Fort Lauderdale is a South Florida city known for its many beautiful beaches and the 300 miles of canal ways that garnered it the "Venice of America." And whether you're into nightlife, arts and culture, the beach, or the food scene, there are things in Fort Lauderdale to do for everyone. From attractions to restaurants to activities, here is a list of things to do the next time you find yourself in Fort Lauderdale.
Water Taxi
Fort Lauderdale got its nickname as the "Venice of America" due to the 300 miles of beautiful Intracoastal Waterway running inland through the city. The Water Taxi is a perfect way to take the scenic route of exploring the city. You can experience the main attractions and even bar and/or restaurant hop while spending all day on the waterways. An all-day pass ($35) allows you to hop on and off of Water Taxis all day, allowing you to visit the different shops and restaurants that make up the city's Hollywood Broadwalk with ease.
In addition to the Water Taxi, you can opt to experience the different waterways, as well as the iconic Millionaires' Row, via yacht, paddleboard, or even by gondola for an authentically Venice-esque type vibe as you sightsee.
Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar
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Get a taste of the spirit of Mexico with the help of a Fort Lauderdale dining staple, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar. Happy hour starts at 4 and lasts until 7 daily, but Rocco's also hosts lively fiestas by way of Bottomless Brunch weekends and Taco & Tequila Tuesdays. The latter allows you to sample different tequilas through their collection of more than 300 tequilas. Taco Tuesdays also allow you to take advantage of their all-you-can-eat tacos special. Aside from stellar tacos, their menu boasts authentic Mexican cuisine like tableside guacamole, elotes, molcajetes, enchiladas, birria tacos, and more.
Archibald's Village Bakery
o have one of the best cinnamon rolls you've ever tasted, stop by the local and tourist favorite Archibald's Village Bakery. The award-winning bakery also has a full coffee menu and was recently crowned #3 in Yelp's Top 100 US Restaurants 2023. You can eat your coffee and food on their patio or go and enjoy them on the Fort Lauderdale Beach, which is conveniently steps away from the cafe.
From their Morning Glory Loaf to breakfast wraps to their lemon-glazed blueberry scones and a chocolate chip cookie that could rival your favorites, a visit here, while you're in Fort Lauderdale is a must.
NSU Art Museum
"Hooray for Hollywood" in the "Picturing Fame" exhibition at NSU Art Museum
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One thing about me is I will find an excuse to go to an art museum, and the NSU Art Museum just so happens to be the one in Fort Lauderdale. It feels like a great way to get a bit of art and culture into what sometimes feels like a food-heavy vacation (I'm not complaining, though!). With over 6,000 art pieces, the works I zeroed in on were from the "Picturing Fame" exhibition and from the Haitian artists that were featured, whose stories of struggle, freedom, and revolution could be felt in the artwork they crafted. This included artists Gérard Fortuné, Roland Dorcely, and Robert Saint-Brice and their collective exhibition titled "Cosmic Mirrors."
I was also partial to the works of Kathia St. Claire featured in the exhibition "Immaterial Being." I loved her use of using linoleum panels to create quilt-like backgrounds that would act as the textured canvas for her paintings. It's a signature technique of the artist that you fall for just as you do her work.
Kathia St. Hilaire, "Our Only Guide to Justice"
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Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale has at least ten wonderful beaches to choose from when deciding to embark on a beach day. The turquoise waters, tall palm trees, and white sand are just three of the reasons to indulge in Fort Lauderdale beaches. Fort Lauderdale Beach has that in the form of four miles of magnificent coastline and is considered one of Florida's best beaches. It's everything that is beautiful, and because of its shallow waters, water activities like swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and diving are popping there.
With the pulse of the city as the beach's backdrop, you can take a break from the sun and heat by getting lost in shopping, cafes, and other forms of entertainment that are conveniently located near the beach.
Pompano Beach
Possibly even more visually breathtaking is Pompano Beach, a beach that has steadily topped best beaches of Fort Lauderdale to visit lists. Named for the prominence of pompano tropical game fish found there, the Pompano Beach has golden shores and is located between the Hillsboro and Fort Lauderdale beaches. The water is warm, and the ocean looks clear, making it a perfect location for water activities like scuba diving, fishing charters, snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, and more. If you want to take a break from the water, you can also get lost in a discovery of a series of art installations at Shipwreck Park.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Located across 180 acres along Fort Lauderdale Beach is the city's central park, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The forest acts as a lush oasis where nature lovers can get their hike on through nature trails. They can also rent pedal boats, kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes. There, people can fish and enjoy other recreational endeavors through biking, jet skis, and more.
