In 1913, Arthur Galt, a Chicago lawyer, bought the property that is now named in his honor along…read morewith 8,000 acres west of the Intracoastal. Galt was the son of the law partner of Hugh Taylor Birch, who once owned most of what is today's Fort Lauderdale Beach. During Florida's Land Boom years in the 1920's, the the Countess of Lauderdale, Gwendolyn Maitland, decided to create a resort to rival Palm Beach in Fort Lauderdale. Her partners in the project included two Lords, a Viscount, an ex-King of Greece fellow aristocratic Palm Beachers, including society's ruling Grande dame, Mrs. E.T Stotesbury.The new resort town, incorporated on November 25, 1925, was called Floranada, a combination "Florida" and "Canada." The cornerstone was laid for Florinada Inn, a golf course was built and a narrow-gauge railroad was ordered. Hurricanes and the Great Depression caused the end of Florida's land boom. The company had sold only a few lots and the money on these was refunded and the land reverted to Galt with no other buyers. In 1927 the last remaining oceanfront public beaches in the city of Fort Lauderdale were declared off limits to blacks, so they used the Ocean Mile, which became known as the black beach. Galt held on and refused to sell his land to just anyone and he turned down an offer for a trailer park. In 1953, Coral Ridge Properties, Inc. formed by James S. Hunt and Stephen Calder purchased a tract of land from Arthur Galt from what is now Fort Lauderdale north from Sunrise Boulevard, between U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway north to Floranada Road plus the ocean frontage north of Oakland Park Boulevard. The sale was $19.4 million, the largest real estate development deal ever recorded in Florida at the time. Coral Ridge Properties subdivided the land and as sections were developed, they were annexed by the City of Ft. Lauderdale. Soon after hotels and other buildings began popping up. The first building was The Beach Club located where part of the L' Hermitage Condos now stand. The first oceanfront hotel, the four million, 257 room Galt Ocean Mile Hotel opened in 1957. Coral Ridge Properties then built the Ocean Manor, the first high-rise hotel with beach frontage. The Mile developed rapidly as a local and tourist hot spot and sales began to boom with The Fountainhead and The Ocean Summit followed by the Commodore in 1965. Galt Ocean Mile became the premier spot for affluent retirees from the Northeast, the Midwest and Canada who wanted to escape harsh winters and bathe in the sun. Today, the Galt Ocean Mile is lined with high-rise condominiums and luxury dwellings worth millions of dollars. It is prized for its restaurants on the Intracostal Waterway, marinas, and proximity to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The community is considered to have the largest strip of high-rise condominiums in Fort Lauderdale and even has its own road, Galt Ocean Drive, which veers off State Road A1A at Oakland Park Boulevard. Through the years the once elderly population is shifting younger as it becomes attractive for up-and-coming professionals around the country. I like to visit Galt Ocean Mile for the restaurants like Smoke BBQ, shopping, and beach parks.

Stretching for about a mile along the beach is Galt Ocean Mile, a collection of the ugliest high…read morerise building structures ever created. They're mostly creations of the 70's and totally lacking in architectural design. They block any view of the beach and do their best to prevent public access to the beach, which though illegal, they get away with it anyway.

I found out about El Galeón Andalucía visiting Fort Lauderdale from the Sun-Sentinel. It is a…read morereplica of 16th century treasure ships, similar to those used to explorers like Ponce de Leon. It looked impressive in the article, and seemed like a fun and different activity, so I decided to check it out on my day off. Given that it was a Wednesday, I wasn't entirely surprised that I was pretty much the only person on board the ship. I got to explore at my leisure, and they have signs at various parts telling you what it is you're looking at and how it was used. The very front was roped off, so you couldn't go past a certain point, and the same for the back. It's too bad I couldn't get a photo while holding the ship wheel (yep, it was behind the rope), because that would've been a pretty sweet photo op. Once you've explored the deck, you can head down below where the cannons are, and read all of the information about these kinds of ships and how they were used. They even have iPads with information on various explorers and shipwrecks near Florida, as well as a game for kids on them. Then you can head down one deck lower and watch a movie on how the ship was built. I originally thought the $16 price tag was a bit high to visit this ship, but after seeing how incredibly detail-oriented they were in crafting it and everything in it (even the furniture was hand-crafted), I gained a new appreciation for just how complex a task it was to make such a fantastic replica. The movie doesn't have any narration, just music, but it's well worth watching. El Galeón Andalucía is only in town until December 14th, and is well worth the visit. Parking at the Las Olas Marina is super easy and cheap ($1 an hour), and you only need about an hour to see everything on the ship and take pictures, maybe longer if it is crowded.

El Galeon Andalucia is as exact a replica as possible of one of Spain's 16th-17th century galleon…read moreships and the only galleon class sailing ship in the world. Its sparred length is 171 feet, 495 tons. 7 sail square rigged, with a freeboard of 11'9", a daft on 9'9", 33'3" beam, a 10,010 square foot sail area, working crew of twenty based out of Spain that travels the world but attempts to schedule a docking a Las Olas Marina to coincided with the Fort Lauderdale Boat Parade. Boarding her offers a fascinating 500 year step back in time to the days of Spain's West Indies Trade, arrival of Juan Ponce de León, and the time of pirates, explorers, gold and treasurers of the New World. Thanks to a first review tip off by Yelper Cherine A. I was able to board El Galeon Andlaucia, look her over and visit with her Spanish crew. I've been aboard many a replica ship, in fact my primary Yelp profile picture has me standing in Barcelona in front of a replica of Columbus's ship, but of all the historic replica ships I've been aboard, this one is the best as well as the most outstanding of them all. It's a fully functional ship, has traveled around the world, and has its officer and crew quarters, cannon and most everything else as historically accurate as possible. If you have any interest in the early sailing ships when Spain ruled the West Indies Trade as well as our home state of Florida, the El Galeon Andalucia is a must see.

Strip mall located between the bridge and A1A in Lauderdale by the Sea. It has a variety of…read morebusinesses like a greek restaurant, bait and tackle store, hardware store, souvenir t-shirt store, bike shop, dentist, pizza place, etc. You have to pay to park. The Ace hardware store has customer parking in the back, but the Beach King store does not. Cute shopping mall.

This is shopping plaza located on the south side of Commercial Blvd on the beach side of the…read moreIntracoastal. Across the street is a similar looking strip mall called Green Turtle Plaza. Parrot Plaza is home of Chicago Stuffed Pizza Co. which I have bookmarked but have not checked out yet. This plaza also contains Uptown Keese's which is a Greek restaurant, an Ace Hardware store, and a bike shop. My favorite part of this plaza is the Queen Parrotfish sculpture by Laura Fisher Huck (2013) located at the entrance. Laura Fisher Huck also created a green turtle sculpture for the Green Turtle Plaza across the street. On the Queen Parrotfish sculpture there is a plaque that tells you different facts about parrotfish like how their buck teeth scrape off algae and that they change sex several times during their lifetime. The fish in the sculpture is displayed in elk horn coral which is considered to be one one of the most important types of coral on the reef because it grows quickly providing many habits for the creatures that live on the reef. I love finding these beautiful sea life sculptures that add to the beauty and charm of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Great event to support small/local businesses, art galleries and independent artists and vendors…read moreevery last Saturday of the month in FAT Village and the MASS District. There is a great selection of paintings, prints, jewelry, clothing, etc, mostly hand made with a number of food trucks serving all kinds of food and live music in both venues and on the street. I find the best way to attend this event is to park in the MASS District side (two large/free parking lots in the corner behind Flagler and Sunrise) and take advantage of the free shuttle back and forth between the two neighborhoods to experience the whole event. There are often "after" type events at some of the local venues with live music and drinks.

My low rate is not on the festival. It's on the parking. If you are not familiar with this area…read morelike me. You found limited options and no guiding parking signs. I did see an area after I parked where to park for $10 cash only. You can try parking on the dark side streets. I did but then I was worried I might get towed. They close a section of a street and that has warehouses. I got here around 6:30 . It got really happening after 7:30, more lively. The warehouses showcase local vendors and art work. Some of the artists are physically there also. It's actually nice. You can ask them questions. The open air smells yummy. Specifically when the food truck are working there cooking magic. Over five diferent type of food trucks here. They had a talented live performer and music playing at the other side of the street. They did a good job putting this event together.

Several of the businesses here operate on appointment only concept which consume a majority of the…read morefree parking for thirty minutes to an hour. The Your Patio Store is the anchor of the plaza. There are a few eateries which include Porfa Coffee, Times Square Pizza and PS Green Cafe but parking is a frustrating disaster with decrepit ancient meter parking monitored by the City of Fort Lauderdale - unsure if they actually work. The traffic is influenced by the intersection of the Coral Ridge Mall. Not a fan of this plaza, although a few decent businesses. A weak three stars is pushing the limit.

