Pompano Beach Activities

Charming Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale and Miami, stands out with year-round outdoor spaces, clean air, sunshine and adventure. It’s the perfect getaway for travelers in search of one of the prettiest beaches in South Florida without the huge crowds, higher prices and louder atmosphere that exist in the larger neighboring cities. Enjoy the many links below:

Walk along the beautiful new oceanfront promenade in Pompano Beach, and you will hear conversations from vacationers in a dozen different languages. Romantic for a couple’s getaway, and safe for a family vacation with children, Pompano Beach has three miles of wide, public beaches and year-round options for the best shopping, golf, live music, dance, food, cultural arts, casinos, fishing, diving, boating and more. Central to all South Florida attractions, shopping and business centers, it is not surprising that the city was rated as one of the top beach destinations in the world for quality and good value by U.S.-based Time/Money magazine in 2018, and then again listed among Travel Addicts’ Best Beaches in the World 2020.

Pompano Beach lives up to its city motto, “Florida’s Warmest Welcome,” with its clean, safe, family-friendly atmosphere and three miles of pristine public beaches. The entire central beach area has recently undergone more than $100M in public and private redevelopment, with public amenities that rival any in Florida.

The new, state-of-the-art fishing pier is popular with anglers and anyone wishing to take a stroll, with shaded areas, benches, public artwork and more along the length of the 1,200-foot structure.  The public beach offers a park promenade along the ocean, a splash fountain and play area for children, adult exercise area, outdoor café, bicycle rentals, picnic areas and a central grassy lawn for group yoga in the morning and festivals in the evening, as well as movies and concerts under the stars throughout the year.

Not far from the beach is the ocean inlet with the town’s fishing fleet and historic Hillsboro Lighthouse, which holds tours twice a month on Saturdays. Close by is historic Pompano Air Park, where you can take helicopter rides over the ocean or Everglades, and visit the Goodyear Blimp base and its free spectator stand to watch landings and departures when the blimp is in town.

Pompano Community Park has a five-mile walking and bike trail, and state-of-the-art public tennis and aquatics centers. The 36-hole municipal golf facility with driving range and practice greens is the only one in the nation with a Greg Norman signature course open to the public. Other places worth visiting include Pompano CitiCentre shopping mall, the Isle Casino and horse racing track, Butterfly World botanical gardens, Fern Forest Nature Center and Shipwreck Park’s impressive artificial reef for divers and snorkelers one mile offshore. In Pompano Beach, visitors can rent everything from boats to bikes to paddle boards and kayaks.

Restoration of the City’s historic district of the original town is well under way less than two miles west of the beach. Founded more than 100 years ago, this is where farmers from throughout South Florida brought their produce to load onto trains headed for the Northeastern U.S. They stayed in the old Bailey Hotel, which has been restored and repurposed as the new Baily Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA). This stunning art gallery with working resident artists’ lofts is open and free to the public. It also offers a variety of regularly scheduled public arts programs for minimal fees. Outside, a Green Market is held on Saturdays Fall through Spring, and Old Town Untapped monthly evening festivals celebrate Pompano’s growing number of craft breweries, outdoor murals, artists and musicians.

Cultural Arts and Entertainment abound in this city. In addition to BaCA, visitors can also enjoy live jazz and blues and speaker programs at the restored Ali Cultural Arts center, the Blanche Ely Museum and the recently completed Pompano Cultural Center. It had an impressive lineup of renowned theater, music, dance and art exhibitions prior to COVID-19, and future bookings are expected to be equally exciting. Pompano Beach is also home to The AMP – TravelPulse’s 2018 Florida pick for “Best Outdoor Concert Venue in Each State.”

Here’s what helps make Pompano Beach a year-round destination for all of these activities: Atlantic Ocean breezes keep summers here cooler and drier than on the Gulf Coast or in Central Florida. Temperatures average a comfortable 86˚F. The ocean water is generally calm, clear and warm year-round, thanks to protective reefs offshore, and to the Gulfstream, which comes closer to shore in Pompano Beach than anywhere else along the East Coast.

Visitors can fly into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport or Miami International Airport, for a 30 to 45-minute drive to Pompano Beach and a truly wonderful vacation.

For more information on places to stay, visit Beach Vacation Rentals or call 1 (954) 283-1111 for reservations.

Local Restaurants…something for everyone!

Written by Beach Vacation Rentals’ past guests Julie and Val Vikmanis

The following is a set of reviews of some of the restaurants we’ve eaten in during our time since first renting from Elaine way back in 2000.  Our “Best Bets”—sure winners, some within walking distance of Elaine’s properties, are restaurants that her guests consistently tell her they enjoyed very much.

Some of you may well be satisfied to just take their word for it, and schedule your meals at these sure pleasers.  For others who want to know as much as possible about what’s around and make your own choices, the Complete List of more than 75 places will be coming soon.  It is divided roughly by restaurant type, e.g. Seafood, Italian, Pizza, etc., and within these restaurant types the places are arranged by distance from Elaine’s properties, closest first and generally showing places north of Atlantic Blvd and then south.

Best Bets

The following restaurants are ones that Elaine’s guests consistently tell her they’ve really enjoyed.  They are all fairly close to her rental properties and we think you’ll like them too.

The Rusty Hook Tavern

Fish, Seafood and Steak
On water, very casual, in and out-door dining
(954) 941-2499
125 N. Riverside Drive , Pompano Beach
http://www.therustyhooktavern.com/
And we start right off with a place I have yet to try—but Elaine tells me it’s swell and it’s right across the Intracoastal from Pompano Yacht and Beach Club.  I intend to go asap. Here’s what I understand about the place:  They have live music sometimes, their food is very good, the atmosphere can’t be beat, and no one will even look crosswise at you for wearing jeans with holes in them.  You get the picture.  Fun, fun, fun.

Sunset Catch

Italian Seafood and chops
Waterview, Classy dining in or out on the Intracoastal Waterway
(954) 545-0901
101 N. Riverside Drive, just East across the Atlantic bridge from Houston’s and south of Rusty Hook.
http://sunsetcatch.com/

Perhaps because of its name, I think of this as a seafood place—and it is, but it’s also an Italian place. In fact, it bills itself as Italian seafood and chops.  The chops are pretty much of an afterthought though since they only list 3 items under the chops portion of their menu and one of them is chicken.  So this is really an Italian seafood restaurant since most of their pasta dishes are pasta with seafood, etc, etc.  Whatever, the place is really good.  The atmosphere is very nice especially if you take a table on their outside deck and watch the big boats come and go when the bridge periodically goes up to let them through.   They also have live music.  Just check their website or give them a call to find out when.  So make a reservation for one of those nights and enjoy everything the place has to offer—good food, good views, good music.

Houston’s

American standards on waterfront, casual, solidly good, mid-range
(954) 783-9499
2821 E. Atlantic Blvd,  Pompano Beach
http://www.hillstone.com/houstons/

I wanted to hate this place–it’s just way too successful, always crowded–but I just can’t.  I’ll admit to being something of a food snob.  So any place that’s part of a chain and forever packing in hordes of people just seems like it couldn’t possibly do really good food.  But Houston’s does.  There’s nothing unique here but everything that is here is really done well.  If you order tuna rare, it’s rare.  The Caesar salad has an initially disconcerting sweet taste, but by the second or third bite you’re very happy with it too.  If they are featuring their artichokes with dipping sauce, for sure you have to order them.  Best artichokes I’ve ever tasted.  In fact, all their sides are wonderful—like their red cabbage with goat cheese.  Mmmm good.  We’ve never taken anyone here who hasn’t liked it.  One friend who’s particularly alert to any “fishiness” that might spell less than fresh seafood or fish, pronounced the grouper the freshest, tastiest she’s ever eaten.  My brother-in-law, if given his druthers, would never eat anywhere else while he’s here.

