Fort Lauderdale Layover Guide (FLL)

Jungle Queen Riverboat Tour

Enjoy an amazing sightseeing cruise in America’s Venice. Witness the city skyline and celebrity homes while you sail past Millionaire’s Row. Jump on the riverboat and embark on a completely narrated cruise and discover Fort Lauderdale sailing along the New River. You can also enjoy the soft drinks, snacks, cocktails, beer, and wine that you can get on board. While taking the Jungle queen you can get to see the world-famous Pier 66, the Stanahan House, Florida’s white house and gator country. » book this tour

Everglades National Park

Start your journey by exploring the wetlands of the Everglades from Fort Lauderdale. You can explore the subtropical wilderness of the Everglades with the Everglades Day Safari tour. Take the airboat ride in the park and see alligators, turtles, and many other species of birds. Also, get the wildlife drive in the Cypress National Preserve and during your visit you can also see the sawgrass prairies of the Everglades backcountry. Moreover, relax and take boat cruise that navigates the shallow, mangrove lined water of the 10,000 islands in the park. » book this tour

Flamingo Gardens

Spend your time in the 60-acre botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary. The garden feature thousands of rare, exotic and native plants, and some of the Florida’s largest and oldest trees. You can experience a taste of tropical Florida while your visit. Catch the wildlife encounter show that is showed three times a day. Also, meet some of the animals protected by the sanctuary. Moreover, you can visit the historic Wray Home Museum built in 1933. » book this tour

Seminole Hard Rock Casino

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, was expanded by $1.5 billion in 2019, making it more than simply a terrific location to stay. Dining, nightlife, and, of course, gambling are all available at the Hard Rock. The Seminole Hard Rock is located 10 miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale and has plenty of parking. Patrons can pick from over 2,000 slot machines and over 100 table games at the more than 140,000-square-foot casino. Blackjack, Texas Hold’em, mini-baccarat, three-card poker, and other games are available. Flat-screen TVs and a large-screen projector are available in the award-winning poker area for watching live sports games as you play.

Time required: 2 hours to half day.

Airport to here: 9 minutes via private transport.

Historic Stranahan House Museum

The Historic Stranahan House Museum is located just off Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. It has a long and illustrious history in South Florida. Frank Stranahan, an Ohio merchant who migrated to Florida in the early 1890s, is credited with creating Fort Lauderdale. To see the museum, visitors must take a guided tour. Daily tours endure 45 minutes to an hour and depart at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. (except on major holidays). Inside, you’ll learn about the house’s history, the Stranahan family, and Fort Lauderdale.

Time required: less than 1 hour.

Airport to here: 6 minutes via private transport.

Butterfly World

Butterfly World is the world’s largest butterfly house and the first of its type in the United States. It was opened in 1986 and now houses over 20,000 live butterflies. Ronald Boender, a former electrical engineer passionate about breeding butterflies, designed the 3-acre attraction. This Coconut Creek attraction, about 15 miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale, is ideal for families with kids. Recent visitors remarked that it was a lovely and unique area to spend an afternoon and that the butterflies flying all about them astounded them.

Time required: 2 hours to half day.

Airport to here: 22 minutes via private transport.

Sawgrass Recreation Park

Prepare to be delighted (or horrified) by the close-up vistas of alligators and other critters on an airboat tour of the Florida Everglades at Sawgrass Recreation Park. You may also book a nighttime airboat excursion to witness nocturnal animals in their native habitat. Alternatively, you can book a personalised trip that lasts twice as long as the usual 30-minute ride. Previous visitors were enthused about Sawgrass Recreation Park’s airboat trips. Many people were amazed at how near they could go to the gators, and their tour guides were informative and amusing.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 21 minutes via private transport.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

This mansion is between the Intracoastal Waterway and Fort Lauderdale Beach and has a romantic past. A wealthy settler gave his daughter Helen and her husband Frederic the 35-acre property (called for the bonnet lily flower that flourished on the grounds) as a wedding gift in 1919. The newlyweds started building Bonnet House in 1920, expecting to create a winter retreat for Frederic to pursue his art and Helen to work on her music and poetry. The new couple continued to decorate the house after Helen’s death until Frederic’s death. Evelyn donated the house to the state’s Trust for Historic Preservation in 1983, and it was opened to visitors for guided tours.

Time required: 1 to 2 hours.

Airport to here: 14 minutes via private transport.

Gulfstream Park

Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach has you covered whether you’re searching for a day at the races or a pleasant place to eat. The Gulfstream Park racetrack first opened its doors in 1939 as one of its most prestigious horse racing grounds. It has built on its reputation by hosting world-class races every Wednesday through Sunday from December to September, catering to novice and seasoned bettors. Although free admission, devoted racing fans can purchase premium boxes and private suites.

Time required: 2 hours to half day.

Airport to here: 14 minutes via private transport.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, less than a mile south of Las Olas Boulevard, welcomes families who want to do more than relax and swim on their beach days. Visitors can enjoy various amenities at this free oceanfront park, including volleyball and basketball courts, outdoor showers, restrooms, a playground, and a picnic area with tables and grills. The park’s sands are also less busy than near Fort Lauderdale Beach, and lifeguards are on duty every day during daylight hours.

Time required: 2 hours to half day.

Airport to here: 10 minutes via private transport.