23 Miles of Beaches, Airboat Rides, Intracoastal Fun, Arts and More
The month of March in South Florida means it’s Spring Break! And no one can say “I’m bored” in Broward County during Spring Break or any day of the year.
We made a list of the variety of healthy ways all of us can enjoy the incredible fun available in Broward County. Of course, many love the sandy shores of the beach — but there is a wide variety of other ways to make the most of your vacation or staycation.
Here are just six ways you can create a healthier mind and body during your free time in Broward:
1) Head to the beach — Broward County has 23 miles of beaches, and our favorite shorelines include Deerfield Beach (and its fishing pier), Fort Lauderdale Beach, Hollywood Beach (and its 2.5-mile boardwalk) and Pompano Beach (and its municipal pier). Enjoy the ocean, stroll oceanfront promenades, ride or rent bicycles, and tour the canals and waterways by paddleboard. One place we highly recommend is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, bike-riding, bird-watching and much more. Plus a few blocks from this park is the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens — great for art lovers, horticulture enthusiasts and history buffs.
2) Take a “safari” to the Everglades — Whether new to Broward or a local resident, a trip to the Everglades is a must. One of the world’s great diverse ecosystems, this “river of grass” includes 1.5 million acres of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods. We recommend taking an hour-long airboat tour, and Sawgrass Recreation Park or Everglades Holiday Park are accessible entry points. You might see alligators, otters, bears, panthers, storks and even flamingos. And for the adventurous, night-time airboat rides are available.
3) Go on an underwater sightseeing tour — Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is nicknamed “South Florida’s Beach Diving Capital,” and this casual beach town features a reef about 300 feet offshore where snorkelers or scuba-divers can get close to coral reef marine life like sea turtles and nurse sharks as well as a historic shipwreck.
4) Visit one or more of our great parks — Broward County is home to hundreds of parks, nature centers, natural areas and specialty parks, and just a few of this exceptional variety are Anne Kolb Nature Center, Butterfly World (the largest butterfly house in the world), the 60-acre Flamingo Gardens, Markham Park with its astronomical observatory, Mizell-Johnson State Park, Secret Woods Nature Center, Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Tradewinds Park & Stables and Tree Tops Parks. Each reflects the incredibly rich biosphere of South Florida.
5) See dozens of stops on the Water Taxi —Hop on and hop off at any of the20 stops between Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood all day for one low price. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy the fresh air, take advantage of Broward’s bounty of cafes and restaurants, shop on Las Olas Boulevard, glide by yachts and mansions, and learn about our historic community.
6) Go to one of our museums — Spanning 22 blocks, the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District includes the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, Museum of Discovery and Science, and Historic Stranahan House Museum as well as many restaurants, green spaces and shops. Plus Las Olas Boulevard is within walking distance. Other must-see museums are Young at Art, an interactive museum for children of all ages, and the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, which houses over 1 million rare books, artifacts, artwork, manuscripts and reference materials about the history and culture of people of African, African-American and Caribbean descent.
Spring Break is a great time to relax and enjoy a change from our normal routines. Broward County has an endless selection of entertainment, parks, outdoor activities, indoor activities, fabulous beaches and waterway adventures.
While you’re enjoying Spring Break this year, know United Way of Broward County has your well-being and health as among our top priorities. We hope you have a beautiful, stress-free vacation or staycation!
