Fort Lauderdale: My First Solo stay

I spent a week in Great Fort Lauderdale in September 2019 after my Caribbean cruise onboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. I completed the Great Fort Lauderdale Specialist training before I went, and I was sent a VIP pass by The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. This VIP pass allowed me free entrance/ discounted rates to most Fort Lauderdale attractions. I am not a very big ban of spending days on the beach, therefore I decided to explore what other attractions there are in Fort Lauderdale. When you’re ready to go beyond the beaches, there are tours, hikes, museums, and attractions that make Greater Fort Lauderdale famous. The region has plenty of culture and history to learn about.

I stayed at a hotel in Lauderdale by the Sea, which is a fair bit further than the main Lauderdale Beach area. I left the hotel first thing in the morning and didn't come back til the end of the day to save time. To get to the main attractions, you need get a taxi or water taxi from the hotel I stayed. I have seen buses going past the hotel, but even the hotel staff didn't know that much of the bus time tables or where they go. So I used Water Taxis. Although the water taxis run every 25 -30 minutes, it was not always the case, so that meant waiting around for the next one. In hindsight, I wish I stayed near Lauderdale Beach as I could have saved loads of time by cutting down the travelling time everyday and perhaps split up the day to rest in between. So, if you can.... try to stay near Lauderdale Beach area.

My hotel was just 20 minutes’ walk from Water Taxi stops 9 and 10. I loved the way the captains and their deputies gave us information about all the mansions, yachts and buildings along the way. They had a wealth of knowledge about the history and owners of every building. A few of them belong to Wayne Huizenga, founder of Waste Management, Inc. and his family. I was told that he built a house that looks a lot like Hogwarts for his niece, just because she likes Harry Potter. We also went past Sunglass Hut’s owners’ mansion, which is one of the biggest along the waterway. I took the Margaritaville Express to Hollywood one evening. This was on the last day and I was tired, so decided to head back after having just one drink at 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar. The sunset on the way back was beautiful. It was a very laid back and relaxed journey.

Another way to get the lay of the land by cruising Greater Fort Lauderdale’s waterways, is a tour on the Jungle Queen Riverboat, which plies the Intracoastal Waterway and New River. Jungle Queen cruises have been running since 1935 and have entertained more than 18 million guests with their variety of cruises and activities. I went on their spectacular Afternoon Tropical Isle visit and Sightseeing cruise. As we cruised down the “Venice of America”, I saw JK Rowling’s yacht moored near Lauderdale Marine Centre and the narrator told us that it belonged to Johnny Depp before that. The girl who did the narration was knowledgeable and funny. We were then taken to their own Tropical Island where we watched an alligator show. There were a few exotic birds, lemurs and monkeys and the guests could hold a baby alligator or one of the birds, and have a picture taken with them. The concession stand menu sells food and drinks. They even had a veggie burger!!

I also enjoyed an evening trip aboard the Carrie B Boat. There is a small canteen on board, where you can get some snacks and drinks. The departure point is just a few minutes’ walk from Water Taxi Stop 2. If you want to spend a bit of time looking at beautiful mansions, yachts and enjoy Fort Lauderdale ’s water way, then this is a fantastic option. I took the daily 45 minutes cruise.

I spent few evenings in Las Olas Boulevard. Twinkling lights set the stage each evening for South Florida’s most architecturally unique, authentic, and eclectic shopping and dining district. This area is full of dining options, art galleries, museums and shops. My favourite was Cheesecake Factory, for obvious reasons! The interior of the place was beautiful. I had Godiva chocolate cheesecake and orange coconut cream soda. Both were delicious.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Cheesecake Factory is the Historic Stranahan House Museum. It is the city's oldest surviving structure. This was built by Frank and Ivy Stranahan in the early 1900s. Ivy was the first ever teacher in the area and this was built as a trading post to begin with. They both are treated as the forefathers of Fort Lauderdale by the locals because of their support for the locals and the Seminole Indians. I had two fantastic volunteers showing me and a few others around the museum with lots of information and history of Frank and Ivy Stranahan.

