Where To Live Around Ft. Lauderdale
I see a lot of people moving here from out of state to live in Ft. Lauderdale, but when they get down to the nitty gritty of deciding where to live in South Florida, they just want to be near Ft. Lauderdale. Maybe living in Fort Lauderdale is too expensive, or you want more space, or the schools aren’t a good fit for your family, or the commute to work is too far (as if any of us are even going in to work these days)…so here’s my 5 favorite places to live outside of Ft. Lauderdale.
First up is Lauderdale by the Sea – If you’re not familiar, it’s located just north of Ft. Lauderdale, all the way at the end of Commercial Boulevard. I recommend this area because I find that it looks like what a lot of people expect Ft. Lauderdale to look like. It looks like Ft. Lauderdale did A LOT of years ago. We call it “OLD Florida” and that’s not a bad thing – it’s incredibly charming and has a small-town feel. This is because Lauderdale by the Sea is not exactly high rise friendly. The city has height restrictions that limit building heights to 4 stories tall. There have been some lawsuits against the city that, of course, as a lawyer I love reading about, but you probably don’t care so just know you will see a few high rises in the city’s bounds, but not many. It’s also Florida’s Beach Diving Capital with a lot of snorkeling and diving taking place just off the shore. If you’re wondering what it costs to live here, here you go.
Dania/Hollywood Beach – now lets bring it back south. Dania Beach also has an old florida feel to it, though it’s getting a little built up now. It’s a cool little town that has a bunch of antique shop. It also has Jaxson’s Ice Cream, which is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that has been there forever. It’s a must try. They have this thing called the kitchen sink where they actually serve you a kitchen sink worth of ice cream. I know ice cream isn’t a reason to move somewhere, but it’s not not a reason to move there… Dania Beach has some beautiful walking trails and paths that link up to Hollywood Beach boardwalk. There is always someone walking, skating, or biking up this path right by all the restaurants, bars, and hotels. At night, you’ll find live music on a little outdoor amphitheater stage right near the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. It’s definitely a spot that always feels like it’s five o’clock somewhere. Now if that’s a bit much for you…
Plantation – Try the centrally located city of Plantation. I know the name leaves something to be desired but, it is located right off of 595, near the airport, and not far from all the happenings of Ft. Lauderdale. In the past few years, it has been fast growing. We have seen developers pour money and resources into this area. It has blown up with new condos and high-rises, but the regular ole neighborhoods are gorgeous too. This city is also close to colleges like Nova Southeastern University and Broward College and has tons of lower school options as well.
Parkland/Coral Springs – If you like what you are hearing about moving west of Ft. Lauderdale, come west to Parkland and Coral Springs. I talk a lot about these cities because I live out here and I love it! I’ve moved away and tried some other places and I always come back. It’s perfect for me. It’s quiet but not too quiet. It’s fun but not too fun. It’s got a good mix of people, shopping, and dining. Don’t worry, just because it’s not right by the water doesn’t mean we don’t have water. These cities are littered with waterparks and resorts style pools.
Hopefully this gave you some places to check out that you haven’t thought of. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.