10 minute read

Fort Lauderdale by Jame Ye

Known as the “Venice of America,” this joyful city is full of boats, has a wonderful beach to enjoy and caters to the party goers.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Fort Lauderdale

Warm Weather

Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 61°F to 89°F. people here wear shorts all year long. Be smart to avoid visiting during the Hurricane season which is Jun 1st till End of Nov. Best timing to visit here will from Dec till May each year.

Great Location

Miami is just 30 miles away while West Palm Beach is 46 miles away. Key West is 189 Miles away. You can easily extend your trip from Fort Lauderdale to any of the lovely tour Destinations you love.

Water Activities

Carrie B Venice of America Fort Lauderdale Sightseeing Tours TIKI Cruise ,private party experience Water Taxi, All day pass Jungle Queen River Boat Champagne Sunset Cruise Las Olas Paddle Boards, Boats & Kayaks Scuba Diving

Beaches

Greater Fort Lauderdale has 24 miles of gold sand beaches. There are plenties Bar and Restaurants for you to enjoy. Don’t miss to visit he Famous “ Elbo Room” which is located at the popular corner of Las Olas Boulevard and A1A.

Happy Hour Bar Tour

In Las Olas , There are more than 30 bars/ Restaurants offer Happy hour. It all depends, some starts at 3pm some starts at 4pm. it normally ends at 6pm /7pm Please do check before you go. if you plan it well ,you can check at least multiple different bars for happy hour in the same day. Lots of fun to do with your friends. Food and drinks are much cheaper than a Proper meal. Here are some Happy hour bars worthy to try: Fogo De Chao/ Eddie V/ Big city Tavern/ Red Door/ El Camino/American Social/ YOLO/The Wharf/Louie Bossi/ The Boat house…. not to mention Bachelorette Parties almost every weekend.

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Fort Lauderdale

By Jamie Ye Going Global Editor

Photo courtesy of: City of Fort Lauderdale Official Facebook

River Walk

Riverwalk includes 10 parks along both sides of its banks.It is about a mile long great for a run or a stroll with a pet. Riverwalk starts at the Riverside Hotel on the Northside of the river and goes The Historic Stranahan House Museum was built in 1901 which is The oldest house/museum of Fort Lauderdale. It continues all the way up the river to Cooley’s landing park on the Northside, crossing over to the southside via 7th Ave Bridge “Ave of the Arts Bridge.” It is a little cut off at the moment from SW 5th/4th ave until SW First ave where it resumes before SW 1st Ave and the historic Downtowner. It then continues along the south bank of the river all the way to Smoker Park.

Stone Crab Season

Stone crabs are legal to harvest from October 15 through May 1

City Events

•Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) Oct., 2023 The largest in-water boat show in the world. E •Winter Fest /Xmas Boat Parade -Dec 10 . •Tortuga Music Festival – April.

Restaurants

1.Lobster Grill sea Grill 2.Fine Dining - Eddie V 3.Cafe Martorano - Italian 4.Romantic Dining - Holly Blue 5.Casa D’Angelo Ristorante 6..Rainbow Palace - Asian

Accommodations

1. Four Seasons Luxury Hotel on the beach 2. AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach 3. Ocean sky Hotel & Resorts (Beach front) 4. Ritz Carlton Hotel 5. Conrad Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach https://www.visitlauderdale. com/

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Fantasy In Lights

Celebrate 30 years of family tradition with a new spectacular scene on the lake, 10 million twinkling lights and 2,500 acres of Christmas cheer!

A beloved Christmas tradition shines even brighter! This season, experience the NEW Celebration Lake, a floating spectacular featuring 30 dancing trees honoring 30 years of Fantasy In Lights!

Surround your family with Christmas cheer when you walk, drive and celebrate the bigger and brighter Fantasy In Lights, one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the World! This holiday season, we invite you to one of the best family activities near Atlanta. Step out of your car and into the All-New Callaway Christmas Village! Wander through an immersive Winter Wonderland where you’ll explore a forest of twinkling lights and larger-than-life Christmas scenes featuring towering nutcrackers and gigantic snowflakes! Next, stroll through a forest of perfectly decorated trees on Christmas Tree Lane and stop for seasonal snacks and character meet-and-greets at the Christmas Market!

The fun continues with our classic drive-through experience, now featuring an enchanting Tunnel of Lights! Journey through the beloved seven-mile Fantasy In Lights Enchanted Forest, where festive music fills the air and the mesmerizing Magical Field of Lights returns to delight your family for another year. Make the most out of your magical night of lights with an overnight stay in a cozy Cottage, Villa or The Lodge & Spa. Capture the spirit of the season with a visit to Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens today.

https://www.callawaygardens.com/ the-gardens/events/fantasy-in-lights/

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Celebrate The Holidays In Charming, Historic Style

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival is a top-ranked, 45day holiday light show with food, fun, fireworks and family entertainment

NATCHITOCHES- Older than New Orleans, Natchitoches has preserved its charm and history, from brick-paved streets along the banks of the Cane River, its double-galleried,wrought-iron-trimmed storefronts to its mix of Queen Anne, Italianate, Spanish Revival, Federal and Victorian architecture. This picture-perfect town is home to one of the oldest community-based holiday celebrations in the country. Now in its 96th year, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is a 45-night celebration that lights up the downtown National Historic Landmark District, the Cane River and its lake. This walk-and drive-around event draws in visitors and locals for food, fun and entertainment from Nov. 19, 2022-Jan 6, 2023. It’s so cinematic that The Christmas Festival scene in the movie “Steel Magnolias” was filmed here. Named after an American Indian tribe, Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish) is easy to access via I-49 which connects to I-20 to the north in Shreveport and to I-10 in Lafayette, to the south. Saturday Nov. 19 is the official start to the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, “Turn on the Holidays,” when Cane River first sparkles with more than 300,000 twinkling lights and 100 set pieces, or tableaux, illuminating and reflecting off the river, lake and bridges. The day includes music on the Riverbank Stage and culminates in a spectacular fireworks show. Saturday Dec. 3 is the all-day Christmas Festival with a Festival of Lights Parade from the National Register Historic District of Northwestern State University to the streets of the Downtown Historic District. Bands from NSU and regional high schools, dancing ensembles, costumed characters and themed floats delight the thousands lining the route. In addition to Grand Marshalls Santa and Mrs. Claus, Natchitoches “parade royalty” includes the Christmas Belles, Miss City of Lights, the Christmas Angels, Miss Natchitoches Teen and Miss Merry Christmas, the queen of the season. Live music on the Riverbank Stage and fireworks round out the events. Visitors during the 45 days also enjoy a Christmas Treasures Art and Craft Show, a boat parade, a holiday tour of homes in the Historic District, Christmas performances and other events, including a Holiday Kids Fest and top bands on the Riverbank Stage. Santa Claus will be at his Santa House nightly from Sunday, December 4 through Friday, December 23, and the fireworks show over Cane River Lake is held each weekend through December 31.

Celebrate The Holidays In Charming, Historic Style

Restaurants and food vendors along the banks of the river, Front Street, and downtown ensure that no one goes hungry. To snack like a local, try a refreshing eggnog daiquiri and a hot and savory meat pie, or dine in on classic Creole and flavorful Cajun cuisine, but save room to sample everything from Italian to sushi to scrumptious desserts and traditional festival food. Restaurants and food vendors are open seven days a week. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival is one of the most revered holiday light shows in the U.S., with top rankings from travel authorities, including “#1 Best Public Holiday Lights Display” in the USA TODAY’s “10Best” Readers’ Choice Awards and accolades from its peers in the Southeast Tourism Society. For more details and the full schedule, visit www.NatchitochesChristmas.com There’s so much to see and do that a mid-week or weekend stay is the best way to take it all in, and advance reservations for restaurants and accommodations are strongly suggested. Natchitoches is known as the Bed & Breakfast Capitol of Louisiana with more than 30 to choose from. Film buffs are attracted to the 1830s Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast, the centerpiece of the Southern classic movie of the same name (320 Jefferson Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457; 318-581-3138). Hotels range from budget to flagship brands to the Chateau Saint Denis Hotel, the largest inn in downtown historic Natchitoches. To explore all the options, please visit www.Natchitoches.com/stay.

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See Santa Dive at the Aquarium

CORPUS CHRISTI - The holiday season is the perfect time to bring family and friends together for a day at the aquarium. The Texas State Aquarium (TSA) provides interactive and educational experiences for every age. The aquarium is currently rehabilitating hundreds of endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Through the help of the public’s donations, the TSA is able to provide world-class care to the loggerheads. From Dec. 10 - 23 the Holidays at the Aquarium program will feature Scuba St. Nick as he dives into the H-E-B Caribbean Sea exhibit for a unique encounter and festive photo opportunity with guests. Bring your camera and take a family photo that is sure to make a lasting memory. Scuba St. Nick will dive daily at 2 p.m. throughout the holiday season

MERRY FISHMAS!

This is a 30-minute program, best suited for learners in PreK – 2nd grade; This program is a by-participant program and is $12 for non-members, $10 for members Join us as we celebrate the holidays with a special under-the-sea twist! Help us trim our Fishmas tree as we go on a scavenger hunt to find the animals at the Texas State Aquarium. You’ll meet sharks, dolphins, turtles, and many more creatures that make the Aquarium their home via our live HD cameras. Then, Santa and his helpers will pay a special visit to our Caribbean Sea exhibit as they SCUBA dive down amongst the sharks.

THE POLAR EXPRESS™

Another special attraction is the extraordinary 4-D Experience with “THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 4-D Experience®”! When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. “THE POLAR EXPRESS™4-D Experience®” is based on the inspiring and beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.It will show every hour on the half-hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Click the preview below.

See Santa Dive at the Aquarium

Gift your loved ones a one-of-a-kind experience. When you purchase a gift from the aquarium, you are supporting our mission to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation.

According to Jesse Gilbert, president and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Association, the exhibit to receive the most attention and is considered the most exciting is the Dolphin Bay. Guests can engage with them up close and witness their speeds through water of up to 20 miles per hour. They also learn about the threats of survival to these marine mamals.

For tickets, hours, and more information, visit https://www.texasstateaquarium.org/