Ft. Lauderdale: What's All the Fuss?
by Chris Tourigny

There's more to Ft. Lauderdale than the beach, however. The sun-kissed city boasts seaside playgrounds, more than 200 parks and a bountiful selection of attractions that showcase everything from butterflies to tyrannosaurs.

Water-skiers schuss, without being pulled behind a boat, using a cable ski hookup. Bicyclists ride around a velodrome. Equestrians trot along park trails. Clay mortars tempt skeet shooters to knock them out of the air. Toddlers can toot around a Safety Town that teaches them traffic safety rules.

There are more than 300 miles of navigable inland waterways, winding through citrus groves and Everglades. The Intracoastal Waterway, and the palatial estates that line it, have earned Ft. Lauderdale the reputation for being called "Venice of America." It's also considered the "yachting capital of the world," with almost 43,000 boats registered.

Accommodations are available for every size pocketbook. With more than 28,000 hotel rooms to choose from, finding the right one will never be a problem. Ft. Lauderdale houses everything from small inexpensive, family-owned hotels to luxurious resorts, operated by international companies such as Westin, Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton and others. Almost half of these facilities are ideal for conventions and business meetings. For more intimate accommodations, there are small lodging properties that offer quiet, charming surroundings.

The area boasts three premier spa resorts - Hyatt Regency's Pier Sixty-Six SPA LXVI, Palm Aire Resort and Spa and the Registry Resort and Spa.

Enjoy five-star cuisine with southern hospitality. With over 3,000 restaurants, satisfaction is guaranteed for everyone. Atmosphere and ambience are as variegated as the comestibles served. There is an array of ethnic restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale, including Caribbean, Chinese, Cuban, French, German, Indian, Italian, Jamaican, Mexican, Soul, South African, Spanish, Swiss, Thai, Vietnamese and American.

When the much-anticipated afternoon thunderstorm rolls in, tourists turn to shopping. Shopping seems to be one of the more popular diversions for vacationers. From baubles and collectibles to inexpensive designer wear, Ft. Lauderdale has no shortage of things for which to shop. Malls, such as the Galleria, which houses Ann Taylor, Cartier, Neiman-Marcus and Saks, give style and ambience to the 1.4-million-square-foot complex. Sawgrass Mills, the world's largest value and entertainment mall, offers more than 250 designer and name brand specialty shops.

If you're not in the mood for a mall, Las Olas Boulevard is lined with boutiques and galleries. Hip Las Olas is where the latest in fashion and art is showcased. Collectors can venture to Antique Row, close to Dania, where 150 shops are packed neatly together in a one-block tract. Adventurous souls looking for buried treasures should try the Ft. Lauderdale Swap Shop, the South's largest flea market.

For those venturing to the Caribbean, Port Everglades is considered a five-star port of call. Millions of travelers embark on tropical cruises every year from Port Everglades. It's the world's second-largest cruise port and is home to most of the best luxury liners. More than 35 vessels depart from this port, some destined for Caribbean ports of call, others venture for points south. These cruise lines include the Celebrity, Costa, Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, Princess, Royal Olympic, Seabourn and Silversea.

Port Everglades is also home to the 370,000-square-foot Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County Convention Center. The Center is situated dockside, making it convenient to combine conventions and cruises. It has exceeded all predictions made for bookings, usage and economic impact. It has gained recognition as a resource for conventions, meetings, incentive programs and trade shows. The Convention Center is adding 150,000 square feet to its current facility along with a 500-room headquarter hotel. The finished product is scheduled to open in 2000.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is the center for theater, music and dance. Broadway musicals make their first, and some times only, stop in the region here. Tony Award-winning shows preformed here include "Miss Saigon," "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables" and "Sunset Boulevard." Big stage names such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli and the Bolshoi Ballet have also performed at the Broward Center.

For a glimpse at Ft. Lauderdale's historical side, head to Bonnet House (named for the lilies that are native to the Everglades). The Bonnet House is the oceanfront estate of the late painter Frederic Bartlett. And for a dose of yet more history, tour the Stranahan House, the oldest home in Broward County, and Flamingo Gardens, one of the area's first citrus groves.

The Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art showcases one of the world's premier collections of early 20th-century art and is the site of many distinguished touring shows - including the Salvador Dali, Grandma Moses and Duane Hanson sculpture exhibits. The Museum of Discovery and Science, and Blockbuster 3D IMAX Theater, are the most visited museums in Florida. They help children of all ages to explore science, space and the environment.

If those don't whet your appetite, try Butterfly World, one of Broward County's most popular attractions, located in the Tradewinds Park. A screen enclosure was specifically designed to allow thousands of butterflies to fly free in their native habitats. The hatchery and hummingbird exhibits complete this unique attraction.

Special interest visitors can attend day schools for airboat operating, board-sailing, deep-sea fishing, motor-boating or sailing. Scuba divers will find crystal-clear waters and coral formations as complicated and impressive as those found in the Florida Keys. There is one advantage to the reefs found here - they are less crowded and much more accessible.

Ft. Lauderdale is easy to reach by air, train or interstate highway. The Ft. Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport is served by more than 40 carriers and is one of the most efficient in the world. It is becoming the No. 1 choice of visitors. The airport is accessible to the beach, local ports and the Convention Center.