Things to do in
Fort Lauderdale

Florida's southeast coast rewards explorers with a natural haven of sandy beaches, sea, and floral greenery.

Our most recommended things to do in Fort Lauderdale

Everglades: Sawgrass Park Day Time Airboat Tour & Exhibits

1. Everglades: Sawgrass Park Day Time Airboat Tour & Exhibits

Embark on a real adventure with an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades and entry to the alligator and reptile exhibit. Explore this fascinating natural wonder, hear the history of the Seminole people, and learn about the wildlife you sport from your captain. Board your airboat and glide out into the Everglades. As you cruise, listen to fascinating historical and ecological facts from your captain. Listen to tales of how the Native American Seminole people and panthers once coexisted in this lush wilderness. Keep an eye out for rare and endangered wildlife as you skim across the glassy water, through grassy rivers, and over the tropical marsh. After your airboat tour, head into the alligator and reptile exhibit. Get up close to a baby alligator and touch its unique skin and learn about these formidable predators.

Miami: Tour the Everglades by Airboat and Take a Nature Walk

2. Miami: Tour the Everglades by Airboat and Take a Nature Walk

Benefit from pickup at your hotel or other location in the Greater Fort Lauderdale and Miami-Dade County area, and then travel by brand new sprinter-style vehicle to Everglades National Park. Appreciate the natural beauty of the area, and learn about its ecological importance. Join a naturalist guide on a walk in Everglades National Park and learn about the different ecosystems of the park. Walk through a tropical hardwood hammock to admire the mature trees and beautiful plants and wildlife. Then, drive to the launch site of your 1-hour airboat ride, and glide through the grasses to see wild alligators up close in their natural environment. Visit an historic Miccosukee Indian village, exclusive to the airboat company, and learn about their special customs and way of life. Head back to your hotel at the end of your exhilarating airboat tour, better acquainted with the real Florida.

Fort Lauderdale: 4-Hour Deep Sea Drift Fishing Trip

3. Fort Lauderdale: 4-Hour Deep Sea Drift Fishing Trip

Set sail on board an 85-foot Gulfcraft fishing boat and fish off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a 4-hour morning, afternoon or evening fishing trip. The tour cost per person includes all rod and reel rental, bait and tackle. You will fish approximately 1 mile off the coast, where the ocean bottom drops off quickly to depths of up to 150 feet and the inside edge of the Gulfstream current provides perfect fishing conditions. On daytime trips, you will drift or anchor fish over the reefs, wrecks and rock piles of Fort Lauderdale, and fish for kingfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, snapper, grouper, or whatever is biting. For added adventure, nighttime trips anchor up over a spot where the crew chum the water for snapper and grouper. Everything is included in the price; just bring along any food and drink you like. This is a fun trip for novice and experienced anglers, and the crew is there to help you 1-on-1 for the entire trip.

From Miami: Everglades Wildlife Show, Airboat & Bus Transfer

4. From Miami: Everglades Wildlife Show, Airboat & Bus Transfer

Begin a full-day tour (if chosen) with an open-top bus tour of Miami Beach, Wynwood, Downtown Miami, Little Havana, Coconut Grove, and Coral Gables. Continue with a boat ride through Biscayne Bay and Millionaire’s Row, seeing lavish celebrity homes on Star Island, Palm Island, and Hibiscus Island. After the boat tour concludes (and for those opting for the half-day option), enjoy a comfortable journey aboard an enclosed, air-conditioned double-decker bus from Miami to Everglades Park, where you will immerse yourself in the abundant wildlife of Florida's heartland. Glide through the River of Grass on a 40-minute narrated airboat tour, encountering over 200,000 alligators in their natural habitat. Get tips for spotting these fascinating creatures from your wildlife guides. Next, delve deeper into alligator lore with a 40-minute live presentation, where professional handlers showcase the reptiles' life cycle and habits in a secure setting. Afterward, wander through the park at your leisure, exploring alligator exhibits and soaking in the surrounding beauty. As the day concludes, board the bus for a relaxing journey back to Miami. Tour Departure Times: 9:00 am or 1:00 pm

From Fort Lauderdale: Day Trip to Bimini

5. From Fort Lauderdale: Day Trip to Bimini

Discover the beauty of Bimini Island in the Bahamas on this day trip from Fort Lauderdale. Step off the mainland and onto a high-speed 600-passenger, modern, comfortable vessel that will whisk you away from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini in The Bahamas in just 2 hours. Sit back and relax with a snack and let your worries slip away. Once on the island, you will have the day at leisure to explore the wonders of Bimini, choose from local authentic food, swim with dolphins, or kayaking. Available for $40, you may purchase a Day Pass to Hilton Resort World Bimini facilities onboard the vessel.

Fort Lauderdale: Millionaire's Homes and Megayachts Cruise

6. Fort Lauderdale: Millionaire's Homes and Megayachts Cruise

Fort Lauderdale is the water playground for the rich and famous with over 2,000 megayachts of the rich and famous docking here. When you add in the fabulous waterfront homes and the historic landmarks, it makes this cruise a great way to see the best of Fort Lauderdale. The cruise starts at the dock out the back of the Gallery One Doubletree Suites by Hilton. Board the two-level boat with an open upper deck for maximum 360’ viewing or stay below in the enclosed lower deck with air-conditioning and enjoy a complimentary beer, juice or soft drink. As you head along the waterways, your local bilingual guide will point out the many historic landmarks and the luxury waterfront homes of the rich and famous. With Fort Lauderdale being considered the yachting capital of the world, you will also get to see some of the luxury megayachts that dock here. Another highlight is seeing the cruise ships docked in Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. By the end of your 90-minute cruise you will have had a real taste of the lives of the rich and famous, having experienced countless photo opportunities along the way.

