The Hollywood Bonus Plan 
The ArtsPark in Hollywood is a great gathering place for friends and families. This spectacular fountain is a centerpiece of the park.
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
Bike the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a two-mile, auto-free path along the oceanfront.
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
Historic Downtown Hollywood is a hub for shopping and dining as well as family events.
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
Rent a canoe at Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood and embark on a paddling adventure together.
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
Historic Downtown Hollywood features vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife.
Photo Credit: Contributed Photo
There's always something happening in Hollywood, from street festivals to concerts on the beach.
Photo Credit: Contributed Photo
The Council Oak Restaurant at Hollywood's Hard Rock Hotel offers upscale surf and turf dining.
Photo Credit: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
Sperior Small Lodgings Accommodations on Hollywood Beach Broadwalk
Photo Credit: Contributed Photo
Hollywood activities often center on or around the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
Stay right on the Broadwalk at one of Hollywood's Superior Small Lodging choices
Photo Credit:
Cruise Hollywood's waterways via paddle power
Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism
A major event can serve as the cornerstone for a great getaway, and when it's combined with Hollywood Beach's multitude of activities, you've got the makings of a memorable Florida vacation. Pack extra batteries for the camera!
Port Everglades, established in the 1920s by city of Hollywood founder Joseph Young, sits about 10 miles north of the Broadwalk. Port of Miami is about a 30-minute drive south. Together, they transport more than 7 million cruise passengers annually, making Hollywood a convenient stopover en route to either port of call. Port Everglades will continue to grow in stature through 2010, with two new 5,400-passenger ships from Royal Caribbean International slated to call its docks home before the end of next year and an upgraded terminal in the works.
But remember that the shipboard holiday is only half the fun. Hideaway in Hollywood Beach pre- or post-cruise to savor the romance of hand-in-hand strolls along more than two miles of car-free boardwalk and sunset dinners at one of the many sidewalk cafes with views of the Atlantic waves lapping the sand.
2. Come to cheer on a favorite team. Stay and participate in a sporty lineup of your own.
Land Shark Stadium, less than 15 miles southwest of Hollywood Beach, delivers action-packed seasons of Florida Marlins baseball (still to come: San Diego, Atlanta, Philly, Washington and New York) and Miami Dolphins football (this year Buffalo, New Orleans, New York, Tampa Bay, New England, Houston and Pittsburgh are in the house). In 2010, the venue also hosts the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV.
No need to leave athletics entirely to the pros. Engage in some friendly competition on the 18-hole courses at The Diplomat Golf Resort and Spa or Hollywood Beach Golf Resort – both open to the public. Engage all ages with bike rentals along the Broadwalk or increase the exercise with a 5- to 30-mile ride with Hollywood Trails: Eco-Adventure Kewl Bicycle Tours. Unwind with a paddle through the wetlands of West Lake Park, less than a mile from the beach.
3. Come to see your favorite band or singer. Stay and enjoy more music for free.
The Seminole Hard Rock Resort & Casino Hollywood unites Vegas-caliber gambling with performances from national entertainers in one glitzy venue. Upcoming acts include Rob Thomas; Crosby, Stills and Nash; and the Allman Brothers.
There's no shortage of additional entertainment on Hollywood Beach, where the oceanfront Hollywood Beach Theatre hosts free live music, ranging from reggae to jazz, every Friday night and Dancing Under the Stars every Monday through Wednesday evening.
4. Come and show off your volunteer spirit. Stay for the natural beauty.
The Ocean Conservancy's 24th-annual International Coastal Cleanup is set for September 19, and you can show your concern for the world's seas by participating at Hollywood's North Beach Park. Last year, nearly 400,000 people in 104 countries and 42 U.S. states collected trash, making it the world's largest volunteer effort of its kind.
After doing your part, stay to enjoy the 56-acre park, which provides walkways to 1.1 miles of Hollywood's prime public sands, picnic tables and grills tucked into sea grape trees, and a 60-foot observation tower that offers sweeping views of the Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterway. Patches of coral reef are within easy snorkeling distance of shore.
Really, do you need another excuse to vacation in Hollywood? Fodor's Travel Guides recently named Hollywood Beach one of the best in the state for families, and its six miles of sands received Blue Wave certification from the Clean Beaches Council again this year for being tidy, healthy and environmentally conscious. Add in a pedestrian-friendly promenade lined with cafes and shops and a seaside park designed for pint-sized travelers and there's no reason to ever venture more than a few yards from the sand.
This article is brought to you by Hollywood Office of Tourism. To plan your own getaway to Hollywood, visit www.VisitHollywoodFL.org.
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