3 Best Day Trips from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

ship in fort lauderdale skyline harbor

The beaches of Fort Lauderdale are world-famous. This city has many incredible beaches, and a weekend away is many people’s idea of a perfect vacation. It is very easy to spend a weekend away at the beach with no further plans.

For visitors to Fort Lauderdale, a day trip or weekend trip gives you a little variety without all the hassle of organizing a long trip. Let’s look at the best day trips from Fort Lauderdale.

1. Palm Beach

people sunbathing in palm beach fort lauderdale
Image by Steve Martin / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

You cannot talk about day trips from Fort Lauderdale without mentioning Palm Beach. This little town is a little over 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and well worth a visit. Palm Beach is home to the famous ‘Jolly Roger’ Hotel, which is a landmark in its own right. Built in 1930, it’s obvious when you look at it why it was an instant hit.

One of the things you must not miss in Palm Beach is taking a cruise on The Tall Ship America. Built in 1890, it is the second oldest working ship in the United States. She is a true relic of the sailing era, and it is one of the most relaxing ways to see Palm Beach.

A trip to Palm Beach would be pretty dull without including a cocktail at one of the famous martini bars. 2 such bars you will want to visit are Blue Martini and The Breakers. These bars are well known for their cocktails, particularly the ‘shaken not stirred’ cocktail.

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2. Gardens by the Bay

Folks having fun at gardens by the bay
Image by Daniel Piraino / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0


Less than 40 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, you will find Gardens by the Bay. This is a magnificent park; its central feature is the Flower Dome. The Flower Dome is a giant greenhouse full of tropical flowers.

The park is set over 40 acres and is absolutely magical. Apart from the Flower Dome, there are many other beautiful attractions, such as the Cloud Forest, the Climatron, and the Supertree Grove.

See Related: How to Take a Bus from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando

3. Fort Lauderdale Beach

fun day with best day trips from fort lauderdale beach
Image by Daniel Dudek / CC BY 2.0

Fort Lauderdale Beach is a strip that runs along the beachfront of Fort Lauderdale. The beach is huge, and after an afternoon on the beach, it is worth spending a night in Fort Lauderdale. This city has tons of accommodations, from hostels to hotels with ocean views to expensive hotels with the amenities you would expect from a 5-star resort.

Of course, there is the resort. Fort Lauderdale’s resorts are by far the biggest attractions for tourists. There are 3 resorts: Palm Island, Las Olas, and Bahia Mar.

Spending the night in one of the resorts is the best way to enjoy a night out in Fort Lauderdale. The resorts provide everything you need. Plenty of pool and a good selection of restaurants, bars, and entertainment. For those wanting more of a party scene, Las Olas is a popular choice.

The nightlife here is exciting, and everyone is dressed up. If you are looking for a more relaxing night, Bahia Mar is perfect. It provides luxury condos and easy access to beachside resorts and restaurants.

Fort Lauderdale is a great place for a day trip. As long as you like spending an afternoon on the beach, there is no reason not to visit the city. You can spend a whole week in Fort Lauderdale and still not cover everything.

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