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The Famous Fort Lauderdale Beaches
Fort Lauderdale Beaches! This is what Fort Lauderdale is famous for. There are miles and miles of beautiful, warm sand and the Atlantic Ocean ranging from a clear, crisp blue to a deep green. We feel so very lucky to live in place surrounded by water. The beach is never more than a 20-minute drive away.
But like some people who live in beach areas (especially if it attracts a lot of tourists), we have taken this luck for granted, saving a trip to the beach for when relatives and friends come for a visit. And even then, we’ve gotten into the habit of going to just one beach in the Fort Lauderdale area over and over again. Yes, we have a favorite Fort Lauderdale beach! Yes, we think it’s gorgeous! This beach is a place where we’ll always have great memories of play, discovery and warmth. But what about the other Fort Lauderdale beaches? Where are they? What are they like? Well, we set out to find out. To get out of our one-beach habit rut, we decided to go on a beach road trip!
When people think of road trips, often they think of long hours in the car or van and with the children in the back seat constantly repeating: “Are we theeeeerrrrreee yeeeeettt?” This road trip is just a teeny tiny different. Yes, we are still taking the car. The kids are there in the backseat to share the fun but sometimes I trek out on my own (some “mom alone” time)! The beach road trip takes place on State Road A1A beginning in Deerfield Beach, the northernmost town in Broward County (Greater Fort Lauderdale) and traveled south on A1A, ending in Hallandale Beach (with a break after Fort Lauderdale Beach when we had to veer towards 17th Street Causeway, take US1 heading south then took a left at Dania Beach Boulevard to reach A1A again).
And what did we find? So many top-notch beaches, and we live so close to them all! They were clean and well maintained. Many had picnic tables, showers and access to clean public toilets (very important if you're traveling with children). Some even had colorful playgrounds for the little ones to jump and climb on. There were restaurants and shops right next to some Fort Lauderdale beaches while others offered a quiet retreat from the city. Funny what you don’t know about the place you live in until you make an effort to actually see it! After some digging in the Internet, I found out that five of the Fort Lauderdale beaches were awarded Blue Wave distinction by the Clean Beaches Council. Along with being kept clean, they are also managed to protect the environment while attracting visitors at the same time. Below is a list of the Fort Lauderdale beaches with public access (and one without or that I couldn't find). I’ll be taking this little road trip more than once so more information will be added and updated constantly. Enjoy! Interested in more information on beaches outside of Fort Lauderdale? Visit Discover Florida Photography where you can learn interesting facts and enjoy numerous photo galleries on Florida and the Caribbean. Beach shelters are great to protect you and your family from the sun and sand. Click here to check out Camp-In-Tents' suggestions. You'll find other camping ideas, too! Fort Lauderdale Beaches:Deerfield Beach – This was our first stop and found what a nice surprise this beach was! I found this to be the beach with the most active people. Serious bikers whizzed by us in groups on Ocean Drive, looking like they were training for the next Tour de France. We watched surfers braving the waves next to the pier and joggers taking their morning run right by the ocean.Hillsboro Beach – Next, we drove down and passed by the mansions in the small and very exclusive town of Hillsboro. No public beach access, not that I can find anyway, but it was a treat looking at all the luxurious homes that lined the road, professionally landscaped with large statues, bougainvillea and bromeliads. North Ocean Park – Crossing over to the Pompano Beach side, there is a relatively unknown beach park designated for people using wind-driven instruments. You'll get to see kitesurfers and surfers alike in this residential beach. Parking was a bit of a challenge but a spot is well worth looking for. The park has showers, picnic tables and public restrooms. Walk along the beach and you'll eventually get a very close view of the Hillsboro Lighthouse just across the inlet. Pompano Beach – A favorite family beach for many locals and vacationers alike. There are homes and high rises right on the beach, but the atmosphere was more relaxed, casual and above all, quiet. Shops and restaurants are located on Atlantic Boulevard, away from the beach. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea – I actually almost missed this one. It's located on the A1A and Commercial Boulevard, hidden behind shops and restaurants and quaint-looking condos. You'll find the Anglin's Fishing Pier here, open 24 hours a day. Fort Lauderdale Beach – THE Fort Lauderdale Beach. This is where all the action is, where Spring Break was born in the 50's. While the other beaches I found were hidden behind the houses and tall buildings built right on the east side of Ocean Drive, this is the only beach where you can have a clear and spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean while you’re driving on A1A. John U. Lloyd Beach – Our first love as far as beaches were concerned in the Fort Lauderdale area. The beach inside the state park will always bring back memories of all the great weekend mornings we spent here. Dania Beach – Dania is the First City in Broward County. The city has a small town feel to it and so does the beach.
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