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Where to start in Fort Lauderdale? The South Florida destination has 31 communities boasting 37,000 lodging options; 4,000-plus eateries; more than 500 km. of navigable waterways and eight distinct beaches; a thriving arts scene; craft breweries and rooftop bars; diving, fishing, and other outdoor adventures; world-class shopping; and yachts, yachts, and even more super yachts moored at the area’s many marinas. Suffice to say, something’s always going on, both on land and water.

With this in mind, here’s just a glimpse of what’s new and notable in the city – a perennial favourite of Canadian snowbirds, cruisers (Port Everglades), plus year-round culture vultures and those simply seeking a healthy dose of Florida sun and fun.

LAUDER-DEALS

Visit Lauderdale’s annual summer savings program ‘LauderDeals’ has expanded this year with Dine Out Lauderdale and Spa Days specials during August and September.

• Dine Out Lauderdale serves as an entrée into Greater Fort Lauderdale’s diverse culinary scene, has something for every foodie under the sun. Diners can enjoy taste-tempting meals at more than 40 establishments, including some of the area’s top restaurants – such as Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale at the Four Seasons, The Katherine, and DUNE – by taking advantage of special Dine Out Lauderdale menus, all with at least three courses for $35 or $45.

• Also taking place during August and September, Spa Days tempts those in search of quality self-care with great prices on specialty treatments, some starting as low as $99. The Spa at Auberge Beach offers its Auberge Signature Spa Manicure & Pedicure for $99, or one can indulge in a day of escape with the Vitality Beach & Day Pass that includes a welcome glass of prosecco, beach lounge chair, umbrella, and spa amenities. Other tempting Spa Days offers can be found at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, Pelican Grand Beach Resort and more.

• Summer LauderDeals for hotels and attractions continue to run through September with some extending to the end of the year. The full range of hotel and attraction deals can be found at VisitLauderdale.com/deals.

FLIGHTS

As of January 2023, 124 weekly flights will serve Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) from Canadians gateways. They include:

• Air Canada: Montreal – 34 flights weekly; Toronto – 28; Ottawa – 7; Quebec City – 7
• WestJet: Toronto – 15; Calgary – 1
• Air Transat: Toronto – 7; Montreal – 7; Quebec City – 4
• Flair: Toronto – 7 Montreal – 3; Ottawa – 4

HOTEL

• The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina recently renovated all 595 guestrooms. The upscale, nautically inspired hotel continued renovations with its meeting space inclusive of two ballrooms. Renovations to the meeting space, lobby and public space were completed in November 2021. The hotel is currently constructing a new waterfront ballroom and a rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, scheduled to be completed later this year.

• avid hotel Ft. Lauderdale Airport – Cruise opened in Dania Beach in April. The 101-room hotel is minutes away from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and a 15-minute drive to downtown Fort Lauderdale, the beach, and Port Everglades cruise terminal. Visitors will enjoy guest-centric hallmarks such as best-in-class room design for sound sleeping, seamless technology, and a high-quality grab-and-go breakfast.

• The new 22-storey Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale opened in March with luxurious guestrooms and residences, two restaurants, a spa, fitness centre, and ballroom and meeting facilities. The Ocean Sun Deck is home to two horizon-edge pools and the hotel’s signature dining experience, Evelyn’s Fort Lauderdale. Honey Fitz, on the first level, offers gourmet coffee creations and handcrafted pastries during the day and natural wines, grower champagne, and cocktails in the evening. An additional restaurant concept overlooking Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard is anticipated to debut this fall.

• AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach opened in February just steps away from Sebastian Street Beach in Fort Lauderdale. The 171-room hotel boasts ocean views, an open kitchen for European-style breakfast and specialty culinary events, a library, an expansive resort-style pool with cabanas and dining services, and extensive, flexible meeting space.

2021 openings

• Located in the heart of Dania Pointe, Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport at Dania Beach and AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport opened in September 2021. Comfort meets sophistication with thoughtfully designed open spaces, breathtaking views, meeting rooms, an infinity pool with cabanas, and top-class restaurants and bars.

