What to do in Broward County, 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.

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.

The Sawgrass Mills mall is home to more than 350 name-brand stores and outlets. One of the largest shopping malls in Florida, Sawgrass is touted as the state’s second-most-popular attraction after Disney World. Encompassing 440 acres (180 hectares) of space, this alligator-shaped mall attracts more than 26 million shoppers every year. Join locals and tourists in hunting for discounts and enjoy a meal at one of the complex’s two enormous food courts or dine-in restaurants.

Las Olas Beach is a narrow sandy stretch a short distance from the louder and more crowded beaches of central Fort Lauderdale. The site provides a range of water sports gear and beach equipment to keep visitors entertained and relaxed all day. Stroll along the adjacent boardwalk to discover the range of shops, cafés and restaurants overlooking the beach.