Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
FALL 2016 DREAMSCAPES 17 which includes snorkelling lessons, skim- boarding and more. Other family-friendly attractions are the Museum of Discovery and Science, Tropical Sailing's Spirit of Lauderdale catamaran, sightseeing cruises aboard the Water Taxi and the Jungle Queen. When it comes to events and festivities, Greater Fort Lauderdale knows no bounds. Take in annual holiday celebrations such as Christmas on Las Olas (last Tuesday in November) and the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade (second Saturday in December). Lauderdale Live happens each December at Huizenga Plaza on the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale, while the KISS Country Chili Cookoff is held every January at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. Also, check out the Las Olas Art Fair in January and March. The live music scene heats up with the annual Rock the Ocean's Tortuga Music Festival on Lauderdale Beach and the '80s-themed RockFest in Sunrise, both held in April. Foodies mustn't over- look the Pompano Beach Seafood Festival in April and the Las Olas Wine and Food Fes- tival in May. The Flagler Arts & Technology Village, known locally as FAT Village, hosts an Art Walk on the last Saturday of each month (excluding December) from 7 to 11 p.m. And, much to the delight of avid sports fans, teams play throughout the year, including the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer franchise (April to November) and the NHL Florida Panthers (October to April). MORE REASONS TO VISIT Greater Fort Lauderdale also boasts the highest concentration of same-sex couple households in the United States and has one of the country's most diverse gay capi- tals. With hundreds of gay-owned and operated businesses, it continues to be a destination-of-choice for LGBT travellers. In addition, Greater Fort Lauderdale features one of the largest Pride Centres in the country, the first and only World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, and is also home to the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, the only permanent space in the U.S. devoted to exhibitions relating to LGBT history and culture. The city also recently won a bid to host the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference for three consecutive years. Love cruising? A number of cruise ships sail out of Fort Lauderdale, making this Florida destination a perfect pre- or post- cruise layover. Costa Cruises returned to Port Everglades with the 2,826-passenger Costa Delizios. Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis- class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, will offer a seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itinerary through its inaugural season beginning November 12, 2016. And, following its inaugural season in the Mediterranean, Holland America Line's MS Koningsdam will sail from Port Everglades on 10- and 11-day sailings in November 2016. Shoppers must check out Sawgrass Mills, which continues to expand with shops opening soon at its new 7,432-square-metre Colonnade Outlets. The Galleria refines its shopping experience with recently opened and coming soon stores including H&M, Free People, REM French Riviera, Pink, and a transformed food court. As well, Las Olas Place shopping and dining space is sched- uled to open next to the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard in Spring 2017. Also under construction is Town Center at Saw- grass, a 10,963-square-metre venue with four sit-down restaurants, 25 full-price retailers and a 2,000-vehicle parking deck, set to open in 2018. TRAVEL PLANNER For more information, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-22-SUNNY or sunny.org. DS OPPOSITE: The 298-metre fishing pier is the crown jewel on Deerfield Beach. Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau BELOW FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The Greater Fort Lauderdale area offers a wide variety of shopping venues. Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Fort Lauderdale Beach is clean, safe and user-friendly. Doug Castanedo Known for its parks and countless plant and animal species, Greater Fort Lauderdale is a perfect destination to explore some of the world's most diverse landscapes and ecosystems. Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau