First Time Visitor: Off-the-beat'n track. Fort Lauderdal, Miami, Key West (Fort Lauderdale: live in, shop)

[sk071077]

Was Metro Zoo mentioned? It's a great zoo if you like that sort of thing.

[Nolefan34]

Originally Posted by hOlliewood Boi

NO!!! If traveling from MIA to Ft Laud, the last thing you want is to get lost in Miami-Dade county.

Just take the airport expressway to I-95 and head north. It.s a 15 minute drive, and safe.

Not to alarm you, but there have been a few incidents where tourists got lost in MDC and stopped to ask for directions, only to be mugged, or worse, murdered.

PB1>

Are you alive?

I just saw your post and hope you did not veer off of the expressways in Miami-Dade.

Note to all future visitors to South FL: DO NOT VEER OFF OF THE EXPRESSWAYS IN IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY! Especially when heading north from the airport towards Fort Lauderdale. Unless you know where you are going, you will wind up in an unfamiliar neighborhood that will most likely be dangerous. This is how many tourists have been carjacked and murdered in previous years.

There is no practical advantage to using local highways either. There are thousands of traffic lights and it would take you a year and a day to get to Fort Lauderdale on local roads. Even with heavy traffic, the expressways are the only efficient way to travel between MIA airport and Fort Lauderdale.

That said, I do not believe these neighborhoods are as dangerous today as back in the 90's. I've driven through many of these areas without an issue. But I also know where I am going, and only go in these neighborhoods when necessary.

[Barry3979]

Which are the best night club in Fort Lauderdale? Safe too?

[AliciaMaria]

Cappones in downtown Lauderdale is always a good time! The whole riverfront area is pretty cool to visit.

[Nolefan34]

Capones no longer exists. It is now called "Sports Bar" or something like that. It looks the same, just changed names. But there are better night clubs. Living Room and America's Backyard are good. They are both in downtown. If you want real night clubs (not bars and lounges) then go to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Opium and Pangea are the two I know of. Also, on Fort Lauderdale Beach there is Exit 66 which is pretty good.

[jasper12]

PLEASE do not scare people, I live in Miami, and have not been killed yet. Going to Key Biscayne is nice, right off the 95 past downtown Miami. I like renting a bike and cruising around the park there.

[Nolefan34]

jasper12>

Key Biscayne is a far cry from Opa-Locka lol. I was referring to the rougher areas around the airport and in the northwest quadrant of the city. The poster wanted to know if he could take local roads to Fort Lauderdale. That would mean he'd have to drive through those parts. I do not recommend that for tourists. That's all. He would not pass by Key Biscayne.

[Tom Lennox 70]

This is a helpful thread as I'll also be visiting South Florida in January.

Anyone able to compare Sombrero Beach in Marathon vs. Bahia Honda State Park at the other end of the Seven Mile Bridge? Vs. the other beaches in the Florida Keys? Also is it better to spend a day in Key West vs visiting Dry Tortugas National Park?

[fivefingers]

Originally Posted by LASam

Last time I was in Miami my fiance and I checked out Vizcaya and thought that was pretty amazing. The architecture, the gardens, the tour, the setting, the history... all great.

I agree with your your opinion.

[Chuck12020123]

Having lived in CT I'd suggest you stay out of Miam, alwaysi. Miami Beach is very good but expensive. Communting is difficult in the area so if you are working in Hollywood I'd look in Hollwood or a bit East in Pembrooke Pines.