A word of warning!  They don’t take reservations, and arrivals after 7pm can be a two-hour wait at the bar. The trick is getting an outdoor table without promising your firstborn.  One way to beat the almost insurmountable odds is to line up for lunch at 11:25 a.m. to be admitted when they open at 11:30. (If you wait until 11:45 during peak season the outdoor tables will have long since been filled.)  Or go late on a weeknight—after 9 is probably good, especially if the weather is ok but not great.   Their menu is the same for brunch, lunch or dinner (with a few announced specials) and the servers are so efficient but so friendly you won’t even know that you’ve been served your meal, had dessert, and even lingered a bit and all in an hour or less.  The formula works and the place is a well-oiled gastronomic machine.

Phil’s Heavenly Pizza

Pizza, Wings, Burgers
(954) 943-9270
2647 E. Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach
http://www.philsheavenlypizza.com/

You just HAVE to go to this place. It’s part of the local “color” and has been here for decades. The name Phil’s “HEAVENLY” pizza is more than a hint. Whether you are religious or not, it’s a must see. Besides having the best pizza in the city, it actually has a CHAPEL inside of the pizzeria. Inside, you won’t see the working chapel unless you go down the hallway, but you will see bible quotes posted in with the fun and fresh decor. Your pizza box will definitely have “Praise the Lord” printed along the edge of the box. Outside, they created a beautiful “Garden of Eden” where you can sit and eat among beautiful potted flowers and tropical plants. Take it any way you want, but its a fun place to see and enjoy, and a unique part of the local “flavor.”

Galuppi’s

Golf Course sports bar/restaurant, American standards, casual, inexpensive
(954) 785-0226
1103 N. Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach
http://www.galuppis.com/

On Pompano’s Greg Norman-designed Public Golf Course, Galuppi’s is a real gem.  It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and they have a lovely outdoor dining area as well as indoor digs where you can watch your favorite teams at the sports bar.  The menu is extensive and very reasonable.  Even the dinner menu only has two mains (steaks) that exceed $20.  Also a large kid’s menu for $5 for those under 10 and a special lunch menu for $5.99 with entrée, salad and side.  You can’t beat that.  Sunday brunch is plentiful, attractive and the best brunch buy in town.

Flanigan’s

Sports bar and restaurant, kid-friendly, burgers
(954) 943-3762
2510 E. Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach
www.flanigans.net

Part of a large local chain, Flanigan’s is another of those all-around good places—good food, good fun, good sports on TV, good for kids, good prices.  Huge menu, large portions, all good.  They even have an aquarium to entertain antsy children.

Gianni’s

Classic Italian
Friendly, always packed, good value if you order from the menu
(954) 942-1733
1601 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
https://www.giannisitalianrestaurant.com/

This place does a fabulous business so be sure to reserve ahead if you don’t want a wait.  It’s on the north side of Atlantic going toward Hwy 95.  Beware the addictive garlic rolls drenched in butter.  More than once we’ve eaten so many before even starting our meal that we could barely make a dent in our equally wonderful dinners.  The place is pleasant and warm without being kitschy and the staff know what they are doing.  All the Italian classics are here and they have terrific meatballs.  Some of the nightly specials can be pricy, much pricier than the standard menu, so ask about cost before blithely ordering or you could be in for a surprise—undoubtedly worth the higher price, but best to know in advance.  Best also to be hungry when going to lunch or dinner here.  Portions are large and food is hearty.  Save room for it before you’ve filled up on their terrific garlic rolls.

Peking Duck House

Chinese
Reasonable, very casual eat in, order online, delivery
(954) 946-0436
1200 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
http://www.pekingduckhousefl.com/

This place is a ways down Atlantic toward Hwy 95 and is probably the best Chinese restaurant in the immediate area. Ambiance is a bit drab and darkish but the food is good. Elaine is especially fond of the Shrimp in lobster sauce and the Moo Shu pork.

If you are a real Chinese food fan, as Val is, and don’t mind driving about 10 miles or so we also suggest a couple of places on State Rd 7 just north and south of Commercial–Hong Kong City Barbeque and Silver Pond respectively.  Hong Kong City (Val’s favorite among all the restaurants listed in this guide) has great dim sum with an enormous, highly varied menu.  Check out the pork riblets and their chicken feet.  We find these places exceptional and worth the drive.  Here are their websites:  http://www.hkcitybbq.com/     https://www.yelp.com/biz/silver-pond-lauderdale-lakes

Miyako

Japanese Buffet with sushi, very reasonably priced
(954) 783-8883
1157 S. Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach
http://www.miyakobuffet.com/

Décor at this mammoth buffet in the same shopping area as Stein Mart and Walmart is quite a few notches above the typical buffet and so is the enormous selection of sushi and other delights.  There is a large selection of cold seafood, including lobster on some occasions and hibachi grill with steak, shrimp, noodles, etc.  The only complaints seem to be wait times in peak season and peak dining hours, and concomitant slow service.  The price is definitely right ($30 for two buffets and two Japanese beers) and everyone should be able to find something they will enjoy.   Generally regarded by Elaine’s guests as one of the best, upscale buffets they’ve ever been to.

Aruba  Beach Café

Quintessential beachside dining, very casual, moderate
(954) 776-0001
1 Commercial Blvd, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
http://arubabeachcafe.com/

Think Florida sunshine.  Think Ft. Lauderdale.  Think “Where the Boys Are” Think margaritas.  Think MaiTais.  Think Daiquiris.  Think burgers and fries.  Think girls in bikinis and sarongs.  Think guys with rippling muscles.  Think sand, beach, sun.  That’s Aruba beach, probably what about ninety percent of the tourists in town came for and what half of the residents stayed for.   Big ocean views, large restaurant with live music many nights, eat indoor/outdoor, three bars throughout, very eclectic, casual beach crowd from families with small children to bikers to businessmen and boaters.  It’s all here.  Elaine’s guests consistently rate this as among their all-time favorite places in the area.  The menu is extensive and the food is good with large portions.  You can go for a walk on the beach or fishing pier after you have your meal, or explore the rest of the fun Lauderdale-by-the-Sea community it anchors.  Note:  If you want all of this, or most of it, but with a bit more panache, keep on going up the road to the places right on Ocean Blvd on the Ft. Lauderdale Beach strip beginning with S3

Foundry

Cavernous bar and restaurant with big time happy hour crowds, raw bar
(954) 205-6977
2781 E. Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach
http://www.thefoundryfl.com/

Outdoor seating here is at a premium especially during happy hour. The large bar fills up to overflowing as well.  Dining tables and booths are, however, nicely spaced out and the raw bar is convivial and inviting. Décor is interesting with two large murals on the walls and an industrial feel, classier than that sounds.   Elaine and I stopped for Happy Hour one day to discuss adding this guide to her Beach Vacation Rentals website.  We had lovely oysters for a mere $8 a half dozen, a great price for oysters that usually command prices of $3 per shell in most places.  Wine was $5 for a glass that usually goes for 8. And the 12” pizza was similarly marked down from standard menu prices.  It proved a tasty, interesting treat with pork belly chunks seasoned with ginger, a kind of Asian pizza.  The regular menu is divided into raw bar, pizza, wood-fire grill (from burger to filet), small plates, salads, only 4 entrees 2 of which are pastas, and a nice selection of sides.  Though Happy Hour is only 4-6 M-F, it appears that the place has an emphasis on convivial gatherings for groups that like a wide range of choices and opportunity to share.  Warning:  All this conviviality can reach deafening decibels when the place is packed during the happy hour crush and the high ceilings echo the crowd noise.

