FORT LAUDERDALE - BROWARD - FLORIDA - UNITED STATES

• HOTEL: Escape to beautiful Ft.Lauderdale Beach "The Venice of America" in sunny Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE

Proclaimed the 'Yatching Capital of the World'

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's character is defined by its waterways, which branch from the New River. Known as the 'Venice of America' due to its expansive and intricate canal system, the area around the mouth of the river is known as the Isles because of the rows of pennisulas created when the canals were dug in the 1920s.

This is the city's prime neighbourhood, with sweeping mansions lying behinh lush foliage and luxurious yachts moored in the waterways.

Known for are its sandy beaches, trendy bars, and chic nightclubs, millions of visitors head for the barrier islands lying along the coast between the beaches and the Intracoast Waterway. The Waterway crosses Port Everglades, the world's second largest cruise port after miami. Riverboat crusies and water taxis are also available.

A paradise for automobile tourists, Fort Lauderdale invites you to cruise along the sunny seacoast to Las Olas Boulevard, the city's busiest street,which is lined with eateries and boutiques. The fine Museum of Art, also located here, is best known for its works by the CoBra artists, a group of 20th-Century Expressionist painters from Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Downtown is the city's business and cultural center. Riverwalk, a 1.5 mile (2.4km) stretch along the New River's north bank, links most of the city's historical and cultural landmarks; it starts at Stranham House (1901), which originally served as a post office and bank.

For a 'party town', Fort Lauderdale has a surprising number of cultural and historical sites. Old Fort Lauderdale runs along Southwest 2nd Avenue and has a few early 1900s buildings, such as the Old Fort Lauderdale Museum of History.

The city has the liveliest beaches on the Gold Coast, especially toward the end of Las Olas Boulevard, where skaters cruise past the many bars and shops.