Miles of Lagoons and waterways make Fort Lauderdale one of the most popular areas on Florida’s Gold Coast. Getting around Fort Lauderdale is half the fun: One of the city's main thoroughfares is the New River, where you can hop on a water bus or taxi and take in the sights. This South Florida city's extensive system of waterways and a reputation for gracious living have made it one of the country's largest yachting centers. Restaurants and bars overlook the canals, and several of the city's special events, including a winter holiday boat parade that draws local, national and international celebrities, revolve around boating and the water.

Major redevelopment in the 1990s left Fort Lauderdale with an abundance of excellent museums, art galleries, restaurants, hotels, and chic sidewalk cafes. An elegant beachfront promenade attracts upscale vacationers from all over the world. Once known strictly as a tourism-based economy, Fort Lauderdale now supports a diverse range of industries, including marine, manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, high technology, avionics/aerospace, film and television production.

Incorporated on March 27, 1911, the City of Fort Lauderdale is situated on the southeast coast of Florida, centrally located between Miami and Palm Beach. Encompassing more than 33 square miles with a population of nearly 167,000, Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County's 30 municipalities and the seventh largest city in Florida. It is strategically located along a stretch of wide, white-sand beach.

Several nearby coastal communities make up Greater Fort Lauderdale. To the north are Pompano Beach (where sportfishing is a favored pastime), Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (a small seaside oasis) and Deerfield Beach (virtually untouched by beach erosion). To the south are Port Everglades (the country's second-busiest port, frequented by top cruise lines), Dania Beach (known for its antiques), Hallandale Beach (a seaside community formerly home to retirees but now popular with younger folks, as well) and Hollywood (its Boardwalk parallels the ocean).

Las Olas Boulevard, which follows the New River as it flows toward the Atlantic Ocean, is Fort Lauderdale's upscale shopping and dining district. If you are a history buff, the restored Victorian home of city founder Frank Stranahan, now a museum, can easily be included in a boulevard stroll. The picturesque Riverwalk serves as the cornerstone of the City's arts, science, cultural and historic district.

At the far west end of the boulevard is Las Olas Riverfront, an entertainment and retail complex. Getting around Fort Lauderdale is part of the sightseeing experience: Water taxis ferry passengers between hotels, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs until midnight. At night, the twinkling lights along the canals make the rides quite romantic.

Though most of Florida's professional teams are based in Miami-Dade County, South Florida is home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins, MLB's champion Florida Marlins and the NBA's Miami Heat. The NHL's Florida Panthers play in nearby Sunrise. In spring, South Florida is a mecca for baseball teams: Fort Lauderdale hosts the Baltimore Orioles, and a neighbor to the north, Jupiter, is the temporary home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos.

Some of the less traditional shopping areas, frequented mostly by locals, are of great interest to the visiting treasure hunter. Antique buffs may want to head to Dania Beach's Antique Row with its dozens of shops within a few blocks along Highway 1. Bargain shoppers will enjoy Pompano Beach's Festival Flea Market which houses more than 650 vendors, an arcade and a farmers market, and the Swap Shop, the state's largest indoor/outdoor flea market. Sawgrass Mills is a vast, totally enclosed, climate controlled shopping city. This super sized outlet mall is so large that it is marked off inside with street signs. There is never a slow day at Sawgrass Mills.

Fort Lauderdale retains a fun-loving, beach town atmosphere, but it also offers activities ranging from contemporary art exhibits to Major League Soccer games. At the heart of the city's cultural life is the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts operas, ballets, theater productions, symphony concerts and other performances by both local and touring companies.

Fort Lauderdale offers an outstanding quality of life, highlighted by a semi-tropical climate, rich natural beauty and array of cultural, entertainment and educational amenities. Embraced by the Atlantic Ocean, New River and a myriad of scenic inland waterways, Fort Lauderdale truly lives up to its designation as the "Venice of America."