Things to do in Fort Lauderdale
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Fort Lauderdale: Carrie B Paddlewheel Cruise & Yachts TourYou’ll drift through Fort Lauderdale’s winding waterways on a classic paddlewheel boat with live narration from local guides, spotting mega-yachts and old mansions along the New River and Intracoastal Waterway. Expect easy laughs, river breezes, and plenty of chances to just sit back and watch life go by from another angle.
Fort Lauderdale: Jungle Queen 90-Minute River Cruise & Millionaire's RowYou board at the Riverwalk dock, spend 90 minutes on a fully narrated cruise past mega yachts and celebrity estates along Fort Lauderdale's New River, and return to the same dock. The boat is wheelchair accessible with onboard facilities. Arrive 45 minutes early, bring a credit card for the bar, and expect straightforward narration about the homes and boats you're passing, not a theatrical experience.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to see Fort Lauderdale's waterfront without renting a boat or navigating the river yourself—the narration handles the history and the homes, and you just sit and watch. Plan to arrive 45 minutes early and expect a working boat with a straightforward pace, not a luxury experience.
Dania Beach: 1-Hour Pirate Cruise with Water Cannon BattleYou’ll board a real pirate ship in Dania Beach for an hour of laughs, water cannon battles against Barnacle Bill, and stories from your local captain. Kids get pirate tattoos before sailing off to hunt treasure—and everyone leaves with memories (and maybe wet socks). It’s playful chaos in all the best ways.
Fort Lauderdale: BBQ Dinner Cruise & Variety ShowYou board at Bahia Mar for a fully narrated cruise past Fort Lauderdale's waterfront mansions and mega yachts, then head to a private tropical isle for all-you-can-eat BBQ ribs and chicken. After dinner, you catch a live variety show in an amphitheater — comedians, jugglers, magicians, and a Polynesian Revue finale — before cruising back to the dock at sunset. The whole evening is on one boat, so you don't arrange transport, timing, or dinner reservations separately.Is it for me?Pick this if you want dinner, a show, and a sightseeing cruise all in one evening without booking three separate things — the boat does all of it, and you're back at your hotel by the end of the night.
Fort Lauderdale: Segway Tour & Riverwalk with Mega-YachtsYou'll ride 4 to 8 miles along Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk, Las Olas Boulevard, and beachfront on a guided Segway tour with training included. The route passes mega-yachts, celebrity homes, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and (on the 2-hour option) the tallest drawbridge in Florida with views of the cruise port. You get a helmet, safety gear, and a certificate at the end. Groups cap at twelve riders.Is it for me?Best for travelers who want to see Fort Lauderdale's waterfront, yachts, and downtown without arranging their own transport or navigation — the guide handles the route and the stories, and the small group size (max twelve) means you're not part of a crowd.
Fort Lauderdale: Evening Yacht Cruise & Downtown DancingYou board at the Fort Lauderdale dock and spend two hours cruising the New River past yachts, mansions on Las Olas Isles, and cargo ships at the port. As the sun sets, the music and lights ramp up and dancing takes over. You bring your own drinks and snacks, and the crew keeps the energy high with music and corny jokes. The boat returns to dock around 9pm, depending on your departure time.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Fort Lauderdale's waterfront and yacht scene without planning a formal dinner or bar crawl — the boat does the moving and the music, so you show up, bring drinks, and the evening takes care of itself.
Everglades: Airboat Ride & Nature Walk with Wildlife SightingYou’ll meet locals who know every inch of the Everglades—walk shaded trails where wild alligators glide nearby, then fly across open water on an airboat far from land. Taste humid air, swap stories with your guide, and maybe pick up a quirky souvenir before heading back to Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
Everglades: Airboat Tour & Hotel Pickup with Local GladesmenYou’ll feel the rush of wind as your airboat glides over the River of Grass, spot alligators hiding in plain sight, and hear local Gladesmen share their stories. With hotel pickup included and a group photo to remember it by, this Everglades tour is as much about connection as adventure.
Everglades National Park: Airboat, Hike & 10,000 Islands CruiseYou get three ways of seeing the Everglades—boat, hike, airboat—led by someone who knows the wildlife and history, with lunch and all gear included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Fort Lauderdale means you don't arrange transport or navigate the park yourself. The permit to guide in the preserve is what opens access to the remote spots most tours can't reach.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see the Everglades as a naturalist would—wildlife in context, history explained, and remote spots most tours skip—without arranging your own transport, timing, or park logistics.
Fort Lauderdale: Sunset Catamaran Cruise & Champagne ToastYou board a catamaran in Fort Lauderdale and sail past waterfront mansions and mega yachts toward the Atlantic Ocean, watching the 17th Street causeway bridge lift for your passage. As the sun sets, you raise a glass of complimentary champagne and toast the end of the day from the water. The cruise lasts an evening and includes the champagne; you return before full dark.Is it for me?Book this if you want a calm evening on the water without arranging your own boat or timing the sunset yourself — the catamaran handles both, and the champagne is already waiting.
Fort Lauderdale: Drift Fishing Trip with Gear & Fish CleaningYou’ll head out from Fort Lauderdale with a friendly local crew for a relaxed drift fishing trip just offshore. Try your hand at catching snapper or kingfish with all gear provided—plus free fish cleaning so you can take your catch home or to a local restaurant. Expect ocean breezes, easygoing company, and maybe even a new story to tell.
Fort Lauderdale: Everglades Airboat Tour with Hotel PickupYou get picked up from your Fort Lauderdale hotel, ride an airboat through the Everglades wetlands for an hour with a guide who knows where the wildlife congregates, and return to your hotel by afternoon. Transport, the boat, and the guide are all included—you just show up ready to get wet and hold on.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Fort Lauderdale who want to see the Everglades without arranging their own transport or navigating to the park—the pickup and drop-off remove that friction. Plan for a half-day outing: the ride itself is an hour, and transport plus boarding takes another hour or so, which is what fits this into a morning or afternoon alongside other plans.
Fort Lauderdale: Snorkel & Seabob Reef Tour Small GroupYou’ll ride a Seabob scooter over Fort Lauderdale’s reefs with a small group and local guide—no swimming skills needed. Learn how to use your gear on the beach, then glide above tropical fish and maybe spot sea turtles or conch shells below. Expect laughter, salt on your lips, and a new way of seeing Florida’s underwater world.
Fort Lauderdale: 2-Person Mini Powerboat Self-Guided RentalYou captain a mini-powerboat through Fort Lauderdale's canal system without prior boating experience—the staff teaches you everything before you leave the dock. Your rental includes safety gear, fuel, and a navigation map with suggested routes. You control the pace and stops across 165 miles of waterways, seeing mangroves, wildlife, and residential waterfront at your own speed. Drivers must be 18+; those born after 1987 need a temporary boater's license obtained online before arrival.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to explore Fort Lauderdale's canals at their own pace without joining a guided group—the self-guided format means you control where you stop, how long you stay, and which routes you take.
Fort Lauderdale: Private Everglades Airboat & Gator ExhibitYou get a private airboat ride through the Everglades with a captain who moves at your pace, plus a guided walk through the Alligator & Reptile Exhibit. The whole boat is yours regardless of group size, so you're not waiting for other tourists or competing for the captain's attention. Pick your time at checkout and arrive ready to go.Is it for me?This works best if you want to move through the Everglades at your own pace without the noise and crowd of a shared tour—the private boat is what makes that possible, and it costs less per person the more people you bring along.
Parasailing Fort Lauderdale: 400 feet above the AtlanticParasailing in Fort Lauderdale means flying 400 feet above the Atlantic Ocean on a tow from a state-of-the-art CWS Ocean Pro boat, departing from Bahia Mar Resort & Marina. You choose single, tandem or triple flights; the full adventure runs 90 minutes and includes a scenic cruise through the Intracoastal canal system. Ages 5 and up can fly, and observer seats are available for non-flyers. All Coast Guard approved safety gear is provided, and the captains hold US Coast Guard certification with 15+ years of experience and zero incidents on record.Is it for me?Fly 400 feet above the Atlantic with unobstructed views of the Gold Coast skyline and mansions—departing from Bahia Mar puts you airborne faster than operators elsewhere, backed by 15+ years without incident and US Coast Guard certified captains.
Everglades Day Safari from Fort Lauderdale: Airboat & WildlifeYou ride an airboat across sawgrass prairies, drive through Big Cypress National Preserve with a naturalist guide, walk through cypress forests, eat lunch at a waterside cafe, tour a historic trading post, and cruise through mangrove channels watching for dolphins and manatees. The full day includes all transport from Fort Lauderdale, entry fees, and a guide who knows the land and its history. Bring sunscreen and a hat—you'll be in the sun and wind most of the day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Everglades as a working ecosystem and cultural landscape in one day without arranging transport, park entry, or timing yourself—the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of it, and the mix of airboat, drive, walk, and boat means you experience the swamp from multiple angles rather than just one.
Fort Lauderdale: New River Museums Walking Tour & HistoryYou’ll wander riverside paths in downtown Fort Lauderdale, step inside three historic museums with a local guide, peek into pioneer homes and an old schoolhouse, and hear stories that bring Florida’s past alive. Expect small surprises—like touching sun-warmed banisters or hearing laughter echo off wooden floors—that linger long after you leave.
Fort Lauderdale Boat Cruise: Yachts, Sandbar & Dance PartyYou get a guided cruise past Fort Lauderdale's most expensive real estate, a swim stop at the sandbar with floats included, and a dance party back to shore. Bring your own food and drinks, use the onboard bathroom and cooler, and plan to arrive 30 minutes early. The 10am, 1pm, and 4pm times include the swim; 7pm is a sunset cruise through downtown instead.Is it for me?Book this if you want a party atmosphere on the water without the formality of a dinner cruise or the cost of renting your own boat — the crew's job is to keep the energy up, which is what makes a random afternoon on the water feel like an actual event.
VIP Yacht Experiences Fort Lauderdale: 12 People, 40 ft SundancerYou board at Bahia Mar, take the wheel of a 40-foot Sundancer with a Coast Guard–certified captain on hand, cruise past waterfront mansions and mega-yachts on the Intracoastal Waterway, anchor at a sandbar to swim or float, and can dock at a waterfront restaurant if you want to eat. The 2-hour version is a taster; 4 or 6 hours lets you actually settle into it. Coolers, ice, and a sound system are included; bring your own drinks and sunscreen.Is it for me?Right for groups of friends or family who want to feel like they own a boat for a few hours without the licensing hassle. Plan for the captain to be on board — that's what makes it legal and safe, and it's also what keeps you from running aground.
