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The Savvy Turtle
Local know-how from the people who host the nest: where to eat, when to come, what to pack, and how a week in Fort Lauderdale comes together. 21 posts and counting.
Photo: Marriott's BeachPlace Towers 07 by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
24 hours in Fort Lauderdale: a one-day itinerary near the beach
Coffee at Press & Grind, an afternoon at the private pool, an EZ Raider ride, lobster rolls at Marina Village, then Las Olas for Gemspire and Kilwins. One of our favorite days.
Read the post →Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.024 hours in Fort Lauderdale: a one-day itinerary near the beach
Coffee at Press & Grind, an afternoon at the private pool, an EZ Raider ride, lobster rolls at Marina Village, then Las Olas for Gemspire and Kilwins. One of our favorite days.
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Fort Lauderdale with your dog
Where dogs are allowed on the sand, the city dog parks, three waterfront patios that welcome leashed dogs, and how to handle the heat. Pets are welcome at the nest.
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Photo: Ralph Hockens, CC BY 3.0Hurricane season and your Fort Lauderdale trip
What hurricane season means for a Fort Lauderdale booking: the dates, how often storms actually arrive, watches versus warnings, the county's evacuation plan, the airport and port, and travel insurance.
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Photo: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0Working remotely from Fort Lauderdale
A workation from the nest: gig-speed Wi-Fi and a desk at the house, the coffee shops and coworking spaces nearby, the Brightline to Miami for meetings, and how monthly stays work.
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Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0Live sports near the nest, 2026-27
Panthers, Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Inter Miami and Fort Lauderdale United: where each team plays for 2026-27, how far it is from the nest, and where to buy tickets.
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Photo: Ting read, Public domainTwelve things to know before your first Fort Lauderdale trip
Rental-car tolls, beach rules, rip currents, the UV index, beach parking, water taxi passes, Brightline fares, tipping, the tourist tax on your stay and more, checked in September 2026.
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What to pack for a pool-house week in Fort Lauderdale
A packing list built around what the house already has: the weather by season, sunscreen facts, bug spray, water shoes, a layer for restaurant air-conditioning and the TSA liquids rule.
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Photo: Cmasi, CC BY-SA 4.0A perfect one-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary
One easy day near the nest — breakfast downtown, a rooftop and a waterfront lunch, an afternoon by the pool, then sunset drinks, dinner and a stroll down Las Olas.
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Photo: Nenad Stojkovic, CC BY 4.0The best steakhouses in Fort Lauderdale
Four steakhouses near the nest — from an oceanfront room and an Intracoastal table to a lively newcomer and an Old-Florida classic.
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Photo: A.J. Lipp, CC BY-SA 4.0Where to watch your NFL team in Fort Lauderdale
Sunday still belongs to your home team. The Fort Lauderdale bars where different fan bases gather — plus a few spots that put every game on.
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Photo: Nosferattus, CC0Fort Lauderdale on a rainy or windy day
A cool or cloudy day here still means the 60s and 70s. Everglades boardwalks, Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens and an airboat ride for when the pool can wait.
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Photo: CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, CC BY-SA 4.0December holidays in Fort Lauderdale
Tree lightings, Christmas on Las Olas and the Winterfest Boat Parade — how the holidays look under the palms, with heaters for the cool evenings.
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Photo: DaSpader, CC BY-SA 3.0A perfect Fort Lauderdale day from the nest
Cuban coffee in Flagler Village, a morning by the pool, a beach afternoon with a Primanti Brothers lunch, then cocktails and an Italian dinner.
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Photo: Dmoore5556, CC BY-SA 4.0A day trip to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
Concerts, casino, dining and shopping a short drive south — an easy, weather-proof day out from the nest, with pool time waiting when you’re back.
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Photo: MdeVicente, CC BY-SA 4.0October in Fort Lauderdale
Warm water, low humidity and Halloween fun — why October is a quiet, sunny sweet spot for a Fort Lauderdale stay.
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Photo: Barry Bena, Public domainA pre-cruise stay near Port Everglades
Arrive a day early and start the cruise rested. The nest is about ten minutes from Port Everglades, with last-minute shopping and shuttles close by.
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Photo: EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0Why summer is a great time to visit Fort Lauderdale
Warm, calm water, fewer crowds and the Florida Reef close to shore — plus a private pool for night swims back at the nest.
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Photo: Declan Rex d3c1an, CC0A family cookout at the nest
Two kitchens, three dining areas and a backyard built for a crowd — why extended families book the nest to cook, swim and stay together.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0Water sports and swimming in Fort Lauderdale
Start with the pool’s shallow sun shelf, then take the family out — snorkeling off the beach, a sandbar boat day, parasailing, and the water taxi.
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Photo: EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0Group travel tips for Fort Lauderdale
Budgets, itineraries, personal space and decision fatigue — practical ways to keep a group trip smooth, and why having room to spread out helps.
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Photo: Baruc Acosta, CC BY-SA 3.0Transformative travel in Fort Lauderdale
A reset, not just a vacation — beach yoga, quiet nature at the state park, mindful cooking, and a private backyard to come home to.
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- Photo: Marriott's BeachPlace Towers 07 by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — 24 hours in Fort Lauderdale: a one-day itinerary near the beach
- Photo: Florida by Ralph Hockens, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Hurricane season and your Fort Lauderdale trip
- Photo: Esplanade (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) by Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Working remotely from Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: 2026-0119 CFP NCG pregame view - east end zone by Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Live sports near the nest, 2026-27
- Photo: Fort Lauderdale Beach (1) by Ting read, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Twelve things to know before your first Fort Lauderdale trip
- Photo: Riverwalk 194115 by Cmasi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — A perfect one-day Fort Lauderdale itinerary
- Photo: Grilled steak served with orange slices and sauce on wooden board - Flickr - nenadstojkovicart by Nenad Stojkovic, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — The best steakhouses in Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Hard Rock Stadium by A.J. Lipp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Where to watch your NFL team in Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Heliconius charithonia 2021 by Nosferattus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Fort Lauderdale on a rainy or windy day
- Photo: Worth Avenue in Palm Beach Florida with Christmas tree 2015 by CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — December holidays in Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: All clear at Fort Lauderdale Beach - panoramio by DaSpader, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — A perfect Fort Lauderdale day from the nest
- Photo: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood 2 (June 2019) by Dmoore5556, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — A day trip to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
- Photo: Ft lauderdale beach 1 by MdeVicente, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — October in Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Oasis of the Seas arriving in Ft Lauderdale (11093545) by Barry Bena, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — A pre-cruise stay near Port Everglades
- Photo: Central Beach Fort Lauderdale Beach Florida Atlantic Coast by EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Why summer is a great time to visit Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Grill Out (Unsplash) by Declan Rex d3c1an, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — A family cookout at the nest
- Photo: International Swimming Hall of Fame (Fort Lauderdale) by Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Water sports and swimming in Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Fort Lauderdale Jetties on Stranahan River Strait Channel Beach Fort Lauderdale Lago Mar Beach Florida Atlantic Coast by EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Group travel tips for Fort Lauderdale
- Photo: Morning Yoga by Baruc Acosta, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped) — Transformative travel in Fort Lauderdale
Photos are resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the licence linked.
