How Greater Fort Lauderdale will satisfy sunseekers and shoppers

The beautiful coastal city has something for everyone

Greater Fort Lauderdale's reputation as a beautiful and versatile holiday destination is in no way overstated.

It’s an exciting hub where excellent restaurants rub shoulders with shops; where bars glitter in the evening; a place that can be explored without fuss, maybe by bike along Beach Boulevard. Vibrant without being overly busy, fun without being achingly hip, it’s a city where you can spend a wonderful week without wishing to go anywhere else. Yes, Greater Fort Lauderdale really is great.

Venetian vibe

In many ways, it is about water. And not just in the obvious sense of the waves that graze its 23 miles of golden shoreline — including the soft sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach, a playground for everyone from the surfers who tackle the breakers that roll endlessly to land, to the sunseekers and families who snooze and sit below the palm trees.

Greater Fort Lauderdale also delivers water inland, in the channels and canals that flow west, making it a sort of Venice of America. Here, you find activities galore — kayaking, paddle-boarding, fishing and boat trips.

There are also plenty of attractions that don’t involve getting your feet wet. Shopaholics can indulge, seeking out sophisticated designs in the elegant boutiques strewn along Las Olas Boulevard, hunting for big-brand fashions in the air-conditioned confines of The Galleria mall, or picking up bargains in the Swap Shop flea market on West Sunrise Boulevard.

There are endless opportunities for dinner, too — try Tacocraft, a funky possibility on SW 2nd Street, which revels in Mexican dishes (and tequilas to match).

Or, in 15th Street Fisheries, which serves fresh crab and lobster, and juicy cuts of roasted sea bass, on the waterfront. For a real taste of the Caribbean, seek out some of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “Floribbean” cuisine, and head on the Greater Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail for some local brews.

Virgin Holidays'
expert tips

When the sun goes down, Las Olas Boulevard comes alive with its unique shops, bars and restaurants. Head to Sawgrass Mills for discount outlet shopping

If you want culture, you can find that too — not least in the FAT Village Arts District, where you’ll find vibrant, independent art galleries and studios. There’s also landmarks such as the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, and the colourful Downtown Hollywood Mural Project. This features more than 20 curated contemporary outdoor murals by both local and internationally recognised artists.

Comfortable stay

The standard of accommodation is also high, and Virgin Holidays has a great choice to suit all, including the four-star Pelican Grand Beach Resort — a relaxing four-star of 156 rooms with Greater Fort Lauderdale’s only lazy river as well as direct beach access.

Greater Fort Lauderdale is also an ideal gateway for day jaunts to the Everglades, where alligators idle in the marshy shallows and airboat tours buzz through the swampy landscape. And thanks to the new Brightline high speed train service linking Greater Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, it’s never been better connected.

Visit virginholidays.co.uk/fortlauderdale to book your getaway

*This content was commissioned and approved by Virgin Holidays and Visit Florida