Thanks to its beaches, wetlands, world-class dining, and cultural institutions, Greater Fort Lauderdale is a tourist destination for travelers around the world. But where do the locals go? Here are some of our favorite haunts.
There’s fun for the whole family at Paradise Cove Water Park in Pembroke Pines’ CB Smith Park, with four different experiences filled with water slides and rides. Paradise Pipeline has four five-story-tall water slides for a thrilling corkscrew ride. Parrot’s Point and Sharky’s Lagoon are great options for smaller children, with 12-inch and 18-inch pools, respectively. Finally, Crazy Creek is made for those who want to lounge in the sun, with a 410-foot-long tube ride. The water park is open seven days a week in the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall.
What’s in a name? The Small Wine Shop tells it all. The cozy wine bar in Flagler Village offers a menu of small-production wines, particularly from natural, organic and biodynamic wineries. Oenophiles should check out their wine club, and there are always engaging events like wine specials on Wednesdays, tastings and pairings, and seasonal soirees.
It’s a one-stop-shop for fun at Dania Pointe in Dania Beach, with dozens of stores, restaurants, a bowling alley, comedy club, and movie theater in one walkable area. Get your shop on at Urban Outfitters, Sugarboo, Anthropologie, or Foot Locker, then rest your feet while dining at Cooper’s Hawk, Bento, or Firebirds. Or, you can grab a bite to eat at Bowlero — fit with black lights, lounge seats and an arcade — or Regal Cinemas while watching the next Oscar-worthy film.
Get your fix for authentic Korean food at Gabose and Pocha in Lauderhill, sister restaurants featuring both traditional and contemporary dishes made over a charcoal grill. All the dishes are great to be paired with Korean beers and an array of flavored sojus — and if you’ve got a large party, try out the watermelon punch bowl at Pocha. It’s just the bit of liquid courage you’ll need for karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights.
Rustic Inn in Fort Lauderdale offers a casual, canal-side dining experience that’s been drawing locals for decades. The seafood restaurant is known for their “world famous garlic crabs,” served over the dining table for you to crack open with a mallet while donning a bib. It’s the uniform while eating at Rustic Inn, as dinner here is meant to be a little messy.