10 Things to Do for Labor Day Weekend in Greater Fort Lauderdale

With 24 miles of deep blue ocean access highlighted by golden sandy shorelines, Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to some of Florida’s best beaches. Deerfield Beach is a fun spot for seashell hunting and sandcastle building, while Pompano Beach, home to underwater Shipwreck Park, is a hotspot for snorkelers and scuba divers alike. 

In Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, El Prado Park and the Beach Pavilion are two oceanfront spots with stunning water views, or you can head slightly south to soak up the sun and enjoy the lively Fort Lauderdale Beachfront Promenade’s array of shops and restaurants. 

In Dania Beach, you can picnic, kayak, and swim at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, or stop at the nearby 2.5-mile Hollywood Beach Broadwalk stretch, which invites bikers and café hoppers, along with pups to Dog Beach.

If it’s been a while since you’ve boarded a boat, why not spend some time at sea? Known as the Yachting Capital of the World, there are various ways to enjoy Greater Fort Lauderdale’s signature swells and sunkissed salty breezes. 

For all-ages fun, board Bluefoot Pirate Adventures in Dania Beach for an interactive children’s adventure. Or, consider Sea Experience, which hosts snorkelers of all levels on reef adventures from Fort Lauderdale with its glass-bottom boat for a more active excursion. 

You can also bring the kids to soar on a Sea Rocket Tour. This new, high-energy speed boat zooms up the coast for a uniquely narrated boat tour of the Greater Fort Lauderdale waterways, including an inside look at the posh mega mansions planted on Millionaire’s Row on the Intracoastal Waterway—snacks and drinks are available at an added cost. 

If you appreciate Greater Fort Lauderdale’s burgeoning restaurant scene, Dine Out Lauderdale is not to be missed. Through Sept. 30, you can feast with your foodie friends and family at more than 130 restaurants in neighborhoods including Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Oakland Park, Lighthouse Point, Sunrise, Wilton Manors, and beyond. 

Indulge in specially curated, three-course prix-fixe menus for lunch ($35) and dinner ($45, $60, and $75) where you can discover creative new flavors, from beachside bites to global cuisine. Savor a high-end steak dinner at Daniel’s A Florida Steakhouse and fork into authentic Italian eats at Heritage—both recently received MICHELIN Guide Florida nods—dive into fresh fish dishes at Catch & Cut, take in the views with hearty fare at Boatyard, and you can even get your hands dirty at a cake decorating class at Lovelee Bakeshop. 

Adults have several ways to ride and imbibe, including the vintage Jungle Queen Riverboat (which hosts both sightseeing and dinner-and-show options), Tiki Time Boat Party pontooning, and the pedal-powered Paddle Pub for a few rounds of cocktails and tunes along New River. 

You can also hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi, which operates between Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, and Pompano to and from lunch, happy hour, and dinner (adult day passes start at $38) or book a Riverfront Gondola Tour—a romantic activity for couples—which departs from Casa Sensei on Las Olas Boulevard. 

On Sunday, Aug. 31, North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes, along A1A and Oakland Park Boulevard, is throwing a celebratory Pre-Labor Day Festival block party. Three stages will host live music from local bands, plus there’s a classic car show slated, arts and crafts exhibits, and an array of food and drink specials from 15 restaurants and bars. 

Take advantage of the South Florida Adventure Pass ($60 for adults; $50 for children), which offers unlimited all-ages visits to four of South Florida’s top attractions through Sept. 30.

First, get immersed in the Museum of Discovery & Science, a 150,000-square-foot playground of exploration for all ages with the MAGNA-TILES Studio, a collective of wild habitats and animal encounters, an outdoor Science Park, STEM shows, and the Autonation IMAX 3D Theater. 

