Fort Lauderdale: Things To Do

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens A tranquil escape from beach traffic, this art-filled 1920 plantation home blends indoor/outdoor living space on 35 acres of lush grounds. Guided tours available. Fort Lauderdale Beach; 900 N. Birch Rd.; 954-563-5393; www.bonnethouse.org
museum | garden | historic

Butterfly World Almost 1,000 free-flying butterflies and birds call these botanical gardens just fifteen minutes north of Fort Lauderdale home. For $7, you can even take a cocoon home with you and watch your own butterfly emerge and spread its wings. 3600 West Sample Rd.; 954-977-4434; www.butterflyworld.com
family | wildlife

Carrie B Harbor Tours Cruise the canals of "the Venice of America" and marvel at the high-dollar real estate, a true hodgepodge of architectural styles. Downtown; North New River Dr. East at Riverwalk; 954-768-9920; www.carriebcruises.com
cruise | architecture | tour

Everglades Holiday Park Take an airboat through the Everglades and experience the “River of Grass,” where sawgrass yields to reveal the shallow waters beneath. Alligators and 16 species of wading birds call the park home. Everglades; Northwest of Pembroke Pines in the Everglades, 21940 Griffin Rd.; 954-434-8111; www.evergladesholidaypark.com
family | wildlife | adventure

Fort Lauderdale Beach This palm-fringed stretch of warm sand is the reason the city landed on the vacation map. A brick-lined beachfront promenade encourages strolling and rollerblading. Fort Lauderdale Beach; Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. (a.k.a. A1A), between Sunrise and Las Olas Blvds.
beach | family | outdoors

Museum of Discovery and Science Get hair-raisingly close to sharks, bats, and iguanas; view the largest living Atlantic coral reef in captivity; and chill out in the Blockbuster IMAX Theater. Downtown; 401 S.W. Second St.; 954-467-6637; www.mods.org
family | aquarium | museum

Stranahan House With new construction in high gear, it's refreshing to see that the city's oldest home, built as a trading post for settlers and Seminoles in 1913, remains unchanged. Downtown; 335 S.E. 6th Ave.; 954-524-4736; www.stranahanhouse.org
architecture | tour | historic