Rivertail
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The Wahoo Crudo at Rivertail
Breakwater Hospitality Group
Voted Miami New Times' "Best Restaurant Fort Lauderdale 2020," Rivertail is a chic casual seafood restaurant that offers bold and spectacular flavors through creative dishes. Located on the waterfront, Rivertail serves dishes that are inspired by oyster bars, fish houses, and fine dining restaurants across the globe. Passionfruit Ceviche, Crab Donuts, Mussels Maria, the Seafood Roll, the Snapper, and Wahoo Crudo are just some of the restaurant's mouthwatering creations that stand out and keep diners coming back for more. When looking for the best seafood in Fort Lauderdale, look no further than Rivertail.
Glitch Bar
Any excuse to tap into your inner child and play games while you drink is an excuse with my name on it. The Glitch Bar in Fort Lauderdale is a popular arcade bar located in the MASS District of the city. With an entry fee that is the cost of a drink, Glitch Bar offers free play on pinball and old-school arcade games like the beloved Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. They also have weekend DJs and host trivia nights.
Tufting House
Color outside of the lines with a rug tufting experience to remember. Rug tufting has been rising in popularity thanks to the wonderful world of TikTok, and at Tufting House, I was able to learn a new skill and expand my creativity in a major way. Among other services and private classes, Tufting House also offers a custom rug tufting opportunity where you can create your own mini rug to sketch, tuft, and take home. You can go as a group or even make a date or solo date for yourself. I would have never thought to spend a few hours firmly tufting my rug creation, but it's a therapeutic creative outlet I'll never forget.
Sistrunk Marketplace
With diverse cuisine options that would pique any foodie's interest, Sistrunk Marketplace is a culinary hub that can satisfy any palette. Sistrunk Marketplace is a one-part food hall, one-part brewery, one-part marketplace, and all parts a spot you must hit up if you're in Fort Lauderdale. Among the wide array of different food options the food dining hall offers, the restaurants include authentic Italian food by way of Mari's Kitchen Italian Market, vegan and Hawaiian poke by way of Poke OG, southern food by way of Nellie's Southern Table, and even Korean food by way of Perillas Korean Kitchen.
The Sistrunk Marketplace is also home to the brewery Dream State and the on-site microbrewery provides craft ales, and beers that are imported as well as local.
W Fort Lauderdale
The entrance to the AWAY Spa at the W Fort Lauderdale
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With the tranquil respite of their AWAY Spa, the sparkling pool with its transparent walls, and an overall nod to luxury, the W Fort Lauderdale hotel has to be a stop on your list while in Fort Lauderdale one way or another. Spend a day or two getting acquainted with their amenities, book that 50-minute Go Deep massage, lay out in the sun or shade while lounging by the pool, and bask in the oceanfront views of Fort Lauderdale Beach.
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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This collection features a medley of oils: Glo Up! Turmeric, Vitamin C + Aloe Daily Skin & Scalp Oil, Gro Up! Rosemary, Mint + Biotin Daily Skin & Scalp Oil, and Thick'N Up! Multi-Vitamins, Sea Moss & Amla Daily Skin & Scalp Oil. I had the opportunity to try these oils on my hair and skin, and this was my experience.
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Glo Up! Turmeric, Vitamin C + Aloe Daily Skin & Scalp Oil
This oil came right on time as I was in the process of getting rid of dark spots that appeared on my legs following the mosquito bites I received on a trip. With ingredients like turmeric and vitamin c that are known to brighten the skin, I was hopeful that this oil will help fade the spots. After using it daily for a few weeks, I noticed a slight difference. So I plan to continue using it as part of my daily routine.
Gro Up! Rosemary, Mint + Biotin Daily Skin & Scalp Oil
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Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs to use in my hair care. I make my own rosemary water, I use a rosemary and rice water conditioner, and I love using rosemary oil. So when I received Hollywood Beauty's Rosemary, Mint + Biotin oil, I was excited to try it.
