Jun 27, 2020

Located on the southeastern Florida coast, Fort Lauderdale is a city known for its lovely beaches, gardens, and promenades. If you’re looking for beauty in Fort Lauderdale, visit these four top spots.

Fort Lauderdale Beach 

Fort Lauderdale Beach is a stunning 7-mile stretch of sand in the city’s main tourist district. Luxurious homes and chic hotels, shops, and restaurants flank the street opposite the beach. The clear blue ocean, waterfront walking paths, and excellent people-watching make Fort Lauderdale Beach a popular attraction. In recent decades, the city has made an effort to curb partying and clean up the beach to make it one of the most beautiful places in town. Throwdown a towel and relax while enjoying the spectacular seaside views, or try windsurfing, jet skiing, or snorkeling for a more unique vantage. 

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens

Artist Frederic Clay Bartlett established the waterfront Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in 1920. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the beautiful property is now a Fort Lauderdale landmark that visitors can explore to learn about architecture, art, and nature.

This unique estate spans 36 acres in the heart of the city. It’s an urban oasis you can tour to view the Bartletts’ personal art collection, treasured belongings, and three stunning gardens — a desert garden, a hibiscus garden, and a tropical courtyard. An exotic orchard house in honor of Bartlett’s late wife, Evelyn, is open to the public as well. The entire Bonnet House grounds are home to five ecosystems that attract a variety of birds and wildlife, including the occasional manatee. Within this pocket of barrier island land, you’ll find beaches, canals, wetlands, forests, and dunes.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

In 1941, Chicago attorney Hugh Taylor Birch donated his 180-acre estate between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway to the city as a public park. His mission was to save his little slice of paradise from urban development, and today Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in Fort Lauderdale. It features 2 miles of paved cycling paths, beach access, the Coastal Hammock hiking trail, the Birch House Museum, and a small lake open to canoeing and fishing. Don’t be surprised to encounter wildlife such as turtles and migratory birds while exploring this tropical park.

Las Olas Boulevard

The famed Las Olas Boulevard runs from downtown Fort Lauderdale along New River to Las Olas Beach. Boutiques, art galleries, cafes, hotels, and museums line this colorful and picturesque waterfront stretch. From it, you can view the stunning mansions and yachts that dot the Intracoastal Waterway. You can appreciate the boulevard’s beauty by taking a stroll down the palm-tree-lined promenade or booking a boat tour along the adjacent river and canals. Enjoy a sunset where the road ends at the ocean.

Fort Lauderdale is home to stunning beaches, lush parks, and unique art and architecture in a tropical setting. If you’re looking for beauty, visit one of these places in town to find it.