Greater Fort Lauderdale: Beaches Plus

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Play on the family-friendly sands of Deerfield Beach

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Bike the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, a two-mile, auto-free path along the oceanfront.

Photo Credit: Hollywood Office of Tourism

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Dania Beach

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

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Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

Head to Fort Lauderdale for beautiful Blue Wave beaches and an abundance of unique activities.

When you're looking for a sun-drenched escape, there's no place like Greater Fort Lauderdale. The charming South Florida destination not only boasts 23 miles of beaches that have achieved Blue Wave certification from the National Clean Beaches Council, but it's also lively with activities on and off the beach – from the shopping bonanza found at Sawgrass Mills to scuba diving, fine dining and spas.

Things really heat up in early 2010, when the Orange Bowl (Jan. 5), Pro Bowl (Jan. 31) and Super Bowl (Feb. 7) bring football's top players to Dolphin Stadium, just a few miles south of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. With numerous low-cost carriers flying into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport and new, bigger cruise ships docking in Port Everglades, there's no better time to visit.

Greater Fort Lauderdale not only boasts 23 miles of beaches that have achieved Blue Wave certification from the National Clean Beaches Council, but it's also lively with activities.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Chic Fort Lauderdale Beach, with its palm-fringed sands and luxury lodgings, provides the sophisticated backdrop to the A1A Marathon Feb. 21, 2010. This centrally located beach is the ideal base for top cultural offerings such as the Broadway shows "Legally Blonde" (Nov. 10-22) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (Dec. 23-Jan.17) at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, or the SunTrust Jazz Brunch on the Riverwalk the first Sunday of each month. Holiday bonus: the dazzling light display of the Winterfest Boat Parade (Dec. 12) floating along Fort Lauderdale's New River and Intracoastal Waterway.

Hollywood Beach

Family-friendly Hollywood Beach boasts a 2.5-mile, car-free Broadwalk, perfect for biking, rollerblading and leisurely strolls. Open-air cafes, parks and a 500-seat theater sit right next to the sands. After dark, head west to Hollywood's Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for concerts from top national recording acts and comedians.

Hallandale

Hallandale, the closest beach to Dolphin Stadium, is tailor-made for a guys’ getaway. Top-notch golf awaits at the Westin Diplomat's 18-hole course. Vegas-style slots and poker accompany greyhound races at Mardi Gras Gaming and thoroughbred races at Gulfstream Park. In February 2010, Gulfstream Park opens The Village, its 1 million-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex.

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

Tiny Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach, is known as the "Shore Dive Capital of South Florida. " It's also steeped in old-fashioned charm, from its wooden fishing pier to its ice cream parlors. Add to the nostalgia with a visit to the Museum of Art-Fort Lauderdale, which is showcasing "American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell," Nov. 14, 2009, to Feb. 7, 2010.

Deerfield Beach

Boating and fishing are top draws for Deerfield, the area's northernmost sunning spot. A wooden pier sets the stage for on-shore anglers, and the cove-like beaches invite sandcastle construction. Free surfing and stand-up paddle (SUP) classes are held every Saturday morning. Keep up the adventure at SkiRixenUSA in Quiet Waters Park where an innovative cable system delivers waterskiing and wakeboarding thrills without a boat.

Pompano Beach

In Pompano Beach, a popular pier and annual Fishing Rodeo (May 12-15, 2010) reel in anglers. Nearby coral reefs lure scuba divers, and the annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival (April) serves local catch with a side of entertainment. For landlubbers, Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park combines slot machines, poker and harness racing.

Hillsboro Beach

Only one road (A1A) passes through the small peninsula of Hillsboro Beach, which houses the most powerful lighthouse on the East Coast, built in 1907. The Hillsborough Lighthouse Preservation Society website provides a historical walking tour of this off-the-beaten-path area north of Pompano.

Dania Beach

Natural beauty runs wild in Dania, site of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. On-site canoe/kayak rentals allow for exploration of its mangrove-lined waterways, which shelter wading birds and endangered manatees. Learn more about Florida's eco-systems at the nearby Museum of Discovery and Science or on Everglades Holiday Park's airboat tours, about 30 minutes west of Dania.

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