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Beyond the Sea: Port Mini-Breaks
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Ft. Lauderdale: Pre- or Post-Cruise Mini-Break
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This vibrant community, sandwiched between the go-go-go metropolis of Miami to the south and the upscale, swank enclaves of Palm Beach to the north, is a vacation spot for sun-seekers, nautical types, water-sports enthusiasts, budding naturalists, golfers and those inclined to shop 'til they drop. In fact, the communities that comprise Greater Ft. Lauderdale seem to have settled comfortably into a niche that is both family-friendly and sophisticated. All manner of lifestyles mesh comfortably -- it's one of the (if not the) premier gay destinations in the U.S -- and the city is extremely accessible to seniors. Ft. Lauderdale is artsy, folksy, culturally advanced, gastronomically diverse and geographically gorgeous.
Ft. Lauderdale started out as a swamp nearly 200 years ago, with a fort built in 1828 by Major William Lauderdale to defeat the Seminole Indians. The swamps were managed by the building of a series of canals -- and today, the city's 300 miles of inter-coastal waterways have earned it the nickname "The Venice of America." As Ft. Lauderdale grew and became more attractive to developers and hoteliers, and as its fabulous expanses of beaches became renowned, the area turned into a magnet for the raucous spring break crowd. This lasted from the early 1960's well into the 1980's, when city management put its collective foot down and effectively chased away the riff-raff. Today "The Venice of America" is a magnet of a different sort -- appealing to all ages -- offering family activities, luxurious spa retreats, beachfront resorts and mom-and-pop motels, dancing under the stars, gay nightclubs and gay-friendly resorts, deep sea fishing excursions, art galleries, and theater.
Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale is the year-round home for many ships -- including Princess' newest, largest and most elaborate, Caribbean Princess -- but it would be a shame to miss the attractions and vacation opportunities in the surrounding communities. The beaches are lovely (Hollywood Beach, Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Dania, Deerfield, Pompano and Lauderdale-By-The-Sea are favorites), the golfing is great (with 54 courses), the arts and entertainment are stellar, and the shopping -- whether in the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall or the upscale shops along Las Olas Boulevard -- is fabulous.
Seniors, families and romantics will all find something to treasure in Ft. Lauderdale. And all it takes is a three-night mini-break.
--by San Diego-based Jana Jones, who is the creator and editor of lodging Web site Sleeping-Around.com, as well as one of Cruise Critic's stalwart ship reviewers.
Photo appears courtesy of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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