Ft. Lauderdale Attractions Butterfly World/Tradewinds Park South is a three acre park with a screened habitat to showcase live butterflies from five different continents. It is the largest such park in the world. Everglades Holiday Park gateway to 750,000 acres of unspoiled Everglades; airboat rides, tours and fishing. Flamingo Gardens offer museums, tours of orange groves, nature walks, and gift shops. Goodyear Blimp Base is one of only four blimp bases in operation in the world. Grand Prix Race-O-Rama offers big-time racing. Mai Kai recreates a Polynesian Village complete with tiki torches, thatch roof for a unique dining and entertainment experience. Sawgrass Recreation Park offers airboat rides, Indian Village, live alligator and reptile exhibit plus camping, boating and fishing. Seminole Native Indian Village is an authentic tribal settlement. Sightseeing Tours Carrie B Sightseeing Cruises offers tours of the New River, Intracoastal Waterway and Port Everglades. Jungle Queen offers old-time riverboat cruises on the canals with dinner and entertainment. Las Olas Horse and Carriage Paddlewheel Queen lets your cruise the Intracoastal on board a paddlewheel boat. South Florida Trolley offers "old style" historical tours. Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale is the perfect way to tour the Intracoastal or take a "Historic Cruise" of the New River, sponsored by the Historic Society. Natural Attractions In addition to its beaches and waterways, Broward County has 288 parks, three natural reefs, and the Everglades. An artificial reef provides divers with a unique mix of tropical underwater experiences. Cultural Activities Museums and Historic Sites Bonnet House (one of the few remaining ocean-front estates) Broward Art Guild Broward County Historical Commission Buehler Planetarium Flamingo Gardens Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale Historical Society Graves Museum of Archaeology & Natural History Hillsboro Inlet Light Station (historic light marks the northern limit of the Florida Reef. Hollywood Art & Culture Center International Swimming Hall of Fame King-Cromartie house (historic residence) Museum of Discovery and Science (allows visitors to touch and explore exhibits in art, history and science) Pompano Beach Historical Museum Stranahan House (Broward's oldest existing structure) Young at Art Museum (hands-on children's museum) Libraries There are 28 libraries in Broward County including an eight-story, 260,000-square-foot main research and resource center in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It has earned architectural recognition for its unique design. Performing Arts Theatre Bailey Hall features concerts and ballets. Broward Center for the Performing Arts is a state of the art complex featuring two theaters. Brian Smiths Off Broadway Theatre Coral Springs City Centre features music, dance and visiting concerts. Parker Playhouse features per- and post-Broadway productions. Sunrise Musical Theatre showcases the world's brightest stars and revues. Story Theatre Productions and the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre feature children's productions. Theatre Under the Stars is an open-air bandshell offering free musical performances. Vinnette Carroll Theatre shows the best of on, off and sometimes off- off Broadway. Additionally, there are a number of neighborhood theaters located in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano Beach. Shopping Spanning the north and south banks of Fort Lauderdale's New River is the Riverwalk Park, a waterfront park in the heart of Downtown. Along these historic banks, native Americans brought their ocean catches upriver to trade, and early settlers brought their harvest for rail shipment north. This bustling area eventually served as the birthplace of Fort Lauderdale. Today, lush tropical landscape and winding walkways link attractions, restaurants and shops on Florida's Most Beautiful Mile. Riverwalk Park is a multimillion-dollar project involving state, local and private funding and combining the arts, history, entertainment, higher education, and various businesses. In 1986, the residents of the City of Fort Lauderdale voted favorably on a General Bond Obligation to spend $8 million on a 65,000 square-foot expansion of the Museum of Discovery and Science and $7.4 million on the Riverwalk. Presently, the Riverwalk begins in the west at the historic Stranahan House and winds west along the New River to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Riverwalk's path encompasses the core downtown area, the Florida Atlantic University Tower, the Museum of Art, Bubier Park, the Historic District with its original homes, Olde Towne (formerly Himmarshee) merchants and restaurants, the Museum of Discovery and Science, the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Las Olas Riverfront and the proposed New World Aquarium. The passage of a Parks and Recreation bond referendum in the fall of 1996 granted money for the expansion of Riverwalk past Stranahan House to connect with the fashionable Las Olas Shops. With new residential projects in the planning stages, Riverwalk Park will soon be completed on the South side of the New River. Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Inc., a non profit organization, was created in 1988 to raise funds for beautification and enhancement of the Riverwalk Park. The group has sold over 16,000 Signature Bricks along the Riverwalk to accomplish this goal. Their most recent gift to the Riverwalk Park was a $20,500 for a Native Plant Exhibit in Esplanade Park. The exhibit will showcase native plant species, bird houses, a waterfall, and a self guided tour in conjunction with the Museum of Discovery and Science. Inaugurated in September of 1995, the Riverwalk of Fame is quite appropriately located in front of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The special section recognizes nationally known public figures visiting Broward County. Stars like Michael Caine, Roger Moore, Loretta Swit, David Copperfield, George Hamilton, and Micky Mouse decorate the walk. Riverwalk office (954) 468-1541. How to get to Riverwalk: By car: From US1 (Federal Highway) - Take Broward Boulevard West to SW 5 Avenue, turn Left to Municipal Parking. From I-95 - Exit Broward Blvd. East. Continue east to SW 5 Avenue, turn right, to Municipal Parking. Public Transportation:- Take the complimentary Tri-Rail shuttle weekday, (954) 728-8512, or Broward County Transit, weekends, (954) 357-8400, to several convenient downtown locations near the Riverwalk. Or take the colorful TMAX Shuttle (954) 761-3543 By boat: Water Taxi (954) 467-6677 Docking facilities: For reservations call 24 hours a day 1-800-385-3625 Day dockage is available at Las Olas Riverfront, Downtowner Saloon, Chart House Restaurant, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts The New River Facility nestled in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale features grassy picnic areas and copper-topped pavilions with a view of downtown. Amenities include water, electric, telephone jacks, Cable/HBO, dockside parking, deep water dockage, public telephones, and fueling site. The Cooley Landing Marine Facility is situated on the Riverwalk in the arts and science district. Amenities include comfort station complete with restrooms, showers and laundromat. Also features water, electric, phone jacks, 3 boat launches, sewage pumpout connections at each slip, public telephones, near restaurants and boat yards. Tour the Riverwalk by boat: Shirttail Charlie's complimentary after-dinner cruise (954) 463-3474 Riverfront Marina Boat Rentals (954) 527-1829 Riverfront Cruises (at Las Olas Riverfront) (954) 463-3372 Carrie B Sightseeing Tour (954) 768-9920 Implementation of the Sportswalk of Fame in Esplanade Park in October of 1996 recognizes nationally known sports figures visiting Broward County, including Dan Marino and Tom Landry.           Premier Vacation Rentals Judy Robbins Phone: U.S. and Canada Only: 800-872-3043 Outside U.S.: 818-766-6503 Fax: 818-766-6603