With an average year-round temperature of 25-degrees C, 3,000 hours of sunshine, and 40 km. of golden beaches kissing the Atlantic Ocean, Greater Fort Lauderdale awaits to delight your clients with the beach vacation of a lifetime.

From Deerfield Beach in the north to Hallandale Beach in the south, there is a place for everyone to snooze on the soft sand in peace, join friends new or old in a host of beach activities and watersports, hang out at a lively beach bar, or simply stroll the boardwalk.

And what’s a beach without the community surrounding it? Both modern and vintage Florida towns dot the coast, each with their own unique attractions, festivals and, in some cases, peerless piers, which serve as hubs of activities, or as a spot to find a unique vantage of the shoreline.

Meanwhile, the A1A highway follows the coast through its eight distinct beach communities, where travellers can take in sights of sea turtle nests, indigenous dune plants, and waves crashing along the beaches.

So, your clients can grab their swim trunks and towels, pack some lotion and sunglasses, and make their way to these great Greater Fort Lauderdale beaches:

 Deerfield Beach: South of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach is a family-friendly coastal community where your clients can spend their time building sandcastles and collecting seashells or surfing and swimming. Island Water Sports can get your clients outfitted for a day of water sports – and even provide private or group surfing, skimboarding, or paddleboard lessons – but the main draw here is the 300-m.-long international fishing pier. If you want to see what’s happening below the surface, check out the live underwater camera, which is located 9 m. below the pier, or take a walk underneath the pier itself for Instagram-worthy sunset pics.

Hillsboro Beach: The tiny town of Hillsboro Beach – which spans just 5 km. in length—is mostly beach. One of the highlights: climbing the 175 steps to the top of the historic lighthouse for sweeping sea views. Hillsboro Beach is also home to one of the highest densities of sea turtle nests per kilometre along Florida’s East Coast, so keep an eye out for nests (and maybe even prints from hatchlings).

Pompano Beach: Further south, Pompano Beach is a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers. Many of the coral reefs are reachable right from shore, while your clients will find 18 shipwrecks further out (head to Shipwreck Park for a mix of artificial reefs and art installations). The area is also popular for sport fishing, and the Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center can arrange charters on their modern fleet for half- or full-day trips. If your clients are visiting with kids, they’ll find plenty of attractions to keep them entertained, from multiple playgrounds to an interactive water fountain with ocean views.

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea: This walkable beach town has the feel of a seaside village with its mid-century modern, low-rise buildings (it also helps that it’s located on a barrier island seven feet above sea level). Your clients can swim through the shipwreck snorkel trail to spot wrecks like a British cargo steamer from 1900 or dive just 100 yards offshore at the first of a three-tiered natural coral reef system. The 24-hour Anglins Fishing Pier is also a favourite for casting a line (there’s a bait shop if you need supplies) and live music performances.

Fort Lauderdale beach: Located just over a mile from Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale beach is the area’s beating heart. Your clients can get their bearings strolling along the infamous Fort Lauderdale Beachfront Promenade, which skirts the coast and features a series of swanky hotels and happening restaurants and bars, like Lona Cocina Tequileria at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Takato, a fine dining Japanese-Korean eatery at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach. While wining and dining are the highlights here, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water, two favorites being by paddleboard or yacht tour.

Dania Beach: North of Hollywood, Dania Beach feels more like a hidden gem, meaning your clients won’t have to fight for a space on the wide, white-sand beach. The Dania Beach Fishing Pier is popular for anglers after sportfish like tarpon and snook, and the beach is one of the few that has dining directly on the water. Quarterdeck Dania Beach Pier serves up classic beach bar fare (fried calamari, smoked mahi dip) and more refined plates you wouldn’t expect on the sand (think sirloin steak and clams in garlic wine butter). Just north of the pier lies Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, a great spot for picnicking, kayaking, and swimming.

Hollywood: Along the brick-paved Hollywood Beach Broadwalk – which stretches over 4 km. from Jefferson Street to Sheridan Street, ending at Hollywood North Beach Park – your clients can cycle or stroll while shopping or grabbing a bite at one of the many outdoor cafés. If they’re travelling with pup in tow, be sure to get a day pass to Dog Beach (which they may recognize from the film “Marley and Me”). Over the past few years, Hollywood has heralded a mix of new and revamped hotels like The Diplomat Beach Resort and Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, home to the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill.

Hallandale Beach: At the southern end of Greater Fort Lauderdale, just before crossing into Miami, is Hallandale Beach. This beach is home to two fantastic beach parks: South City, where your clients will find a playground and volleyball courts, and North City, which is smaller but right by the ocean (and home to the locally designed Beach Ball Water Tower – perfect for an Instagram moment). For dining on the water, they can head to upscale eatery ETARU, a Japanese bar and grill that delivers directly to the sand at its beach bar on weekends. And every fourth Sunday of the month in season (December-April), South City Beach Park showcases local musicians during its Beach Entertainment Series.

Beach cam

For a preview of what to expect, check out Visit Lauderdale’s Beach Cam, which gives a realtime look at what’s going on at area beaches.