Jukebox Diner

(954) 960-5882
2772 E. Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach
https://www.facebook.com/JukeBoxDinerPompanoBeach

Largest breakfast menu and most popular breakfast place with Elaine’s guests.

Beach and Water Sports

Pompano Beach is truly “nature’s aquarium” with some of the best fishing, boating and diving in the nation. The Gulf Stream comes closer to shore here than anywhere in the U.S., providing some of the clearest and warmest water for all types of beach and water sports. Parasailing, kite-boarding, paddle boarding, personal watercraft, and surfing are all popular here. You won’t find this much variety at any other oceanfront community.

It’s a short walk to our wide, pristine public beach with lifeguards, volleyball nets, playground, picnic tables, BBQ grills and rentable pavilions. The beachfront, newly redeveloped in 2013, boasts broad sidewalks, bike lanes, natural plantings, exercise equipment and mile-marker jogging trail, children’s playground, great lawn with interactive fountain for children, and concession stands. Convenient, new on-street parking is beachside.

There are places to rent bicycles, boats, parasails, paddle boards, kite-boarding, personal watercraft and sailboats. Grab the cooler from your Beach Vacation Rentals apartment and pack a picnic lunch, or you can walk to plenty of casual restaurants to suit all price ranges and tastes. Go for ice cream and pizza, or nicer waterfront dining. Then check out the beach-area shops.

The dive and snorkel boats go out three times a day and provide all the safety gear and instruction. Kids who have never snorkeled enjoy the underwater vistas in no time. Those who wish to stay on the boat can watch the sea life by looking through the boat’s glass bottom windows. A three-tier reef system offers variety in depth for every diver’s experience level, and is within a short swim offshore. Unique to most dive areas, in Pompano Beach you don’t have to take a boat to reach the reefs for diving or snorkeling. But it’s the dive operators who can take you for a short boat ride to the most beautiful reefs and the best of the 100+ shipwrecks and dive sites offshore. South Florida Diving Headquarters will pick you up and drop you off for free from our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.

For an easy and inexpensive fishing trip, try renting everything you need at the public fishing pier. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or just enjoy a walk on the 1,200-foot pier to see what everyone else is catching. You can also go on a party fishing boat like the Helen S at the Hillsboro Inlet. It supplies all the gear and bait for a low per-person price, and the mates help everyone bait their lines, show the kids how to cast, and clean your fish at the end of the trip.

or a more upscale experience, charter your own boat and captain. Then come home to your Beach Vacation Rentals apartment or cottage, and grill your own catch on the BBQ. There’s nothing better!

If you want to skip the fishing and just go for fresh fish, drive north, one mile up the beach road to Hillsboro Inlet. On the west side of the road just before the drawbridge, you’ll find our fishing fleet, where captains clean their catch and sell fresh fish off the boats in the late mornings. Your kids will love watching the pelicans eat the scraps. On the east side of the road is a lovely park where you’ll see our historic Hillsboro Lighthouse (with the brightest beam in the world), picnic tables, a playground, boat docks and another fishing pier.

Casinos & Gaming

Jockeys on race horses.It’s the best of both worlds in Pompano Beach for those who want to take a chance on lady luck: your stay at a clean, comfortable Beach Vacation Rentals apartment or cottage, and a large variety of exciting casino and gaming venues close by. Enjoy the morning or afternoon at the beach, and then place your bets into the night at gaming machines, live or tournament poker, horse and dog racing, and one of the world’s fastest games — Jai Alai.

So who needs Vegas?  Pompano Beach and surrounding Greater Fort Lauderdale have the beach and a surprising number of casinos within a 15-30 minute drive of our Beach Vacation Rentals’ six nationally rated Superior Small Lodgings.  Even better, these gaming destinations offer much more than a slot machine and a card game.  Here’s the overview, from closest to farthest from our properties:

Isle Casino and Racing Pompano Park, Pompano Beach (all photos on this page are courtesy of Isle Casino and Racing-Pompano Beach)

The Isle Casino is SMOKE-FREE, and the newest gaming venue listed! Try your luck in the 38 table Poker Room, Video Poker rooms, racetrack with live Harness Racing and 1500 Vegas-style slots. Find your old favorite or discover the newest hottest slots and video poker games in denominations starting at 1¢, all with cashless convenience. Play a hand of Texas Hold ’em, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha High and Low, and
tournaments, plus many more of the most popular games in the 38-table poker room, voted Florida’s choice as best poker room in South Florida. Choose from four restaurants and two bars. Amenities include a high-tech sports bar and wagering area overlooking the track. Two bonuses: frequent promotions and live music at night. This smoke-free facility is recognized by the American Lung Association.

Coconut Creek Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek Open 24/7, Coconut Creek Seminole Casino gives you more than 1,500 Vegas-style and bingo-style slot machines, ranging from two cents to fifty dollars per play. The poker room includes 7 Card Stud, Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo with betting levels starting at $1. The casino also features three restaurants and Nectar Lounge, which offers live entertainment six days a week.

Dania Jai-Alai, Dania Beach It’s the World’s Fastest Sport played at the “The Palace” of Jai-Alai,Dania Jai-Alai. A rock-hard ball that travels over 170 mph, lightning-fast athletes climbing the walls to make incredible catches… you’ve never seen anything like it.  At this self-styled home of “the world’s fastest game”,  Dania Jai-Alai in Dania Beach doesn’t need a casino to draw fans. But it certainly helps to have no-limit Texas Hold’em, 7 Card Stud and Omaha games, along with simulcast horses, harness and Jai-Alai.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood The granddaddy of them all, the Seminole Hard Rock goes far beyond gaming to offer a total entertainment experience. The three-acre casino floor includes over 2,300 Vegas-style slots, Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker and Let it Ride, with separate high-limit rooms.  Throw in 16 restaurants and A-List concerts and live acts, and you’ve got much more than a casino.

Seminole Indian Gaming Casino, Hollywood Predating the Hard Rock, the smaller Seminole Indian Casino has over 1,000 Vegas-style slots, 48 poker tables, a high stakes Bingo Hall, and Blackjack.

Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach Gulfstream Park combines a two-level casino with Vegas-style slots and video poker, thoroughbred racing, and top-class dining, shopping and nightlife in a huge, open, inviting space that has taken over Hallandale Beach.

The Big Easy Casino, Hallandale Beach From Vegas-style showgirls to a Bourbon Street atmosphere, Mardi Gras Casino features a large 70,000 square foot gaming center with slots, poker tables with Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud games, simulcast greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing, and live historic greyhound racing.

Cultural Arts and History

Pompano Beach, founded in 1908, has a rich agricultural and maritime heritage and a culturally diverse population of over 100,000 people. Whether you love art, music, theater, dance, or history, guests who stay at Beach Vacation Rentals’ cottages and condos are in for a treat, because there’s plenty to keep you entertained here and throughout the area.

The City of Pompano Beach hosts a variety of art shows, concert series, musical performances and shows, including a Broadway theater series and one of the nation’s largest annual children’s piano competitions. Click here for the Calendar of Events. These all take place at the city’s amphitheater, civic center and four community centers.

Closest to the beach is the Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, where you can take art classes, yoga, drama workshops, music and dance lessons, and attend ballroom dances. During the summer months, residents and visitors alike bring lawn chairs to the beach to enjoy music and movies under the stars.

With the City of Pompano Beach’s culture, art and music explosion, the city created www.pompanobeacharts.org, a website landing page to provide one arts destination.