Located at one of the busiest intersections in Broward County, N Federal Hwy and East Oakland Park…read moreBlvd, you will find this MiMo gem, the Times Square shopping center. MiMo refers to the architecture style Mid-century modern. Started in Germany after WWII, it is a style that was popular from the mid-1930s to mid-1960s. The hallmarks of the design are simplicity and functionality. Expect to see sleek lines, little ornamentation, gentle organic curves, and mixed materials. Mid Century Modern is considered Broward's signature architecture. The Time Square shopping plaza was designed by architect Charles McKirahan in 1954 and built in 1957. McKirahan was one of the most noted mid-20th-century architects in Fort Lauderdale. He married his architect school girlfriend and together they founded a firm with more than 100 architects which they expanded internationally. McKirahan's architectural studio was located in the shopping center. He is responsible for the stunning A-frame of the the original Mai-Kai. For this plaza his design elements included screen block walls, geometric forms and glazed curtain walls. Sadly he passed away at the young age of 44 in a car accident. His son Charles "Chuck" McKirahan followed in his parents footprints and also became a celebrated architect. While the Ft. Lauderdale historical society did a great job of preserving the pioneer history of Ft. Lauderdale along the New River, this shopping center did not receive the same treatment from the Historic Preservation Board. It was renovated in 2019. The most prominent building on U.S. 1, a curved building with red brick screen wall, had the defining wall removed and replaced with sliding glass doors. Today you can still see some of the MiMo design elements McKirahan added but it is looking a little run down. The plaza has a furniture store, Times Square Pizza, and Smarty Pants, a bar to name a few of the businesses. If you are a local you have probably passed this plaza a thousand times without a second glance on your way to the beach. True fans of architecture and history know however that is worth a second glance.

Small strip mall located on the north side of Commercial, right before you get to A1A if you are…read morecoming from Federal. It has a variety of restaurants, massage place, insurance and doctor's offices, tobacco shop, French bakery, tailor shop and some boutique shops. The stand outs are the Caribbean restaurant Alexsandra's and the sandwich shop Laspada's Hoagies.

Lauderdale by the Sea Sea is such a charming beach town and this strip mall plaza fits right into…read moretheir aesthetic with its pastel colored buildings. Green Turtle Plaza is located on the north side of Commercial Boulevard on the beach side when you cross over the Intracoastal. Businesses in the plaza include La Spada's, the best sub chain in South Florida. The original LaSpada's was also in Lauderdale by the Sea but at a different location south of Commercial Boulevard. They moved to this larger location in 2013. Other businesses here include Frenchy's, a massage place, a dentist and doctor offices, a frame and art store, and an Allstate office. Parking in this plaza is not free. You can park by app or feed the meter. Lauderdale by the Sea took inspiration from the ocean when naming this plaza and the Parrotfish Plaza across the street. My favorite part of this plaza besides LaSpada's is the Green Turtle and Blue Tang sculpture by Laura Fisher Huck (2013) at the entrance. The colorful sculpture has a plaque on it explaining the unique relationship between sea turtles and blue tang fish. The fish give the turtles a kind of bath by eating the algae off their body at cleaning stations throughout the reef. The plaque also reminds me people that the green turtles are a protected species. This sculpture is so pretty and there are several other similar ones around this area of Lauderdale by the Sea adding to the loveliness of this beach town.

I stumbled on this interesting little park on the way home from picking up my Yelp awards and it…read moreturns out it has quite a bit of history. The entire block that this park sits on was once owned by Lucius Kinsey. He became one of the first settlers to the area when he moved to what would become Oakland Park in 1914 with his wife Nora. Oakland park became a city in 1929 and Mr. Kinsey served on the first city council. Mr. Kinsey eventually gave the part of his property that is Art Park to Leroy and Iris Kinsey Chadwick. They built a home where they lived for the next 50 years. Leroy, or Roy as he was known was also a city councilman and he owned a construction company that built many of the homes in Oakland Park. The couples daughter Darleen was born at home on January 6, 1926 and was listed as the first baby born in the town of Floranada, the first name of Oakland Park. When Darlene grew up she became the City Clerk for 25 years. Art Park opened in November of 2013. It is open from dawn to dusk. The park is ADA accessible with sidewalks, a seating wall, open space for events, and sculptures. There are large red abstract sculptures surrounding an open space, an art wall, and a piece dedicated to the AIDS epidemic. There is free street parking. The park is small but I love history and art so I was delighted to find it. Well done Oakland Park for marking your history and bringing culture to the community.

While searching on Yelp for vintage shops in Oakland Park, this Art Park popped up and almost…read morepassed by the small cement sign on the corner of Andrews Ave next to the Roselli Park Plaza. It was strange, since there was only one art exhibit in the grass visible only from the side roadway. A tower of multi colored hand painted squares depicting red ribbons and alot of awkward unexplainable designs. At the bottom of the exhibit was a placard advising the art was dedicated by the World Aids Museum and Educational Center called Project H.O.P.E. Not something I would recommend driving out of your way to experience.

