Getting around Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is half the fun on a vacation. One of Fort Lauderdale's main drags, the New River, allows visitors to hop on a water taxi and take in the sights.
This South Florida city's extensive system of waterways and reputation for gracious living have made Fort Lauderdale one of the country's largest yachting centers. Restaurants and bars overlook the canals and are accessible by water or from land by taxis and, believe it or not, from rickshaws. Several of the city's special events—including a winter holiday boat parade that draws local, national and international celebrities—revolve around boating and the water.
Fort Lauderdale is also awash in museums, art galleries, restaurants, hotels and chic sidewalk cafes, all appealing to visitors. An elegant beachfront promenade attracts vacationers from all over the world, including the spring-break college crowd.
More sedate than it used to be, but still livelier than Palm Beach, its northern neighbor, Fort Lauderdale has more to offer visitors than most beach towns. The passage of a casino gambling law revitalized this resort town, resulting in multimillion-dollar casinos and entertainment venues attracting more tourists and businesses to the area.
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