The website has icons representing the various arts venues and websites for easy accessibility including tickets and information.

The Ali Cultural Arts Center – The historic Ali building, which was originally built in the 1930’s, has been transformed into a state-of the-art venue that provides diverse cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences. The facility was once a boarding house for famous African American jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. The Ali includes an outdoor stage and seating for 250. The Ali is located at 353 Hammondville Road/MLK, Jr. Boulevard.

The Amp – The City’s 3,000 seat open-air performing arts theater hosts exceptional artists and events in North Broward’s venue for art, music and culture. The Amp is located at 1801 NE 6th Street.

Bailey Contemporary Arts Center (BaCA) – The Bailey is a historical hotel originally built in 1924. The Bailey building has been restored using many of the original interior and facade treatments to provide eight independent artist studios, gallery space and space for performance education. The Bailey is located at 41 NE 1st Street.

Library and Cultural Arts Center – The new 47,000 square foot Library and Cultural Arts Center is under construction and expected to open at the end of 2016. The facility will include a theater that will come alive with dance, music, art and history. It is located at the southeast corner of Atlantic Boulevard and SW 1st Avenue across from City Hall.

Public Art – In 2012 the City Commission adopted a Public Art Ordinance to enhance the aesthetic and cultural value of the City by including works of art on public properties within the City.

Other Nearby Arts Venues:

For a guide to Arts and Entertainment throughout South Florida, click here.

Just minutes from the beach is the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District in downtown Fort Lauderdale, home to cultural attractions, shops, parks and restaurants. The free Sunday Jazz Brunch is an ideal way to relax and enjoy Fort Lauderdale’s scenic Riverwalk. This live, outdoor concert series brings the area’s best local jazz artists to four different stages on the first Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Along Riverwalk, the brick-lined meandering promenade, discover Broadway shows, opera, ballet and concerts at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and at nearby Parker Playhouse, plus the hands-on Museum of Discovery and Science with its AutoNation 3D IMAX Theater, major exhibitions at the Museum of Art and Florida Grand Opera. Catch top name talent like Barbra Streisand or Billy Joel at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, and concerts, comedy and sports at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood.

In Coral Springs, directly West of Pompano Beach, check out the first class performing arts center and museum of art at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts.

Historic Sites in Pompano Beach:

Hillsboro Inlet Park offers outstanding views of the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse, considered the brightest lighthouse in the world. Built in 1907, this 142-foot tower offers a museum for maritime enthusiasts and public tours several times a year. 2700 N. Ocean Blvd. (A-1-A).

Historic downtown and GreenMarket Pompano Beach– Located in the city’s historic downtown, at Flagler Avenue and NE First Street, the Market is open for business from November through April every Saturday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. It features fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, baked goods, seafood, gourmet teas and coffees and other food items, as well as orchids, plants and health-related products and services. Green Market Saturdays feature art shows, historical walking tours of Pompano Beach historic downtown, antique automobile shows, environmental exhibits and products, and other special themes. Live musical entertainment is presented every Saturday.

To find out what life was like in early Pompano days, visit Founders Park, 316 NE 3rd St. This 1.6 acre park is the home of Pompano Historical Society and features two of the Kester Cottages. One of the cottages houses a collection of artifacts that help tell the story of old Pompano Beach. Also located here is the first Pompano Beach Firehouse. Renovated and dedicated as the Miriam & Dick Hood Historical Society Museum, it houses the City’s first fire truck, a 1926 American LaFrance and its second, a 1948 American LaFrance.

The Sample-McDougald House in Centennial Park reflects what life was like during South Florida’s pioneer days. It was built in 1916 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 450 NE 10th Street. 954-292-8040 The Ely Educational Museum (Blanche & Joseph Ely House), named after a local educator and civic pioneer, features a vast collection of items and artifacts relating to the black community in Pompano. 1500 NW 6th Avenue. 954-781-2256 If your interest lies further into the past, visit the Indian Mound Park, off A-1-A and SE 13th Street. Overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, this Indian burial ground site’s marker describes the historical significance of the site and its buried artifacts. SS Copenhagen State of Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve is a National historic Register dive site located in 15 feet of water just outside the second reef on the Pompano Ledge. The steamship was launched in 1898 and was wrecked on the reef two years later.

Historic Sites in Nearby Fort Lauderdale:

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens A 35-acre beach estate constructed by Frederic Clay Bartlett, a Chicago painter and art collector, this house and its beautiful grounds has become a historical site that features an extensive collection of furniture, artworks, and exotic tropical foliage and flowers. Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum Stranahan House This 1913 restored Victorian-style mansion is located on the New River in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. You can go on a guided tour to take a journey back through time when this building has served as a trading post, town hall, post office, and bank.

Ballroom and Latin Dancing

For everyone who loves to dance the night away with a partner and fabulous music, Pompano Beach is central to the heart of South Florida’s dance “Mecca” for ballroom, Latin, swing, hustle and country western dancing, as well as Argentine Tango. Stay at a clean, comfortable Beach Vacation Rentals apartment or cottage and you will be within a five to 30-minute drive of a variety of exciting, smoke-free social dances every night of the week, along with group and private dance lessons.  Come with or without a partner.

Top world and national champion instructors for every dance style are all here at a number of nearby venues, second only to what you might find in New York City (but there’s no beach in New York City)!

Check out South Florida’s most complete Social Dance Calendar (all color coded for your favorite dance styles) at our own dance website FloridaDanceVacations.com.  You can also check out this list of top dance instructors who provide Beach Vacation Rentals guests with discounted private lessons.

In town, find Star Ballroom. The City’s own civic center is also a venue for weekly ballroom dances on a huge, beautiful floating wood dance floor.  Take a five-minute drive to Casa Salsa for Latin instruction, or Dance Moves for Argentine Tango or swing dancing – both in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.  In ten minutes you can get to Shall We Dance in Deerfield Beach. In 20 minutes you can find perhaps South Florida’s most beautiful dance floor at Pavilion Grille in Boca Raton, or drive a bit South to Round Up for the best in Country Western line and partner dancing.  Just a 15-minute drive west of the beach, find the famous Goldcoast Ballroom, which draws hundreds of dancers from across the nation for private and group lessons and social dancing every day and night.  Within 30 minutes north and South of Pompano Beach are even more dance venues and ballrooms.

No matter when you visit, you’ll always find the perfect dance venue while you’re here.  Imagine spending your mornings on our award-winning Blue Wave beach, taking private lessons in the afternoons and having a choice of social dances to go to every night.  Ask us about our Beach Vacation Rentals Dance Packages for a week or a long weekend.

Need some new dance shoes, dance accessories or something fun to wear?  It’s a 10-minute drive to The Ballroom Shoppe, where they have a huge selection of men’s and women’s dance shoes in all styles and sizes (yes, even men’s 15!!!).  You can buy any kind of dance accessory, and purchase dance dresses off the rack or get fitted for a fabulous custom dress that will make you feel like the star of any performance or competition.  Smaller selections of dance shoes and clothing are available at most of the local ballrooms.

Dance Packages:  Your South Florida Dance Vacation
Beach Vacation Rentals is host to dancers from around the world who want it all.  You can enjoy the beach in the daytime, private dance lessons with top instructors in the mornings or afternoons, and attend a large choice of group lessons and social dances every evening within a five to 30-minute drive.  Go to  Come for a week or a long weekend.  Have fun creating your own DANCE and BEACH vacation by going to our sister website FloridaDanceVacations.com.

