A three-day weekend is finally around the corner — and there are endless options for how to spend Labor Day in Greater Fort Lauderdale. From enjoying time in the great outdoors and getting up close and personal with animals, to exploring the region’s restaurants and breweries and admiring art, there’s something for everyone under the sun.
1. Plan a beach day
Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts eight beaches spread over 24 miles of sand, from Hillsboro Beach to Hallandale Beach. Pack up the beach towels, chairs, and sunscreen for a day in the sun and surf. Avid fishing enthusiasts can see what they can catch from the piers at Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Dania Beach. After a morning and afternoon in the sun, wander through the many shops and restaurants along the beach to get a bite to each.
2. Enjoy the long weekend with community
North Beach in Fort Lauderdale is getting the Labor Day festivities started early with a Pre-Labor Day Festival. A free event, the neighborhood restaurants and shops are offering food and drink specials, as well as hosting a car show from 2 to 6 p.m. and live music from 7 to 10 p.m. There are also plenty of boutiques along the way to explore, giving visitors a chance to purchase unique finds from local creators and entrepreneurs.
3. Cruise on a floating tiki bar
There’s bar hopping, and then there’s cruising down the New River with Cruisin’ Tiki. Hop aboard a floating tiki bar with five of your friends for a one-of-a-kind nautical adventure. Choose from sandbar trips, sunset cruises, late-night jazz cruises, or a tiki fun cruise, depending on what kind of fun your crew is looking to enjoy. Don’t forget to bring your favorite food and drink to enjoy while gazing at the mansions and yachts along the river.
4. Get lost in the arts
Sight and sound come together for a one-of-a-kind arts experience at Mad Arts, an immersive museum that pushes the boundaries of art, technology, and imagination. Dubbed a “visionary playground,” visitors’ senses will be treated to two stories of immersive exhibits utilizing the visual arts, light, and sound.
5. Eat your way through town
Summer is the time to try out all those restaurants around town, and with Dine Out Lauderdale, foodies don’t have to break the bank doing it. With special menus through the end of September, participating restaurants are offering $35 (lunch), $45, $55 and $75 prix fixe menus that include an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Click to see which restaurants are taking part.
6. Follow the Ale Trail
Gather a brew crew to explore the endless offerings of local breweries churning out their own take on beer. New to the scene is The Cove Brewery in Deerfield Beach, located within The Cove waterfront shopping center. A family-friendly (and pet-friendly!) brewery, little ones can play while the adults sip on a Heatwave ale, Paddle Out Pils lager, Left Break IPA, and other suds. For more Greater Fort Lauderdale breweries, check out the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail as a guide to the more than a dozen breweries in town.
7. Look good for less
One of the ultimate shopping destinations in Greater Fort Lauderdale is Sawgrass Mills, a 1.2-million-square-foot outlet mall boasting more than 350 stores to suit all styles. For designer labels, head to The Colonnade Outlets, where brands like Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, and other high-end fashion houses offer the goods at a discount. After a day of shopping, rest your weary feet by dining at the mall’s on-site restaurants, such as Yard House, Texas de Brazil or Seasons 52.
8. Get lost in the butterflies
The Butterfly Capital of the World is located right here in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Butterfly World, a 3-acre swath of botanical gardens, tropical birds, and 20,000 butterflies, is located in Coconut Creek. The park opened in 1988 and not only gives nature lovers an opportunity to walk among the butterflies but also features a working butterfly farm to help bring up the numbers of dwindling species.
To save some cash, opt for the South Florida Adventure Pass. For $60 for adults and $50 for children, visitors can experience unlimited admission to Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and Sawgrass Recreation Park through Sept. 30.
9. Come face-to-face with gators
More than 1 million alligators call Florida home, and that includes the swamps of Greater Fort Lauderdale. Visitors can witness these ancient creatures in their natural habitat with a visit to Everglades Holiday Park from atop an airboat. Not only will guides point out alligators sunning themselves, but other species like herons, egrets, and turtles also make their homes in the mangroves. A visit to the park isn’t complete without a pit stop at the Gator Pit for a presentation by the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue, where rescuers show off tricks with the gators and share stories of bringing these creatures to safety.
10. Get a different view from a rooftop
With stunning beaches and the sparkling lights of downtown, it makes sense that rooftop bars are a popular way to spend brunch or an evening in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The swanky Sparrow at The Dalmar hotel provides stunning vistas of downtown Fort Lauderdale as guests enjoy craft cocktails fit for social media. Also in the downtown area is Rooftop @ 1WLO, right along the New River, and The Easton, which plays host to plenty of pool parties. Along Fort Lauderdale Beach is Nubé, a rooftop bar atop the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A photo with the giant peace-sign sculpture is a must.