• Tru by Hilton and Home2Suites by Hilton Pompano Beach Pier opened a 150-room hotel in June 2021. The dual-branded hotel features a fitness area, saline pool and a rooftop deck featuring spectacular 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Pompano Beach Fishing Pier, the Hillsboro Lighthouse, the Intracoastal Waterway and all the action below in Pompano Beach Fishing Village.

• Beach Kimpton Goodland Hotel – Fort Lauderdale opened in April 2021 at the location of the former and historic Escape Hotel. The Goodland offers a tucked-away oasis of lush greenery and tropical landscaping paired. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Botanic at The Kimpton Goodland Hotel serves up bold, healthful, and eclectic flavours that feature local ingredients and Latin and Caribbean influences. Set amongst lush landscaping, the adjacent, secluded pool-side Good Bar offers a decidedly more relaxed scene.

• AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Sawgrass Mills/Sunrise opened in March 2021, located adjacent to Sawgrass Mills mall and steps away from the BB&T Centre. The eight-storey hotel is the first new hotel opening in Sunrise, Fla., in the past 15 years. The European style designed hotel features 174 stylishly sleek guest rooms, a lavish onsite lounge, and a lustrous rooftop bar called Horizon Bar and Lounge, which can accommodate up to 300 guests for a reception. The hotel specializes in European style breakfasts, Spanish style tapas, local craft beer and specialty cocktails.

• Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Downtown opened in March 2021, bringing 137 rooms into the trendy, arts-oriented Flagler Village section of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Features include a state-of-the-art lobby, two meeting rooms with a total of 215 sq. m. of flexible meeting space. The hotel also features The Easton, a rooftop venue with a pool.

• Cambria Hotel Lauderdale Beach opened in January 2021. The 104-room hotel offers ocean views, a meeting room, coffee bar, pool deck and fitness room.

• Hotel Maren Fort Lauderdale Beach, a Curio Collection by Hilton opened its doors in January 2021 on A1A overlooking Fort Lauderdale beach. The stunning 12-storey hotel features 141 luxurious resort rooms, oversize balconies, and breathtaking ocean views. Amenities include a VIP lounge, Ocean Club, 5th floor pool and pool bar, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. The ground floor centerpiece restaurant Riviera features coastal Italian cuisine with Mediterranean influences by celebrity chef Fabio Viviano, known for his turn as a “Top Chef” contestant.

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

• Vegan and plant-based restaurant, Planta Queen, opened in April in Fort Lauderdale. The 410-sq.-m. location features vegan dishes with bold Asian flavors, including sushi, dumplings, and noodles.

• Carousel Club, appropriately named as the bar features an antique carousel, opened at Gulfstream Park in April. The new open-air gathering spot promises cool cocktails, delicious eats, and exciting entertainment from day-to-night, including spectacular views of thoroughbred horse races and live DJs spinning.

• Tacocraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar in Plantationis the largest location for the Mexican concept and the first to have both indoor and outdoor bars, as well as two patios, with abundant seating for 125 indoors and 50 outdoors.

• A notable addition to the Fort Lauderdale scene and hidden on the third floor of Salt 7, Sushi By Bou Beach Club offers a 60-minute 17-course omakase experience at a 10-seat counter where the choice of sushi is left entirely up to the chef. The menu consists of the freshest of fish, both locally sourced and brought in from all over the world. For $125 per seat, seasoned sushi chefs serve guests directly, guiding them through the meal, providing a truly exclusive and personalized experience. The space’s fun, disco and pop-art theme serves as a great backdrop to the high-energy party atmosphere and premium bottle service.

• Jaffa has debuted the expansion of its popular Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine concept to Hallandale. Helmed by Executive Chef Yaniv Cohen (winner of the season finale of Netflix’s “Best Leftovers Ever!”), Jaffa attracts locals and visitors alike with its Kosher-style, Glatt kosher meat and dairy-free menu as well as a vast array of vegan dishes accompanied by an authentic Mediterranean and Israeli wine section.

• Ya Mas! opened in February on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Meaning “Cheers” in Greek, Ya Mas! transports guests to a lively taverna found on Mykonos or Santorini.

• Big Buns, a fast-casual dining spot, opened in downtown Fort Lauderdale in February with 40 indoor and 75 outdoor seats. The menu offers a variety of burgers, bowls, sides, and over-the-top shakes.