Fishing

The Fish are biting in Pompano Beach!  Sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, cobia, tuna, snapper, king mackerel…and nothing tastes better than when you catch it and cook it up yourself!  Are we talking fish fry???

A stay at a Beach Vacation Rentals property is a fisherman’s paradise, as Pompano Beach is known as South Florida’s Saltwater Fishing Capital.  We have the closest big-game fishing to shore than anywhere in the United States.  The Gulf Stream is right offshore, only a five minute run!  Our sailfish are caught in sight of the beach.

Whether you charter a fishing boat with a captain, join a party fishing boat, drop a line from the 1,200-foot public fishing pier, or cast off from the sandy shore…you’ll find the fish biting in Pompano Beach.  Then bring your catch back to your Beach Vacation Rentals home-away-from-home, and cook it up on the BBQ.

What makes fishing so great here?  Besides lots of sunshine and fine outdoor weather year round, Pompano’s fishing fleet is just inside our barrier island at the inlet to the ocean.  It’s just a ten-minute boat ride to the moorings conveniently located all along the reef….and deep blue waters are just beyond!  You’ll have your line in the water in no time.

Did you know that the Gulf Stream comes closer to shore in Pompano Beach than anywhere else in the nation?  So our water is warmer and clearer….and ohhhhhh all those fish!!!!

Pompano Beach celebrates it’s longtime fishing heritage by hosting a number of special events throughout the year:  the annual Nautical Flea Market in January, followed by the huge annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival in late April and the popular the Pompano Beach Fish Rodeo  in mid-May — a Florida tradition since 1965.  To cap off the year, thousands look forward to watching the Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade in December – the oldest continuous boat parade in the nation.  These major events have drawn visitors and locals alike for decades.

– Pompano Beach/Lighthouse Point Nautical Flea Market – January
– Pompano Beach Seafood Festival – April
– Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo – May
– Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade – December

Book your fishing vacation now at one of our Beach Vacation Rentals cottages or apartments.  Our nationally rated Superior Small Lodgings are a short walk to the beach, shops and restaurants, and centrally located to all South Florida business centers, shopping and attractions.  So bring the family along, too!

In Pompano Beach, FUN and FISHING are meant to be together.  We would be pleased to have you as our guests.

Here are links to some of the Pompano Beach-based charter fishing boats:

http://www.fishbolo.com/

http://www.hillsboroinletfishcenter.com/

http://www.ultimatesportfishing.com/index.html

For party boat fishing, the “Helen S” has been a long-time Pompano Beach favorite, based at Hillsboro Inlet.  Call 954-941-3209

Golf and Parks

Pompano Beach is a Mecca for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, but pristine beaches aren’t the only reason to visit.  Our guests at Beach Vacation Rentals properties rave about all of the great championship golf courses and public parks nearby. Here’s a rundown of the very best.  The first list is of public and daily fee golf courses.  The second is of public parks and their amenities.

Popular Golf Courses In and Around Pompano Beach:

There are dozens of championship golf courses within a 30-minute drive to challenge every skill level.  The newest is the Greg Norman Pines Course (opened in 2013), built for the City of Pompano Beach and located on 18 holes of the 36-hole municipal golf facility.  This is the ONLY Greg Norman course in the world where the public can play his designer course for municipal golf course prices.

Pompano Beach itself boasts eight 18-hole championship courses: two at the municipal Pompano Beach Golf Course , four in North Pompano at the Palm Aire Country Club and two at Crystal Lake Country Club .  Other popular daily fee courses nearby are the Carolina Golf Club in Margate and Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach.

Driving rages and practice putting greens are located at the Pompano Municipal Golf Course , at the Carolina Golf Club, at Deer Creek Golf Club and at Crystal Lake, along with some really good restaurants and “19th” holes at each.

Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course consists of two 18-hole championship courses: The Palms and The Pines. Surrounded by beautiful woodlands, this is the closest championship golf course to the beach, conveniently located on Federal Highway (US1) 10 blocks north of Atlantic Boulevard. Click here to schedule your tee time now! The modern clubhouse, ProShop and Galuppi’s on the Green Restaurant are open to the public as well as members and their guests. An instructional program directed by Bob Loring, PGA Golf Professional, is structured to meet the needs of first time and advanced golfers, including a junior golf program. Take time to visit the fully-equipped ProShop, offering a wide selection of clubs, balls and apparel at discount prices. For more information call the Golf Pro at 954.781.0426.

Palm-Aire Country Club features a wide array of golfing amenities including four outstanding golf courses designed by some of golf’s most distinguished architects (Tom & George Fazio, Bruce Devlin, Robert von Hagge, William Mitchell and Lorrie Viola). Whether you are a professional, beginner or somewhere in between, you’ll enjoy the beauty and challenge of Palm-Aire’s four well-conditioned golf courses. To reserve a Tee Time, please call (954) 975-6244 or Book a Tee Time Here for 24/7 access.

Carolina Golf Club, with its beautiful Southern Plantation mansion signature clubhouse is a short drive away in nearby Margate, just west of Pompano Beach. This 18-hole championship course is a Devlin-VonHagge design. Carolina Golf Club is a prestigious semi-private and social club that’s open to the public to enjoy. The club is known for its history and tradition, serving as a past qualifying site for the PGA tour’s Honda Classic. Guests are attracted to the high quality, condition, consistency and play-ability on the 6,584-yard 18-hole par 71 golf course – a design that cements the long-standing relationship between golf, nature, and “Old Man Par.” It has been rated as one of the Top 100 women-friendly course in the US ! Book tee times here.

Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach is an upscale public golf facility with a country club atmosphere. It has an 18-hole championship course designed by Arthur Hills. This Signature course was renovated in the summer of 2004 to add TifEagle greens and many other improvements. Deer Creek is noted for its consistently fast and smooth putting surfaces and excellent course conditions. Deer Creek is unique for it’s undulation and rolling landscape design, typically not found in South Florida. The golf operation is staffed by PGA Professionals. All golf carts are outfitted with a state of the art GPS system including a real-time leader board. They also have windshields on the front and curtains on the back to protect you and your equipment from the elements. Golf rates include cart and green fee. Click here to schedule a tee time online.

Crystal Lake Golf Club is a championship par 72 golf course designed by Rees Jones. An older course with tall pines, scattered palm trees and native flora, it was renovated in 2000 with new tees and tifdwarf USGA designed greens. The slight doglegs left and right combined with undulating greens present a challenge to golfers of all skill levels. Lessons are available from our PGA staff.  The driving range is open for daily practice or to warm up before your round. Call (954) 943-2902.

Public Parks with Special Outdoor Activities:
Public parks in and around Pompano Beach are some of the best in the nation with all kinds of special, free or low-cost things to do.

Pompano Beach Community Park , just five minutes from Beach Vacation Rentals’ properties, has top-notch aquatics and tennis centers, and a state-of-the-art dog park in case you brought your pooch on vacation with you.  There’s also a five-mile bike and walking path around the park, air park and golf course.

If observing nature and wildlife are more to your liking, explore the trails and boardwalks at the nearby Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, a 254-acre Urban Wilderness Site that features the Cypress Boardwalk, an arboretum and the Prairie Overlook Trail — all great attractions for hiking and wildlife enthusiasts. For information on the benefits of bird watching, click here.

Perhaps the most unique park experience is Butterfly World, located in Tradewinds Park, also in nearby Coconut Creek.  This is the world’s largest butterfly park with tropical gardens and aviaries displaying more than 10,000 butterflies and over 150 species.  Free-flying hummingbirds, lorikeets and many other tropical birds complete the enchantment of Butterfly World. Tradewinds Park also has pony and trail rides and boardwalk nature trails through wildlife areas.

