Fort Lauderdale travel guide

America's spring break capital is all grown up

Fort Lauderdale's infamous spring break reputation is well-deserved - for almost 2 months, it becomes an orgy of drunken frat boys and bikini-clad college girls straight out of 'Girls Gone Wild,' all of whom are looking for fleeting romance, boozy late nights, and fun in the sun. But this "Venice of America" is actually quite refined - pretty waterways have become increasingly popular with the yachting set, which has led to a boom in upscale boutiques and restaurants to serve them. And the college kids know how to pick 'em; the 7 miles of white sand beaches are luscious, hugged by palm trees on one side and the sparkling blue Atlantic on the other. Fort Lauderdale has also been touted as one of the best gay resort towns in the world, and boasts a large year-round gay population; this is a great place for LGBTQ travelers to unwind for a bit.