Caroline Sieg - Insiders Guide® to Greater Fort Lauderdale: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano, Dania & Deerfield Beaches

INSIDERS GUIDE TO

GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

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INSIDERS GUIDE

Copyright 2011 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Insiders Guide is a registered trademark of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Editor: Amy Lyons
Project Editor: Heather Santiago
Layout Artist: Kevin Mak
Text Design: Sheryl Kober
Maps: Sue Murray Morris Book Publishing, LLC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN 978-0-7627-6016-9

Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Caroline siegs relationship with South Florida began when she moved there at age two. She later lived in Switzerland, New York, and London, with a few stops in Florida along the way including attending University in Sarasota and Miami. These days, this half-Swiss, half-American travel writer tools around Berlin, Germany, on her much-loved Dutch bike and escapes for the warmer climes of Florida each winter. Caroline is credited with writing the Accommodations, Restaurants, Nightlife, Attractions, and Shopping chapters of this book.

Steve Winston has written or contributed to 15 books. He first saw Palm Beach County when he took a job as a cub reporter for the Palm Beach Post. And hes had sand in his shoes ever since. Steve is an adventurer and mountain climber whos traveled widely all over the world, and his articles have appeared in major media in the United States and abroad. In pursuit of the story, hes been shot at in Northern Ireland, been a cowboy in Arizona, jumped into an alligator pit in the Everglades, flown World War II fighter planes in aerial combat, climbed glaciers in Alaska, explored ice caves in Switzerland, and trained with a rebel militia in the jungle. He can be contacted at his website, www.stevewinston.com. Steve wrote the How to Use this Book, Area Overview, Getting Here, Getting Around, History, Performing Arts, Parks & Beaches, Spectator Sports, Annual Events & Festivals, and Day Trips & Weekend Getaways chapters, along with the Living Here Appendix.

In the 1,205 square miles that comprise Greater Fort Lauderdale, there are some 31 municipalities, ranging from urbanized cities such as Fort Lauderdale (seat of county government) to tiny beachside villages and isolated Everglades crossroads. Although well cover the entire county, well also highlight some of the larger or more influential towns/cities, and their surrounding areas. Among them:

• Coconut Creek
• Cooper City
• Coral Springs
• Deerfield Beach
• Davie
• Fort Lauderdale
• Hollywood
• Pembroke Pines
• Plantation
• Pompano Beach
• Sunrise
• Weston

If youre visiting, or living in, a smaller town, or one of the towns not in the above list, fear not, though. Well cover Greater Fort Lauderdale from top to bottom and from side to side. And well tell you everything there is to see, do, eat, listen to, watch, and everything else you need to know to maximize your experience, whether its as a weekend visitor or a lifelong resident.

And well do it in alphabetical order, to make it easier for you. So, if youve heard of something that you want to find in the Attractions section, for example, all you have to do is look for it alphabetically. And if youre starting out at base camp, as far as your knowledge of Greater Fort Lauderdale, get ready for the ride of your life. Because theres more here than you could ever hope to do or see or experience in a lifetime.

Throughout this book, youll find a variety of Insider Tips and Close-ups about the area, often provided by those who know it bestpeople who have lived and worked here for many years. Some of them may be prominent people in South Florida, while others may be from the 95 percent of people who just go about their daily tasks unheralded. These may be personal vignettes; notes on local history; satirical in nature, educational, or just plain funny. But all of them will shed light on the fascinating mixture of people, cultures, and lifestyles that is Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Moving to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area or already live here? Be sure to check out the blue-tabbed pages at the back of the book, where you will find the Living Here appendix that offers sections on relocation, real estate, retirement, education, child care, media and more.

G reater Fort LauderdaleBroward Countyhas 31 cities, ranging from big ones (like Fort Lauderdale) to small ones (like Lazy Lake). From beachside (Dania, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea) to right next to the Everglades (Weston, Coral Springs). From south (in the Fort LauderdaleMiami orbit) to north (in the Fort LauderdaleBoca Raton orbit). From urban/suburban development (Pompano Beach) to farmland and equestrian grounds (Parkland). This book will give you an insider view of everything you need to know about Greater Fort Lauderdale, whether youre moving here or just vacationing.

In this 1,205 square miles, too, youll find some 1.75 million people (second-largest county in Florida, population-wise), representing every ethnic and national background in existence. Every religion practiced on Earth. Every conceivable political stripe. Every type of lifestyle. Every type of cuisine youve ever heard of, and some you havent.

Our diversityin all mattersis our strength. Because no matter your political beliefs or lifestyle inclinations, you can feel at home here.

One thing to remember: The Greater Fort Lauderdale area has witnessed tremendousand excitingchange over the past few decades. And that change is still taking place. Were very much a work in progress, in many ways. And thats one of the reasons its so great to visit or live here.

Greater Fort Lauderdale sits in the middle of the region known as the Gold Coast, a three-county area of South Florida (with a fourth, the Keys of Monroe County, added in for demographic purposes) with some six million residents. This is the most populous area of the state by far.

Most cities and towns in the region are within 20 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, so youre never very far from an ocean breeze. To the west of Greater Fort Lauderdale is the Everglades, undeveloped except for a few hardy crossroads and junctions, and the Seminole reservation at Big Cypress. Because Broward County (and South Florida) residents tend to be clustered near the coast, west has a different meaning here. In fact, Im writing this right now from the western town in which I live (about 20 miles from the ocean), and the Everglades dikes are just 2 miles west of my house.