Another great choice is Quiet Waters Park in nearby Deerfield Beach, which won Parenting Magazine’s 2010 Kids Crown Award. Highlights include Splash Adventure (an interactive children’s water playground).  For older kids and extreme sports enthusiasts, there is a lake for Ski Rixen (water skiing that’s pulled by a cable line).  There are also Mountain Bike Trails, a skate park, and a variety of boats for rent when the marina is open. Fishing is permitted on the shores of the park’s several lakes (State of Florida fishing rules and regulations apply).  Quiet Waters Park also offers Rent-A-Tent camping, shelter rentals, large playground, sports equipment rentals, as well as biking/jogging trails.

Whether you spend time on the golf course, a fabulous public park or the beach…the cleanest ocean air and sunshine can be enjoyed outdoors–right here in Pompano Beach!

Kids Activities

Family-style Entertainment:

You don’t need to be around “life in the fast lane” when traveling with your family. Pompano Beach is a quiet, easy-going oceanfront community where there’s plenty to do for both kids and parents to enjoy clean family fun.

It’s a short walk (1-2 blocks) from Beach Vacation Rentals’ nationally rated Superior Small Lodgings cottages and apartments to our wide public beach with lifeguards, playgrounds and picnic tables and BBQ grills. There are places to rent bicycles, boats, parasails, paddle boards, kite-boarding, personal watercraft and sailboats. Grab the cooler from your Beach Vacation Rentals apartment and pack a picnic lunch, or you can walk to plenty of casual restaurants to suit all price ranges and tastes. Go for ice cream and pizza, or nicer waterfront dining. Then check out the beach-area shops.

The dive and snorkel boats go out three times a day and provide all the safety gear and instruction. Kids who have never snorkeled enjoy the underwater vistas in no time. Those who wish to stay on the boat can watch the sea life by looking through the boat’s glass bottom windows. South Florida Diving Headquarters will pick you up and drop you off for free from our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.

For an easy and inexpensive family fishing trip, try renting everything you need at the public fishing pier. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or just enjoy a walk on the 1,000-foot pier to see what everyone else is catching. You can also go on a party fishing boat which supplies all the gear and bait for a low per-person price, and the mates help everyone bait their lines, show the kids how to cast, and clean your fish at the end of the trip. For a more upscale experience, visit our fishing fleet just up the road, and charter your own boat and captain. Then come home and grill your own catch on the BBQ. There’s nothing better!

If you want to skip the fishing and just go for fresh fish, drive north a mile up the beach road to Hillsboro Inlet. On the west side of the road just before the drawbridge, you’ll find our fishing fleet, where captains clean their catch and sell fresh fish off the boats in the late mornings. Your kids will love watching the pelicans eat the scraps. On the east side of the road is a lovely park where you’ll see our historic Hillsboro Lighthouse (with the brightest beam in the world), picnic tables, a playground, boat docks and another fishing pier.

Nearby public parks are some of the best in the nation with all kinds of special things to do. Visit the tropical gardens at Butterfly World in Tradewinds Park, with 10,000 live butterflies in the nation’s largest butterfly aviary. Tradewinds Park also has pony and trail rides and boardwalk nature trails through wildlife areas. Go to Quiet Waters Park for a children’s interactive splash pool water park, and for older kids – skateboard courts and waterskiing on the lake, that’s pulled by a zip line. Fern Forest Nature Center has botanical gardens and boardwalk nature trails. Pompano Beach Community Park has top-notch aquatics and tennis centers, and a state-of-the-art dog park if you brought your pooch on vacation with you. There’s also a five-mile bike and walking path around the park, air park and golf course.  Perhaps most unique is the spectator area at our historic Pompano Air Park for the Goodyear blimp “Spirit of Innovation,” which is based here. When it’s in town, you can watch it take off and land every twenty minutes. Quite a spectacular site….and free! Or you can shell out bigger bucks and go for sightseeing helicopter tours over the seashore or Everglades.

Even a rainy day won’t stop you and your family from having fun. The Museum of Discovery and Science and IMAX theater is a short drive and full of hands-on interactive experiences that can keep the kids busy for days.  Movie theaters and a bowling alley are just a five-minute drive from the beach. Extreme Indoor Karting is a short drive south in Fort Lauderdale. And there’s always shopping at fun places like Sawgrass Mills (world’s largest outlet mall). Have lunch at the delightfully entertaining Rain Forest restaurant with its animated jungle animals, tropical fish tanks and exciting indoor “thunderstorms.” For another unique shopping experience, visit Festival Flea Market Mall (world’s largest indoor flea market).

The Funky Fish Ocean Camp Treat the kids (ages 4-14) to a day of fun and learning oceanside, daily from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. While they are entertained, educated and making new friends, parents can enjoy a vacation while on vacation. This award-winning program has been dedicated to creating relationships between children and the ocean for 23 years.  There is one instructor for every seven children, professionally trained and CPR certified. $69 includes lunch.  24-hour advance reservations required.  954-712-9900 ext 5031.  1200 N. Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach, Florida

Sky Zone is a high-tech indoor trampoline park for kids and adults of all ages.  It offers the largest trampoline surfaces of any park in South Florida. The patented all trampoline walled playing courts offer open jump, a Foam Zone and SkyFitness classes, Ultimate Dodgeball and three SkySlam basketball courts. Children are grouped in supervised areas for their age groups. It’s the ultimate fun and fitness experience. Info: skyzone.com/fortlauderdale or 954-417-3999.

When the sun comes back out, there are plenty of South Florida private parks and theme parks to visit, including places like Boomers amusement park, Flamingo GardensJungle IslandMiami SeaquariumMiami Metro ZooLion Country SafariMorikami Museum and GardensBillie Swamp Safari, Everglades Safari Park and Rapids Water Park.

Shopping

When you’re done with the beach, shopping is a treat for any guest who stays at our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.  Whether you plan your outing for whenever there might be a rainy day, or whether your goal here is to shop extensively and load up on all of the bargains you cannot get back home in cities throughout the Caribbean, Europe or South America….you are in for some great shopping experiences during your stay.

Pompano Beach is central to some of the best and most unique shopping places in South Florida, including outlet shopping, flea markets, and high-end shopping malls and shopping districts.  Best of all, bargains, discounts and sales are everywhere!

Pompano Beach Shopping
Our beach-area shops are within a short walk from all Beach Vacation Rental properties.  For a quick run to the closest mall for a variety of boutiques, restaurants and department stores like Macy’s, JC Penney and Sears, it’s a five-minute drive to our newly rebuilt Pompano CitiCentre.  For fresh produce and farm products, it’s also a five-minute drive to GreenMarket Pompano Beach, open every Saturday morning from November through April.  For antiquing at its best, check out Carousel Antiques on Atlantic Boulevard.  Discount stores like WalMart and Target are a 10-15 minute drive.  And of course there is Pompano’s famous Festival Marketplace  described below.

Outlet Shopping
Perhaps the best outlet shopping for clothing, electronics and household goods is at Sawgrass Mills… Nearly one mile long with more than 350 stores, it’s worth the 30–minute drive from the beach to shop there.  Click here for current sales and discounts. Pick up great values at Coach Factory Store, Guess Factory Store, Escada Company Store, Kate Spade New York, Burberry Factory Outlet, True Religion Brand Jeans, PUMA Outlet, Polo, Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Lacoste Outlet, Nautica Factory Store, Juicy Couture and Kenneth Cole Company Store.  Other popular stores include Bed Bath & Beyond, Brandsmart USA, Burlington Coat Factory, JC Penney Outlet Store, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center, NIKE Factory Store, Nordstrom Rack, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Ron Jon Surf Shop, The Sports Authority, Super Target, T.J. Maxx, Vanity Fair Factory Outlet, FYE, Off Broadway Shoes, and GAP Outlet.

