Taking it All In: Our Playful Culture, Eats, and Recreation Guide to Fort Lauderdale
Before we dive into the turquoise water, let’s get a necessary disclosure out of the way for our fellow Canadians. If you are not currently living in the USA, or contractually or personally obligated to visit, we understand completely and wholeheartedly endorse your desire to avoid trekking south at the moment given the current domestic political landscape. We Canucks get it. But for those of us who are already living in the United States or are absolutely obligated to sit here for a while—and who want to trade the mental static for spectacular sea views, please take heed of our recommendation.
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We skipped the chaotic, predictable tourist traps of Miami and Orlando. Instead, we packed our bags and discovered that Fort Lauderdale is a uniquely beautiful, convenient, storied, delicious, and cultural—yes, cultural!—vacation destination.
Smooth Landings and Smart Stays
We knew we made the right choice the moment we touched down. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is relatively small and far less congested than Miami, making our arrival completely stress-free. Within less than an hour’s drive, we were pulling up to our fantastic home base: the Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal/Il Lugano.
We checked into our spacious suite, which featured all the necessary high-end amenities to relax, settle in, and save a few bucks. We had incredibly comfy beds dressed in nice linens, and full kitchenettes equipped with a double-burner stove top, full-size dishwasher, dishes, and utensils. Having an in-suite washer and dryer was an absolute lifesaver. For just a bit more money, we secured picturesque water views overlooking the winding canals.
We checked into our spacious suite, which featured all the necessary high-end amenities to relax, settle in, and save a few bucks. We had incredibly comfy beds dressed in nice linens, and full kitchenettes equipped with a double-burner stove top, full-size dishwasher, dishes, and utensils. Having an in-suite washer and dryer was an absolute lifesaver. For just a bit more money, we secured picturesque water views overlooking the winding canals.
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Decadent Mornings and Sumptuous Dockside Dinners
What is easier than a buffet-style breakfast being included in your stay? We started every single day at the ground floor buffet which featured extensive bread and cereal bars. We customized our bowls of hot oatmeal with wonderful, health-conscious options like shredded coconut, and pumpkin seeds, balanced by more decadent handfuls of chocolate chips. Afterward, we checked out the on-site gym, which offered a stellar canal view to jumpstart our mornings.
Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings (top left), Market Salad (top right), and Baby Kale & Little Gem Caesar (bottom) at G&B Dockside
Even better, the hotel’s restaurant space—which formerly served only basic snacks—has been completely taken over by G&B Dockside. It now boasts a fully stocked bar serving exceptional lunch and dinner. We indulged in the “Scoobies“—sumptuous crab claws swimming in rich garlic butter—and paired them with their Charcoal Sourdough bread (and yes, it is beautifully black) served with honey-ricotta and chili-fig jam.
Charcoal Sourdough Bread at G&B Dockside
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Even their salads were absolutely to die for. We devoured the Market Salad featuring fresh avocado, peppers, radishes, and pickled onions over crisp little gem lettuce, alongside a Baby Kale and Little Gem Caesar.
Singing the praises of the kitchen staff at G&B Dockside
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Waterside Multiplexes and Local Iguanas
To work off those extra culinary calories, we headed over to the waterside George English Tennis Center. The park features fantastic basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts. For non-local visitors like us, we paid under $10 for a seamless, 90-minute tennis court session. If you need a moment to catch your breath between matches, you can take in the sight of the colourful, giant iguanas lounging around the perimetre of the courts.
Our best imitation of Wimbledon Pros at the George English Tennis Center
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When the sun goes down, Fort Lauderdale’s effortless nightlife wakes up. The pedestrian-friendly avenues right near our hotel meant there was absolutely no car or ride share necessary to take in brilliant live music. A charming patisserie and a vibrant local cigar bar are literally right around the corner. We found a variety of fantastic restaurants nearby, and a brand-new Publix grocery store sits within an easy 15-minute walk for any quick suite provisions.
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Reclaiming History: The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
But if you are craving deep cultural reclamation and artistic substance, you must look beyond the shoreline. We visited the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, a large, spectacular multi-purpose facility. The space features a large rotating exhibition space, inspiring permanent art installations, community event areas, a curated gift shop, a main library with a dedicated children’s suite, and an archival research wing.
Sistrunk: Then and Now at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
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Amidst the academic literature, history books, and biographies, of course we noticed a stunning display of curated, high-end romance novels centering black protagonists.
African-American Research Library and Cultural Center Romance Novel Display
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Our publishing arm-Black Maple Magazine Publishing-is right on point with the June 23rd, 2026 launch of our newest publication and industry-disrupting, Blood and Water: A Love Story, and we couldn’t help but notice how well our very own summer must-read, second-chance interracial love story would fit right in.
Black Maple Magazine Publishing’s Blood and Water: A Love Story (2026)
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While there, we caught the phenomenal exhibition Sistrunk: Then and Now (running through December 30th, 2026). The showcase brilliantly documents the narrative of a tight-knit, creative, and highly resilient black community. Through powerful historical photography, immersive video installations, and preserved artifacts spanning multiple decades, the exhibition restores an essential chapter of Black Diasporic history in an under acknowledged region of the USA.
Architectural aesthetics at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
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Turquoise Horizons and Private Beaches
Of course, we had to experience the legendary beachfront of Lauderdale Beach. Lined with towering, sleek condos and luxurious oceanfront homes, the gentle, turquoise waters beckon locals and tourists year-round. Our expert travel tip? Go in July. By timing our trip right in the heart of summer, we had the spectacular beach almost entirely to ourselves at times.
Taking time to take it all in
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The ultimate hotel perks made our daily beach visit completely effortless. The Residence Inn provided us with complimentary beach towels, sun umbrellas, and lightweight, highly portable beach chairs. We took a leisurely 15-minute walk down to the shore, set up our private oasis on the sand, and indulged in our ability to take it all in.
Sea shells by the sea shore