This is a 18 foot high public art piece located in Central Broward Regional Park in front of the…read moreLauderdale Library and Performing Arts Center. It was created by artist Alice Aycock and it was installed in 2008 at a cost of $322,000. Aycock also has sculptures displayed at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Philadelphia International Airport, and JFK International Airport in New York. Of this piece Aycock said "I very much wanted people passing by to wonder about it, to say, 'What is that? I haven't seen anything quite like that." The sculpture is made of metal, steel, concrete and acrylic. It sits slightly above a 30' x 21' elliptical-shaped pool. The center of the sculpture is an acrylic sphere. 20 foot metal ribbons spiral around it before dipping below the surface of the water. Based on its appearance some people took to calling it "The Slinky.'' I love finding these large public art pieces in Broward, the county I live in. Broward has a robust art program and you can find may pieces all over the county. The art program is overseen by the Cultural Division which offers grant programs to eligible artists, non-profit organizations, and cities to promote the development of arts and culture in Broward County. At the time this art piece was created, the county had already spent millions on 230 art pieces. This piece is especially interesting to me because of the size and the water element. Looking at it, I think of the earth or another planet in the solar system. According to Broward's Public Art and Design website "This artwork is designed to generate a realm of wonder and curiosity; to be theatrical, poetic, delightful and magical. Integrating, nature, science, art and technology, its normal composition refers to the dynamic and tumultuous weather patterns in South Florida and the gravitational forces present on the earth and throughout the solar system, illustrating the expanding universe and underwater marine life." It is always fun to discover new to me public art pieces. If you are in the area come check it out.

Five Points has been a Wilton Manors landmark since 1925 when it was laid out by Edward J. "Ned"…read moreWillingham. It served as the gateway to his subdivision of Wilton Manors. The five pointed intersection is unusual because three major streets, Wilton Drive, Northeast 26th Street and Dixie Highway converge from five directions. It is believed to be the only such road configuration in the county. Back in the 1920's, Wilton Boulevard was framed by four Romanesque towers designed by noted architect Frank Abreu. Prospective lot buyers could climb to the top of the highest tower which was 38 feet so they could pick out their land. Sadly the large tower was torn down in 1957 to make way for an A&W root beer stand. From the 1950's to the late 1970's people would drink root beer at the drive-in and they bought vegetables from a grain and feed store. Trains loaded with produce would roar past Five Points. The smaller pair of towers located between NE 26th St and Wilton Dr. were torn down in 1964. The last little tower was taken down shortly after. Today thousands of cars pass through Five Points everyday on their way north to Oakland Park, East to Federal Hwy, South to Middle River Terrace, and west to Wilton Manors. At the perimeter of Five Points sits a number of businesses including a Publix built in 2001. Any effort to fix Five Points by the Florida Department of Transportation has been met with resistance by local residents and businesses so if you do plan to drive through prepare to hear a lot of honking by frustrated motorists trying to navigate the road. Locals wouldn't have it any other way.

Five Points is a matter of "Local Flavor" rather than an actual business and somewhat of a rarity…read morein that it is made up of the five point highway intersection of NE 26th Street, North Dixie Highway and Wilton Drive, and as such a local location landmark and reference point. Local location directions are often given by stating distances from Five Points, such as "four blocks south on Wilton Drive from Five Points," "I'm one mile from Five Points," etc. Besides being a rare 5 point intersection it's also somewhat of an oddity in that, if you'll notice, the traffic lights change in a counterclockwise as opposed to the usual clockwise sequence of rotation. Every local knows this location and it is the location where all the parades or street festivals of Wilton Manors either begin or end.

Marc Quinn's "Broken Sublime," is a stunning stainless steel seashell sculpture on Las Olas Blvd &…read moreSE 6th Ave. The conch shell, a piece by British artist Marc Quinn stands over 7 feet tall & weighs more than 5,500 lbs, This larger-than-life stainless steel seashell sculpture valued at nearly $1 million graces the grounds of downtown's long-awaited Tunnel Top Plaza, an artificial turf zone that cost taxpayers $10.6 million. This new sculpture and sitting area is in front of the cheesecake factory. The beach is steps away and the new art here is meant to evoke positive feelings about the Fort Lauderdale seashore.

A giant stainless steel conch shell in a circular water fountain at the tip of Huizenga Park which…read moreis visible from E Las Olas Blvd. The sculpture was created by artist Marc Quinn in 2015. The shell was part of the Public Art and Placemaking Program in Fort Lauderdale. It seems every corner on Las Olas has either a mural or a sculpture that represents some sort of love, peace or community strength.