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The new Fort Lauderdale is glitzy, glamorous and cultured

Fort Lauderdale exits the student scene

By Phyllis Steinberg

Gone are the days when Fort Lauderdale was known for its Spring Break student scene! In its place are savvy and sophisticated residents who mingle with tourists at up-scale shopping venues like the Galleria Shopping Mall where Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue have recently been joined by an Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa and many eateries that cater to the rich and famous as well as locals and tourists. Even the food court at the Galleria is high-end. Have you ever been to a food court in a shopping mall where the bathroom fixtures are all in gold and there is an attendant that offers you hand towels and lotion?  

New condominiums are springing up along the ocean at price tags that will knock your socks off from $500,000 to several million and homes along the Intracoastal Waterways are not for the faint of pocketbook. And the yachts you will see at marinas in the city are paying the highest prices to dock as most anyplace in the world.

All this high-end activity requires high-end lodging and Fort Lauderdale is building a new collection of luxury hotels to accommodate the throngs of tourists flocking to the area. The Atlantic, a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection is the first to be completed in the luxury class. The all-suite hotel complete with private cabanas and a Euro spa opened in 2004 and two more luxury resorts are currently under construction.

I recently stayed at The Atlantic, where the service was impeccable, the accommodations deluxe and the ambience divine. As I looked out at the ocean and the pool deck from my room, I saw waiters serving refreshments to sun worshipping guests comfortably stretched out on lounge chairs. There are no crowds in the hotel, even if it is full. The 123-suites keep it private and exclusive. When you step onto the pool deck, you only see the ocean and not the beach or street. Everything is luxurious from the 450-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets to the plush pillows and fluffy comforters. The European spa is off limits for all except hotel guests and that’s the way the property was designed. Exclusivity is the name of the game and at The Atlantic and they play it well. 

Only the restaurant, Trina, is open to the public. Don Pintabona, who was executive chef of the award-winning Tribecca Grill in New York from 1990 to 2003, is the Executive Chef of the restaurant. His contemporary American cuisine has made a big hit with the locals. The oceanfront restaurant is a popular dining spot, but people don’t just go there for the atmosphere, they come there to enjoy the food, which is exceptional. I dove into my Seared Sea Bass with gusto, but ate slowly to masterfully taste every delightful morsel of the dish.           

Along with upscale restaurants and shopping centers, Fort Lauderdale also is a haven for and scuba divers, who dive along its 23 miles of coastline where there are more than 80 artificial reefs and many opportunities to learn to dive as well as to explore diving sites. All types of water sports are enjoyed by tourists from snorkeling and kite-surfing to para-sailing and surfing the waves.

Tourists who enjoy culture and art will be treated to an array of choices in Fort Lauderdale. The Broward Center For The Performing Arts, a multi-million dollars arts center with two theaters offers Broadway road shows, has a Symphony of the Americas symphony orchestra which performs concerts throughout the year as well as many special events. The Museum of Art in downtown Fort Lauderdale has a fine collection of Modern Art and also plays hosts to several traveling exhibits.  

The Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel is another addition to the bustling social scene along with the Pompano Harness Racing Track, Calder Raceway where the thoroughbred horses race,  Hollywood Greyhound Racing, Dania Jai Lai, Miami Marlins Baseball, Miami Heat Basketball and the Florida Panthers Hockey Team. And Polo is less than a 45 minute drive from the area.

The cruise ships are also a big attraction for tourists as Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is the world’s second largest cruise port. Watching the massive cruise ships sail into the port is a favorite pastime as well as sailing on them. 

For more information about Fort Lauderdale, call 1-800-SUNNY or log onto www.sunny.org

For more information about The Atlantic in Fort Lauderdale, call 954-567-8020 or log on to luxurycollection.com/atlantic

Photos by Phyllis Steinberg and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau

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