Since its rapid transformation in the early 1990s into one of the world’s leading gay vacation destinations, sunny Fort Lauderdale has continued on a steady path of exciting new developments. Swanky contemporary hotels have risen along its neatly manicured beachfront, itself a short walking distance from several excellent gay resorts. The small city of Wilton Manors, which fringes FtL to the northwest, has become a vibrant hub of LGBT nightlife, dining and shopping. And a growing number of impressive arts and historic attractions have helped turn Fort Lauderdale into one of Florida’s premier arts and cultural hubs.
High season in Fort Lauderdale spans late autumn to early spring, but Broward County is more of a year-round destination than you might think. Many LGBTs, from recent college grads to retirees, have even moved here full-time. The acclaimed gay men’s resort Pineapple Point is currently developing an upscale retirement complex in an up-and-coming corridor of downtown; plans are for this flagship residence to serve as a prototype for similar communities throughout the country. And throughout the city, neighborhoods, businesses and hotels tend to draw a diverse crowd.