Fort Lauderdale is the place to go for a laid-back family getaway. It is easy to relax when surrounded by water and between the 23 miles of beaches and more than 300 miles of inland waterways, you're never far from a nautical experience in the 'Venice of America'.

In downtown Fort Lauderdale, the main street, Las Olas, is a good place to start getting a feel for this city. Upscale boutiques and restaurants alternate with family friendly hangouts and shops. I'm with my husband, my seven year old son and one year old baby boy and we want to eat somewhere family friendly. We aren't disappointed by our lunch at the Floridian, a place with décor from the 50's and home-style food served by 'small town' friendly servers. This place is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has many loyal customers who flock there for dishes such as heavenly hash, chili, eggs and the like.

A popular downtown attraction is Riverwalk, a meandering promenade that runs along the New River. The area is lined with cultural attractions such as the Museum of Art and the Museum of Discovery and Science. We enjoyed a visit to Stranahan House, the historic home of Frank and Ivy Stranahan, Broward's original settlers who were instrumental in the creation of Fort Lauderdale.

A bit harder to find but well worth a visit is the Old Dillard Museum (1009 N. W. Fourth Street) which highlights the contributions of the black community in Broward County. The museum is located in Old Dillard School, the first school constructed for people of color in the Fort Lauderdale area and now a registered historical landmark. Originally known as "the colored school", the land that Old Dillard was built on was purchased for a dollar from the aforementioned Stranahans. There is a wonderful collection of artifacts and documents that give an accurate representation of the lifestyle of African-Americans in the 1920's. Video interviews with some of the elders of the community who had attended the school when it first opened provide a rich oral history that beautifully augments the display. There is also an Interactive Gallery where visitors are allowed to explore artistic instruments from many cultures of color.

A wonderful place to stay in Fort Lauderdale is Lago Mar. Located on the largest private beach in Fort Lauderdale, this pristine resort offers an Old Florida atmosphere. Rooms and suites have Mediterranean or Key West influences and give you all the comforts of home. Our one bedroom executive suite featured two bathrooms, and a bedroom with a king size bed and a TV for the grown-ups to sneak off to watch after the kids take over the one in the large living room. There was also a kitchenette with a microwave and fridge to store snacks in. My family loved the old-fashioned soda shop where you could sit at a counter and sip on a malt or dig into a sundae.

Outside there was pool, as well as a winding swimming lagoon. Although the resort is quite elegant there is a definite family atmosphere and we were made to feel welcome wherever we roamed. Other activities include tennis courts, mini-golf, shuffleboard, water sports, and if that all seems like too much work there are nice over-sized hammocks to relax in.

Another great place to stay is the brand new Renaissance Hotel that is conveniently located right across from the Convention Center and Port Everglades, making it an ideal place to stay for people who like to extend their vacation either before or after a cruise. This hotel is service oriented and I found the staff to be exemplary at meeting my every need. All the rooms have down comforters, robes, data ports, and high speed Internet access. The pool and hot-tub are both set on the very warm side, so that visitors can enjoy a swim even if the Florida winter turns cool as is apt to happen on occasion. There is also a health club and 24 hour room service.

The hotel houses Darrell & Oliver's Bistro 17, where "a regional Floridian menu" is a mixture of Asian, Caribbean, Creole, and Southern-style foods. I snuck away from the kids and lunched on a delicious salad of roasted goat cheese, with asparagus and field green. The ambience provided by the wood floors and warm yellow walls was just what I needed. I also highly recommend Schu's for "continental cuisine with a German flair". The service is friendly and the chef owner Georg Schu and his wife are involved in every detail from décor to food, to greeting customers. This is one of those rare restaurants that serve varied high quality meals at reasonable prices. It is located across from the Galleria Mall at 2447 E. Sunrise Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale has some of the best shopping around. People flock to the Swap Shop (3291 W. Sunrise Blvd), a gigantic flea market with 2,000 vendors that is open seven days a week. Here there is something for everyone including a daily circus and a nightly drive-in.

Or for upscale goods at reasonable prices I highly recommend Sawgrass Mills, one of the best outlet malls anywhere. Stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Levi Strauss, Nine West, and J.Crew, offer merchandise at a fraction of the regular price.

We spent our final day in Fort Lauderdale taking a restful sightseeing Cruise, courtesy of Carrie B Harbor Tours. The boat, a replica of a nineteenth century paddle wheeler features an air-conditioned lower salon that is enclosed with large picture windows, and an open-air upper deck. Cool beverages and light snacks were available for purchase. The 1½ hour narrated cruise flows through New River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Descriptions are given of the many yachts and house of the rich and famous along Millionaires Row. There is also an up close view of Port Everglades, the second largest cruise port in Florida.

For a short time at least, it felt as if we were living the enviable lifestyle of Florida's elite.

Questions?
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