Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of our favorite vacation destinations. Not only is it located in Southern Florida’s Atlantic Coast, near Miami, and enjoys gorgeous weather year-round, but Fort Lauderdale is also a major tourist destination in its own right. The city has tons of restaurants, nightclubs, stores, and galleries, not to mention plenty of outdoor activities, including jetskis, surfing, paddleboats, and more!
Visitors can also find many low-cost things to do in Fort Lauderdale. In addition to laying out on the beach, enjoying watersport and jet ski rentals in Fort Lauderdale, or wandering through the many galleries and stores sprinkled throughout the city (assuming, of course, that you can resist the urge to buy something!), there are several free attractions tourists can visit, including:
- West Lake Park/Anne Kolb Nature Center – this park can be reached via land or water, and has several unique exhibits and activities, such as mangrove plantation, several trails, and the Anne Kolb Nature Center. The nature center features a short video and interactive displays explaining the park’s mangrove ecosystem, plus a 3,500 gallon aquarium.
- Swap Shop – the Swap Shop is a one-of-a-kind entertainment center, featuring a flea market, drive-in movie theater, farmer’s market, amusement rides, arcade games, and restaurants. The Swap Shop has actually been around since 1963 and is a major tourist attraction in South Florida.
- Gallery at Beach Place – an upscale mall offering free live entertainment and musical performances, in addition to shopping and dining, the Gallery at Beach Place is located right off the beach and is a great place to swing by for dinner or just a break from lying in the sun.
- ArtsPark at Young Circle – a park that integrates art sculptures into the landscape, ArtsPark is definitely something visitors should check out! The park is a work-in-progress, so each time you visit, you’re guaranteed to see something new. There are several works of art throughout the park, as well as grassy areas for playing catch, flying a kite, or reading under a tree.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to free and low-cost events and attractions in Fort Lauderdale. We’re big fans of low-cost attractions, because it provides vacationers with maximum flexibility in planning their trips.
That’s why, when planning a vacation, we suggest booking a couple of events or activities that the whole group can enjoy, such as Fort Lauderdale jet ski rentals, and also leaving a few days open. This will allow a little wiggle room in your schedule, in case the weather is inclement or you find that an area you had expected to visit in a few hours was so much fun you’d like to go back the next day.