Next, head to Tradewinds Park to stroll Butterfly World’s open-air aviaries with a stunning display of 20,000 exotic butterflies and tropical birds from around the globe. Interact with rare species in this special South Florida tropical rainforest, learn about metamorphosis and the butterfly lifecycle in the on-site research facility, get lost in the Vine Maze, and appreciate a deeper education at the Butterfly Museum and Insectarium.  

Nature enthusiasts can then enjoy an adventure through Everglades Holiday Park, where alligators mingle, turtles sunbathe and rare birds chirp all around. Take a thrilling airboat ride that glides over the sawgrass and cattails and listen to stories about the rich natural environment. Meet adopted and rescued reptiles and pet baby gators, if you dare.

Finally, take in Flamingo Gardens, a 98-year-old, 60-acre Davie mainstay. You can board a scenic tram to tour the lush botanical gardens, which boast more than 3,000 tropical and subtropical flora and the largest group of native Florida fauna in the state. Signature pink flamingos and stunning peacocks add lots of local color to the grounds.

If you appreciate history in a natural ecosystem, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, also known as the Bartlett Estate, sits along 35 miles of beachfront development. Take a guided or self-guided tour of the main house, outbuildings, and spacious grounds honoring the Bartletts’ lifestyle. Highlights include Evelyn Bartlett’s collection of animal sculptures from Southeast Asia and Africa, the famous orchid collection, and native birds wading in the freshwater lake. 

Historic Stranahan House Museum is a one-of-a-kind site built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, the “Founding Father” of Fort Lauderdale, and his wife, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area’s first known school teacher. Visit the oldest building in Broward County and the epicenter of Fort Lauderdale’s captivating history. 

For a storied dining experience, make a stop at Cap’s Place Island Restaurant, a national landmark and Florida’s oldest restaurant, which sits on an island off Lighthouse Point. Take Cap’s motor launch, learn about its exciting history—originally rooted as a 1920s casino and rumrunning speakeasy—and share a waterfront dining experience featuring fresh catches, like local dolphin, wahoo, cobia, snapper, pompano, and lobster. 

Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to various breweries where you can wet your whistle. For an active option, throw on your shorts and sneakers and join the 15-person Cycle Party Pub Crawl, where you can pedal to your pours—there are three bars on the itinerary. Or, head out on the free, self-guided Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail using our curated digital passport to visit five of our favorite local breweries. 

Flex your crafting muscles at a local art class where you can express yourself, destress, and create something new and all your own. Start by browsing the available art classes and workshops for adults and children offered at the Broward Art Guild (think: digital iPad art to mosaics to oil pastels), which is the largest collective of working artists in the county. You can also peruse the classes offered by Mingo Pottery Studio in Fort Lauderdale, which is known for its pottery and ceramics workshops. It also offers canvas painting nights and candle-making sessions. 

A little retail therapy can go a long way, especially during a holiday weekend—Labor Day is one of the holidays known for its excellent sales and savings events. 

If you’re up for making a day of it, take the trip over to Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the U.S., with more than 350 outposts, including well-known stores and high-end shops, like Bloomingdale’s, Lululemon, Adidas, Nike Factory Store, David Yurman, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Tory Burch, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, and Abercrombie. Restaurants abound, but a few to bookmark include Grand Lux Café, Texas de Brazil, Yard House, and Shake Shack. 

Or, stroll the outdoor Shops of Las Olas, home to Lily Pulitzer, Quiet Storm Surf Shop, Edward Beiner, Tweeds, and Southern Tide. Grab a sweet treat at Kilwins, have a cappuccino (or an espresso martini) at Ann’s Florist and Coffee Bar, wine and dine at Sixty Vines, or dig into Italian eats at Louie Bossi, among others. 

Just a few blocks north of Las Olas is Galleria Fort Lauderdale, a traditional mall with well-known retailers and specialty shops like Macy’s, Dillard’s, Free People, Williams-Sonoma, Apple, J. Crew, and Hollister, and dining options like P.F. Changs, Capital Grille, and Seasons 52.