Daytrips

Here are some suggestions for day trips from CRTE -

Aventura Mall. Upscale Mall at Biscayne Blvd and 196th Street in North Miami Beach. Lots of places to eat and the surrounding community is quite attractive. Free parking and frequently quite crowded. For mall lovers, this is a feast!

Bahia Mar Deep Sea Fishing. Full and half day fishing trips on the Atlantic Ocean. Boats leave from A1A just south of Las Olas Blvd. Very reasonable rates, many negotiable for larger groups. Limited parking. The Broward County transit bus #11 stops nearby.

Bal Harbour Shops. This shopping destination is known for its quality, variety, and most of all, for its style. Shops include everything from national favorites like Banana Republic, Gap, and Gap Kids to Gianni Versace, Gucci, St. John and Prada. Beautiful gifts are available at fine stores such as Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari. There are plenty of upscale dining options as well as casual outdoor eateries. South on A1A below Haulover and just before North Miami Beach. Pay for parking.

Bayside Marketplace. At the entrance to the Port of Miami where all the cruise ships dock. Spectacular views (walk to top of the bridge). A vibrant marketplace with exotic restaurants, daily live entertainment, and national brand name stores. Lots of tour boats there, too. Pay for parking garage holds 1200 cars.

Boat Tours. This section on Boat Tours was extracted from the Sun Sentinel Newspaper web site in February 2005. With so much water around, it's only natural to go for a boat ride, and here in South Florida you can choose from an old-time paddle wheeler for a lunch or dinner cruise, a glass bottom boat ride over a reef or an airboat adventure into the Everglades.

Pilgrim Belle Cruises - 801 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561-243-0686. Two-hour narrated Intracoastal cruises.
Loxahatchee Everglades Tours - 15490 Loxahatchee Road, west of U.S. 441 north of Deerfield Beach, south of Boca Raton; 800-683-5873. Airboat tours of the Everglades, with frequent sightings of alligators, wading birds and more.
Rockmore Company Cruises - 1755 SE 3rd Court at The Cove Shopping Plaza, Deerfield Beach; 954-426-4006. This cruise company offers daily sightseeing and lunch cruises through South Florida's most picturesque waterways, where you can see sights such as historic lighthouses, Al Capone's island, wild marine life, movie star's homes, Lake Boca and Gumbo Limbo Park.
Jungle Queen Riverboat -- A1A, Bahia Mar Yacht Center, Fort Lauderdale; 954-462-5596. Barbecue and shrimp dinner sightseeing cruise with variety show. More options available. Carrie B. Harbor Tours - Las Olas Boulevard at SE 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale; 954-768-9920. Seasonal sightseeing cruises of the New River, Intracoastal Waterway and Port Everglades.
Chesapeake -- Sail aboard Walter Cronkite's former yacht, the Chesapeake, a 46-foot cutter yawl. Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel in Sunrise.
Water Bus of Fort Lauderdale -- 651 Sea Breeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-467-6677. Makes regular stops at 20 different points between Oakland Park Boulevard and SE 17th Street along the Intracoastal Waterway, and west along the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale as far as the River House restaurant.
Everglades Holiday Park -- End of Griffin Road west, half mile past U.S. 27; 954-434-8111. One-hour airboat tours include a visit to an Indian camp and alligator wrestling.
Sawgrass Recreation Park -- On U.S. 27, 2 miles north of I-75; 954-389-0202 or 800-457-0788. Narrated Everglades airboat tours daily. Also features a recreation of an 18th century Indian village, live alligator and reptile exhibit, boat rentals, fishing, food and beverages.
Biscayne National Park - 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead; 305-230-1100 or 305-230-7275. Three-hour glass-bottom bout tours. The park is 95 percent underwater and features colorful coral reefs and undeveloped keys in Biscayne Bay, southeast of Miami.

Butterfly World. Butterfly World opened its doors to the public in March 1988, making it the first and largest butterfly house in the United States. It provides visitors with a beautifully-landscaped, unique scientific and educational showplace that has become one of the landmark attractions of South Florida.

Cityplace. New West Palm Beach village and shopping community. Upscale shops, great restaurants, town houses and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Take the trolley ride to Old West Palm Beach.

Coconut Grove. This city has been around a lot longer than most places in greater Miami. A number of early settlers made the area their home, and today it boasts a huge multi-level complex with shops, restaurants, and sizzling nightlife. "The Grove" is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, who come to enjoy the ongoing leisure-time options (like busy CocoWalk) and a multitude of festivals and waterfront parks. Trendy, hip, and diverse.

Coral Gables. The City Beautiful stands out as a rare pearl in South Florida, a cohesive community built on a grand scale in the Mediterranean Revival architectural style to create a timeless grace and grandeur in harmony with the environment. Near Vizcaya (see below). Lots to see by foot and don't miss the Venetian Pool.

Galleria Mall. Four magnificent restaurants with valet parking. Plus the delightful Food Court with something for everyone. Lots of shops. A pleasant walk inside the mall with plenty of free parking. About a 45 minute walk from CRTE along the beach and then right on Sunrise Blvd for those who prefer to walk to the mall.

Haulover Beach. Popular and legal nudist beach (both straight and gay) in North Miami Beach just north of beautiful Bal Harbor. City life guards. Located at A1A just south of Sunny Isles Blvd at what would be about 156th Street.

Historic sites. There are many places of interest to visit locally, most with guided tours. Consider:

Bonnet House. Take a tour of historic Bonnet House, an estate, set on 35 acres, bequeathed to the Florida trust. The home also houses a substantial collection of art. Guided tours. Walking distance from CRTE.
Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum. Part of the Riverwalk complex along the New River with the magnificent new high rise condos a short walk away.
Stranahan House. This historic home, built in the Florida vernacular style, was once owned by one of Fort Lauderdale's founding families. Over the years it has served many purposes including a trading post, a post office, a town hall and a bank. Guided tours.

Loxahatchee. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is in the unique Everglades. With over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is home to the American alligator and the endangered Everglades snail kite.

Main Library. The main library of Broward County is quite large and full of wonderful surprises. There is an extensive collection of audio cassettes, videos, DVD's and CD's. Endless books, newspapers from all over the world, a cafe and guided tours on select days all await you. Checked out materials can be deposited for pickup at the Galt Reading Room across from CRTE. Part of the Riverwalk complex. (If you have a library card, on-line access to millions of books is available from your home. Materials can be delivered to the Galt Reading Room at no charge).

Museum of Discovery and Science. Spend a day of discovery exploring over 200 fascinating interactive exhibits at the Museum of Discovery and Science. The Museum is open 365 days of the year. IMAX Theater is also part of this complex.

Naples, FL. A magnificent city on Florida's southwest coast. A little over 2 hours from CRTE along I-75 (Alligator Alley toll road). Check out Naples 5th Avenue South for some really unique shops. Dress casual but neat in Naples. If time allows, take a walk out on the Naples pier jutting into the Gulf of Mexico. Fort Myers and Sanibel Island are about 30-45 minutes north of Naples.

Palm Beach, FL. Worth the trip to Worth Avenue. Some of the most exclusive shops in the USA. Breathtaking mansions line the coast along the Atlantic for a mile or so south of Worth Avenue. Parking is easiest along the side streets north of Worth Avenue, several blocks inland from the Ocean. A short drive to West Palm Beach across the causeway.

Riverwalk. Downtown Fort Lauderdale's exciting walk along the New River. Huge high rise condos comparable to Manhattan. Lots of restaurants. Shops. Take the water taxi near Shooters ( a brief walk from CRTE) or the #11 BCt bus. Parking everywhere but metered or pay parking lots. Check out the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Sawgrass Mills. The ultimate shopping center in South Florida as regards shear size. Walk and walk and walk. Lots of shops and lots of bargains. Parking lot is gigantic but so are the crowds. Or take the #72 bus to the end of the line (about 1 hour and 15 minutes from CRTE).

Shark Valley. If you really want to see alligators in their natural habitat, here is the place to go. Shark Valley is in the Everglades and can be experienced by bicycle (rent a bike there or bring your own). Or if you prefer, take a guided tram ride. A great trip for birders as well. Bring your own lunch as there are NO facilities. Nearby private companies operate airboat rides. When finished, stop off at the Mikosukee Indian Casino on your way home to Fort Lauderdale and Coral Ridge Towers East.

South Beach. The high energy part of Florida. Young and old, vivacious. Washington Street with its funky shops, Ocean Drive with its endless array of sidewalk restaurants. Very wide beach with city life guards every few blocks. Art deco everywhere. And then there is the wonderful Lincoln Mall. Lots to see including all the beautiful people. Take the public transit ElectroWave bus (stops along Washington, 17th and West @ Lincoln Mall) for a really low priced trip around South Beach. Get off at the southern tip of South Beach and walk along the water all the way back to Lincoln Mall. Cuban food lovers might check out the restaurant at 7th and Collins.

Swap Shop. The ultimate in flea markets makes for a great day trip right here in Ft Lauderdale. Florida's second biggest tourist attraction sports a flea market which defies description in its shear size. There is a circus and amusements in case you want to refresh the mind. Plenty of free parking in the south lot. Way west on Sunrise Blvd. gets you there.

Town Center Mall. Town Center is 1 mile west of I-95 on Glades Road in Boca Raton on the south side of Glades. The mall has mostly upscale stores like Cole Haan and Tiffany & Co. Casual dining includes Stir Crazy Cafe and Villa Pizza. Restaurants include Legal Seafoods, Great Steak and Potato Company, Manchu Wok. There are 220 specialty stores such as Tiffany & Co., Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Cartier, Cole Haan, Hugo Boss, Sephora, Tourneau Watch Gear, Swarovski Crystal, Harry and David. Department stores include Bloomingdale's, Burdines, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sears. Hours are Mon thru Sat 10-9, Sun 12-6. Parking free but a little tight at times.

Village of Merrick Park. Coral Gables. A shopping destination like no other. Fashion and style come to life in a quaint Village brimming with fountains, lush tropical foliage and a serene garden to relax and enjoy the sunshine. A stroll through the gardens at Village of Merrick Park will lead you to such world-class boutiques as Artefacto, CH Carolina Herrera, Cheeky, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Roberto Cavalli, La Perla and many others. Driving there from CRTE only for bravehearts. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

Vizcaya. Vizcaya was built by American industrialist James Deering, who wintered on the property from 1916-1925. Today, the extraordinary European-inspired estate includes a house filled with art and furnishings, ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay, a hardwood hammock (native forest), and an historic village. Drive to the southern tip of I-95 in Miami. The drive may test your ability with road rage.

Water Taxi. Broward County's unique means of transportation and sightseeing. Walk from CRTE under the Oakland Park drawbridge to Shooters and walk through the outside bar and dining area to the water. The water taxi stops there at the sign (or ask any wait staff). You can ride it all the way to Riverwalk while it makes lots of stops along the way. Some of the captains spin wonderful yarns.