Fort Lauderdale Vacations
Your Fort Lauderdale vacation
Somewhere between Miami glamour and South Beach relaxation lies the perfectly balanced, totally vibrant Fort Lauderdale. Once a teenage party destination, Fort Lauderdale still sings with golden beaches and ocean breezes, but the scene is decidedly cooler and swankier.
Play at notoriously clean beaches or spy mega-yachts and world-class cruise ships. Explore the vast Intercoastal or take on countless cultural or eco adventures. Shop Las Olas boutiques and dine in style or hit happening local bars for happy hour.
Whatever your pleasure, let the Orbitz travel team inspire your Fort Lauderdale vacation with the top 10 things to do, best times to hit the beach and lesser-known gems.
Fort Lauderdale Hotels
BEST WESTERN PLUS Fort Lauderdale Airport South Inn & Suites
Red Carpet Inn Fort Lauderdale - Airport and Cruiseport
Ramada Downtown Hollywood
Sea Club Resort
Ramada Plaza Fort Lauderdale
Beachcomber Resort and Villas
Lauderdale Beachside Hotel
Pelican Grand Beach Resort, a Noble House Hotels and Resorts property
B Ocean Fort Lauderdale
Avalon Waterfront Inns
La Quinta Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Tamarac
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel
Hyatt Place Ft Lauderdale Airport Cruise
| Departure | Arrival | Travel dates | Round-trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Fort Lauderdale | Tue, Jan 29 - Wed, Feb 6 | $148 |
| Newark | Fort Lauderdale | Sat, Mar 2 - Wed, Mar 20 | $160 |
| Washington DC | Fort Lauderdale | Tue, Jan 29 - Thu, Jan 31 | $134 |
| Philadelphia | Fort Lauderdale | Thu, Jan 10 - Fri, Jan 18 | $184 |
| Chicago | Fort Lauderdale | Mon, Mar 4 - Tue, Mar 12 | $226 |
| Denver | Fort Lauderdale | Wed, Feb 20 - Wed, Feb 27 | $168 |
| Detroit | Fort Lauderdale | Wed, Jan 23 - Tue, Feb 5 | $230 |
| Los Angeles | Fort Lauderdale | Thu, Jan 10 - Thu, Jan 17 | $218 |
| Seattle | Fort Lauderdale | Sat, Jan 26 - Wed, Jan 30 | $304 |
| Boston | Fort Lauderdale | Sun, Jan 20 - Thu, Jan 24 | $168 |
| Indianapolis | Fort Lauderdale | Tue, Feb 5 - Fri, Feb 8 | $310 |
| Columbus | Fort Lauderdale | Mon, Jan 28 - Mon, Feb 4 | $245 |
Best time to take a vacation to Fort Lauderdale
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Known for hot (and hotter) weather, Fort Lauderdale brings on warm beach vacations with gusto. For ideal beach weather and the most popular time to visit Fort Lauderdale, plan your trip between November and April when highs range from the 70s to the low 80s, with nighttime lows in the 60s.
For the best hotel deals and fewer crowds, come to Fort Lauderdale late May through October. But here's the catch: this "rainy season" typically brings brief afternoon showers, followed by increased humidity which can make the heat downright intense. On the flip side, the town is much more accessible, open and affordable.
Insider tips for Fort Lauderdale travel
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Cruiser's Express water taxi
Before or after a Port Everglades cruise, travel famed waterways to five top stops, including the beach and Las Olas.
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Young at Art Children's Art Museum
Find interactive exhibits and top studio classes in a rare art-only museum for kids.
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Sea Turtle Walk
Join the Museum of Discovery and Science to explore Loggerhead sea turtle nesting grounds, select nights June to July.
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Happy Hour
Celebrate a Fort Lauderdale tradition from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with reduced drinks and food at Southport Raw Bar, Tarpon Bend and more.
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Historic Walking Tour
By full moon or daylight, spend one hour touring the historic district with the Fort Lauderdale Historic Society.
Fort Lauderdale highlights
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Fort Lauderdale beaches
Swim or sun at eco-friendly, clean beaches such as Deerfield, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Promenade and Pompano.
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Port Everglades
Board a cruise or stand in awe of towering ocean liners at one of the world's best seaports.
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Wannado City
Kids ages 4 to 11 score dream jobs for a day from 250 possible careers when asked, "Whatcha wanna do?"
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High Taylor Birch State Recreation Area
Bike, hike or canoe mangroves, lagoons and a last-standing, significant maritime hammock.
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Butterfly World
Wander a netted aviary with hundreds of butterflies, learn about butterfly lifecycles and visit nearby Tradewinds Park attractions.
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Florida Everglades
Head 25 minutes from Fort Lauderdale to Sawgrass Recreation Park for an airboat tour of this magnificent swampland.
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Intercoastal Waterway and New River
Discover the "Venice of America" by water taxi, Jungle Queen river cruise or gondola.
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Las Olas Boulevard
Shop this sophisticated mile downtown where high-fashion meets art and al fresco cafes.
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Stranahan House
Enter one of Florida's oldest homes, built in 1901 in vernacular style and furnished with 1900-era antiques.
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Riverwalk Park
Find arts and entertainment among museums, a craft market, cafes and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
More on Fort Lauderdale from AOL Travel
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Tourists looking to soak up some sun on pristine beaches or take in art and cultural events will enjoy a vacation to Fort Lauderdale. The stylish renovation of Fort Lauderdale Beach features seven miles of white sandy beaches, punctuated by a wave wall and beachfront promenade district with places to shop, dine al fresco and listen to live music. Explore the many beaches on the southeast Florida Atlantic coast and visit neighboring Deerfield Beach, Hollywood or Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Water-sports opportunities abound in Fort Lauderdale. Tourists can explore the city from the water on a sightseeing cruise, sign up for a guided kayak tour of local waterways, scuba dive or snorkel at one of the area’s 75 wrecks and reefs or parasail high above the Atlantic Ocean. Heading to Las Olas Boulevard is a must for Fort Lauderdale visitors. Home to the city’s cultural center, the Museum of Art, Las Olas Boulevard is a cultural haven full of galleries, boutiques and live music venues. With so many cultural opportunities available, Fort Lauderdale lives up to its nickname, “the Venice of America.” The strip stays busy when the sun goes down—tourists can discover fine-dining restaurants, sidewalk cafes and pubs offering an array of food and drink. Neighboring A1A also heats up in the evenings, with indoor and outdoor bars just steps away from the beach. Dotted throughout this Atlantic-Coast city are casinos, jai alai facilities and horseracing tracks, which can get gamblers’ hearts pounding with the thrill of a win.