With football, baseball, basketball, and clearly hockey (can you say two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers?) on offer, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s vibrant sports scene ensures there’s always a team to cheer for. And for visitors who would rather get out and get active, the area’s various sporting venues, lush parks, serene waterways, and expansive green spaces make it a haven for those seeking to stay fit or simply connecting with nature.
“The whole outdoor experience, that’s why people come to Fort Lauderdale,” says Tracy Vaughan, Global Senior VP, Trade Development at Visit Fort Lauderdale. “We’ve got that good weather (and) there are so many things to do, particularly things related to the water. You can paddleboard, kayak; you’ve got the parks where you can do that. There are lots of fun and easy things to do.”
Nature escape
Visitors can explore a variety of landscapes, from kayaking the mangrove-lined shores of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park to the sprawling Everglades, where airboat tours from Sawgrass Recreation Park head deep into the heart of a unique ecosystem.
For a deeper dive into Florida’s iconic wetlands, the Everglades cover nearly two-thirds of the area and are home to the Seminole Indians, who invite visitors to learn about their proud, ancient culture. Guided airboat tours navigate the marshy landscape, offering close-up encounters with alligators, wading birds, and the region’s unique flora and fauna. Alternatively, you can hike the boardwalk trails at your own pace.
Coconut Creek, known as the “Butterfly Capital of the World,” was the first city in the state to become a certified Community Wildlife Habitat. It is also home to the world’s largest butterfly park, Butterfly World, located in Tradewinds Park. Here, visitors can walk through lush botanical gardens, aviaries, and an impressive array of exotic plants, surrounded by thousands of butterflies for a magical memory. The park also is home to soccer fields, model steam train rides, disc golf, an equestrian trail, fishing, baseball and softball fields.
Participation sports
For those who like to get active with a racket in hand, or participate in other sports, notable venues include:
- Brian Piccolo Sports Park & Velodrome: A paradise for cycling enthusiasts with a top-tier velodrome for racing, plus fields for baseball, football, or skating.
- Tradewinds Park & Stables: Enjoy horseback riding along scenic trails for a different way to explore.
- The Fort Pickleball Stadium – The Fort, the world’s first dedicated professional pickleball stadium, transforms South Florida’s sports scene with 43 tournament-quality courts. Guests can dive into competitive play, take part in clinics or private lessons, sip on craft beverages, and enjoy made-from-scratch meals. Whether a seasoned pro or a first-time player, The Fort offers the perfect blend of sport and social connection.
- Baptist Health Iceplex – Featuring two regulation-sized indoor ice rinks, the venue (located just north of downtown at the Holiday Park) offers year-round public skating (ice and outdoor roller skating), and curling. It’s also the official practice facility for the Stanley Cup winning hockey team, and its opposition on select days.
- Ansin Sports Complex – a multi-sport complex, which includes a super track, where Olympic athletes and celebrities have trained. There is a sculpture of Dr. Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive.
Tracy Vaughan, Global Senior VP, Trade Development at Visit Fort Lauderdale, flags the fabulous new Fort Pickleball venue, but adds, “something I’ve really been pushing with travel advisors and tour operators is the Iceplex. What’s fun – and we’ve done this FAMs – is taken them in the morning and they’ve seen the teams practicing, then they get on the rink (to skate), and then we’ve taken them to a game in the evening.”
“People don’t think about coming to Fort Lauderdale and skating,” she laughs. “It’s a fun day for a couple, or a family.”
Spectator sports
Meanwhile, from soccer to cricket games, and featuring professional MLS, NHL, track & field, and pickleball teams in the region, there is no shortage of games on the go around Fort Lauderdale.
Soccer enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the high-energy matches of Inter Miami CF, led by the legendary Messi at the newly enhanced Chase Stadium. Upgrades like expanded seating, state-of-the-art LED screens, a premium sound system, and a high-quality turf training field have transformed the arena into a bucket list sports destination.
Another standout venue is the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, the only ICC-certified cricket ground in the United States. It attracts fans from across the globe, eager to experience rugby, football, lacrosse, and a variety of other sporting events.