Fort Lauderdale Holidays

Flagler Village is where you’ll find the city’s ‘MASS District’ – a hub of music, arts, independent shops and effortlessly cool places to eat and drink. Many of its buildings are covered in murals and local artworks and house cutting-edge bars like Glitch. While you’re there, try one of its 100 craft beers and play classic arcade games like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat. FATVillage, a collection of warehouses now home to artists’ studios, galleries, coffee shops and regular pop-up events is also well worth a visit.

The Museum of Discovery and Science will keep kids, big and small, entertained for hours. There are permanent and rotating exhibits, including the immersive Everglades Airboat Adventure and the Wall of Wind, which shows the effects of hurricanes. Meanwhile, NSU Art Museum in Las Olas is home to more than 7,000 works of art. Regular exhibits are also hosted highlighting female artists and artists from diverse backgrounds.

Fort Lauderdale has lots of historic houses dotted across the city, and these lavish complexes are lovely places to tour. Bonnet House, just steps from Fort Lauderdale Beach and Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, has stood since 1920. It’s now home to art collections and personal treasures from Frederic Clay Bartlett, who built the house and unspoilt grounds made up of dunes, forest, wetlands and mangroves.

Similarly, Stranahan House, which sits on the banks of the New River, has stood since 1901. It has served as a trading post, community centre, restaurant and boarding house during its long history. Wander through its tropical gardens and pick up local artworks in its gift shop on your way out. You can also learn more about automotive history at the Antique Car Museum. Packard vehicles from as early as 1909 are on display, and there are more than 20 pre-war cars in perfect condition.

Whether you prefer sand and sea or inland nature reserves, Fort Lauderdale has a bit of both. Lively Fort Lauderdale Beach always has a great atmosphere, and shops and restaurants line the adjacent pavement, so there’s plenty to do. Just to the north, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a lush green space for walks and picnics, and you can go canoeing and fishing in the freshwater lagoon.

Upscale Las Olas Boulevard to the south overlooks the city’s canals and Florida’s Intercoastal Waterway. Wander along it and you’ll spot the mansions and yachts of Fort Lauderdale’s wealthiest residents. Further afield, the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area is home to marine and land animals. Big Cypress National Preserve is also within an hour’s drive, and it’s on the famous ‘Alligator Alley’ route from Fort Lauderdale to Naples on Florida’s west coast.

Holidays to Fort Lauderdale are at their best between December and April. This is the city’s busiest season, as people flock to Florida to escape winter further north. December, January and February are the driest months, and temperatures range from the mid-teens to low twenties. If you’d prefer warmer weather, temperatures between March and early May range between 20°C and 30°C, and most days are dry. But it’s worth remembering that Fort Lauderdale can get busy around Easter, as it draws spring break crowds.

Late May to September is the hottest time of year, but summer is also the rainiest season in Fort Lauderdale. It’s very humid – so if you’re not used to tropical weather, it’s best to avoid this time of year. But the rain showers rarely last all day and, if you can stand the heat, you’ll get to see the city’s beaches at their best. Autumn – September to November – is still very warm, and hurricane season lasts until the end of November, so this is the quietest time to visit.