After one use, I knew that this will become a go-to oil for my hair. I like to apply the oil on my ends and brush it throughout my hair for a luxurious feel. The mint makes my scalp tingle and with the addition of biotin, I know my hair is getting stronger.
Thick'N Up! Multi-Vitamins, Sea Moss & Amla Daily Skin & Scalp Oil
Sea moss has become popular over the years due to its rich nutrients and mineral content. So my experience with sea moss has always been through ingestion. I never thought about using it in my hair and body care, until now. Thanks to Thick'N Up! Multi-Vitamins, Sea Moss & Amla Daily Skin & Scalp Oil, I was up for the challenge.
This oil was made to help thicken your hair and condition the scalp. Amla is also another popular ingredient that is used in the oil to fight dandruff and promote hair growth. I've been on my hair growth journey, so this oil is a must-have.
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The reason why I thought they were a great way to start off this piece is because, although they’ve been together (including living together) for about five years (I believe) and Cey has mentioned getting a lot of social media pressure to propose to Jai, he said that he would move forward when he was ready which happened to be on Jai’s 25th birthday this year — and then, four months later, they eloped. Hmph. What seemed to take forever (to viewers, anyway), it ended up moving swiftly…when Cey was ready to move. And in the meantime, they both resolved to live in the moment and prepare in the meantime. Hmph. In January, they were boyfriend and girlfriend. By December, they became husband and wife. Good stuff.
The tie-in? You know, if there is one thing that I oftentimes encourage my coupled-up clients to do right around this time of the year, it's to have a conversation with their partner about whether or not they think their relationship is stagnant in some way. Synonyms for stagnant include idle, inactive, dormant, sluggish, and stale. The reason why it’s important to ponder over this is because, oftentimes, when relationships end, it’s not because people don’t care for one another anymore; hell, it’s not even that something “big” or “drastic” happened.
Oftentimes, it’s because they allowed their relationship to not develop, advance, progress — and when things aren’t moving forward, things tend to slip backwards or remain stuck…and nothing healthy can come from either of those outcomes.
A musician by the name of Matt Bellamy once said, “You have to evolve. Stagnation breeds boredom,” — and y’all, believe it or not, boredom is another big cause of break-ups. Keeping all of this in mind, I would hate for your relationship to “fade to black” in the upcoming year, simply because stagnation took over.
And so, in the few moments that are left in 2025, ask your partner the following questions. They may provide the clarity you need to know how to keep your relationship strong (or to get it back on track) over the next several months.
Are We in a Different Place than Where We Were Last Year?
GiphyBack to Cey and Jai for a second. Again, even though commenters were pretty close to being relentless when it came to wondering when Cey was going to pop the question, if you kept up with their content, even though Cey hadn’t proposed yet, one thing that you couldn’t say is that they were in the same place, relationally, year after year. For one thing, they stayed moving about (literally), and they oftentimes expressed goals that they wanted to reach, both as individuals and as a couple.
My point? If the ultimate goal between you and your partner is marriage, and that hasn’t happened yet, there is no way that 365 days have passed, and you shouldn’t be able to say that you’ve seen some relational growth, change, and progress over that period of time.
Are the two of you better at communicating? Has the intimacy between the two of you gotten stronger? Are you both better forgivers? Are you closer friends? Do you know more about one another’s wants and needs?
A stagnant relationship is one that, by definition, lacks development. If you can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you and your partner are better and stronger now than you were this time last year, pat yourself on the back — that is a really good sign that you two are in a really great place.
Do We Both Still Want the Same Things?
GiphyOne of the best things about a healthy relationship is that it helps you to tame your ego. I say that because if you are serious about making your relationship work and last, it’s going to require compromise, sacrifice, and humility. That’s why it irks me to no end when a relationship ends, and if a person in it is asked why, they will say something along the lines of the other individual didn’t love them simply because they didn’t want what they did.
This is a great example of someone’s ego showing up because the reality is that a person can absolutely love you and even want to be with you, and still not be on the same page about what you want. This is actually a part of the reason why it’s a good idea to do some thorough vetting during the beginning stages of dating (check out “The 'Pre-Commitment Interview' Every Dating Couple Should Have” and “The 'Pre-Sex Interview' To See If You're Both In Sync.”).
