The spring break Mecca
Fort Lauderdale's reputation as a spring-break student paradise has unfortunately led many visitors to pass up on some of the splendid sites this city has to offer. Although it does feature 37 km (23 mi) of relaxing beaches, the beauty of this area goes well beyond its coast.
Although most of Fort Lauderdale's history only goes back 100 years or so, you will find a multitude of fascinating historic sites. Here, legends of pirates and hidden treasures merge with the architecture and people who founded this town. In fact, some of its original buildings were built with wood from the shipwrecks that lie scattered around the region. Fort Lauderdale's old image of "Spring Break Capital" is derived from its popularity with the coaches of university sports teams, who started coming here during the 1930s to get into shape. They soon began telling their students about the fabulous swimming conditions, and by the early 1960s, flocks of students were heading to this destination. Fort Lauderdale's strip is a bustling avenue that stretches for 8 km (5 mi) and reaches Sunrise Boulevard. Its sidewalks and beach are constantly animated, revealing a string of T-shirt shops, fast-food outlets, seedy bars with pool tables, and small hotels. This artery seems to have been specifically created for flirting; day and night, this is pretty much the main activity along the strip.