Don’t let all the yachts and luxury cars fool you, there’s plenty that’s free in Fort Lauderdale. Believe it. Here are some ideas, courtesy of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau:
– Learn to skimboard every first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m. at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. That’s when experts will be giving a clinic for free. Try a board and get some tips.
– Peruse the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. The children’s library is particularly appealing. If you want to see the consummate collection of books penned by Black authors, this is the place.
– See coastal Florida as it was, at the Anne Kolb Nature Center. Located on West Lake Park’s 1,500-plus acre enclave of coastal mangrove wetlands, one of the largest urban parks in the state, the center is sublime. It houses a 3,500-gallon aquarium, a hands-on EcoRoom, a nifty observation tower, fishing pier and is laced with biking and hiking trails. Admission is free on weekdays
– More urban wilderness? Fern Forest Nature Center calms all that’s in you, a haven from Lauderdale’s choreographed hustle and bustle. Buy some bread, cheese and fruit from a local deli and enjoy the feast in the center’s picnic shelter.
– Crave the urban ambience? Head to Downtown Hollywood, Florida, home of art galleries, sidewalk cafes, great restaurants and fascinating boutiques. You don’t have to buy to pick up the buzz of the place.
– Here’s another look-but-you-don’t-have-to-buy pursuit: Festival Flea Market. An indoor, open-air, old-world affair where if you can imagine it, there’s a good chance it’s here. More than 500 shops are arrayed along a quarter-mile path. Let your nose be the guide to Going Bananas Farmer’s Market.
(Image: micaht2000)