Anyway, the only way to know if someone wants what you do is to ask. And if you think that is silly after being with someone for a while, well, I’ll share with you a marriage quote that I oftentimes reference in sessions: “You don't marry one person; you marry three: the person you think they are, the person they are, and the person they are going to become as the result of being.” (Richard J. Needham)
People change all of the time, so if you’ve been in a long-term relationship, you absolutely owe it to yourself, your partner, and the relationship overall to “check in” to make sure that you both ultimately want the same things from your dynamic. Never assume. Assumptions typically backfire — one way or another.
Is There Any Area Where You Think We Are Wasting Time?
I have always liked this particular definition of waste: “to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return,” and when it comes to this particular article, please remember that if you are pouring into something and not getting much of a return…that is the textbook definition of wasting time, effort, and energy.
So yes, it definitely works in your and your partner’s favor to ponder if the two of you are wasting time in an area. One way to figure this out is to look through the lens of INVESTING vs. SPENDING. Whatever you all are doing, is it an investment where you are seeing a payoff, or are you just spending and not really getting much in return?
I’ll say this — if there is more fighting than peace; if you don’t have the same values; if one or both of you are acting like you are satisfied as far as intimacy goes when you really aren’t; if when you hang out, there feels like a disconnection is there; if one or both of you are walking on eggshells in order to get along, and/or spending time with each other isn’t one of your all-time favorite things to do…all of this are indications of wasting time because, again, you’re giving but…what are you really getting?
Do We Complement Where We Are Heading As Individuals?
GiphyWhen God decided (because it was him; not Adam) that it was time for Adam to have a companion, the Classic Amplified Version of Scripture states that the Lord said this: “Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.” (Genesis 2:18 — AMPC) Hmph, don’t get me started on how much nonsense I see on social media that causes me to wonder if people actually believe this. For now, I’ll just say that it’s important to peep what this verse says a good helpmate looks like: she is suitable, adaptable (that’s a good one), and complementary to her man.
Complementary is a great word. So much, in fact, that several years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “If He's Right For You, He Will COMPLEMENT Your Life.” When you complement someone, you help to complete them. This is why I wish people would really embrace how masculinity and femininity are designed to BALANCE (i.e., complement) one another. And even beyond that, when it comes to your relationship specifically, where do you and your partner complete each other? Not in the rom-com way so much as where do they “balance you out”?
A married couple who I work with, one of the things that I’m trying to get them to chill out about is embracing that their differences actually can work in their favor if they simply stopped trying to turn each other into carbon copies of themselves (another way that ego manifests, by the way). An example of what I mean is the husband is very chill and cautious in how he moves while the wife is spontaneous and likes to take all kinds of risks. If they embraced the way this could COMPLEMENT both of them as individuals, she wouldn’t be so emotionally high-strung and unnecessarily stressed, and he wouldn’t overthink his way out of potentially great opportunities.
Another favorite quote of mine is “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (Larry Dixon) Although you and your partner shouldn’t be so different that you’re constantly clashing and butting heads, it’s okay to bring different things out of each other by how you complement one another. Spend some time talking about if/how you do. It can reveal quite a bit.
What Would You Like to Accomplish, Relationally, Next Year?
GiphyRemember how I touched on the fact that boredom can lead to the demise of a relationship? As I close this out, another way to avoid stagnation in your relationship is to create plans for it.
In 2026, where do you want to travel? What new things do you want to try/attempt together? What are the strengths that you want to celebrate and the weaknesses that you want to work on? How do you want to progress spiritually? What needs still need to be met? What wants do you wish to prioritize? What habits do you want to break? What boundaries need to be set? What do you both want to get better at as far as communication goes? What can you do to become better friends, confidants, and lovers?
It’s kind of wild that, although most of us know the quote, “Fail to plan, plan to fail,” many of us literally FAIL at applying it to our relationship. Yet there is data all over the place that supports that if you want to succeed at something, planning is one of the most effective ways to do it.
Just ask Cey and Jai. #wink
Salute to them and Happy New Year to you and your man.
Here’s to plenty of progress…with barely any stagnation, chile.
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