Arrival in Fort Lauderdale
After a mammoth transit effort of 3 flights and a total travel time of 32 hours door to door we arrived in Fort Lauderdale just past midnight on the same day we left Sydney (crazy time zones!).
We checked in at the Embassy Suites by Hilton and were greeted by a friendly pair in reception who were happy, chatty and welcoming. The room (as expected from research and pics) was slightly outdated, but it was a spacious suite and clean with a super-comfy bed, so who cares? We were on the 11th floor and had views of the cruise ships. AND we had complimentary breakfast and happy hour in the evening. Solid start to the holiday.
Stranahan House Museum
Our first full day of this trip and we intended to walk the city of Fort Lauderdale. It rained most of the day, but we were not phased – we walked 10km in total!
We headed straight to the Boathouse in the Riverside Hotel for lunch. We enjoyed a couple of tapas styled plates: seared Ahi Tuna Tataki – lightly seared Ahi Tuna, Hass avocado, heirloom tomatoes, citrus pickled red onions, watermelon radish, arugula, black sesame seeds; guacamole – handpressed avocados, jalapeno, red onions, cilantro, pita chips; side of curry roasted cauliflower and toasted almonds. All this underscored by a soundtrack of Ella, Louis, Bublé and a bit of Dean Martin in his boozy glory.
Stranaham House Museum was a delightful surprise for a couple of history nerds who love old houses and the stories of those who lived in them. We learnt about an amazing woman called Ivy Stranahan – a suffragist, educator and philanthropist. She was the first school teacher in the area, and was also a vegetarian and a friend of the indigenous people – educating their children when it was illegal for them to attend school.
Window Shopping
We did a bit of window shopping on one of the flashest shopping streets of Fort Lauderdale – Las Olas Blvd. Popped into ‘Optical Spectrum’ to have them tweak the nose pads on my new glasses that were pinching a little. The lovely owners, Scott and Michael, not only dealt with my pinching issues, but they were excellent conversationalists, and it was a delightful, serendipitous moment of connection talking about our love of all things theatrical and New York. They had impeccable taste in frames and we could’ve easily spent a fortune in designer eyewear!
After this encounter we bought some handmade chocolates at Hoffman’s on Las Olas Blvd and then headed towards home. Got diverted at the New River checking out the water taxi options. The big tour was something to investigate for tomorrow, but in the meantime, they suggested a free 20min adventure along the New River that ended with us on the opposite side of the river, slightly closer to home, and having enjoyed some water time with convivial chat with the skipper, Carly. Good choice.
Bonnet House
After careful study of the water taxi routes, we headed out the next morning for stop number 4, 15 minutes from our hotel. We took the water taxi north to stop 7 where we alighted for the Bonnet House tour. This was insight into another extraordinary woman – Evelyn Bartlett, who was advanced in thought and action in all manner of ways. She picked up painting (and was very good at it!) just from observing her husband at the easel and became a well-known artist and patron of the arts. She died at the age of 109 after convincing the government to let her live tax free until she died under the proviso that she gift her property to them. This agreement was made when she was 75 and she saved $20 million in taxes from then until her death. What a woman!
Lona Concina Tequileria
Lunch was had at Lona Concina Tequileria (which seems to be listed everywhere as simply, Lona). We shared three delicious appetizers – blue crab tostada (blue jumbo lump crab meat, aioli, fresno peppers, avocado, cilantro, lime); mushroom epanadas – wild mushrooms, refried beans, crema fresca, aged cotija cheese; tacos vegetales – seasonal and local vegetables. We both chose house speciality margaritas, one of which had vanilla infused tequila, and the other had ginger infused tequila. The rest of the ingredients are a mystery, but they were both delicious!
Caught the water taxi and took the long way back to our stop – we headed north before going south so we could gawk at the millionaires’ mansions (who am I kidding – BILLIONAIRES!). Got back to our hotel in time for happy hour before heading back to our room for some downtime. Tomorrow is a big day.
