Fort Lauderdale Port Companion

HISTORY

Long before Fort Lauderdale became a playground for yachts and beach lovers, the area was home to the Seminole people and a vast landscape of mangroves, waterways, and sawgrass. The city takes its name from a series of forts built during the Second Seminole War in the 1830s and what began as a remote trading outpost slowly transformed into a thriving community. Over the decades, Fort Lauderdale evolved from a quiet farming town known for pineapples and tomatoes into the vibrant waterfront destination it is today—where historic charm, tropical beauty, and a spirit of adventure still flow through every canal and boulevard.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY WHILE ASHORE
CALL: 911 (POLICE, FIRE, AND AMBULANCE)

FAST FACTS

POPULATION: Approximately 185,000 (city); over 6 million in the Greater Miami–Fort Lauderdale metro area

LANGUAGE: English; Spanish widely spoken

CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar (USD); major credit cards accepted throughout the city

TRANSPORTATION: Water Taxi, Brightline rail service, Broward County Transit buses, rideshares, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

CLAIM TO FAME: Known as the “Venice of America” with more than 300 miles of navigable waterways, world-class beaches, mega-yachts, and one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

DON’T MISS: A scenic Water Taxi ride through the city’s canals, the waterfront promenade along
Las Olas Boulevard or the new Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on 17th Street Causeway.

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EAT LIKE A LOCAL

Eating like a local in Fort Lauderdale means embracing flavors as vibrant as the city itself. Some of our top recommendations include savoring Asian-Latin fusion favorites at Casa Sensei, indulging in a legendary sundae at Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant that has been a staple since 1956, and sip handcrafted cocktails with waterfront views aboard The Shorely at Marina Village. It's a delicious journey through the local favorites that give South Florida its unmistakable flavor.