Famous Markets
For more great bargains, try two of our famous local markets.  When the weather is nice, visit the Swap Shop Florida’s second largest tourist attraction after Disney, a flea market with over 2,000 vendors.  If you prefer to stay indoors, try Festival Marketplace…. with over 500 shops and ¼ mile long, just a 15-minute drive from our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.  Find everything from a farmers’ market with fresh fruits and vegetables, to jewelry, household items, shoes and clothing.  Buy designer items, or the bargain-priced designer look-alikes.  Both are open seven days a week, every day of the year!

Trendy Upscale Shopping
High-end shopping is available within a 15-20 minute drive north and south of Beach Vacation Rentals properties.  Enjoy a few hours or all day at the posh Las Olas shopping district off of downtown Fort Lauderdale, with its specialty boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores, hair salons and outdoor cafes and restaurants.  Another outdoor venue with similar charm is Mizner Park in Boca Raton.  Explore unique stores and enjoy old-world charm at its best.  If you prefer to stay indoors, perhaps the two most attractive shopping malls with the greatest number of high-end stores would be Galleria Mall, on Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, and also Town Center at Boca Raton, on Glades Road in Boca Raton.

These choices should be a good start to keep you busy.  So stay with us and shop, or as the saying goes, “Shop ‘till you Drop.”  Then rest up at your Beach Vacation Rentals apartment or cottage, and go back the next day and shop some more!

Happy bargain hunting!

Special Events

Known as South Florida’s saltwater fishing capitol, Pompano Beach celebrates it’s heritage by hosting the annual Nautical Flea Market in January, followed by a huge annual Seafood Festival in late April and the popular Fishing Rodeo in mid-May. The year wraps up with December’s Holiday Boat Parade on the Intracoastal Waterway…a spectacular nighttime flotilla and the oldest continuous boat parade in Florida.

In addition to these major festivals, a myriad of other special events take place every week throughout the city. Everything from art shows to car shows to piano competitions, historic walking tours, street festivals, concerts and much more. For a listing of what’s coming up, click here.

At January’s annual Pompano Beach/Lighthouse Point Nautical Flea Market, you will find all types of nautical gear – both new and used.  Fishing tackle, dock boxes, boat shoes, nautical art & jewelry, motors, dinghy’s, scuba gear, antique goods, boats on trailers, plus much, much more! Come for a fun weekend in Pompano’s Community Park and take advantage of the bargains.

The annual Seafood Festival is known as Florida’s biggest beach party, and is very popular with families and empty nesters. Enjoy every kind of seafood imaginable, a huge arts and crafts area, and a three-day weekend full of live music concerts on the sand.

The Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo has been a South Florida tradition since 1965. It takes place every year during the third weekend in May. The tournament has been known as the Rodeo since it began, as it ultimately resembles a “roundup” for the most popular species. The tournament draws anglers nationwide, and provides yearly support as a benefactor to many saltwater conservation programs and marine education projects.

The Annual Yuletide On Atlantic Parade and Celebration is one of the biggest and most charming hometown street parades you’ll see.  It takes place along Atlantic Blvd. from Riverside Drive to McNab Park. After the Parade the Mayor will light the Yuletide Tree and there will be many children’s activities. For more information call 954.786.4111.

A unique and spectacular event on the Intracoastal Waterway is South Florida’s oldest, continuous Holiday Boat Parade, which has taken place annually in mid-December since 1963. Dozens of beautifully decorated pleasure craft from yachts to kayaks slowly parade up the waterway to delight thousands of visitors and residents who watch from the water’s edge.

These major events have drawn visitors and locals alike for decades.

January: Nautical Flea Market

April: Seafood Festival

May: Fishing Rodeo

December: Yuletide on Atlantic Parade

December:  Holiday Boat Parade

For a more detailed list of events, dates and times in Pompano Beach, click here.

Scuba Diving

Dive Shipwreck Park Pompano!

Explore Lady Luck, Okinawa and other nearby wrecks!
(Dive operators listed below)

Unique new underwater adventures await you at Shipwreck Park, just one mile offshore from the Pompano Beach, Florida fishing pier. Shipwreck Park is a vast artificial reef system and new underwater cultural arts park that’s one of the most easily accessible major dive sites in the nation.

The site continues to grow with the most recent sinkings of the 324-foot Lady Luck and the 107-foot Okinawa. Both are embellished with sculptures and other artwork for divers to enjoy, and for new marine life to call home. Shipwreck Park is an eco-friendly recreational dive area with 17 shipwrecks, designed to take pressure off of the natural reefs nearby.

“Divers love vacationing here,” said Elaine Fitzgerald, part of the Shipwreck Park team who helped create and grow the park. Fitzgerald also owns and operates Beach Vacation Rentals’ boutique properties just a short walk to the dive boats, beach and restaurants. “We set up our apartments and cottages to especially cater to the needs of divers, and do everything we can to help give them a great vacation they will always remember.”

Pompano Beach is truly “nature’s aquarium” with some of the best diving and snorkeling in the nation. The Gulfstream comes closer to shore than anywhere in the U.S., providing some of the clearest and warmest waters anywhere.

A three-tier reef system offers variety in depth for every diver’s experience level, and is within a short swim offshore. Unique to most dive areas, in Pompano Beach you don’t have to take a boat to reach the reefs for diving or snorkeling. But it’s the dive operators who can take you for a short boat ride to the most beautiful reefs and the best of the 200+ wrecks offshore. The dive boats are located on the Intracoastal Waterway, just south of the Hillsboro Inlet…so it’s just minutes to the reefs, which means more time for you in the water!

The snorkel/dive boats typically go out two to three times a day depending on the time of year, and they go out year-round. South Florida Diving Headquarters , a long-time, respected local operator, will pick you up and drop you off for free from our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.

POMPANO BEACH DIVE SHOPS AND OPERATORS:

Deep Relief, 15 N. Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
954-946-6055, www.Deepreliefdivecenter.com

Force-E Scuba, 1312 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-943-3483, https://www.force-e.com/pompano-beach-dive-center/

Pompano Dive Center, 101 N Riverside Dr. #111, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-788-0208, www.pompanodive.com

Scuba Dive It, 2075 Powerline Rd, Suite 3, Pompano Beach, FL 33069, 786-558-3483,   http://www.scubadiveit.com/

Scubatyme Charters,  101 N Riverside Dr., Slip 44, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-786-0909, http://www.scubatyme.com

South Florida Diving Headquarters, 125 N Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-783-2299, http://www.southfloridadiving.com/pompano-beach/

OTHER NEARBY DIVE SHOPS AND OPERATORS:

Dixie Divers, 455 S Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, 954-420-0009, www.dixiedivers.com

Gold Coast Scuba, 259 Commercial Blvd #2, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308, 954-616-5909, http://www.goldcoastscuba.net/

Parrot Island Scuba Adventures, 954-942-7333, http://parrotislandscuba.com

Scuba Network, 959 S. Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, 954-422-9982, and  5975 N. Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, 33308, 954-491-7793 www.scubanetwork.com

Underseas Sports, 1450 N. Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderdale, 33304, 954-564-8661, www.underseasports.com

Snorkeling

Kids snorkeling with fish.Pompano Beach is truly “nature’s aquarium” with some of the best diving and snorkeling in the nation. The Gulf Stream comes closer to shore here than anywhere in the U.S., providing some of the clearest and warmest water anywhere. Beach Vacation Rentals’ properties are host to divers who come from around the world to enjoy a spectacular experience. Ask us about our dive packages.

