Visitors have a good choice of attractions in and around Fort Lauderdale, with the beaches and sublime weather its main draws. Hollywood Beach is a hive of activity day and night while downtown Fort Lauderdale is also pretty active. In addition there are several fine nature areas and tours available of them while gays are catered for in Wilton Manors.

Billie Swamp Safari
Those into a bit of adventure as well as history might like to get on a Billie Swamp Safari tour and check out the ecology and culture of Fort Lauderdale country. The site is spread over 2,200 acres and comes complete with Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and airboat and swamp buggy transportation where visitors will be able to see bison, water buffalo, ostrich, and alligators. Phone:+1 863 983 6101

Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale has really come of age since the drab 1970s and ‘80s and now features boutiques, galleries and fine restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard. There are two parts to this lengthy boulevard; Las Olas Boulevard, featuring the entertainment options and East Las Olas Boulevard, having all the upmarket shopping and dining. West Las Olas is one of bars and nightclubs catering to the younger crowd, while trendy Riverside lies somewhere in between.

Flamingo Gardens
Fort Lauderdale’s Flamingo Gardens are the city’s greenest part with 60 acres of manicured botanical gardens and lots of indigenous fauna. Highlights include the wildlife sanctuary and the Bird of Prey Center, with its fine views of the famed Florida champion trees and many other native plants. Alligators, bobcats and flamingos are here in their numbers. Phone: +1 954 473 2955; website: www.flamingogardens.org.

Hollywood Beach
Lying just to the south of the city centre, Hollywood Beach is one up from Fort Lauderdale’s main beach in terms of activities and people. It stretches from Sheridan street to Georgia street and is popular with families and singletons, with its souvenir shops, game rooms, shops, snack bars, beer stands and miniature-golf courses. The three-mile long Hollywood Beach Broadwalk fronts the beach.

International Swimming Hall of Fame
The ISHOF is a museum with a difference, featuring a huge collection of aquatic memorabilia, including Mark Spitz's starting block, Johnny Weissmuller's Olympic medals, and dozens of Olympic uniforms. The museum also has a fantastic array of aquatic books and manuscripts and also features two 50-metre pools, a swimming flume and a diving well. Phone: 954 462 6536; website: www.ishof.org

Jungle Queen Riverboat Tours
Tours are a big thing in Fort Lauderdale and Jungle Queen Riverboat Tours is one of the best of them. Visitors climb aboard the Jungle Queen traditional Mississippi-style riverboat and get to see the Jungle Queen Indian Village, the downtown area, the New River and the Everglades on the ‘Sightseeing Cruise’. Indian Village features rare birds and alligator wrestling. Phone: +1 954 462 5596; website: www.junglequeen.com

Wilton Manors
Wilton Manors city is a popular gay and lesbian area within Fort Lauderdale and is centred on Wilton Drive, Northeast 26^th Street. There are loads of hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs here catering mainly to a gay clientele, although, of course, Wilton Manors is also lots of fun for straight visitors.