Jet ski past mansions and mega yachts. Eat sushi while cruising the Intracoastal. Snorkel shipwrecks off the coast.
In Greater Fort Lauderdale, the water isn’t just a pretty backdrop. It’s where the best memories happen. The best part? Our 24-mile stretch of golden beaches is just the starting point.
Nowhere else can you airboat through the Everglades in the morning and have your feet in the Atlantic by afternoon.
Save this list of splash-worthy moments for your next romantic getaway, family vacation or good, old-fashioned fun.
Chill Out
Skip the hotel gym and start your morning on the Intracoastal Waterway instead. Sunrise Paddleboards offers guided tours for all levels, including the Island City Eco Tour, where you’ll encounter wildlife and wind through the scenic waterways of Island City. The Seven Isles Tour lets you float past luxury homes and the historic Bonnet House Museum & Garden for a peaceful morning.
Prefer to go at your own pace? The Grove inside Hugh Taylor Birch State Park also rents kayaks and paddleboards for a scenic escape, no matter the time of day. Don’t forget to hang out after for a quick bite or a drink inside the oasis.
For a more romantic option, book a Riverfront Gondola Tour in partnership with Casa Sensei on Las Olas Boulevard. Cruise the city’s canals in your own private electric gondola while sampling Japanese and Pan-Asian dishes. It’s one of those only-in-Fort-Lauderdale evenings that’s hard to explain until you’ve done it.
If a beach day is on the agenda, plan to stay until the sun goes down. The light along Fort Lauderdale’s shoreline at golden hour is something else entirely, with a painted sky and quiet calm that might make you want to cancel your dinner reservation to stay a little longer.
Our Waterways Are Calling
With more than 300 miles of inland waterways weaving through neighborhoods, Greater Fort Lauderdale has long carried the nickname “Venice of America.” And the best way to see it is from the water itself.
If you’ve never visited before, you might not realize there are endless quiet residential canals lined with sailboats, drawbridges lifting for passing yachts, and waterfront homes with docks that look like extensions of the backyard. It’s part of the allure here and well worth carving out time to experience while you’re in town.
Even without your own boat, the bright yellow Water Taxi makes getting around easy. These hop-on, hop-off boats are a stress-free way to explore the city, with routes running from Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach to Hollywood. They come in handy when you’re making your way from the beach to your hotel, especially during busy weekends like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in the fall or Tortuga Music Festival in the spring.
Dock-and-dine is a local pastime here, where boats pull up beside waterfront patios, and happy hour or dinner comes with a side of passing yachts. Dock at many beloved favorites around town, like Coconuts near Fort Lauderdale beach, Boatyard on the Intracoastal, or Blue Moon Fish Co. in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.
You can always charter a boat or yacht for the afternoon with no agenda required. Charters cater to all sizes and occasions, from family reunions to bachelor parties to a quiet date night on the water.
There’s also Crusin’ Tikis, a private floating tiki bar you can book for groups of 21 and older. Cruise the Intracoastal, bring your own refreshments, and let the tropical vibes do the rest.
More Salt Life
From shipwreck dives and lobster hunts to jet skis and deep-sea fishing, Greater Fort Lauderdale makes the most of life on the water. Pompano Beach earned its title as the “Wreck Capital of Florida,” thanks to its 18 specialized artificial reefs and shipwrecks. Don’t miss snorkeling the SS Copenhagen, a 325-foot steamship that ran aground on the first reef back in 1900 and now sits in only 25 feet of water as a state underwater museum and archaeological site. American Dream Dive Charters out of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is just one company that runs trips out to the Copenhagen for underwater fun.
If you’re a diver visiting in July, you’ll get to witness full lobster-mania during Florida’s spiny lobster mini-season, July 29-30. This two-day free-for-all of diving, snorkeling, and competitions happens before the regular season opens on August 6. The locals call it BugFest because of the lobster’s insect-like appearance. Consider booking a room at Plunge Beach Resort in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, with direct access to the coral reef just offshore. You don’t need to be a diver to join the fun of this time of year; there are plenty of cookouts and parties to attend.
Cruising the Intracoastal on a jet ski is a quintessential Fort Lauderdale experience. As you glide through the waterways, keep an eye out for dolphins and manatees that occasionally surface nearby. Always observe wildlife from a respectful distance and follow posted slow-speed zones designed to protect marine life.
You can head toward the open ocean or explore the calmer inner waterways lined with yachts and waterfront homes. Jet Ski Rentals Fort Lauderdale offers both guided tours and self-guided rides, depending on how you want to experience the water.
For avid anglers, opt for charters like Chasin Finz and Fishing Headquarters that head straight into the Gulf Stream, which runs unusually close to shore. Expect the chance to reel in mahi-mahi, wahoo, and sailfish. The nearly 1,000-foot Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier is one of the county’s best spots to spend an afternoon with a rod in hand.
Then there’s the Everglades, less than an hour away yet a completely different world. Everglades Holiday Park runs high-speed airboat rides across the River of Grass, followed by alligator shows featuring the Gator Boys. Nearby, Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours offers a more immersive experience, combining airboat rides through mangrove tunnels and cypress forests with swamp buggy rides, boardwalk trails and a small wildlife sanctuary.
Kid-Friendly Fun
We can’t talk about splash-worthy fun without including activities for the kids. No matter your kids’ ages, there’s something for everyone. A few favorites include the FlowRider® Double at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, located along Hollywood Beach’s Broadwalk. The surfing simulator experience is one of the most sought-after attractions in town. It’s the perfect excuse for those—young and old—who’ve wanted to learn surfing without needing to dip a toe into the ocean.
Just north of Hollywood in Dania Beach, the Tigertail Lake Recreational Center is home to the Tigertail Aqua Challenge, an inflatable water obstacle course. The floating playground features eight different obstacles that kids (ages 7 and up) and adults can tackle together, with a minimum height requirement of 42 inches.
Families with little ones can also cool off at Splash Adventure Water Park, tucked inside Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. The colorful interactive playground is made for younger kids, with slides, tunnels, water curtains, and a giant tipping bucket that eventually dumps a splash on everyone waiting below. The pool maxes out at 12 inches deep, so it's accessible for all ages.
Whether you come for the beach or the Everglades, your best memories here will happen somewhere on the water. Get ready to discover all the best moments you can enjoy next time you’re in town.