Downtown, Fort Lauderdale – Insider Tips

Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale: Downtown

Fort Lauderdale is a charming city and a popular year-round South Florida destination. It is not just a beach resort, but a city in its own right with amazing culture, dining, and shopping.

The Rodeo Drive of Fort Lauderdale

A gorgeous tree lined Los Olas Boulevard is lively both day and night. Riverfront is on one end, where you can find a movie theater, familiar shops, restaurants and a courtyard which usually has live music. The beach is on the other end of the boulevard, and in-between there are plenty of one of a kind boutiques and restaurants to discover. The Spanish architecture provides a charming backdrop for the numerous pedestrians enjoying a stroll.

Riverfront

The Riverfront area is adjacent to downtown Fort Lauderdale, and is a popular collection of restaurants, bars and shops, some of which are located across the river and connected by a water taxi. Many visitors find that Riverfront has more of an active nightlife scene than Las Olas, which is comprised more of high end stores and restaurants, with not much to do at night.

Another popular activity at the Riverfront are the boat excursions that give tours of the New River. These short cruises take you past homes located on the waterfront. Riverfront also hosts numerous events, including fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Years Eve. The are several large parking garages in the area, so finding a spot is relatively easy if you arrive early.

Himmarshee Village

Himmarshee Village is a collection of 1920’s Florida land boom buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Today these 1920’s era buildings are home to a number of bars and restaurants that make this part of downtown Fort Lauderdale great to visit to enjoy vivbrant nightlife and inventive cuisine.

King Cromartie House

The King Cromartie House was built by renowned Fort Lauderdale contractor Edwin King for his personal residence in 1907. The house is constructed out of Dade County pine and salvaged ship’s timbers. Originally, the house was built on the south bank of the New River and was moved by barge to its present day location in 1971. Today the King Cromartie house is part of the Fort Lauderdale History Museum complex.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in downtown Fort Lauderdale.