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US Airways Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on US Airways, which operates 2 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from Chicago (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), departing between 8:50am and 7:11pm, and 2 additional non-stop flights, departing between 10:55am and 3:45pm on select days of the week. The average travel time from Chicago, IL to Fort Lauderdale, FL is 3 hours.
During your Fort Lauderdale vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Bonnet House
This historic 35-acre plantation home and estate, accessible by guided tour only, will provide you with a fantastic glimpse of Old Florida. Built in 1921, the sprawling two-story waterfront home (surrounded by formal tropical gardens) is really the backdrop of a love story, which the very chatty volunteer guides will share with you if you ask. Some have actually lunched with the former resident of the house, the late Evelyn Bartlett, wife of world-acclaimed artist Frederic Clay Bartlett. The worthwhile 1 1/4-hour tour brings you quirky people, whimsical artwork, lush grounds, and interesting design. Inquire about the literary walks and science workshops, which are offered regularly on the grounds.
Bonnet House
This historic 35-acre plantation home and estate, accessible by guided tour only, will provide you with a fantastic glimpse of Old Florida. Built in 1921, the sprawling two-story waterfront home (surrounded by formal tropical gardens) is really the backdrop of a love story, which the very chatty volunteer guides will share with you if you ask. Some have actually lunched with the former resident of the house, the late Evelyn Bartlett, wife of world-acclaimed artist Frederic Clay Bartlett. The worthwhile 1 1/4-hour tour brings you quirky people, whimsical artwork, lush grounds, and interesting design. Inquire about the literary walks and science workshops, which are offered regularly on the grounds.
Museum of Discovery & Science
This museum's high-tech, interactive approach to education proves that science can equal fun. Adults won't feel as if they're in a kiddie museum, either. During the week, school groups meander through the cavernous two-story modern building. Kids 7 and under enjoy navigating their way through the excellent explorations in the Discovery Center. Florida Ecoscapes is particularly interesting, with a living coral reef, bees, bats, frogs, turtles, and alligators. Most weekend nights, you'll find a diverse crowd ranging from hip high-school kids to 30-somethings enjoying a rock film in the IMAX theater, which also shows short science-related films daily. Out front in the atrium, see the 52-foot-tall Great Gravity Clock, the largest kinetic-energy sculpture in the state. Call for details on changing exhibits.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Fort Lauderdale area, including:
Pillars Hotel
It took me a while to discover this hotel -- and apparently that's exactly the point. One of Fort Lauderdale's best-kept secrets, if not the best, the Pillars transports you from the neon-hued flash and splash of Fort Lauderdale's strip and takes you to a two-story British Colonial, Caribbean-style retreat tucked away on the bustling Intracoastal Waterway. Since it has just 23 rooms, you'll feel as if you have the grand house all to yourself -- albeit a house with white-tablecloth room service, an Eden-istic courtyard with free-form pool, lush landscaping, access to a water taxi, and signing privileges at nearby restaurants and spa. Rooms are luxurious and loaded with amenities such as private-label bath products, ultra-plush bedding and, if you're so inclined, a private masseuse to iron out your personal kinks. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a welcome cocktail, and there's always free iced tea at the pool in case you're thirsty. A library area (with a grand piano and over 500 books and videos) is at your disposal, as is pretty much anything else you request here. The quintessential Fort Lauderdale retreat, the Pillars is the zenith of Fort Lauderdale accommodations. All rooms are nonsmoking.
Fort Lauderdale Beach Hostel
For the young, or for backpackers on a budget, this hostel is a great option, with both dorm beds and private rooms at bargain-basement prices. Clean and conveniently located, the hostel is just 654 feet from the ocean. It features free parking, free phones, free self-cook food, free breakfast buffet and, if you're lucky, free use of the surfboards or in-line skates lying around.
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa
In its day, the Hollywood Diplomat was a swanky affair, an oceanfront playground tending to a host of celebs that included Sinatra and Co. The new Diplomat, which opened in 2002, was built on the site of the original to the tune of $600 million. It's now a 1,060-room, full-service beach resort loaded with amenities. The main building is a 39-story oceanfront tower (with adjacent conference center) surrounded by 8 acres of man-made lakes. A gorgeous bridged, glass-bottomed swimming pool with cascading waterfalls, private cabanas, and a slew of watersports and activities adds a tropical touch. Rooms are a cross between those in a subtle boutique hotel and those in an Art Deco throwback, with dark woods, hand-cut marble and, most impressive, the 10-layer Heavenly Bed, a Westin trademark, with custom-designed pillow-top mattresses and very cushy down blankets (crank up the air-conditioning!).Dining options are resortlike in quantity and quality. The fine-dining steakhouse looks very elegant, and several more casual options are available. A South Beach-style nightclub, Satine, is also on-site -- convenient, considering there is no nightlife in the surrounding area unless you go north to downtown Hollywood or south to South Beach. At press time, construction on Diplomat Landing, the hotel's shopping-and-entertainment complex across the street, was ongoing, but a few places were already open -- such as Nikki Marina, an offshoot of South Beach's St. Tropez-ish Nikki Beach Club.The Diplomat's Country Club and Spa is modeled after an Italian villa, with 60 luxurious guest rooms, yacht slips, a 155-acre golf course, and a world-class spa and tennis club. The 30,000-square-foot spa has 17 treatment rooms, a spa pool, a spa menu, and an extensive selection of treatments.
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