“Over there, in this villa, lives the CEO of Johnson & Johnson, over here the CEO of LinkedIn,” the skipper of the catamaran refers to the ownership of the canals. The fact that the actors Jane Fonda and Nick Nolte also have impressive buildings there is mentioned rather casually by the co-pilot of a taxi boat. As if drawn on a drawing board, the small pieces of land with the prestigious villas are crossed by canals. Impressive yachts are moored in front of the houses. The city of Fort Lauderdale in Florida is undoubtedly reserved for people who have anchored on the sunny side of life. They are spoiled by pleasant temperatures and many hours of sunshine almost all year round.
Vacationers can get a small taste of this abundance. It doesn’t have to be a fiery red boat powered by four twelve-cylinder engines from an Italian sports car manufacturer. But people there like to talk about what they have achieved and are proud of it. Sometimes it is also exuberant patriotism that shapes their behavior. The singing of the national anthem by more than 3,000 spectators at an air show on the beach in Fort Lauderdale underscores this basic attitude.
The city’s super-rich have built their villas between the many canals. As a rule, impressive yachts are anchored in front of the properties.
Photo: Kurt Sohnemann
But that doesn’t make the hosts in Fort Lauderdale any less lovable. Visitors are served in a friendly and courteous manner in hotels and restaurants, and are often drawn into conversations in which curiosity about the guests’ homeland is often the main focus. Fort Lauderdale is a travel destination for people who want to be pampered by the impressively diverse cuisine as well as the wide beaches and the way of life. The slightly more than 180,000 residents have adapted to tourism and offer an entertaining range of entertainment. Differently designed pools are just as natural for the hotels as full air conditioning in all rooms. The prices for a very well-equipped room are around 275 dollars per night for upscale guests, such as at the Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club.
The alligators do not attack humans.
Captain Disco
If you want to change location in Fort Lauderdale, you can usually organize this on land with an Uber taxi, but a water taxi is more appropriate in the Venice of Florida. In many cases, the yellow watercraft even stop at the pier of popular restaurants, so the journey could hardly be more comfortable. Gondolas based on the Venetian model also travel on the canals. However, these are usually powered by motors. In return, the guides usually give explanations about the individual districts along the canals.
What is striking is the relatively loud music played by guests on the boats or in the restaurants, with rock or country music. This generally lifts the mood and increases consumption, although the prices for food and drinks are above European levels. It is therefore advisable to have the right credit card in your pocket. A large selection of restaurants with excellent cuisine is an important criterion for many guests who come to Fort Lauderdale and nearby Hollywood in Florida. The spectrum of chefs ranges from specialists in Uzbek dishes to experts in the fish and seafood scene.
The choice of restaurants in Fort Lauderdale is diverse.
Photo: Kurt Sohnemann
Of course, the recommended restaurants also include burger restaurants, which delight not only American guests with their usual – but also special – recipes. It is also not unusual in Florida to choose salads from the menu. In recent years, the kitchens have taken an amazing path to the taste buds of their guests.
A visit to the Everglades is an absolute must for every visitor to Fort Lauderdale. A trained ranger drives the guests on a propeller boat across the water, which is partially overgrown but navigable. The boats glide over the water thanks to their flat-bottomed design with a small footprint. On request, the rangers will explain the flora and fauna, among which the gliding alligators stand out impressively. There are also various insects that are rarely or never seen in European latitudes. “The alligators do not attack people,” Captain Disco, as the boat driver calls himself, reassures the restless excursionists with no experience of predators. “They feed mainly on fish and birds.” However, the crowd of guests did not have enough trust to put their feet in the water given their proximity to the cold-blooded animal.
Fort Lauderdale was only founded in 1911. Before that, the land was owned by different ethnic groups. The oldest house still in existence in the city is almost crouched between tall buildings on the New River, the only evidence of past decades and is preserved as the Stranahan House Museum. The modern museums for people interested in art are much more impressive. In the MAD Arts Museum, which describes itself as a playground of art and innovation and promises a new level of experimental art and digital technologies, dozens of visitors are amazed by the illuminations and arrangements every day.
Unfazed by the curious guests, the reptiles continue to roam the Everglades.
Photo: Kurt Sohnemann
From the port of Fort Lauderdale, several maritime contemporaries offer their services for trips on the Atlantic. A short visit to the ocean often results in encounters with dolphins, says Lizzy, who sets sail on a catamaran. “At least you’ll get an impressive sunset if no dolphins show up.”
Water sports are available on the 480 kilometers of canals: the selection ranges from jet boats to kayaks.
The best way for visitors to get a good overview is from the air. Helicopters are available at the city’s sports airport. From a lofty distance, you can see the impressive length of the beach, where bathers enjoy themselves in the sun and in the water.
To the point
Fort Lauderdale
Getting there: Fort Lauderdale has an airport that is served by many American airlines. Since luggage must be checked in again when changing planes on connecting flights to the US, we recommend flying via Canada. Air Canada offers flights from Frankfurt via Montreal.
Shopping: You can pay with credit cards almost everywhere. It is advisable to have some cash for tips or small purchases on the beach.
Travel time: The best time to travel is between the end of November and mid-May. Then the temperatures are usually between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius and there are few rainy days.
For more information, visit www.visitlauderdale.com.
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The trip was supported by Visit Fort Lauderdale.
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