A three-tier reef system offers variety in depth for every diver¹s experience level, and is within a short swim offshore. Unique to most dive areas, in Pompano Beach you don¹t have to take a boat to reach the reefs for diving or snorkeling. But it¹s the dive operators who can take you for a short boat ride to the most beautiful reefs and the best of the 100+ shipwrecks and dive sites offshore. The dive boats are located right at Pompano’s inlet from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Ocean…so it’s just a few minutes to the reefs, and that means more time for you under water!

The dive and snorkel boats provide all of the equipment, safety gear and instruction. Kids who have never snorkeled enjoy the underwater vistas in no time. Those who wish to stay on the boat can watch the sea life by looking through the boat¹s glass bottom windows.

The snorkel/dive boats typically go out two to three times a day year round.  South Florida Diving Headquarters, a well-respected, long-time local operator, will pick you up and drop you off for free from our Beach Vacation Rentals properties.

POMPANO BEACH DIVE SHOPS AND OPERATORS:

Deep Relief, 15 N. Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062
954-946-6055, www.Deepreliefdivecenter.com

Force-E Scuba, 1312 N Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-943-3483, https://www.force-e.com/pompano-beach-dive-center/

Pompano Dive Center, 101 N Riverside Dr. #111, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-788-0208, www.pompanodive.com

Scubatyme Charters,  101 N Riverside Dr., Slip 44, Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-786-0909, http://www.scubatyme.com

South Florida Diving Headquarters, 125 N Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach, FL 33062, 954-783-2299, http://www.southfloridadiving.com/pompano-beach/

OTHER NEARBY DIVE SHOPS AND OPERATORS:

Dixie Divers, 455 S Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, 954-420-0009, www.dixiedivers.com

Gold Coast Scuba, 259 Commercial Blvd #2, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308, 954-616-5909, http://www.goldcoastscuba.net/

Parrot Island Scuba Adventures, 954-942-7333, http://parrotislandscuba.com

Scuba Dive It, 976 S Deerfield Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 754-307-3459, http://www.scubadiveit.com/

Scuba Network, 959 S. Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 954-422-9982, www.scubanetwork.com

Sunstar Aquatic Services, 609 N Federal Hwy, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441, (561) 368-9952, http://www.diveboca.net/ 

Helpful Links

Travel Insurance Comparison:

Beach Activities:

Restaurant Links:

Shopping Links:

 Cultural Activities Links:

  • Pompano Beach is South Florida’s new hot spot for Cultural Arts activities. Check out all city-wide cultural events here:  http://pompanobeacharts.org/
  • Pompano Beach event calendar: http://www.visitpompano.com/events.html
  • Pompano Beach Amphitheatre is the home to many outdoor concerts and music festivals. Pompano Beach. http://pompanobeachfl.gov/index.php/pages/parks_rec/parks_rec
  • The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is South Florida’s premiere venue for arts, entertainment and events and is located right in the middle of the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. Fort Lauderdale. http://www.browardcenter.org/
  • Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is South Florida’s most popular art museums, hosting over 6,000 pieces of work as well as traveling exhibits. Fort Lauderdale. http://nsuartmuseum.org/
  • Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science has over 200 interactive exhibits as well as a 300-seat IMAX 3D theatre. Fort Lauderdale. http://www.mods.org/home.htm
  • Best up-to-the-date listings of festivals and local events in South Florida: http://www.southflorida.com/events/
  • The Gallery at the Beach Place on Fort Lauderdale offers shopping, dining, live entertainment, nightclubs and bars. Fort Lauderdale. http://www.galleryatbeachplace.com/
  • Downtown Fort Lauderdale is home to a variety of bars, nightclubs, entertainment and restaurants all within walking distance of one another Fort Lauderdale. https://www.goriverwalk.com/
  • The Jungle Queen Riverboat takes guests on a 3-hour sightseeing tour while learning about Fort Lauderdale history, viewing amazing homes and exotic animals. Fort Lauderdale. http://www.junglequeen.com/
  • The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is one of South Florida’s most historic home and gardens. Fort Lauderdale. https://www.bonnethouse.org/
  • The Stranahan House allows guests to travel through time in the historic home. Fort Lauderdale. https://stranahanhouse.org/
  • Mai Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show allows guests to visit a recreated Polynesian Village and enjoy an authentic Polynesian show. Fort Lauderdale. http://www.maikai.com/
  • Morikami Museum and Gardens teaches visitors about Japanese art and culture through hundreds of collections and exhibits. Delray Beach. http://www.morikami.org/

Sport Links:

Ecotourism Links:

  • Butterfly World is the world’s largest butterfly park with over 10,000 butterflies. Enjoy a stroll through the park to go bird watching or a walk in the bug museum. Coconut Creek https://www.butterflyworld.com/
  • Everglades National Park allows visitors to hike, kayak or camp in the nation’s largest subtropical wilderness. Homestead https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
  • Billie Swamp Safari allows guests to enjoy swamp-buggy and airboat tours of Florida’s wetlands, dine on Seminole specialties and catch an alligator wrestling show.  https://www.billieswamp.com/
  • Big Cypress National Preserve gives visitors the chance to hike, use off-road vehicles, hunt or camp in this freshwater swampland. Ochopee https://www.nps.gov/bicy/index.htm
  • Miccosukee Indian Village allows guests to gain insight into the life of the Miccosukee tribe and enjoy an airboat ride through the swamp. Miami https://www.miccosukee.com/indian-village/
  • Lion Country Safari allows visitors to camp or drive through a preserve to observe a variety of endangered or threatened species. Loxahatchee https://www.lioncountrysafari.com/

Just For Kids Links:

  • The Funky Fish Ocean Camp Treat the kids (ages 4-14) to a day of fun and learning oceanside, daily from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. While they are entertained, educated and making new friends, parents can enjoy a vacation while on vacation. This award-winning program has been dedicated to creating relationships between children and the ocean for 23 years.  There is one instructor for every seven children, professionally trained and CPR certified. $69 includes lunch.  24-hour advance reservations required.  954-712-9900 ext 5031.  1200 N. Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach, Florida
  • Quiet Waters Park allows guests to enjoy an interactive children’s water playground “Splash Adventure.” Also water skiing, a skate park, camping, biking. Deerfield Beach https://www.sunny.org/listings/quiet-waters-park/4349/
  • Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science has over 200 interactive exhibits as well as a 300-seat IMAX 3D theatre. Fort Lauderdale https://mods.org/
  • Extreme Indoor Karting is South Florida’s only indoor go-kart track and also has a 120 game arcade. Fort Lauderdale https://xtremeactionpark.com/
  • Boomers Amusement Park is home to mini golf, arcade games, carnival rides, batting cages, bumper boats and laser tag. Boca Raton http://www.boomersparks.com/boca/
  • Miami Metro Zoo allows the kids to feed a giraffe, ride a camel and view 80 exhibits with more than 1,000 animals. Miami http://www.zoomiami.org/
  • Miami Seaquarium is a 38-acre-seaquarium with dolphins, whales and a variety of marine life. Key Biscayne https://www.miamiseaquarium.com/
  • Rapids Water Park is home to 29 water slides for all ages on 22 acres of water fun. West Palm Beach https://www.rapidswaterpark.com/
  • Monkey Jungle – Where humans are caged and monkeys run wild! Miami https://www.monkeyjungle.com/
  • Jungle Island – a wild affair at Jungle Island, exhibits, shows, animals, plants, birds: https://www.jungleisland.com/

Transportation Links: