Ports of Call - USA - Florida - Fort Lauderdale
Some 3.6-million people cruise out of modern Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale each year, embracing practically every cruise line.
There is also casino gaming aboard the Discovery, St. Tropez and SeaEscape cruise ships, which offer daily "cruises to nowhere" and to the nearby Bahamas. Hop onboard The Cat, a fast speed ferry to Freeport.
More than 300 miles of navigable inland waterways wind through palatial estates, citrus groves and the unique and exotic Everglades – beckoning boats of all sizes and shapes to Fort Lauderdale.
It is the Intracoastal Waterway, and the waterfront homes which dot it, that have earned Fort Lauderdale its reputation as the "Venice of America" and, with more than 44,000 registered boats, the label "yachting-capital-of-the-world."
The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is home of one of the world's premier collections of early 20th-century art. The Museum of Discovery and Science, and Blockbuster 3D IMAX Theater helps kids of all ages explore science, space, and the environment.
But of course The Beach in Fort Lauderdale has the final call. The 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches are magnets for vacationers and beach adventures range from parasailing and windsurfing to basketball and badminton.
With some 33,000 hotel rooms in Greater Fort Lauderdale, finding the right one is never a problem. Accommodations range from small inexpensive, family-run inns and hotels to deluxe resorts.
Photo: Two of the world's most luxurious ocean liners - Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 - meet in Ft. Lauderdale. Photo courtesy Cunard Line
Main attractions in Fort Lauderdale include:
Beaches
Everglades
Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art
Museum of Discovery and Science
IMAX Theater
African American Research Library and Cultural Center
Bonnet House Museum and Tropical Gardens.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
International Swimming Hall of Fame
Las Olas Boulevard
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Buehler Planetarium and Observatory
Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum
My Jewish Discovery Place Children's Museum
Old Dillard Museum
Seminole Oaklee Indian Village
Stranahan House