scenery. The greater Fort
Lauderdale area has long had a reputation for having
temperate weather the year round. Members of the home
care and hospice community who visit the area are guaranteed
to have a great time and return home with a smile on
their faces.
Most Americans recognize Florida as the southern-most
state. Its shape is something of a right angle, the shorter
side of which borders Georgia and Alabama and is known
as the Florida Panhandle. The longer side extends along
the Atlantic Ocean, from Fernandina Beach (and nearby
Amelia Island, which is located approximately 30 miles
north of Jacksonville) south through Daytona Beach, West
Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach. Key West
sits well out into the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is the
largest city on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. Further
to the north lie Venice, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and
Tampa. The state capital, Tallahassee, is located in
the middle the Florida Panhandle.
Fort Lauderdale is located on the Atlantic Ocean at
the intersection of I-95 and I-75. South of Ft. Lauderdale,
some 28 miles, is Miami Beach. As noted, the only thing
further south is Key West. Because it sits on the ocean,
there is obviously nothing on land located east of Fort
Lauderdale, at least until you reach the Bahama Islands.
To the west of Fort Lauderdale, 108 miles away on Interstate
I-75 lies Naples, Florida. The road is called Alligator
Alley because it runs through the Florida Everglades.
This the world’s most famous swamp actually begins
about 10 miles west of Fort Lauderdale. South of Naples
sits idealic Marco Island. Heading north on the Gulf
Coast, traveler’s will encounter Bonita Springs,
Venice, Sarasota and Tampa/St. Petersburg.
Traveling north from Fort Lauderdale, the visitors will
come to Boca Raton and then West Palm Beach, which is
located 46 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. Further north
is Vero Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Merritt Island, the home
of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Orlando is located
some 213 miles north and west from Fort Lauderdale, making
it an easy three hour drive to Walt Disney World and
all of its attractions.
Map 2: Airport Locations
Details about Fort Lauderdale
Map 3 (below) offers a close up of the Greater Fort
Lauderdale area. The map begins with the Fort Lauderdale
Airport. Interstate I-95 is shown running north and south
and Interstate I-595 bisects it traveling east and west.
Federal Highway or US-1 is also shown in the center of
the map making its way north and south. This is also
the dividing line between streets which are marked southwest
(SW) or southeast (SE) and north of Broward Boulevard
between northwest (NW) and northeast (NE). US-84 also
runs east and west ending on Eisenhower Boulevard.
US-A1A is shown winding its way first along 17th Street
S.E. and eventually heading north along the Atlantic
Ocean. The Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention
Center, the headquarters hotel and most of the satellite
hotels are located on 17th Street S.E. also marked A1A.
There are a wide assortment of restaurants and other
small shops. The hotels that are part of the NAHC block
begin with the Fort Lauderdale Grande located at 1881
17th Street S.E., and end with the Bahia Mar which is
located less than one mile away from the Center on the
Atlantic Ocean.
Another major east –west street located just about
a mile and a half north of 17th Street S.E. is Las Olas
Boulevard. There are many attractive shops, bars and
restaurants located in this area particularly where it
meets the ocean. About two miles north of Las Olas Boulevard
is Sunrise Boulevard. It runs east from Interstate I-95
all the way to the ocean. Along the way, a visitor will
pass by Holiday Park and the Galleria Mall, one of the
high-end shopping centers for which south Florida is
so famous.
Visitor will find that with only these few streets as
a guide, they will be able to navigate their way around
the city. Speaking of navigation, the city runs an excellent
water taxi service. One look at the map will explain
why Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America.
There is water seemingly everywhere—and where there
is water there are boats of every description from tiny
row boats to huge yachts. The confluence of the New River,
Mayan Lake, Lake Sylvia, Stranahan River and the Atlantic
make Ft. Lauderdale one of the most picturesque venues
possible. Port Everglades is the name of the seaport
which sits adjacent to the convention center. It is one
of the busiest ports in the nation both in terms of passengers
and cargo.
A Close-up View of the Location of the Convention Center
and the NAHC Hotels
Map 4 offers a close-up showing the location of the
Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center,
the headquarters Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and all
of the others in NAHC’s hotel block. See page 16
for information about hotels rates and for information
about how to reserve hotel rooms for the meeting.
While most hotels are within walking distance, a shuttle
service will be running between hotels 10, 9, 8,
7, 6 and the Convention Center.
 |
Greater Fort Lauderdale—
Broward County Convention Center
1950 Eisenhower Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 |
|
|
|
|
|