One of the volunteers at Stranahan House told me about Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. So, I headed down there right away. It is a short walk from Water Taxi stop 7. However, when I went there, they’d already started the last tour so, I went back the following day. If you want to Learn about Fort Lauderdale history, art, nature and a true love story, then this 35-acre estate, nestled between the beach and Intracoastal Waterway is the best place. Named after the beautiful Spatterdock lilies or Bonnet Lilies, this historic house tells you all about how Fort Lauderdale evolved and the wealthy families that played a role in its development. Frederic Clay Bartlett, an artist from Chicago inherited this house from his second wife Helen’s father. After the tragic death of Helen, Frederic married Evelyn and they spent their Winters here until 1995. It now belongs to Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. The house remains the same today as when Evelyn and Fred lived here. We were shown around by a volunteer and he kept us interested the entire time. The animal statues and their actual artwork were fantastic. At the end of the tour, I did the garden tour on a buggy. Again, the volunteer guide was amazing. He had very in-depth knowledge of all the flora and fauna of their landscape garden.

On the way back from Bonnet House, I treated myself to some retail therapy at the Galleria Mall, an upscale shopping center. They have the usual, popular stores and some amazing eateries. Before I knew it, I had a handful of bags and a less bank balance than I started with! But it was worth it!

History Fort Lauderdale was one of the first places I wanted to visit, but I only managed to go there on my last day. I was shown around by a very nice volunteer. It consists of 3 museums.

1. The History Museum is housed in the county’s first hotel, New River Inn. This part is mainly self-guided. The artifacts displayed include Archaeology, Seminole Culture, Fashion & Military history of the county. The third floor of the building houses a few Artists’ studios. One of the artists showed me around all the studios. They all belong to New River Artists’ coop.

2. The Pioneer House Museum is one of the oldest timber buildings, built by Ed King. He was a farmer and a builder. The museum houses furniture and artifacts from that era.

3. Schoolhouse Museum is a replica of the one-room school where Fort Lauderdale’s first ever teacher Ivy Stranahan taught. She only had 9 students at the time. The schoolhouse hosts sessions for school children, where they can take part in washing clothes using a wash board, making butter and lemonade.

When I am on holiday, I tend to eat a lot and love trying out different foods and places every day rather than going to the same place. I am a vegetarian, so at times it can be a bit difficult to find a place where you can find more than just a salad for vegetarians. However, this was not the case in Fort Lauderdale. I found Casablanca Café, opposite the Jet Ski Rental on Fort Lauderdale Beach, after a long day of walking and sightseeing. They have Happy Hour Small Plates for $4.95 each, between 4pm & 7pm. It is fantastically located, facing the beach. I had hummus with pitta and salad by the bar with drinks. The lovely lady who served me was friendly and came to check up on me to see if I needed anything else a couple of times. The food came quickly and tasted good too. I loved watching the waves from their outside bar seats.

A short Sun Trolly ride from Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, I found Ocean View Delight, a vegan restaurant. They have an extensive vegan menu, but it is a bit pricey. . I ordered the vegan Mediterranean spinach wrap and extra falafel balls, which was a delight to eat.

I also had dinner at The Whole Enchilada not far from my hotel, on North Federal Highway. This place came up when I searched for vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the area. Got an uber from my hotel for $5 to get here. The young lady who worked there helped me decide on what to order. I had chips and salsa from the salsa bar and veg Fah-hee-tah-Barita. Very big portion but tasted good. Quick and efficient service from staff too.

The last night of my holiday, I went to Mai Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show. This was a unique experience with fantastic cuisine. The garden at the back of the restaurant is beautiful, resembles a Polynesian village with thatched roofs, flaming torches, waterfalls, lagoons, and orchid collections. I went around to have look while I waited for my food to arrive. The servers were already informed of my dietary requirements by the front desk, so it was easy to order. The salad and the vegetarian noodles I ordered tasted very good. The show started off with an introduction to Polynesian History. The different types of dances by people dressed as maidens and agile warriors represented different islands, circumstances and events. Some were sensual, some were brave, and some were entertaining. It was certainly a feast for all senses.

Fort Lauderdale stay was my first ever solo holiday. I was not sure if I would enjoy being on my own to begin with. But Fort Lauderdale kept me happy and safe. I thoroughly loved learning about its history and the sunshine. Hopefully this article gives you a glimpse into beautiful Fort Lauderdale and its attractions.