From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers

7. From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers

Discover the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland US on this exciting ferry day trip from Miami Beach to Bimini Island. Spend the day enjoying the beautiful white beaches, and swimming in stunning turquoise waters.  Enjoy our complimentary round-trip transportation from your desired hotel along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach or at a centrally-located point in Downtown Miami. Embark on a 2-hour fast ferry cruise which will take you to the small tropical island of Bimini. Have the option to purchase a pass for exciting water sports on the ferry to Bimini, activities including shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, or swimming at the famous Hilton resort pool.  Spend the afternoon (about 6 hours) on the island and enjoy your time relaxing on the beach, partake in water sports, enjoy your time exploring around the island in a purchased golf cart, or try the local restaurants and shops.  In the late afternoon, the ferry will transport you back to Florida and our designated driver will transport you back to your desired pickup point.

From Miami: Bimini Bahamas Day Trip w/ Hotel Pickup & Ferry

8. From Miami: Bimini Bahamas Day Trip w/ Hotel Pickup & Ferry

Enjoy a hassle-free day trip to the Bahamas with hotel pickup in Miami, and transferring onto a fast ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini. With hours of free time on the island, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful white beaches or indulge in the many water activities on offer. On the ferry to and from Bimini there is both indoor and outdoor decks to let you take in the ocean views and wildlife. The boat also has a cafeteria and a bar, so you can grab a bite or drink on your journey. Onboard the ferry to Bimini, you can purchase optional activities from the concierge desk. These include shipwreck snorkeling, jet skiing, swimming with dolphins, swimming with stingrays, parasailing, renting a golf cart, or a beach day pass – all subject to availability. At the end of your day you will return around sunset and then be transferred back to your morning pick-up spot – making it the easiest was to experience the Bahamas in just one day.

Fort Lauderdale: Flamingo Gardens Entry Ticket

9. Fort Lauderdale: Flamingo Gardens Entry Ticket

Experience a taste of tropical Florida as soon as you enter Flamingo Gardens with a jungle of tropical trees, plants, and over 1,000 orchids. Enjoy a wildlife encounter show presented three times a day, watch playful river otters, and meet some of the animals protected by the sanctuary, such as Josh, a native black bear. Take a narrated 30-minute tram tour through the back 50 acres and experience three different ecosystems, as well as the largest cycad collection in the United States. Stay on the tram the entire time or disembark to discover the Wetlands, the Cycad Garden, the Native Plant Walkway, the Wildflower Garden or the Mango Grove. Visit the Birds of Prey Center, and walk through a half-acre aviary with over 250 wetland birds native to Florida. Step into the past in the historic Wray Home Museum, built in 1933, and stop in the gallery for different shows and exhibits. Tour guides are always present to help you get a taste of old Florida history. In the summer of 2020 — from June 6 until September 13, 2020 — see the award-winning “Nature Connects” exhibit created with over 1.6 million LEGO pieces. The summer of 2021 will host David Rogers' Big Bugs exhibit, a must-see for lovers or art and nature.

Everglades: Sawgrass Park Airboat Adventure Package

10. Everglades: Sawgrass Park Airboat Adventure Package

Enjoy Sawgrass Recreation Park's diverse activities and take advantage of its exciting package while saving some dollars. Explore Florida's Everglades and see the park's numerous reptile exhibits to learn about the history of this remarkable treasure. Available all season long, experience the spirit-renewing airboat tour and glide across the river to come face-to-face with the native wildlife, including alligators, turtles, snakes, frogs, and much more. Explore the park's exhibit areas featuring over 50 reptiles that have been adopted and rescued. Take a walk on the wild side back in time when you meet an original dinosaur, the Florida Alligator. Make sure you bring your camera to capture the “Meet a Baby Alligator” experience. Depending on the packet you choose, enjoy a $15 credit to grab a bite to eat at the Gator Grill, where you can enjoy mozzarella sticks, mac and cheese bites, fries, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, and even some famous gator tacos. Before leaving grab your photo souvenir keychain and your choice of a souvenir t-shirt or hat to bring back home a memory you will never forget.

Safaris & wildlife activities

Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale

What top attractions are a must-see in Fort Lauderdale?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Fort Lauderdale?

The best day trips and excursions from Fort Lauderdale are:

Bahamas

Other Sightseeing Options in Fort Lauderdale

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What people are saying about Fort Lauderdale

Overall rating

4.4
(1,051 reviews)

This tour was fantastic! Our guide was very, very good. I loved learning about the park, ecology, history and animals. We had a bit of time to walk through the park on our own (but I admit being alone near an alligator freaked me out and I hustled out of there). The airboat tour was perfect. We were not in one of those big touristy airboat parks so it was quieter and we got to visit the Miccosukee reservation, learn about their history and the impact they have made to preserve the environment and we saw so many alligators! If you want to avoid a touristy visit I would recommend this tour.

Amazing! They picked up at our hotel at the hour stablished, the van was clean. We liked that it was a small group. Ashley was an excellent guide, she explained everything perfect and is really nice. The airboat was an incredible experience, it’s a beautiful place. I would definitely do this tour again.

Great!!! I took local taxi to the beach. It was a great beach day that I thoroughly enjoyed on my birthday. Beautiful beach island, nice people, and great food.

This was a fantastic day, the guides and the complete experience were amazing, I would really recommend this as a day trip

a great moment of magic the team is wonderful, attentive and very attentive