• Sunset Club Rooftop Bar & Lounge opened at Costa Hollywood Beach Hotel in February.

• Coyo Taco opened in Fort Lauderdale in February. In addition to handmade corn tortillas, the taqueria features a bar with more than 50 tequila and mezcal selections, plus entertainment with live DJs.

• Moréa, a Mediterranean oceanfront dining oasis, opened in January on Fort Lauderdale beach. The spacious 275-seat dining destination offers an indoor dining room, spacious bar/lounge area, and a gorgeous waterfront patio and bar. Award-winning artist and Chihuly protege, Doug Frates, designed the interior with a breathtaking two-story glass wall installation as well as several signature hanging pieces imported from Italy.

• The Katherine, a seafood- and vegetable-focused restaurant, opened in January in downtown Fort Lauderdale. James Beard-nominated chef Timon Balloo showcases his quintessential home-style dinners infused with the cuisine of his Chinese, Indian and Trinidadian roots. Balloo describes the menu and vibe of this 46-seater with 12 patio seats as “elevated neighbourhood.”

• The Angeles, part restaurant and part nightlife/entertainment venue, opened inside a transformed church in downtown Fort Lauderdale in December. The two-story nightclub destination features a 220-seat, full-service restaurant called Holly Blue, with indoor and outdoor dining, along with an event space. The club can accommodate 700 people, including 75-100 in the VIP area overlooking the dance floor.

• Batch New Southern Kitchen and Tap in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village features a farm-to-table menu of southern comfort food, the restaurant also offers garden-to-glass cocktails and an extensive whiskey collection. The 280-sq.-m. outdoor patio is ideal for enjoying breezy nights and sunny weekend brunches.

• No Man’s Land, a cocktail bar, lounge, and eatery is the brainchild of Memphis Garrett of CBS’s Big Brother All Stars and offers crafted cocktails and inventive small plates.

• The elegant beachfront restaurant DUNE by Laurent Tourondel opened in November inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa in Fort Lauderdale. Helmed by the Michelin-starred chef, DUNE offers an elevated dining experience and contemporary American cuisine characterized by an emphasis on creativity and innovation.

• Fort Lauderdale hotspot YOLO reopened after a multimillion-dollar renovation to the restaurant and O Lounge next store.

• MatchBox opened in Fort Lauderdale in April with 90 indoor and 124 outdoor seats with a 250-sq.-m. patio. The menu will offer specialty cocktails with a wide range of Italian-American cuisine including brick oven pizzas, salads, bowls, sandwiches, burgers and more.

ON THE HORIZON

• The first phase of the expanded Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Centre opened in 2021. Work on the remainder of the US$1.3 billion expansion continues, including the new eastside expansion with waterfront ballrooms, meetings rooms and kitchen facilities, a 2.4-hectare outdoor waterfront plaza and an 800-room, five-storey Omni headquarters hotel interconnected with the convention centre. Completion is expected in late 2025.

• The Bite Eatery, the first food hall in Pompano Beach, will soon open a few blocks away from the beach and the Pompano Fishing Pier. The 250-seat venue will feature The Beach Bar, a central full-liquor bar, plus nine food vendors.

• The Victory Entertainment Complex in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk neighbourhood will open in spring 2023. The venue will feature a distillery, cigar bar, rooftop area, and a wine and whiskey lounge.

• Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina, a South Florida icon for more than 50 years, is going through a total reimagination of the destination. Upon completion the hotel will have 376 guest rooms & suites, multi-level pool experience with family and adult areas, lobby lounge, Pier Top lounge, spa, fitness center, kids club, marina promenade and residential offerings. The hotel is officially closed, but the marina and Pelican Landing remain open, welcoming guests and boaters. Expected reopening 2024.

For more info and trip planning inspiration, www.visitlauderdale.com.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

When locals and visitors call this tropical destination the Venice of America, it’s because these winding ribbons of waterways aren’t just for show. The extra bragging rights come from how Greater Fort Lauderdale makes good use of them, cultivating a water-lover’s lifestyle that can be enjoyed year-round under the warm Florida sunshine.

