# Essential Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide: What to See & Do **Discover Fort Lauderdale: Canals, Culture, and Atlantic Energy** Fort Lauderdale blends a relaxed beach atmosphere with urban culture, historic neighborhoods, and a deep connection to the water. Often called the “Venice of America,” the South Florida city is shaped by its canals, marinas, the New River, and a busy boating scene, as well as by its broad Atlantic shoreline. ## Fort Lauderdale’s History and Heritage The city’s history began with military forts established during the Second Seminole War in the 1830s. Railways, improved roads, and postwar growth later transformed the small settlement into a major destination for tourism, boating, and migration. Historic landmarks help explain Fort Lauderdale’s evolution. Stranahan House, the city’s oldest surviving home, and the Fort Lauderdale History Center offer insight into its past. Downtown heritage districts, including Sailboat Bend and Himmarshee, add character with preserved homes, civic buildings, and cultural spaces. ## Things to See in Fort Lauderdale For travelers deciding what to see in Fort Lauderdale, the Riverwalk is an appealing place to begin. This landscaped waterfront connects parks, museums, and restaurants while offering views of passing boats. Las Olas links downtown with the beach and is known for galleries, boutiques, outdoor dining, and an energetic evening scene. Along the coast, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens combines art, architecture, and tropical gardens. The International Swimming Hall of Fame reflects the city’s longstanding relationship with aquatic sports. ## Food, Shopping, and the Waterfront Lifestyle Food is another essential part of the Fort Lauderdale experience, especially fresh seafood enjoyed beside the water. Shopping options range from polished centers such as Gulfstream Park to large outlet complexes and lively local markets. With its beaches, canals, cultural attractions, and more refined identity than its former spring-break reputation, Fort Lauderdale offers much more than a seaside escape. ## Things to do in Fort Lauderdale 5 places in Fort Lauderdale with a Neywo audio guide. Each one starts telling its story as you reach it. - Bonnet House Museum and Gardens — garden - Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk — fort - History Fort Lauderdale — fort - Las Olas Boulevard — boulevard - Stranahan House — historic house ## Walk Fort Lauderdale with Neywo Neywo turns Fort Lauderdale into a self-guided audio tour. Stories arrive as you reach the place they belong to, and the route reshapes when you wander off it. ## More in Florida - [Fort Myers](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/fort-myers.md) - [Jacksonville](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/jacksonville.md) - [Key Largo](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/key-largo.md) - [Key West](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/key-west.md) - [Miami](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/miami.md) - [Mount Dora](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/mount-dora.md) - [Naples](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/naples.md) - [Ocala](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/ocala.md) - [Orlando](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/orlando.md) - [Safety Harbor](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/safety-harbor.md) - [Saint Petersburg](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/saint-petersburg.md) - [Sanibel](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/sanibel.md) ## Elsewhere in United States - [Sarasota](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/sarasota.md) — Florida - [Seaside](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/seaside.md) — Florida - [St Augustine](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/st-augustine.md) — Florida - [Tampa](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/tampa.md) — Florida - [Venice](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/venice.md) — Florida - [West Palm Beach](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/west-palm-beach.md) — Florida - [Atlanta](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/georgia/atlanta.md) — Georgia - [Roswell](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/georgia/roswell.md) — Georgia - [Savannah](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/georgia/savannah.md) — Georgia - [Boise](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/idaho/boise.md) — Idaho - [Coeur d’Alene](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/idaho/coeur-dalene.md) — Idaho - [Sandpoint](https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/idaho/sandpoint.md) — Idaho --- HTML: https://neywo.com/destinations/united-states/florida/fort-lauderdale App: https://app.neywo.com Español: https://neywo.com/es/destinations/united-states/florida/fort-lauderdale.md Français: https://neywo.com/fr/destinations/united-states/florida/fort-lauderdale.md