Hi, I'm Lauren, the name behind For the Love of Matching Blog. I've put together an insiders travel guide to the sunny destination of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which is approx. 220 miles South of where I reside. For us, it's a quick getaway destination with the girls.
Do y'all ever want to take a trip to the beach, but also have other amenities nearby? I love the beach, but sometimes it's nice to have other attractions nearby if the weather doesn't cooperate or your little ones want a chance of scenery. Ft. Lauderdale is great for its beaches, nearby attractions and known for shopping/dining on Las Olas Boulevard.
Where to Stay
Typically, we travel to Ft. Lauderdale at least twice a year. This year we switched things up and stayed closer to Las Olas Blvd, instead of beachside, which is approx. 2 miles West.
On our most recent trip, we chose to stay at a new Tribute Portfolio Boutique Hotel, The Dalmar. It overlooked downtown Ft. Lauderdale, yet also had breathtaking Oceanside views. I loved everything about our stay, the rooms were modern, spacious and beautiful, perfect for a family of four. Enjoyed lots of time at the pool (note - since it is in the business district and we stayed during the week, the pool was occupied by us only for the majority of our time spent outdoors) and indulged lots of gelato from the ice cream cart. They have a spa, coffee bar, and various other dining options on property. If you would like to go to the beach they offer a complimentary hourly shuttle from 10AM-5PM, runs on the hour every hour.
If staying beachside is more your jam, then look into The Conrad, W Ft. Lauderdale, Ritz Carlton Ft. Lauderdale Beach or The Westin; we have stayed at all five of these properties within the last five years.
What to Pack:
It's the Sunshine State for a reason y'all, pack all the sun protective clothing you can from Cabana Life. You can expect very warm temperatures, that feel like 100+ degrees in you are visiting during the Summer months with high humidity. Expect to walk outside and your sunglasses immediately fog from the indoor temperature variation. If you're Oceanside expect a slight breeze in the evening and potential chance of showers in the morning or late afternoon. All you need are swimsuits, sundresses, cover-ups and lots of sunscreen.
Where to Eat:
Roses Coffee Bar, Ann's Florist Coffee & Wine Bar or St. Barts Coffee Co are a few of our top breakfast spots, we make a vow to visit local spots and avoid chain restaurants.
Lunch is typically poolside at the hotel we are currently staying, so no recommendations otherwise.
Dinner depends on the area you are feeling, some of our favorite areas are Las Olas Blvd, Lauderdale By the Sea, or Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd. At all three areas you will find fine dining, casual local eats and decadent desserts. A few of our favorite places for dinner are Louie Bossi's Ristorante, Sky Thai Sushi, Blue Moon Fish Co., and Burlock Coast.
What to Do:
Lounge at the beach: you can rent chairs/umbrellas through local vendors, or your resort most likely offers complimentary chairs included in your daily resort fee, so look into that.
Museum of Discovery and Science or a day trip to the Miami Seaquarium are great options with children if its raining.
Shopping on Las Olas Blvd. for the latest trends, window shop high end retailers or scoop up the latest Cabana Life at a local boutique.
Riverfront Gondola Tours at sunset is a must, there are also many other riverfront and boat tours offered in the area.
I hope this guide has helped you if you are potentially planning a visit to Ft. Lauderdale in the near future, or possibly didn't even know it was on your radar until now. Choose Cabana Life when planning a vacation to South Florida, because of the UPF 50+ protection, lightweight fabric and vibrant tropical patterns! They have got you covered literally from the sun's harmful rays and stylish chic fashion at the same time.