Growing up in Miami, I always found found our neighbor just to the north a pleasant enough but somewhat nondescript place. Fort Lauderdale‘s main attributes appeared to be some impressive waterways, a decent ocean beach – and of course a rowdy, booze-soaked college scene when it came time for spring holidays (first made famous by the song/movie Where the Boys Are). And the locals a rather odd mix of yachties and some admittedly salty characters. Not exactly the place that first came to mind for vacations. These days, however, I’m pleased to say this South Florida city is rather a fort of a different color. The beachy charms of yore remain intact, and even spruced up by Atlantic Boulevard’s handsome oceanfront promenade, built in the 1990s. But... keep reading