What to do in South Florida, FL

Having shed its reputation as merely a spring break destination for college students, this stretch of coast is enjoying a renaissance and a very different audience. Fort Lauderdale Beach has transformed itself over the past two decades, through efforts of the local town council, and is today one of Florida’s most stylish stretches of coast. Visit and experience today’s Fort Lauderdale.

Adorned with a range of cafés, restaurants and deluxe resorts, Hollywood Beach is the principal strand in the heart of the Florida town of Hollywood. It runs alongside the busy Hollywood Broadwalk and offers all types of entertaining activities. Cycle along the promenade, taking in the sights of the sandy stretch and the Atlantic Ocean beyond it.

Siesta Beach has earned a reputation of being among the most beautiful in the United States. The beach is known for its crystal-clear water and powdery white sand, made almost entirely of pure white quartz. The soft, clean sands are reflective so it’s never too hot underfoot, despite the warm Florida sun. Siesta Key’s public beach is equipped with all the amenities necessary for a full day of relaxing on the soft sands and splashing around in the clear, shallow water.

Nothing says Miami quite like the neon signs of Ocean Drive shining into a muggy evening as the sounds of music and laughter drift into the street. Built almost entirely during a huge construction boom in the 1920s, the street is both an aesthetic wonder, with its coordinating pastel-colored art deco façades, and one of Miami Beach’s hottest spots for nightlife. Move from bar to hotel to restaurant in search of a new drink fruitier and more tropical than the last. Return in the daytime to admire Miami in its full glory.

Las Olas is Spanish for “The Waves,” a fitting name for this 2.5-mile (four-kilometer) boulevard that starts at the beach. It runs west beyond Federal Highway to S. Andrews Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The commercial area of the boulevard covers about a mile (1.6 kilometers). Here small independent shops, restaurants and cafes line either side of the street. Striped awnings shelter outdoor tables and rows of shady trees provide respite from the sun.