Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Surprise! There’s more to South Florida than eating out and going to the pool.
Visitors are often astonished by the history, stunning natural settings and cultural diversity of Broward and Palm Beach counties, home to more than 3 million people from all over the United States and around the world.
There’s so much to see, and you are sure to be impressed not only with the weather but with the huge assortment of places to explore.
Here are seven sites that offer a taste of life in South Florida, from the region’s kitschy past to its distinctive and vibrant present.
Wild Florida
See What South Florida Was Like Before the Human Deluge.
Go to: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach, fws.gov/refuge/arm_loxahatchee/
Here’s what South Florida looked like before developers drained the wetlands. The refuge has a .4-mile boardwalk behind the Visitor Center for a walk through a peaceful cypress swamp. The majestic trees are knee-deep in water; it’s a peaceful, breezy and humbling stroll that shows what development has done to the Everglades. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a woodpecker, an owl, a cardinal or an alligator.
The refuge also has walks along the Great Florida Birding Trail, and offers guided hikes and bike rides along its miles of marshlands and canals.
