Day Trips from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

You're well-positioned for some of the best day trips in Florida. Miami is 30 minutes south, the Keys are two hours, and the Everglades are less than an hour west. Here's what's worth the drive.

Miami & South Beach (30 min south)

Take I-95 or US-1 south and you're in Miami in half an hour. South Beach is the obvious stop — Ocean Drive, the Art Deco district, and the beach itself. Wynwood is worth a detour for the murals and the food scene. Little Havana for a Cuban coffee and a walk down Calle Ocho. Plan for traffic on the way back on weekends.

The Florida Keys (2 hrs south)

Take the Turnpike to US-1 and head south. Key Largo is the first stop and has the best diving in the Keys — John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the reason to go. Islamorada is about 90 minutes and has excellent fishing and a handful of good restaurants. Marathon and Key West are full-day or overnight trips.

Everglades National Park (1 hr west)

Take I-75 (Alligator Alley) west and you're at the edge of the Everglades in under an hour. Airboat tours run from several operators near the park entrance. Sawgrass Recreation Park is the closest and most accessible. You'll see alligators, herons, and if you're lucky, a Florida panther crossing the road.

Palm Beach (1 hr north)

Worth the drive for Worth Avenue alone — one of the most concentrated stretches of luxury retail in the country. The Breakers hotel is open to non-guests for lunch and worth seeing. The Norton Museum of Art is one of the better art museums in Florida.

Boca Raton (30 min north)

Mizner Park is a good outdoor shopping and dining destination. The Boca Resort is a Florida landmark. Closer and easier than Palm Beach if you want a half-day trip.

Bahamas Ferry

Balearia Caribbean runs a ferry from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, Grand Bahama. The crossing takes about two hours. A day trip is possible but tight — an overnight makes more sense. Check the schedule and book ahead, especially in season.