Whether one is a fishing enthusiast or a foodie, a paddleboarder, or a party-boater, there are multitude of ways to stay, play, and dine on the waterways in Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Water Taxis Are No Ordinary Ride

Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi and Pompano Beach Water Taxi are designed to take users on the scenic route from hotel to museum, theatre to drinks, beach to dinner, lunch to shopping – basically whatever way one wants to enjoy their day around the beach and waterways.

• The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi is an attraction all its own, where the crew provides a narrated tour of the area – including the scoop on the mansions on Millionaire’s Row – as well as beer, cocktails, and sodas below deck.

• There are several upscale hotels walking distance to the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi, including The Pillars, a world-class boutique hotel that sits directly on the Intracoastal Waterway. This body of water is actually a thoroughfare, like A1A or US 1. In fact, a person could sail all the way to Virginia on the Intracoastal Waterway, but it’s more likely to be remembered for the serene sunset views.

• Other sensational hotels near the Water Taxi include The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale; W Fort Lauderdale; and The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Disembark at The Galleria for fashion and dining, including Neiman Marcus, Michael Kors, Vans, and Sephora, as well as The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Blue Martini and more.

• The Express Route goes as far south as Hollywood, where the vibe is laid back and everyone feels like an old friend at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. And on the New River Route, the historic Riverside Hotel offers Old Florida elegance amid the shopping, galleries, and dining of tree-lined Las Olas Boulevard.

• The Pompano Beach Water Taxi is the best way to get to Hillsboro Inlet Park, providing excellent views of the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse. Among the Water Taxi’s 12 stops, there are great places to dine on the water. Have a meal on an island at Cap’s Place, a former 1920s speakeasy. Try the Conch Fritters, Short Rib Tacos, weekend brunch and other delights right on the water at Nauti Dawg Café, a dock-and-dine restaurant tucked away in Lighthouse Point Marina. And you don’t have to miss a game while you’re on vacation when you’re at Bokampers Sports Bar, another dock-and-dine spot where you’ll enjoy the food, the televisions, and the waterside seating.

Ride a gondola

Yes, those are authentic Venetian gondolas gliding along the New River in Fort Lauderdale. Professional gondoliers in striped shirts set the ambiance, and each gondola is the picture of elegance from the ferro to the risso – those unique, curvy metal pieces on the bow and stern of a gondola.

Las Olas Gondola offers 75-minute tours and a unique perspective of the luxurious homes and tropical greenery along the canals at a cozy speed that makes it easy to soak it all in. This is the perfect romantic ride for two, unique outing with the kids, and cool experience for all ages.

Kayaking and paddleboarding

If you dream of gliding along the waterways at your own pace, gazing at the blue sky and green flora, and listening to the rippling water as your oar slices through it, then you’re in the right paragraph. Discover two amazing area parks that provide natural kayaking and paddleboarding escapes within Broward County:

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Located in Fort Lauderdale between the Intracoastal Waterway and A1A, this park is great for biking, hiking, fishing, camping and other nature activities. It even has art classes. But you came for the paddling!

At Park and Ocean, the park’s concession area visitors can be fitted with beach chairs, bicycles, jet skis, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and more. Request a kayak or SUP — map and safety vest included — and paddle through lush mangrove trails and into the calm waters of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park’s coastal dune lakes. And one can also fuel up for the adventure at Park and Ocean, offering tasty eats, craft brews and waterside tables.

If visiting during a full moon, plan a nighttime adventure during the Monthly Full Moon Kayak Tour at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a guided 45-minute paddle by the light of glow sticks and the yellow moon.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

A little farther south in Dania Beach is another oasis within the metropolis. Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is a beachfront haven that has swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, birdwatching, shore diving, as well as kayaking and paddleboarding along the 3.2-km. stretch of mangrove-lined waterway known as Whiskey Creek. This creek was aptly named because of the bootleggers who used to hide out in it to avoid the law during the Prohibition Era. There’s also evidence that the ancient Tequesta Indians used the creek as well.

Whiskey Creek Hideout is the park’s concessions stand with a full menu of deliciousness as well as adventure. There’s the Chipotle Black Bean Burger, Avocado Salad with Salmon, morning breakfast, as well as a kids menu and plenty of comfort food.

A guided kayak Eco-Tour launches every Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. And Fridays feature paddleboard Sunset Tours and monthly Full Moon Kayak Tours, as well as the post-adventure campfire and a S’mores feast.

Mark your calendars

With this array of water-centric events, everyone’s invited to enjoy the boating lifestyle in Broward County. And for some of them, you don’t even have to leave land.

• Oct. 26-30, 2022: The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show attracts more than 100,000 visitors, and 1,000 exhibitors, plus 1,500 boats across 10 km. of docks. Back for its 62nd year, FLIBS is filled with floating eye candy. The Superyacht Village enclave shows off spectacular vessels up to 120 metres and more than 100 food venders populate the Culinary Experience; there’s also a Hospitality Lounge, and informative seminars – altogether demonstrating why Fort Lauderdale is also known as the Yachting Capital of the World.

• Dec. 10, 2022: Every year, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade kicks off the holiday season with the “Greatest Show on H2O.” Attendees will see private boats, giant showboats, and corporate mega-yachts adorned with thousands of lights, as well as music, performers, and decorations. There are plenty of spots to watch the spectacle along the 20-km. parade route from the New River to the Intracoastal Waterway up to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach.

• Jan. 26-29, 2023: Art Fort Lauderdale is a refreshing way for art-lovers to acquire their latest masterpiece. This unique, four-day curated art fair transports attendees via Water Taxi to vacant luxury waterfront properties that are the temporary home for featured artists and galleries exhibiting a variety of paintings, sculptures, and other works.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

With a hearty “Y’all Are Welcome!” Travel South USA touched down in Toronto for a long-awaited mission north of the border designed to reassure the trade, and consumers, that the 12-state region is ready, willing, and able to accommodate a return of Canadian visitors.

Partners from 21 CVBs in states ranging from Alabama to West Virginia, along with Travel South USA Canadian reps Reach Global, hosted travel agents, buyers, and media over two days last week at the TIFF Bell Lightbox with a mission to reveal the states’ Southern experiences, culinary traditions, and four-season outdoor adventures.

The event was also designed to demonstrate Travel South USA’s commitment to Canada, stated organization president Liz Bittner.

“We are so excited to be here in Canada and to welcome y’all to the South,” she said. “We understand how important the Canadian market is, and we are investing resources to share our story and educate the market on all the authentic experiences the South has to offer.”

That includes the current three-year contract with Reach for representation in this country, which includes integrated marketing efforts and a vow to “do more” in market, Bittner told Travel Industry Today.

Prior to a luncheon serving southern staples like fried chicken and waffles, brisket, and peach cobbler, and a tasting station/info session from Jim Beam bourbon, Bittner noted that Travel South partners are determined to put the region and all its unique attributes on Canadians’ radar.

“There’s an assumption that Canadians know us – and assume that the entirety of the South is the same,” she says.

But, from beaches to barbecue, blues to bluegrass, and horses in Kentucky to creole culture in New Orleans, there is an endless diversity to discover that sometimes flies under the radar, or, at least, is not top of mind, she observes.

“If you want have an authentic experience, the South is a great place to be,” she says.

Acknowledging that many Canadians are accustomed to passing through southern states on the way to Florida, Bittner says she’s not content to simply market to snowbirds, convincing them to stay a few days on the way down or back.

“I want the 35-year-olds,” she says, adding that there are great options for families, golfers, girls getaways, music lovers, food and drinks connoisseurs – “we take barbecue seriously,” she enthuses of the many different styles across the south – and people with many other interests.

“We have beaches and warm weather, but we’re not a beach chair kind of place,” she emphasizes. “That’s not us. We want you to engage authenticity.”

That could mean a hole-in-the-wall diner, a blues joint in Memphis or Mississippi, the natural beauty of the Smokey Mountains, or Charleston’s antebellum charm.

And now, with the pandemic travel restrictions eased, there’s no better time to visit, Bittner adds, noting that it was “hard to think about a vacation when everyone was wearing masks.”

But now with a new-found sense of freedom, “cooped up Canadians,” like everyone else, are on the move again and looking for value, she says.

“We know the drive market is expected to do extremely well in the next year and air access into the region is growing quickly,” Bittner says.

And, she adds emphatically, “When it comes to live music, incredible food, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, nowhere else compares to the South.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News