Winter Getaway: Ft. Lauderdale

During last year’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad February—seriously, it was the coldest month ever in history—I was DYING to get away. I was really regretting not having a trip planned. It was so, so bad.

Even last summer, we were planning ahead for a winter getaway of some sort. We didn’t have any specific destinations in mind, but we knew it had to be south. Warm. Or at least WARMER. We considered a cruise (we’ve never been on one), we considered the Caribbean. But then I got pregnant and we knew that by the time February rolled around, I would be too pregnant to go on a cruise (did you know they “say no” to pregnant women after 24 weeks??). And then when it came time to book, I looked at flights to a ton of different destinations and some were super expensive. So we ended up right back here in the good ol’ USA. I looked at every major airport in Florida and Ft. Lauderdale had the best prices. Also, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami happened to be the furthest south, with the hopes of the warmest temperatures.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

We booked the flights first, back in October, and we figured we’d find a place to stay as we got closer. I had my eye on a ton of different vacation rental sites but we weren’t find anything that was really great for us. Then, I had a conversation with our neighbor/friends about our plans and one thing led to another… they decided to come with us. So just before Thanksgiving, we were searching frantically not for a condo anymore, but a house for us to share. We found one that we LOVE and hope will be as great as it looks. It’s in Pompano Beach, so a little north of Ft. Lauderdale.

We don’t have many plans. We have a private heated pool, there is a play set in the fenced in yard, we are a short drive to the beach, and walking distance to a park. I don’t know if we’ll actually have “beach weather,” but it’ll likely be warm enough to at least go there and hang out with the kids, if not let them frolic in the water. But fingers crossed for warm temps during our weeklong stay, I will gladly take them.

Although I’m not worried about keeping busy, I do always like to ask for recommendations (as you probably know) so we have options and back-up plans. What’s good? What’s fun? Where to eat? Must-sees or must-dos? Educate us.

I’ve only been to Ft. Lauderdale once, and it was for work a little over a year ago. It wasn’t your typical business trip (I got to see and do stuff!) but it also wasn’t the same as traveling with my family. We’ve also been to Miami before, so not sure if we need to drive down there for any reason? We will have a car, however.

Anyway, the only real research we’ve done so far is to see how far our house is from the beach, Publix, and CrossFit gyms. In other words, I need you. :)