This is an absolutely beautiful beach. I went here with a bunch of friends and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the beach. The beach is beautiful and well kept. The golden sand is so inviting and it's fun to walk barefoot along the sand. The water is also beautiful and fun to swim and play in. We walked along the beach for quite a while and the walk was really relaxing. Also look out for all the sea shells that you can pick up along the way! While we were walking, we came across a few stands where we were able to pick up cold drinks (much needed in the heat). Make sure to bring your sand castle building equipment - there's lots of sand to play in!

I’ve cruised most of the islands of the eastern Caribbean and visited their numerous, beautiful beaches. So I feel confident in declaring the 3-mile-long Fort Lauderdale beach to be a true gem. The beach is wide, white sand—perfect for that sand castle the child in you has always wanted to build; perfect for spending an afternoon simply worshiping the sun. The ocean is clean and inviting. Whatever the reason for it, I was happy that I didn’t have to compete with McDonald’s cups and Wendy’s wrappers for my piece of the water as I did the last time I visited some of the California beaches.

If you want to be more active, you can also go parasailing, rent a hobie cat or sunfish, or—if speed is more to your liking—a jet ski. I must say, though, that any of these activities are pricey. I was stunned to discover that the rental rate for a hobie cat or a sunfish was $70 per half-hour. And this was in low season—mid-May. We have rented larger sailboats on a nearby mountain lake here for 4 hours for less than that. I assume that the market will bear that price, but we opted against renting a sunfish when we saw what it would cost. If you are driving or have the ability otherwise to pack chairs and/or a sun umbrella with you, I recommend you do so. There are chairs and umbrellas on the beach, but they are owned by hotels--as you will immediately discover should you choose to sit on/under one. The fees, I’m told, vary with the seasons, but are outrageous regardless. I saw numerous people heading to the beach with umbrellas and chairs in hand.

You can arrange for parasailing or hobie cat, sunfish, and other boat rentals at the south end of the beach. Drive south on A1A just past the Oasis restaurant. Take the next left, and you will find a public parking lot just to your right. Rentals are available on the stretch of beach just across the street from the parking lot. When we were there (low season), parking was $6 a day, with no in/out privileges. However, if you make a second left turn instead of pulling into the parking lot and drive one block further, you can park at a meter on a side street to your left. The meters cost $1/hour, with a 4-hour maximum, and 4 hours is plenty of beach time for a lot of people—including me!

There is a lot to do in this area of the state. Certainly no reason to ever be bored. Lots of restaurants, shopping, etc. The Los Olas area is very nice and the yacht trips down the intercoastal were very nice with lots of huge houses and more yachts parked outside.

Once I got to Fort Lauderdale, it was worth it. The sun rises every morning out of the warm ocean. You have your pick of beaches, everything from crowded to secluded.