Read our full Caribbean Cruise story here:
Part 1 (current): Fort Lauderdale
Part 2: Sky Princess (coming soon)
Accommodation: Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale
Click on any image below to view as gallery
- Evening view from hotel, Fort Lauderdale
- Water taxi exterior, Fort Lauderdale
- Iguana close up, Fort Lauderdale
- Multiple iguanas, Fort Lauderdale
- Interior water taxi, Fort Lauderdale
- Cloudy skies from the water taxi, Fort Lauderdale
- ‘Asleep’ on the water in Fort Lauderdale
- Water taxi journey, Fort Lauderdale
- Everyone enjoying lunch at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- Lunch at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- Catching some rays, Fort Lauderdale
- Evelyn Bartlett bust at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Marble bust in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Tiger carving, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Room in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Our guide and his walker at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Studio at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Camel sculpture, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Bonnet House Garden, Fort Lauderdale
- Bridge in Fort Lauderdale
- Pirate cruise, Fort Lauderdale
- Paddleboat, Fort Lauderdale
- Hoffman’s Chocolates, Fort Lauderdale
- Close up of mermaid and gob-smacked monkey outside shop, Fort Lauderdale
- Three wise monkeys sitting on a bench, Fort Lauderdale
- Garden and exterior Shanahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- Bedroom in Stranahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- Festive fireplace in Stranahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- Representation of Ivy Stranahan in the Stranahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- The Boathouse Restaurant, Riverside Hotel, Fort Lauderdale
- Community cat sign, Fort Lauderdale
- Nice change to see a teacher honoured with a statue, Fort Lauderdale
- Pretty but smelly Tarpon River in Fort Lauderdale
- Evening view from Embassy Suites by Hilton, Fort Lauderdale
- King premium suite in Embassy Suites by Hilton, Fort Lauderdale
- Atrium of Embassy Suites by Hilton, Fort Lauderdale
- Looking into the foyer of the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Fort Lauderdale
- Waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale
- Water taxi stop, Fort Lauderdale
- Night view from Embassy Suites, Fort Lauderdale
- Snacks at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- Mushroom epanadas at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- Umbrellas at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- House specialty margaritas at Lona Concina Tequileria, Fort Lauderdale
- Exterior Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Orchid greenhouse, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Shuttered doorway entrance, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Palm trees in Bonnet House garden, Fort Lauderdale
- Fountain in Bonnet House garden, Fort Lauderdale
- Orchids in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Thin tree trunks in Bonnet House garden, Fort Lauderdale
- Gilded door and frame in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Tiled doorway in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Kitchen cabinets in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Old kitchen at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Courtyard at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Art works in the studio at Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Ostrich carving, Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale
- Sprawling waterfront property Fort Lauderdale
- ‘Shack’ with ‘tinny’, Fort Lauderdale
- Zola Keller bridal designs, Fort Lauderdale
- Interior 2 of Hoffman’s Chocolates, Fort Lauderdale
- Interior 1 of Hoffman’s Chocolates, Fort Lauderdale
- Close up of chocolate truffles in Hoffman’s, Fort Lauderdale
- Chocolates in Hoffman’s, Fort Lauderdale
- Closeup of three wise monkey statue, Fort Lauderdale
- Bulldog statue in Fort Lauderdale
- The shop ‘Optical Spectrum’ in Fort Lauderdale
- Docked at the edge of Fort Lauderdale shopping precinct
- Information about Ivy Stranahan at the Stranahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- Exterior of Stranahan House Museum, Fort Lauderdale
- Side of curried roasted cauliflower at The Boathouse, Fort Lauderdale
- Seared Ahi Tuna Tataki at The Boathouse, Fort Lauderdale
- Homemade guacamole and pita chips at The Boathouse, Fort Lauderdale
- Nic loving the vibe and food at The Boathouse, Fort Lauderdale
- John ready for cocktails and a yummy lunch at The Boathouse, Fort Lauderdale
- Stone garden path in Bonnet House, Fort Lauderdale