Hit the Perfect Beach

By LoAnn Halden
Published: May 19, 2009
Last Updated On: March 10, 2011

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This handy quiz will lead you to the ideal Fort Lauderdale playground.

Few seaside destinations in the United States can compete with Greater Fort Lauderdale and its 23 miles of sun-kissed beaches. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway with your partner, a family-friendly vacation or a cosmopolitan escape with friends, one of the diverse, gay-friendly beach towns dotting its coastline is sure to suit your style.

This easy, breezy questionnaire will steer you toward the best patch of sand for spreading out your rainbow towel – just in time to pair beachcombing with Pride of Greater Fort Lauderdale's annual Stonewall Street Festival and evening pride parade (June 20-21).

For more helpful trip tips, visit www.sunny.org to request a Rainbow Vacation Planner, a free guide to GLBT attractions, events, hotels dining and nightlife. And when you book your trip through the web site, you'll receive a free beach kit, too. What are you waiting for?

QUESTION 1
"I'M RENTING A CAR TO TAKE IN THE SIGHTS. I'D LIKE A …"
A)      sexy convertible.
B)      hybrid. Eco-conscious is the only way to go!
C)      minivan.
D)      sporty SUV with enough room for my scuba gear.

QUESTION 2
"WAITER WE'D LIKE MORE ..."
A)      Piña coladas.
B)      Chai tea.
C)      Milkshakes.
D)      Espresso grandes, please.

QUESTION 3
"PASS MY BEACH BAG, PLEASE. I NEED …"
A)     my Prada sunglasses.
B)     to queue up the Indigo Girls on my iPod.
C)     the sand pail. It's castle-building time!
D)     my sport watch with heart rate monitor.

QUESTION 4
"THE MOON IS RISING OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT'S TIME FOR …"
A)     gay nightlife in Wilton Manors.
B)     a stroll on the beach to look for sea turtles.
C)     sweet dreams.
D)     kayaking the inland waterways.

QUESTION 5
"THE SUN IS UP, AND THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS …"
A)     sleep till brunch.
B)     grab a fresh fruit smoothie and camp on the sand.
C)     rent bikes for the whole family.
D)     jump on a waverunner.

QUESTION 6
"REJUVENATION TIME. I'LL BE …"
A)     perusing the designer brands at Sawgrass Mills Colonnade Outlets, darling.
B)     on the beach doing yoga and balancing my chi.
C)     getting a massage at the spa. (Heather's two mommies deserve a break, too.)
D)     savoring the fresh mahi mahi we caught today.

QUESTION 7
"I JUST FOUND A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN THE BOTTOM OF MY BAG. I'LL USE IT TO …"
A)    tip the cute valet at the new W Hotel.
B)    bring home a dream catcher from the Big Cypress Reservation.
C)    savor a gourmet dessert while the kids play at Wannado City.
D)    hit the slot machines.

Answers: Decode Your Beach Type

Mostly A's: Beach chic
You didn't spend all those hours in the gym for nothing. Going to the beach is about showing off that body in the latest swimwear and taking in the local eye candy. Fashionable Fort Lauderdale is calling, and you'll fit right in at Sebastian Street Beach where a gay crowd packs the sands and more than a dozen gay guesthouses are within walking distance. When night falls, the cafes, bars and shops along Wilton Drive, site of the annual Stonewall Street Festival, bustle with like-minded locals; gay men and lesbians will feel equally at home in this friendly neighborhood. Need a last-minute wardrobe fix? Galleria Mall is close at hand.

Mostly B's: Free spirit
There's no room for attitude in your agenda. You're perfectly happy to enjoy a laid-back holiday at your own pace, so slap on the Birkenstocks and head to Hillsboro Beach or Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. In Hillsboro Beach, you might be the only gay tourist in the village, but what a peaceful, live-and-let-live village it is, with quiet sands, a large sea turtle nesting area and a historic lighthouse completed in 1907. Equally charming Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, with its casual, open-air cafes and ice cream parlors, boasts superb shore diving within a few fin kicks of the beach.

Mostly C's: Family fun
You’re part of the "gayby" boom and packing for vacation includes diaper bags, hand wipes and beach toys along with the sunscreen and swimwear. GLBT parents, have no fear. Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and Hollywood are for you. Pompano abounds with green spaces and playgrounds; Hollywood offers a 2.5-mile pedestrian-friendly Broadwalk for worry-free biking, walking and skating, plus a beachside kid-size climbing wall and splash fountain. Deerfield and Pompano are fishing meccas with long piers that are perfectly suited for teaching young anglers the ropes. Deerfield also hosts youth surf camps taught by the city's ocean rescue lifeguards.

Mostly D's: Code name adventure
Sitting still is not part of your vacation vocabulary and no destination is too far off the beaten path. You don’t fantasize about Lara Croft or James Bond because Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig are hot; you want to slip into their action-packed lives. Dania Beach, home of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, is tailor-made for action enthusiasts with miles of mangrove-lined waterways for canoeing, kayaking and exploring nature. Hallandale Beach delivers thrills of both the indoor and outdoor variety, from the slot machines at Gulfstream Park and Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Center to golf, boating and saltwater fishing. More late-night gaming action is available in Hollywood at the 86-acre Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

This article is brought to you by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit www.sunny.org.