Ft Lauderdale vs Miami:
Why Travelers Shouldn’t Overlook
The “Venice Of America”
Ft Lauderdale vs Miami: Why Travelers Shouldn’t Overlook The “Venice Of America”
Published May 22, 2021
Are you considering a South Florida getaway? If so, you’re in for a great time no matter where you go or what you do! However, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is whether to visit Miami or Fort Lauderdale! While Miami is certainly the more famous of the two cities, Fort Lauderdale has a lot to offer too.
Known as the “Venice of America” because of its extensive network of rivers and waterways, Fort Lauderdale is a more laid-back and relaxing destination than Miami. It’s also more affordable for the average vacationer. In general, Fort Lauderdale feels like a very family-friendly destination, although that’s not to say that Miami is only for spring breakers!
On the flip side, Miami has better nightlife. It’s also a more convenient starting point for anyone planning to drive down to the Florida Keys. To learn more, check out one of my blog posts about the greater Miami metro area!
This post will highlight attractions in Fort Lauderdale while also comparing the two cities. I’ll start by mentioning the beach, then discuss some historical attractions, talk about some interesting neighborhoods, and (best for last) give some food recommendations!
The Beach
Needless to say, if you’re going to Fort Lauderdale, you’ll want to schedule at least one day at the beach. There’s a nice boardwalk that runs along the sand from The Palms apartment complex in the north down to Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in the south.
There are also some nice views further north, for example at Earl Lifshey Ocean Park. The Atlantic beaches in Fort Lauderdale are amazing, but I do have to say that South Beach in Miami is just slightly more impressive.
Historical & Cultural Attractions
Fort Lauderdale’s historical attractions are what make it a unique and charming city to visit! Of the five attractions listed here (Bonnet House, Water Taxi, Stranahan House, History Fort Lauderdale, and the NSU Art Museum), I’d say everyone should aim to see the first three at least.
1. Bonnet House
Address: 900 N Birch Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Website: https://www.bonnethouse.org/
Ticket price (May 2021): $20 per adult for a self-guided tour
This historical mansion with a large open courtyard is conveniently located right next to the ocean, so be sure not to miss it! As the former estate of artists and art collectors Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, Bonnet House has something for everyone: history, an impressive collection of art, and truly spectacular architecture.
After you see the interior of the home, spend some time wandering the grounds. There are some reflecting ponds, a tiki bridge, local foliage, and an orchid greenhouse. Even if historical tours aren’t your thing, Bonnet House won’t disappoint.
Looking for a similar attraction in Miami?
Check out the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens!
Looking for a similar attraction in Miami? Check out the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens!
2. Water Taxi
Address: 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (Stop #1 of 10, other stops in various locations; consult website for route map)
Website: https://watertaxi.com/
Ticket price (May 2021): $28 per adult for an all-day pass
Remember that Fort Lauderdale’s nickname is “The Venice of America”? In order to see why, you have to take the water taxi! This tour boat will allow you to see the city’s most extravagant homes and massive yachts that line the waterways. You won’t be able to get these views on foot or by driving!
The boat captains and tour guides did a great job of pointing out noteworthy mansions and can answer any questions you may have. They’ll also talk about what attractions can be reached on foot at each water taxi stop.
The water taxi has a complete route map on their website, but an easy way to do it is to get on at Stop #1 downtown, then stay on until it reaches Stop #10 (the final stop). From here, you’ll have a very good sense of where the boats go and you could get off anywhere to explore as you make the return trip towards downtown.
Since the water taxi ticket is valid for an entire day, be sure to go in the morning and take full advantage of the service! There’s no reason to spend extra on an Uber or Lyft to get around town if you’ve already paid for the water taxi.
3. Historic Stranahan House Museum
Address: 335 SE 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Website: https://stranahanhouse.org/
Ticket price (May 2021): $12 per adult
This historic home located downtown might not look nearly as impressive as Bonnet House, but there is a lot of history here, and the group tour I did was top quality. This home belonged to Frank and Ivy Stranahan, who set up a trading post right along the New River that runs through the heart of Fort Lauderdale.
One fascinating thing you’ll learn if you do this tour is that Fort Lauderdale is a significantly younger city than neighboring Miami and West Palm Beach. The Stranahans, who were some of the first settlers in the area, only established their small business around the beginning of the 1900s, meaning Fort Lauderdale is only about 120 years old!
Today, the Stranahan House is surrounded by high-rise condos and office buildings, but the inside is immaculately maintained and furnished with period pieces along with some originals. In addition to the Bonnet House and the water taxi, I highly recommend doing this one-hour tour.
Looking for a similar historic home in Miami?
Check out The Barnacle Historic State Park!
Looking for a similar historic home in Miami? Check out The Barnacle Historic State Park!
4. History Fort Lauderdale
Address: 231 SW 2nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Website: https://historyfortlauderdale.org/museum/
Ticket price (May 2021): $10 per adult for self-guided tour, $15 per adult for group tour
This museum housed in a converted historic hotel is interesting but I honestly did prefer the historic home tours a bit more. I recommend doing the group tour here instead of the individual (self-guided) tour. That’s because the group tour is the only way to see the nearby King-Cromartie House and the one-room schoolhouse replica.
