Frommers.com Community
By Lesley Abravanel
South Florida or, as locals like to call it sometimes, SoFlo (like former resident JLo), is a popular place. So popular that TV shows are filmed down here (see: Burn Notice, Magic City, The Glades), movies are made here (see: Rock of Ages, Marley & Me, Meet the Fockers) and, well, we won't even get into the countless reality shows that shame -- er, film here on a daily basis. And while SoFlo does indeed possess a lot of that glitz and glamour, it's not all Hollywood prefabbed, TMZ'ed, siliconed and paparazzi'd, but, shockingly to some, there's also some down home natural and eco-friendly beauty too. And not everyone has a publicist, either. Just ask the gators in the Everglades.
Photo caption: An alligator at Everglades National Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It's no secret that The Everglades are the quintessence of Florida's rarefied species known as natural beauty. And while many have been through the River of Grass during daylight hours, it's a whole different blade of grass at night. Sawgrass Recreation Park (tel. 954/389-0202; www.evergladestours.com) proves it with their Red Eye Tour and Gator Nights, two unique and fascinating opportunities to experience the 'glades after dark at speeds of more than 35 miles an hour, which, believe it or not, feels faintly Formula 1-ish when you're on an airboat. Like fans waiting for a sighting of their favorite celeb, you'll be on the prowl for the Madonna (or insert fave legendary celeb here) of the 'glades, the American Alligator all while being serenaded by all sorts of nocturnal creatures. Take that famous European DJ! Private tours are available nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and one hour gator tours are offered at 830 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday night. This is not your party animal's disco -- it's much more civilized.
Photo caption: An alligator at night.
No, really. Thanks to car2go (https://miami.car2go.com). the city's new car sharing program, you'll have access to free gas and, in most of the city, free parking, too. For those who know all about the parking situation here, that's pretty revolutionary. A wholly owned subsidiary of the Daimler North America Corporation, car2go has unleashed 240 eco-friendly smart cars for two onto the streets of Miami, offering 24-hour auto access to the Magic City. Cars are dispersed throughout the city and available for rent and return with the swipe of a card. Rates are 38 cents a minute, which includes your parking, fuel, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, GPS, and 24 hour roadside assistance. The freedom to cruise around Miami hassle free? Priceless.
Photo caption: A row of cars from the Car2Go car sharing program.
Being the first hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach to land a Florida Green Lodging designation by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection was no small shakes, but for the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, (505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.; tel. 954/414-4222; www.hilton.com) it's not enough, and in 2012, the resort announced that in September of that year, it would be adding six wind turbines to the rooftop of the 25-story all-suite resort. Literally larger than life, the turbines stand 40-feet-tall and each will produce 32,000 KWH, helping to reduce the amount of energy the hotel uses. In addition to installing wind turbines, the property's exterior glass has been manufactured not only for hurricane but also controls the heating from sunlight entering into the interior of the building. And don't miss the automatic water flush-o-meters in all public restrooms there. Flush-o-meters! Try competing with that, famous people.
Photo caption: The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Located in a rural section of West Palm Beach, Lion Country Safari (2003 Lion Country Safari Road, West Palm Beach; tel. 561-793-1084; www.lioncountrysafari.com) happens to have the largest herd of zebras outside of the wild herds in Africa. Also, it's America's first cageless drive-through zoo, the only place in the region where you can view over 900 free-roaming animals from the coolness and comfort of your own air conditioned car. Check out the lions, white rhinos, zebras, ostriches and chimps. Some may even greet you at your window -- keep 'em closed, but snap away! Choice time to drive through is during feeding time -- 10:30 a.m., when the likelihood of being thisclose to your fave wild thing is infinitely higher than a Jimmy Buffet sighting at Margaritaville. Speaking of celebs, many have been known to visit the safari. Among them: Ricky Martin, Jack Paar, David Hasslehoff, Rod Stewart, Alan Jackson, members of the Kennedy and Trump families, Pet Psychic/Sonya Fitzpatrick, tennis champs Venus and Serena Williams, and Jordan's King Hussein. But keep your eyes on the road -- and the animals.
Photo caption: Zebras at the Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida.
South Florida or, as locals like to call it sometimes, SoFlo (like former resident JLo), is a popular place. So popular that TV shows are filmed down here (see: Burn Notice, Magic City, The Glades), movies are made here (see: Rock of Ages, Marley & Me, Meet the Fockers) and, well, we won't even get into the countless reality shows that shame -- er, film here on a daily basis. And while SoFlo does indeed possess a lot of that glitz and glamour, it's not all Hollywood prefabbed, TMZ'ed, siliconed and paparazzi'd, but, shockingly to some, there's also some down home natural and eco-friendly beauty too. And not everyone has a publicist, either. Just ask the gators in the Everglades.
Photo caption: An alligator at Everglades National Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Photo caption: An alligator at night.
Photo caption: A row of cars from the Car2Go car sharing program.
Photo caption: The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Photo caption: Zebras at the Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida.