jrlevine

On March 14th we're flying into FLL for a week's vacation. But my wife's mother arrives at noon, and the rest of us don't get there until 6PM. What should she do in the meantime? I see that FLL is only 15 mins from downtown Ft L. by taxi, and when we get there we can call her and pick her up. She's in her 70s in good shape, walking is no problem. Some combination of shopping, culture, and food would be nice.

Since you asked, she's flying Frontier from TTN, who only have one flight a day but the airport is 10 mins from her house and she can get dropped off and picked up. The alternative would be an hour's drive to EWR or PHL, a week's parking, and a more expensive ticket. So if she blows $100 in FLL, it's still a bargain.

worldspan

Best option likely to take a taxi to Las Olas where lots of great window shopping and cafes on a very upscale street

Worldspan
Naples, Florida

rabtech

Galleria Mall - 2414 East Sunrise Blvd. Also, Ft. Lauderdale beach is walking friendly, has shops and cafes, all with beach views. Both will require a taxi trip. If going to the beach, just take the taxi to Bubba Gumps restaurant, or one of the hotels on the beach. Ritz Carlton would be a good choice.

writerguyfl

There's a non-profit that runs the "Sun Trolley" in here Fort Lauderdale. It's a hop-on/off bus that's dressed up as a trolley. There are several different routes. Some cost money ($1/ride) and other routes are free.

On Saturdays and Sundays, they run a free shuttle between FLL and Downtown Fort Lauderdale. The current times are 9am to 4pm leaving FLL with the last trolley leaving Downtown at 4:30pm. More details here:

http://www.suntrolley.com/airport-link/

That route could take her to the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. The major exhibit happening during your stay is art by Frida Kahlo. Museum info:

http://www.moafl.org/

Of course, luggage might be an issue. It might just be easier for her to pay for a cab to a beach hotel or the Riverside Hotel (the lone hotel in Downtown) and ask the bell staff to store her bags.

The other option is to store the bag at FLL. That means she would have to return to the airport. But, this company has on-site storage for $7/bag:

http://bagstogo.net/services.php?lc=3

pbiflyer

This. There is also the Art museum right there as well. http://www.moafl.org/

LPDAL

Regarding museums,

- Downtown Fort Lauderdale has the Museum of Art and Bonnet House, but not much else.

- There is a Children's Musuem in / near downtown as well.

Regarding Las Olas,

- As others have said, this street has some great food and shopping -- but prepare to fork over the big bucks as nearly everything on LO is expensive as heck.

Regarding malls and shopping centers,

- Nearest FLL is an outdoor shopping center and restaurant collection, Harbordale Shops.

- Up Federal Highway there is the Coral Ridge Mall, an indoor collection of shops and big box stores.

- Galleria Mall is a normal mall up Federal from downtown.

-LPDAL

writerguyfl

Just to clarify:

The Museum of Discovery and Science is located in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

http://www.mods.org/home.htm

Bonnet House is locate on Fort Lauderdale Beach, not Downtown.

http://www.bonnethouse.org/

LPDAL

You're right, I was thinking of the Stranahan House.

I would reccomend the RiverWalk "Shopping Center" to the OP, but the place is deserted, a sad state of affairs, I must say. I remember when Dan Marino's and the Ugly Tuna Saloona were there, now the place is 90% empty. Almost like DL and CVG, huh? They had an eloquent article as to why the RiverWalk was empty in the Fort Lauderdale magazine, primarily having to do with mismanagement, high rent prices, and the 2008 recession.

-LPDAL