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Last updated by: Greenhippo
Last updated at : 21-03-2008 14:56
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Fort Lauderdale


Greenhippo

Located in the center of South Florida's Gold Coast, midway between Palm Beach and Miami, Greater Fort Lauderdale stretches from Deerfield Beach and Pompano in the north to Hollywood and Hallandale Beach in the south. Sprawling across 1,200 square miles that include 505,600 acres of Everglades on the western edge, the region is home to 30 cities and 1.8 million residents

Increasingly popular as a warm-weather getaway, Fort Lauderdale lures a sophisticated, adult crowd with an irresistible combination of attractions. The main assets are simple: a broad, long white-sand beach, warm blue ocean water and easy accessibility from all over, especially from along the northeast corridor and Canada. Fort Lauderdale was a sleepy little town until the 1920s, when a developer dug out canals and began offering waterfront real estate that created miles of navigable inland waterways -- which today wind through palatial estates and citrus groves and run west to the exotic Everglades. Still, it dozed until after World War II, when many of the servicemen who'd passed through during the war decided to make it home, or at least visit now and then. That's when the typical 1950s Deco-style architecture that epitomizes Fort Lauderdale lodging began to pop up. After some decline, the renovation of the beachfront and Riverwalk along the New River near Las Olas Boulevard has helped revitalize the downtown historic area, transforming Las Olas into a walking street with some of the best shopping and dining the city has to offer.

In addition, the city boasts a gay-friendly local government that actively pursues out travelers and features a "rainbow" section on its website. More and more gays and lesbians -- including many from Miami -- are flocking to Fort Lauderdale and buying property, which has bolstered the growth of gay businesses. Since winning the "Gay Destination of the Year" title in 1999, it's consistently ranked among the top gay resort destinations in PlanetOut's annual travel awards.

Fort Lauderdale offers a broad range of gay nightlife seven nights a week, with big clubs, neighborhood bars and specialty environments for just about everyone, including popular options for women and older gay men. But the bars and clubs are just part of the destination's gay attraction. The city is home to 27 gay guesthouses, the stars among them being The Royal Palms and Pineapple Point, among the best gay resorts in the world. By some estimates, gays and lesbians account for more than one-fifth of the local population and -- judging from the preponderance of rainbow flags and gay-themed bumper stickers -- they live, work and socialize throughout the entire area. Victoria Park is the traditional gay neighborhood, home to older, more-established gays and lesbians. Wilton Manors has become the most gay-popular town in the area, with myriad new gay and gay-friendly businesses, accompanied by ever-increasing home prices. Note that Wilton Manors, like West Hollywood and Palm Springs, has a gay majority on its city council. Another thriving business is bustling Port Everglades -- the busiest port for cruise ships in the world. If you're a cruiser -- and we suspect you might be -- you should take the opportunity to spend a few days here on land

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