Things To Do In Fort Lauderdale

My vacations usually are ill conceived, poorly planned, and chaotic expeditions which, by nature, habit and necessity, morph into an 'off the beaten track' kind of holiday, with stops at quaint hick towns, roadside diners and detours to places which have probably never ever seen a tourist before. I'm not joking either. Last year I was in Bakersfield, CA, and I blogged about it, and someone at the City's tourism portal saw my post, and they were all abuzz on their forum about what exactly a tourist was doing in Bakersfield, how I got there, and how come no one realized I was a tourist. Tell me about it ....

Point is that I like it just this way, because the joy of traveling, and the things you discover on the road, is what I consider the vacation. Visiting a world famous tourist attraction like Miami's South Beach or Orlando's Walt Disney World Resort is just a duty - So I can tell family and friends that, yes, I visited this place or that place and saw this and that.... So, for the record, in between my discoveries and food and drink foraging in and around Fort Lauderdale, I did manage to bump into a few of these well known tourist watering holes, and here's my list of things to do in Fort Lauderdale.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park - A 180 acre park sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Inland Waterway, this island is more of a throwback to the tranquility of undiscovered lands in centuries gone past - Serene beaches, freshwater lagoons, waves crashing on the rocks, mangrove swamps - It all adds up to an idyllic getaway from the ravages wreaked by man on the rest of Florida. Info: 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale FL 33304;(954) 564-4521; www.floridastateparks.org/hughtaylorbirch/

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens - A well preserved and complete house, it was designed by Frederic Clay Bartlett, and has all kinds of murals and art works which double in as furnishings and decor. I'm not terribly fond of museums and houses converted into museums signifying the lives of dead people (isn't it morbid?), but Bonnet House, and the Gardens, are well worth at least one visit, especially if you happen to be in Fort Lauderdale. Info: 900 North Birch Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33304; (954) 563-5393; www.bonnethouse.org

Voodoo Lounge - A cavernous dance club, a bar, DJ's mixing it up with hip-hop and R&B, a hip clientele and a private lounge make this a must-visit watering hole if you're fond of the urban delights a new place has to offer. Info: 111 SW 2nd Ave Fort Lauderdale FL 33301; (954) 522-0733; www.voodooloungeflorida.com/

Jungle Queen Riverboat Cruise - This sightseeing cruise on the Jungle Queen riverboat takes you up the New River to the JungleQueen Indian village, with downtown Fort Lauderdale and the historic yacht basins along the way. Info: Departs daily at 9.30 am and 1.30 pm; Address: Bahai Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd Fort Lauderdale FL 33316; Reservations -(954) 462-5596; www.junglequeen.com

Museum of Discovery and Science and IMAX 3D Theater - Featuring over 200 interactive exhibits, this museum is a wondrous place where you can find sharks, pet alligators, iguanas, and bats, take a simulated trip to the Moon or Mars, and best of all, catch a film at the five-story-high screen at AutoNation IMAX ® Theater. Now that's what I call a platinum screen ... Info: 401 SW Second Street Fort Lauderdale FL 33312; (954) 467-6637; www.mods.org/