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Honestly, most people treat Broward County like a pit stop. You land at FLL, grab a rental car, and immediately floor it south toward Miami or north toward the Palm Beaches. That is a massive mistake. Broward is weird, sprawling, and surprisingly deep if you know where to pull over. It’s not just one thing. It is the yacht-filled "Venice of America" in Fort Lauderdale, but it's also the rugged, sawgrass-choked edge of the Everglades in Coral Springs and the gritty, neon-soaked charm of the Hollywood Broadwalk.
If you are looking for things to do Broward County has a list that goes way beyond just sitting on a beach towel, though our sand is admittedly top-tier.
We’re talking about a place where you can watch a 10-foot alligator slide into black water in the morning and eat a Michelin-worthy meal on Las Olas Boulevard by sunset. It’s a land of extremes. You have the high-gloss wealth of the marinas and the down-to-earth, salty vibes of Pompano Beach. Let’s get into what actually makes this county worth your time, because it isn't just a suburb of Miami. It’s the engine room of South Florida.
The Water is the Whole Point
You can't talk about Broward without talking about the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s the nervous system of the county. Most tourists just look at it from a bridge. Don't be that person.
The Water Taxi is the best $40 you’ll spend here. It’s not a "tourist trap" in the traditional sense; it’s actually functional. You can hop on and off all day. Start at the Riverside Hotel, grab a drink, and just ride. You get to see the backyards of the 1%. Huge houses. Massive yachts with names like Serenity Now. It’s aspirational or infuriating, depending on your mood, but it’s undeniably beautiful.
If you want something faster, go to Everglades Holiday Park. This isn't the sanitized Florida you see on postcards. It’s loud. It’s buggy. It’s incredible. You get on an airboat, and the pilot—usually someone who looks like they’ve lived in the swamp since the 70s—takes you out into the "River of Grass." When they kill the engine and you’re just floating there, the silence is heavy. You’ll see gators. You’ll see herons. You might see a Burmese python if you’re lucky (or unlucky). It’s a reminder that beneath all the concrete and neon, Florida is still a wild, prehistoric swamp.
Hollywood vs. Fort Lauderdale: Pick Your Vibe
People often confuse these two, but they are worlds apart.
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Fort Lauderdale is the polished older sibling. It’s where the money is. Las Olas is the heartbeat—lined with galleries, high-end boutiques, and restaurants like Louie Bossi’s, where the pasta is handmade and the patio is always packed. If you’re into people-watching, this is the spot. You’ll see everything from spring breakers to retirees in linen suits.
Then there’s Hollywood.
Hollywood is different. It’s got the Broadwalk—a 2.5-mile pedestrian stretch that feels like a throwback to a different era. No cars. Just bikes, walkers, and the ocean. It’s got a bit of a bohemian, slightly rough-around-the-edges feel that Fort Lauderdale lost years ago. Go to Le Tub. It’s a burger joint built into an old gas station on the water, famously praised by GQ and Oprah. The decor is literal toilets used as planters. It’s weird, the service is notoriously slow, and the burgers are massive. It’s peak Hollywood.
Secret Spots in Plain Sight
- Anne Kolb Nature Center: This is a massive mangrove estuary in Hollywood. Most people drive right past it. Rent a kayak. The "tunnels" through the mangroves are cool, quiet, and feel like another planet.
- The Swap Shop: This is a Broward institution. It’s a giant flea market, a circus, and it houses one of the largest drive-in movie theaters in the country. Oh, and there’s a multi-million dollar Ferrari collection inside a random building on the property. It makes no sense. It’s chaotic. It’s perfectly Broward.
- Yellow Green Farmers Market: Open only on weekends. It’s huge. You can get Ethiopian coffee, fresh coconuts, handmade soap, and authentic tacos all within ten feet of each other. It’s loud and hot, but the food is some of the best in the state.
The Cultural Deep End
If you think Broward is just sand and sun, you haven't been to the NSU Art Museum. It’s right in downtown Fort Lauderdale. They have a massive collection of CoBrA (Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam) experimental art. It’s avant-garde and unexpected for a "beach town."
Then there’s the FATVillage (Flagler Arts and Technology) district. On the last Saturday of every month, they do an Art Walk. It’s where the younger, creative crowd hangs out. Open galleries, food trucks, and local DJs. It’s the antidote to the "tourist" version of Florida. It feels authentic because it is. Local artists are actually working there, not just selling prints of palm trees to visitors.
Why Deerfield Beach is the Sleeper Hit
Way up north, almost at the Palm Beach line, is Deerfield Beach. It’s quieter. The pier is the main attraction. It’s where you go if you actually want to relax. The vibe is more "California surf town" than "South Florida glitz."
The cove at Deerfield is also a prime spot for snorkeling if the water is clear. You don't even need a boat. Just swim out from the shore near the rocks. You’ll see parrotfish, sergeant majors, and occasionally a manatee if the season is right.
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Eating Your Way Through the County
The food scene here has exploded. It’s no longer just fried fish baskets (though we have great ones).
In Lauderdale-By-The-Sea—which is a charming, low-rise village that feels like the 1950s—you can get incredible seafood at Aruba Beach Cafe. But for something more modern, head to Heritage in Flagler Village. It’s upscale Italian-American that is constantly ranked as some of the best food in the county. The charred octopus is a religious experience.
If you’re out west in places like Davie or Plantation, the vibe shifts to Western. Davie is horse country. Seriously. There are hitching posts at the McDonald’s. Go to the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds for a real-deal rodeo. It’s a side of Florida most people don't even know exists.
Things to do Broward County: The Practical Reality
Let's talk logistics. You need a car. You just do. The Brightline train is amazing for getting between Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach quickly, but once you're in the city, the sprawl is real.
The heat is also real. If you’re visiting between June and September, plan your outdoor "things to do" for before 10 AM or after 4 PM. The midday sun is a physical weight. Use that time for the museums or the massive Sawgrass Mills mall—which is one of the largest outlet malls in the world. Even if you hate shopping, the scale of it is a sight to behold. It’s like a small city with its own climate.
Beyond the Shoreline
Don’t ignore the parks. Tree Tops Park in Davie has trails that wind through ancient oak hammocks. It’s shady, quiet, and feels like the "Old Florida" that existed before the high-rises. It’s a great place to decompress.
For something truly unique, check out Flamingo Gardens in Davie. It’s one of the oldest botanical gardens in South Florida. They have a massive bird sanctuary. Seeing a flock of flamingos against the lush green backdrop is one of those "only in Florida" moments that actually lives up to the hype.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Broward is that it’s just "Miami Lite." It’s not. It’s more relaxed, slightly more affordable, and arguably more diverse in terms of landscape. You have the reef, the intracoastal, the urban sprawl, and the Everglades all within a 30-minute drive of each other.
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The "tourist" spots like the Fort Lauderdale Beach strip (A1A) are fun for a drink, but if you spend your whole trip there, you haven't actually seen Broward. You’ve seen a postcard. To find the real stuff, you have to go a few blocks inland. Go to the small strip malls where the best Haitian, Jamaican, and Brazilian food is hidden. Go to the parks. Get on the water.
Broward is a place that rewards curiosity. It’s not going to hand you its soul on a silver platter at the airport. You have to go looking for it.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Book a Water Taxi Pass Early: Do this on your first full day to get a layout of the land (and water).
- Download the "Circuit" App: It’s a free or very cheap electric shuttle that runs around Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood beach areas. Saves a fortune on parking.
- Check the Tide Charts: If you’re planning on snorkeling at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea or Deerfield, go at high tide for the best visibility.
- Escape the Coast: Spend at least one afternoon in the Everglades or at a park like Fern Forest Nature Center to see what the state actually looks like under the palms.
- Avoid I-95 During Rush Hour: This isn't travel advice; it’s a survival tip. Use Federal Highway (US-1) or A1A if you aren't in a rush. The view is better anyway.
Broward County is shifting. It’s becoming more urban, more sophisticated, but it still clings to that sun-drenched, slightly chaotic Florida identity. Whether you’re diving the reefs or eating street food in a park, the variety is the draw. Stop treating it like a transition zone. Stay a while.