Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Holiday Hotspot – Fort Lauderdale Florida
Located on the Atlantic Coast, north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale is a residential resort city with a Venice-like series of canals and waterways. It has grown considerably since its beginnings as a 19th century fort commanded by the city’s namesake, Major William Lauderdale. It acquired its reputation as a tourist destination in the early 20th century after the East Coast Railway brought more investment and real estate development. The city nowadays is best known for
its beach, boating opportunities, and busy seaport. Fort Lauderdale’s promenade – a wide palm-tree-dotted pathway is a magnet for runners, skaters, walkers and cyclists. The beach is also one of the nations cleanest and best. Stretching 7 miles to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, it has dedicated family-, gayand dog-friendly sections. Boating, diving, snorkeling and fishing are all extremely popular. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Ft. Lauderdale landmark, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a mix of art, architecture, history and ecology. The estate
Hyatt Pier 66 Fort Lauderdale Florida.
was once the winter retreat of the Birch/Bartlett family. www.bonnethouse.org Your kids will love Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science. The museum is home to over 200 exhibits including the largest living coral reef in captivity, bats, and snakes, an aerospace exhibit and IMAX theatre. www. mods.org Nearby Everglades National Park is home to 14 rare and endangered species, including the American Crocodile, the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. A large portion of the park is primitive, explored only by adventurists and researchers – but visitors have ample opportunity to walk, camp and canoe through the flat and watery park. www.floridaeverglades.com Whether you’re a high-end shopper who worships Prada, Dolce and Gabbana and Gucci or a bargain hunter looking to score a deal on electronics, clothing or merchandise, there’s something for everyone at Sawgrass Mills twenty minutes drive away. The largest outlet mall in the USA and the sixth largest mall in the country, Sawgrass have 350 stores – not to men-
(074) 9131018 tion an entire section devoted to dining and entertainment. www. simon.com The Hyatt Regency hotel on Pier 66 is 3 miles from shopping on Las Olas Boulevard and 3.7 miles from the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Standard rooms feature marina views, while upgraded rooms and suites have private ocean-view balconies. Suites also add separate living areas. Free Wi-Fi is also Sawgrass Mill available. Restaus Fort Lauder dale Florida. rants include a highend steakhouse and a cocktail lounge. There’s also a 3-pool complex with cabanas, a gym and tennis ice at the rental counter to courts, plus a spa, meeting beat the queues. The more space and a free beach shut- you rent, the higher you can tle. Hyatt Pier 66 is also ideal climb through membership located for cruise customers tier levels – unlocking benwith shuttle service to and efits such as upgrades and from Port Everglades. www. free weekend rentals. www. hyatt.com My preferred car avis.com The Miami Internarental company on this trip tional Airport services most was Avis & pick up is availa- major carriers, with flights ble in downtown Fort Lauder- from Dublin via several citdale or at the airport. When ies in the United States on you join “Avis Preferred”, the award winning Aer Linyou receive fast track serv- gus. Hire car options are also
www.keeshotel.ie
available for travelers who wish to fly to Orlando direct from Dublin airport. www.aerlingus.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. He is also a regular contributor to the Irish News travel section www. robertwalshe.com