Fort Lauderdale Fun
I’ve always loved professional education events. From my early hair-show days to years spent attending church conferences for children’s ministry trainings, learning trips have always been my thing. So when my company offered continuing education in Fort Lauderdale then on a cruise ship… I didn’t hesitate. I was already halfway to the airport.
And let me tell you: Fort Lauderdale is basically where sunshine, good food and giant yachts all join forces to show you a good time. Here’s where we stayed, where we ate, and all the things we did — or attempted to do — in just two days.
✈️ Our Journey Begins
We flew out of Kansas City during the infamous government shutdown. Flights were being cancelled left and right… except ours. Somehow, we slipped through aviation chaos completely untouched. Other conference presenters weren’t so lucky — but we landed in Florida like champions with fully functioning travel karma.
🛏️ Home Base: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
A hotel on the water? Yes please.
We could walk to the cruise port, but didn't, wander to restaurants, and watch million-dollar yachts glide down the river like they were in a slow-motion music video. We had a giant catamaran yacht parked directly out our balcony. We only ever saw their staff working on the boat.
Great hotel, great location, and 10/10 for people-watching.
🚤 The Water Taxi:
I normally like a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Fort Lauderdale said, “Cute… but ours floats.” So we boarded the Water Taxi, which is more like a floating gossip session with sightseeing sprinkled in. The crew spills all sorts of tea:
- Who bought which mansion
- Who sold it in a divorce
- Who has a yacht named after their dog
- Who paid ONE DOLLAR per acre for 180 acres later to be donated as Birch park. (Yes, looking at you Hugh Taylor Birch)
- Stranahan House — built in 1901 by a guy who started as a postmaster and later became a civil rights advocate.
The whole route is a big "you will never be able to afford this but enjoy the view!"
And guess what? I did enjoy it. Thoroughly.
I posted the coolest houses on Facebook/Instagram because some were basically floating palaces with pools bigger than my childhood neighborhood.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091729281118
https://www.instagram.com/tamaraw.allwaystravelandtour
🍴 What We Ate
Food-wise, Fort Lauderdale understood the assignment. Here are the stars:
🍽️ Boatyard
Half a mile from the hotel and worth every step.
The steak tacos had flavor for days. My husband’s cheeseburger vanished in record time. It was a little too rare for my liking. Not fancy, just good.
🥗 Big Mike’s Healthy Choices
Breakfast spot with omelets, coffee, and options that say, “Yes, you can eat healthy during vacation.”
I ordered avacado toast it came on a gluten free waffle (which made it a little too much food for me). Husband had an omelet so he could try their homemade hot sauce, and I felt one percent like a healtnut influencer. 1%
🦞 Quarterdeck
Classic bar food — but upgraded.
I ordered the lobster roll (fresh and tasty, though New England still wins the lobster Olympics).
My husband loved the fish tacos.
🥯 Einstein Bros. Bagels
Reliable, comforting, and exactly what you want when your brain has a conference to attend. Bacon, egg & cheese… never fails.
🌅 The Little Things We Loved
✨Sitting on the 17th Street drawbridge watching boats glide under
✨Seeing cruise ships prep for thousands of passengers
✨People-watching on the marina (a sport of its own)
✨The mix of calm mornings and lively waterfront evenings
If you are sailing out of Fort Lauderdale you should take a couple days to explore the port area. Just say the word, I can book that!