If you do visit this museum, be sure to check out the art collective on the third floor to see some really unique works from local artists. This is a great place to pick up some unique souvenirs and gifts as well.
5. NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
Address: 1 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Website: https://nsuartmuseum.org/
Ticket price (May 2021): $12 per adult
If you’re on a roll and want to see one more museum downtown (only a short walk from Stranahan House as well as water taxi Stop #1), consider the NSU Art Museum. Right now, they’ve got an exhibit featuring the work of fashion designer Anna Sui.
The second floor also has a wide variety of pieces with a focus on Latin American art and local artists.
Looking for an art museum in Miami Beach?
Check out The Bass Art Museum!
Looking for an art museum in Miami Beach? Check out The Bass Art Museum!
How does the historical & cultural scene compare to Miami?
Both cities have vibrant cultural attractions, including historic homes, museums, and mansions. One attraction you can only see in Miami Beach is its Art Deco Historic District. Architecture enthusiasts should definitely look into that! Miami is also home to the famous Wynwood Walls.
If the water taxi sounds interesting to you, make sure to experience that in Fort Lauderdale! Miami simply doesn’t have that many inlets, rivers, and waterways. In addition, the Bonnet House and Stranahan House are truly unique. I really loved both tours. These two historic sites alone are more than enough to justify a visit to Fort Lauderdale!
Neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale
At first glance, the city might feel like suburban sprawl, but there are some unique neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale that I enjoyed strolling through. These include Las Olas, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Wilton Manors, and Central Beach.
Las Olas
This is more or less the city center of Fort Lauderdale. The biggest avenue here is East Las Olas Boulevard, which is packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries. It’s got a very casual vibe, and it’s a great place to eat before or after visiting museums downtown.
Curious about the city center of Miami?
Check out Brickell!
Curious about the city center of Miami? Check out Brickell!
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
This little commercial district on the north side of the city’s waterfront is another quaint area. I would’ve loved to try some of the seafood restaurants near the ocean, but I just had so many other dishes and cuisines I had to have while in Florida! To learn more about dining, click or tap here to skip to the section below!
Wilton Manors
Centered around Wilton Drive, this area is Fort Lauderdale’s main gayborhood. It doesn’t really come alive until happy hour, but like both areas mentioned above, Wilton Manors is home to lots of good restaurants. I especially enjoyed happy hour at Apt 9f, where I tried an amazing peanut butter old fashioned and a mouthwatering charcuterie board.
Central Beach
Central Beach is the touristy strip right next to the ocean. While I did find a couple good restaurants here, they were just a bit more expensive than elsewhere in the city. On the south end of Central Beach is Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, which seemed to be a little quieter than the bar street only a short walk away.
How do the neighborhoods compare to Miami?
Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities, and both have lots of neighborhoods to explore. However, going back and forth between them isn’t super convenient. In contrast, Fort Lauderdale is a little more compact, and I found myself taking Ubers and Lyfts all over town to see different things.
A Truly International Food Scene
If you’re a foodie and South Florida isn’t on your radar, it needs to be! That’s because it’s so easy to find international cuisine, and as you might expect, there are many authentic specialties from Latin America and the Caribbean to choose from.
Every meal I had in Fort Lauderdale was a treat, but there are a couple things I recommend you try while you’re here. Check out my list below to see what I ate and where I got it!
Cuban
It should be no surprise that Cuban food is at the top of my list! If you’ve never had it before, Fort Lauderdale is the place to get it! There are lots of options, including Padrino’s, a local chain with a branch in Fort Lauderdale. I ordered their pollo asado with a mojito and flan.
A slightly more interesting place to check out (although it’s a bit further inland) is 925 Nuevos Cubanos. They have a beautiful open-air patio in the back, and the ropa vieja I had here was excellent.
Puerto Rican
There seemed to be fewer Puerto Rican restaurants than Cuban places in Fort Lauderdale, so I’ll say off the bat to go check out La Empanada Loca. It’s a bit of a drive but absolutely worth it. If you’re familiar with comida puertorriqueña, then you could probably guess that I’d be recommending their mofongo, a mashed green plantain cake.
However, when I saw a variation of the dish on their menu called trifongo, I had to try it. Trifongo doesn’t look any different from mofongo, but it’s made with green and sweet plantains, as well as yucca. It was absolutely amazing and I’d say you can’t go wrong with either, but I did find that the trifongo had an even fuller range of flavors than mofongo!
Colombian
Colombian food is hard to come by in much of the United States, so I’ll always jump at the opportunity to get it. Colombian Mountains Cafe was not only delicious, but they had amazing service as well.
If you’ve read my post about my trip to Medellín, you might remember that I featured a dish called bandeja paisa. It’s a massive meal with sausage, steak, egg, rice and beans, avocado, chicharrón (pork skin), an arepa, and sometimes more. This is what I was hoping to find at Colombian Mountains Cafe, and I was in luck.
