Why? Since most people have heard of Ft. Lauderdale, local marketers use the "Greater Ft. Lauderdale" tagline to refer to the famous playground that also includes Hallandale and Hollywood, to the South, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Pompano and Deerfield to the North, each with it's own unique flavor.

If you have time, don't miss trying something at each location - I'm sure you'll find the style that suits you best! By the way, don't waste time looking for the "Fort" - there isn't one!

Location/Accessibility
From major highway or any one of the three major metropolitan airports, access to Ft. Lauderdale is fairly simple. Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is the closest, but Miami is only 45 minutes south, and West Palm Beach just 45 minutes north.

Give yourself extra time, "progress" has brought construction to Ft. Lauderdale Airport once again, and it's a bit of a mess these days - please excuse the appearance!

MapBlast! GeoSearch will help you get oriented.

I strongly recommend renting a car while you're here - the rates are reasonable (ask about weekly discounts) and unfortunately, despite lots of recent improvements, public transportation is still quite limited. Alamo's headquarters is here, and Thrifty usually has good rates, too.

For those staying on the beach, and never leaving - take a taxi from the airport (it's only 7 miles to Ft. Lauderdale Beach) and don't worry about the car. But if you want to get a feel for the area, cruising A1A (the main roadway that runs north/south along the beach) is a must!

If you need to get there in a hurry, Interstate 95 (I-95 to locals) will take you north/south as well - but this superhighway is not the scenic route!

Take at least one ride on a Water Taxi, 954-467-6677, where for just $16 you can get an all day pass. The price includes unlimited on/off stops at the many great waterfront bars/restaurants.

Accommodations
Ft. Lauderdale has been a tourist town from it's infancy in the 1930's, so there is no shortage of accommodations. All the major chains are represented here, the only thing we're missing is an officially recognized 5-star hotel.

For your first trip, pick something on the beach or the waterway. Pier 66 and Bahia Mar are the two famous resort & marina facilities. Can you find "The Busted Flush"? Marriott Harbor Beach is the best (and priciest) directly on the beach.

For a unique South Florida vacation, check out the hundreds of small inns and motels represented by Superior Small Lodging Assoc., many run by transplanted Europeans.

Or for a truly special experience, try The Riverside Hotel, on the New River, the oldest in town with lots of charm, directly on Las Olas Blvd. in the heart of the walking downtown district.

Best area website
Try the Convention & Visitors Bureau site, for great info, especially transportation info and the "Free things to Do" list.

Public Beach Info
For details on all the public beach access in the area go to www.homespot.com for a great map. Beware, some parks have pretty steep fees for non- residents. Fees are generally by the car, not the person, so bring lots of friends to get the best value.

If you don't use the parks, go early to get a metered parking space, and bring lots of quarters! Public restrooms are available in non-park facilities in some places, Deerfield for one (just north of the fishing pier).

Great Beach Reading
Trade in those romance novels and Top 10 Bestsellers for a little Florida style fiction...

Read anything by John D. MacDonald, whose main character, private detective Travis McGee, lives on a houseboat in the Bahia Mar Marina (and yes, it's called The Busted Flush).

If you've missed the dry wit of Carl Hiaasen, don't make this trip without one of his great novels. My favorite is an old one - Native Tongue.

New on my list is "Naked Came the Manatee", a Florida suspense thriller written serially by 13 of Florida's best authors, Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry (of Miami Herald fame) among them.

Radisson Bahia Mar marina

Even without snow, (thank goodness!) we do know how to dress up the town - and our boats! If you can, visit either before December 15th or after January 2, when rates and crowds are lower. The Winter Season kicks in mid-January and lasts until mid-April.

Christmas on Las Olas
This is a great time of year to visit South Florida. Beginning with Christmas on Las Olas, November 28th, the cities light up the night with wonderful holiday decorations. And the crowds haven't yet arrived!

Prices are still reasonable through mid-December, with the highest hotel rates not coming until Xmas week. The average temperature on Ft. Lauderdale is 77 degrees year 'round - but do come prepared, if it's going to be cold at all, it will happen in December. Most people don't realize, that it can get a little chilly here in December, though it's just as likely to be 85°F as it is to be 50°F. Still, if you're coming from somewhere North, you're sure to think you've found paradise, regardless! Bring a jacket (and your bathing suit) and you'll be fine.

