How to Spend the Best 24 Hours in Fort Lauderdale

I have to admit, before I became a flight attendant I hadn’t heard of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sure, we all know the wild and eccentric Miami but Fort Lauderdale was foreign to me. And to be honest, it wasn’t until I was talking to the rest of my crew on my very first over night in Fort Lauderdale that I began to become excited about this place. They all loved it! And for good reason! I fell in love with this magical city too and I know you will also. Here’s how to spend the best 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale.

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But first, a little history…

Fort Lauderdale’s history actually began more than 4,000 years ago with the arrival of the Tequesta Indians. They lived here for more than 1,000 years. They were a very peaceful tribe.

The first United States stockade was built here in 1838 and was named Fort Lauderdale. It was used during the fighting in the Second Seminole War. The fort was abandoned in 1842 after the end of the war. And the area remained mostly empty until the 1890s.

During the 1920s, Fort Lauderdale was part of major developments thanks to the Florida land boom. But with the 1926 hurricane and the Great Depression, the area fell desolate again.

During World War II, Fort Lauderdale became a major US Navy base. In the 1970s, Fort Lauderdale became a haven for a group of runaways who called themselves The Family. They mostly did petty crimes to support themselves and others. But now, Fort Lauderdale is a beautiful spot for yachting and tourists. And is one of the safest cities I’ve wandered around in.

WHAT TO SEE:

Fort Lauderdale has a lot to offer. Not only does it have some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen, but there’s actually a ton to do here. Making it a really great place to spend 24 hours or more in.

#1 The Beach.

The beaches are beautiful in Fort Lauderdale! And they seem a little more low key than the beaches of Miami. We are lucky that our airline puts us up right on the main road so we’re just steps to the beach. I love walking the main road that runs along the ocean. I took the above shot on one of my walks.

#2 The Bonnet House.

The Bonnet House is so beautiful! A photographer’s dream. I loved all the art and statues (it was owned by artists). And the gardens are breathtaking! I highly recommend making a stop here. It’s a beautiful way to spend the day. And the history of the place is really fascinating.

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#3 Visit The Mermaid Bar (Wreck Bar) at B Ocean Resort.

I LOVE THIS BAR! The Wreck Bar is something right out of a movie! In fact it is, it was featured in the comedy, Analyze This. They do only have the mermaid shows a couple nights a week, so be sure you check out the above website for their schedule.

#4 Walk Along Los Olas Blvd.

This street is amazing! On my first layover I walked the whole way from our hotel at the beach to the downtown part with all the good restaurants and shops (I’ll talk about this further below!). It’s quite a walk but it was a very beautiful journey past amazing homes and waterways. The food on Los Olas is so good!!!

#5 Enjoy A Water Taxi.

Who doesn’t love being on a boat? Okay so many all those characters from Gilligan’s Island ;). No but really, a water taxi around Fort Lauderdale is not only a great way to get around, but it’s also a great way to see how beautiful this city really is.

Now as an update, because of Covid, the regular routes are not running yet. But as soon as they do and it’s safe to take them again you can check out their schedules here.

#6 See the Flamingos at Flamingo Gardens.

I went to Flamingo Gardens to see the beautiful flamingos (I didn’t know they had other animals too). The flamingos are so cute and you can feed them which is a lot of fun. The park is really gorgeous. You take a tram tour and can wander around the grounds. There are peacocks everywhere which is also fun. It’s a little bit far from the main part of Fort Lauderdale, but I really enjoyed my day here.

#7 See a Polynesian Show at Mai-Kai Restaurant

Now I have not done this one yet, but it’s been on my list since I found it on AtlasObscura (I love that website btw). From the videos and photos I’ve seen, Kai-Kai Restaurant looks like a great time! Also if you’ve been, please let me know!

#8 Visit a Spanish Cloister

Now this is a little further south, but I did make my way here one time and absolutely loved it! William Randolph Hearst took an interest in the Cloister and decided to buy it and bring it stone by stone to the U.S. in 1925. It was going to be shipped to his mansion in California. However, the boxes containing the stones had been contaminated with Hoof-and-Mouth Disease so the boxes stayed in a warehouse in Brooklyn until Hearst’s death in 1952.

Mr. W. Edgemon and Mr. R. Moss bought the stones and after taking them 19 months, they finally reconstructed the Cloister. It’s definitely quite a beautiful place to see. And to think it came all the way from Spain!

#9 And If You Still Need More, Miami Isn’t Too Far Away.

WHERE TO EAT:

The food in Fort Lauderdale is amazing! You really will have no trouble finding mouthwatering places to eat. Here’s how to spend the best 24 hours eating in Fort Lauderdale.

#1 Louie Bossi.

Love, love, love the Italian food here at Louie Bossi. It’s so good! The pasta is fantastic. I highly recommend the Paccheri. It might be one of the best pastas I’ve ever had! On the weekend they do some unlimited drinks for $16 up until 4pm (I love the Aperol Sprtiz!).

#2 Coffee at Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar.

Loved my lavender chai tea latte I got here at Ann’s. It’s such a cool place and vibe. It’s actually right across the street from Louie Bossi too in case you’d like to grab a coffee after lunch or dinner. There’s a beautiful flower wall on the inside but I love sitting on the patio.

#3 Casablanca Cafe.

On my first layover I had dinner here at Casablanca Cafe and I’ve been back since a few times. It’s a beautiful restaurant with really good food. I’ve been lucky to always get a table overlooking the beach across the street. It’s definitely a great place to enjoy a meal.

WHERE TO STAY:

Fort Lauderdale is not short on breathtaking places to stay. And unfortunately I cannot say exactly where we stay for work but I can give you a couple good options. Please feel free to check out Hotels.com for the best rates as well as other options. Save up to 55% on top destinations when booking through your phone! Great Deals while you’re on the go

#1 B Ocean Resort.

B Ocean Resort is beautiful with amazing rooms. Plus the Wreck Bar is right down in the lobby!

#2 Pelican Grand Beach Resort.

Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a beautiful hotel that you’ll never want to leave. You’ll love having breakfast here on their terrace.

Fort Lauderdale is such a gorgeous place to explore. You really will have the best 24 hours here. It’s not hard to do when you have crystal clear beaches, delicious food, and some really neat historical places. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Happy Traveling Loves! 🙂

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