Everything was on point, and their chicharrón (sitting on the very top in the picture above) might’ve been the best I’ve ever had. It was so crunchy and soft at the same time! If it’s not cooked perfectly, it can be very tough and hard to chew. Not here! If you’ve never tried Colombian food before, bandeja paisa is an excellent introduction to it.
Other Options
Greek
I had a delicious gyro and saganaki appetizer from Greek Islands Taverna, which is right across the street from Colombian Mountains Cafe.
Mediterranean
My cousin Kailyn recommended that I try Casablanca Cafe in Central Beach, and I’m glad she did! I wanted a light dinner that night, so I ordered scallops and a key lime martini. Both were so good, and their patio area with a view of the ocean is top notch. I would recommend either going for an early dinner or making a reservation; they seemed busy almost all the time!
Asian Fusion
Casa Sensei was an interesting Pan-Asian restaurant with Latin influences. On my last night in Fort Lauderdale, I had a happy hour dinner of wonton soup and shumai. It was the perfect way to end my trip after a couple days of heavier meals!
How does the food scene compare to Miami?
Both Fort Lauderdale and Miami have amazing dining options. Foodies are sure to love both! The main difference is that dining in Miami can be a lot more expensive. Pay particular attention to restaurants in Miami Beach charging a service fee (like a mandatory tip), which can be confusing. In Fort Lauderdale, I never came across this.
Take a look at the restaurants I discovered on my first trip to Miami and on my second trip!
Take a look at the restaurants I discovered on my first trip to Miami and on my second trip!
Ft. Lauderdale vs. Miami: Have you decided yet?
When I decided to spend five nights in Fort Lauderdale on a whim, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now that the trip is over, I’m so glad I went! Fort Lauderdale is a fun, culturally rich destination. You also can’t go wrong by choosing Miami (and I think all travel lovers should eventually visit both). But if you’ve already been to Miami once or twice and are looking for something different, I highly recommend checking out this beautiful city just about 30 miles to the north!
Do you have any questions about Fort Lauderdale? Have you been before? Did I miss anything that I should go see on my next trip to the area? Leave a comment below and let me know! Thanks for reading!
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This post was published on May 22, 2021
The Caffeinated Man Behind The Blog
Where I’ve Been
I live in central Florida, yet I’ve never been to Fort Lauderdale. Can’t convince my husband to go, he hates it there. But now I really want to visit! I think I need to arrange a girls’ weekend trip.
Fort Lauderdale certainly has much to commend it as you point out and I would love to explore. The waterfront buildings look amazing, the historic and cultural buildings interesting and as I am not a lover of beaches, I could easily cope with a slightly inferior beach. However, I have long wanted to visit Miami because I love art deco architecture and there are such wonderful examples there, if the photos are to be believed. I suppose though that I can have my cake and eat it? ie I would visit both!
I like that Ft Lauderdale is not as busy as Miami and a tour of the canals with all those mansions is indeed amazing. I liked the beach, but found that the color of water does not approach the incredible turquoise color that you can see in South Beach in Miami Beach.
I’ve never been farther south than Orlando in Florida and always wanted to get to Miami and the Keys, but this post makes me think I should seriously consider Ft. Lauderdale. I love historic house tours so I’d definitely visit the Bonnet house and the food looks absolutely amazing. You had me at Key Lime martini!
I have been to both; Miami when I was young (in the 60s) and Ft Lauderdale more recently. The activity and vibrance in Ft Lauderdale stunned me as I was only used to Miami from so long ago.
Even though I am more of a mountain guy but Fort Lauderdale surely looks like a cool place to relax and rejuvenate. And I must say the food looks so mouth watering. I am salivating just by looking at the pictures haha.
Having not been to either, I would love to visit Miami. In addition to the Art Deco architecture, I’ve heard there is a fantastic art scene and I would want to check that out. As for Fort Lauderdale, you’re right I heard it’s great for families, which is not my scene. But I wouldn’t mind making a beach day and then attack all those food options. Good to know about the Neighbourhoods being spread out and that it’s not a walkable city.
I haven’t been to Florida yet, but I think I prefer Fort Laudardale than Miami since I’m not a party person anymore. Haha.. I would like to take the water taxi to enjoy this “Venice of America” beside spending a time on a beach. The bandeja paisa from Colombian Mountain Cafes look so delicious, especially that pork skin!
Interesting how there is a Venice in every country and Venice is kind of benchmark to explain the place’s beauty. The beach is indeed mesmerizing and I loved the Fort Lauderdale’s historical attractions. The food scene is too attractive to ignore.
Great article on Fort Lauderdale! Next time check out the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in Dania Beach. Were a non-profit ceramic and glass museum located 5 minutes from Fort Lauderdale airport. Check out our 5-star reviews on Google and Trip Advisor and our website at WMODA.com.
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I’d love to know the location of where you are standing in the pic at the end of your article. Looks like a small pagoda behind you and a beautiful garden. My hubby and I are heading down soon for a vacay and if this is a place to stay, I’d love to check it. It looks so tropical and relaxing! If it’s not lodging, do you know a place that is similar that is? TYIA!!
That’s part of the Bonnet House! It’s not lodging and is probably one of a kind given its historical status. You should definitely visit though, it was one of the most amazing things to see in Fort Lauderdale!