The Riverside Hotel
This is the time of year to stay on Las Olas Blvd., at The Riverside Hotel if you can splurge. Still a great value with rates starting at just $123 before 12/15, this is the prettiest place in town. Nothing beats the charm of this quaint hotel surrounded by lantern lit streets, eccletic shops and outdoor bistros. Walking the boulevard after a fine dining experience, followed by a scenic Water Taxi ride on the New River, where multi-million dollar homes are dressed up for the Holiday Parade of Lights decorating contest, you'll see Ft. Lauderdale in all its glory for the holidays.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip, do it right, reserve one of the Las Olas Balcony Suites, $359 per night, and get a private, second story, dining balcony overlooking the street, complete with classic white twinkle lights. Ok I know, that's a little out of my budget, too. So, if that's out of the realm of possibilities, you can still come to Las Olas, by car or by Water Taxi, 954-467-6677, and have a pretty similar experience, for under $20 per person. Dining options are available in all price ranges.

Boat Parade
Nearly every weekend in December, some town in South Florida is having a Boat Parade, but the one most of us are familiar with is Ft. Lauderdale's Winterfest parade, being held this year on Saturday, December 16. For complete details, check out www.winterfestparade.com.

This is the "grand-daddy" of boat parades, where you'll see the biggest and the brightest multi-million dollar yachts decked out for the holidays. It's quite a show, and of course, unique to South Florida. Viewing for the boat show is best done from one of the areas waterfront restaurants. Again, this is the priciest option, but really the best. Try 15th Street Fisheries (upstairs-formal, downstairs-casual), esterday's (fairly formal), or Shooters (casual). Reservations are required, more than a few days in advance.

You can try to drag your lawn chair to any available bridge or accessible grassy knoll. This option, though FREE, is often the most frustrating - years of experience have taught me that! Remember thousands of people come to the waterway to stake out a few feet of FREE grass...I don't recommend this attempt. Even locals have trouble finding (and keeping) the "perfect" spot.

The best inexpensive option is to purchase a ticket to the city-sponsored event with bleacher seats. Go to the parade website listed above to get details and advance purchase tickets.

Pompano Parade

Pompano Boat Parade

If you come for the weekend of December 15 -17, stay until Monday, December 18th, so you can also see the Pompano Beach Parade, held Sunday night, December 17th. This is the local version of Ft. Lauderdale's flashier parade. Some of the boats are the same, but Pompano still does not charge an entry fee, so you'll see lots more families and friends just out having a ball! The Pompano Beach Chamber has great info on the parade at their website, www.pompanobeachchamber.com.

Boats begin gathering at 5:30pm in Pompano, and they travel north to the Hillsboro Bridge in Deerfield. Make a point to be at The Cove, anytime between 6:30pm and 8:30pm (they're located right at the base of the bridge) to join the Deerfield beach community in their own celebration. Deerfield is an old-fashioned, Florida beach community, with a very low-key style - you'll particularly love the people here - and The Cove has been the local watering hole for many, many years!

So, you want to catch a SAILFISH...
Yes, South Florida is famous for its sport fishing, and December is SAILFISH season! During the months of December and January, the Sailfish migrate through the area, very close to shore, so within 20 minutes in some cases, you can leave the dock and have your lines in the water and be ready to reel in your first sailfish.

Courtesy of Capt. Doug and Knock Out Charters

There aren't many places in the world where the prevailing stream, the Gulfstream in this case, comes as close to shore as it does here in the Ft. Lauderdale area. You don't have to be an expert - with the help of the experienced charter boat crews, novices can catch big fish, too! You should have your sea legs, though, since the seas and the surf can be a little rough this time of year - don't expect calm conditions.

In Greater Ft. Lauderdale you can charter a fishing boat from Bahia Mar, Hillsboro Inlet, or The Cove, among others.

The fleet at Hillsboro Inlet is closest to their inlet, call 954-943-8222.

The Bahia Mar fleet is closet to the center of town, and in the flashiest marina, call 954-764-2233.

The Cove Fishing Fleet, is based at the best "local" hotspot, call 954-427-9747.

Here you can share your tall tales with the best of the local "fishheads" at the "Back Bar" once the day is through. Rates vary by boat and location but begin at about $325 for 4 hours, for up to 6 people, including bait, tackle, and mate.

WHEREVER YOUR TRAVELS MAY LEAD - HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.