Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo... For the first time in my life... I'm headed to Fort Lauderdale in November for a cruise with the family. Me, the wife, our two children and my brother in law will be landing in FTL on a Thursday night at approx 10:30pm local time. The cruise leaves Saturday midday. Several questions!!! 1. Looking at hotels. Would be nice if we could get a 2 bed room suite at a reputable hotel. 3.5 star or more. Cost wise, if it's a suite, I've seen around $250 per night which isn't bad. Or, two separate rooms at approx $150 per night. Of course the proximity to the ship can be important depending on if we decide to rent a car or not! Would also be nice to get a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Cost minimization with shuttle transfers, etc etc is optimal. Looking for a good hotel! 2. Renting a car. I'd like to rent a car... thinking if we pick it up at the airport and then drop off close to the port with a shuttle from the rental car place to the port would be nice.. Avis is close by, or so I've seen. But the cost seems to be a outrageous. Thoughts, suggestions... or just let me borrow your car! 3. What to do!?!!? Obviously we aren't in town for very long (after the cruise, we disembark and fly out the same day). I'd love to visit some Dolphin hot spots. Either the team HQ in Davie or the stadium itself. Thoughts on this guys? This is part of the reason why I'm renting a car. Suggestions on restaurants is huge for me. I of course love to eat! Who the hell doesn't? So food suggestions if you got em? Much appreciated. I don't want to give out specific info as I never know which one of you freaks is going to stalk me? Too bad I'm not in town longer, would love to visit with you guys at a game!! bah... next time.
Rustic Inn is a staple for seafood (crabs especially) and it is reallllly close to the airport. As for the touring the team's facilities, I have only gone for training camp but I don't think there is too much there. Not sure on this though.
I'm interested in this thread as well since I'll be in the area for the Panthers game. My first trip to S. Fl.
The garlic crabs at Rustic Inn are amazing, and the restaurant is right on the water. You should look for restaurants like Houstons, etc. because the view is really nice. I'd definitely recommend driving by the stadium if you've never seen it before, you'll get goose bumps I promise.
then perhaps you and Byroan should be thrifty and book a room together at: http://thecabanasguesthouse.com/
For lunch, check out La Spada's subs. There is one in Davie near the Dolphins facility. Big, meaty subs for a good price and they're a very popular sub joint. Dolphin players go there regularly. For dinner, there is a good Mexican restaurant called Celito Lindos off Dixie Hwy between Atlantic Blvd and Cypress Creek Blvd(in Pompano Beach). Family has been going there for years and I know people who have as well. Not in the best part of town and place is a hole in the wall but it is very clean, friendly service, and food is delicious. Try the Fried Ice Cream for dessert, its worth it. Or if you want something Dolphins related and have money to spend on a fancy dinner, then check out any one of Shula's restaurants. Most are in Miami-Dade but I believe he has a few in Broward as well. John Offerdahl has a bagel place near Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach off US1. I also recommend eating at Bru's Room, there's several in Broward and a couple in Palm Beach county. They're wings are awesome! For a good time out at night, the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood is pretty cool, other than gambling they have some cool outdoor bars there and places to eat(Johnny Rockets). Be sure to check out Las Olas too. Some of the bars/old hangouts from the heydays of Spingbreak 80s are still there I believe.
Is there anything to do at the stadium on a Friday? I mean, can we drive up, park, walk around, take pictures near Marino's statue.. etc etc.
appreciate the info! Can I do it all in a day? Might have to just go to Shula's just because. Would love to go to Offerdahl's bagel place too.
haha.. we're getting in around 10:30pm. I'll probably be wearing Dolphin gear So if we're out of the playoff running at that time, I should be easy to spot.
Honestly, if you want to see the flashy part of Miami that is unlike anywhere else in the country you have to go to South Beach/Lincoln Road area. It isn't far at all from Fort Lauderdale and is so unique.
*sniff sniff* Do I smell romance in the air between you two? LOL In all seriousness though, forget Mexican, you can get that in any city. I recommend a constant stream of lunches & dinners on the beach, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Hard Rock. Here's a quick starter list of some possibilities. *Houston's Restaurant, Pompano Beach on Atlantic Blvd and the Intracoastal. Awesome lunch & dinner. Everything is great on the menu. You can go for lunch, sit outside, and watch the boats go by. * If you're looking for something laid back and inexpensive you can't go wrong with the fresh fried mahi-mahi fingers at Piranha Pats on Atlantic Blvd east of Federal Hwy. Total yum those fingers are. I'd call first to make sure they still have them. * Spend a day at Beach Place in Ft Laud. * Spend a night in downtown Lauderdale. * Primanti Brothers Pizza on A1A overlooking the beach. Iconic Ft Lauderdale pizza joint dating back to the 80's spring break hay days. * There's an insane all-you-can-eat seafood buffet at the Boca Raton Resort Hotel & Spa on the beach. 1lb Maine lobsters, stone crab, massive shrimp, prime rib, etc. It's obviously expensive and might need a reservation. If you happen to go that route then you should take a stroll through the The Boca Resort itself given its worldwide popularity and use in movies. * Joe's Stone Crab in Miami. Pricy but worth it. One of the best restaurants to run into players & celebrities. * Drive 2 hours south and spend a day or overnight at Holiday Isle in the Keys. Pics below. If you enjoy fishing then spend the night and go out for 4 hours on a drift boat and catch some yellowtail snapper. Then take your catch to Hog Heaven Sports Bar (it's on the water) and have them cook up your fish for you [fried, grilled, and blackened] and serve 'em up family style with sides of fries & slaw.
I'm not exactly sure, just drive up and see if you can. If not just park outside across the street and walk over, I'm sure no one would be there to stop you.
No problem! You can try, but the traffic can sometimes make it worse. Since I moved to the Melbourne area, I really don't miss South Florida traffic.
Miami is a ***** to drive to and around. You'd be better off exploring that part of SoFla on your next trip.
Well, we've got the rental car lined up. Was going to head to Dolphins Stadium and Shula's for the first time. But I'm really having a hard time looking forward to that after tonight's loss. Really depressing. been a fan of this team for 31 ****ing years. Finally get a chance to come to Miami and visit the stadium. was going to take pictures like a madman. Was gonna be great. And I have to come into town with this ****. I think I'll just relax by the pool, let the kids play in the water. Usual vacation stuff. Worse than 1 and 15 really.
I'm going down there that weekend as well. I'll be at Beach Place and the Hard Rock most of the time. Depending on the Chargers game will decide whether to spend money on this team and go to the game. Anybody know if the Pro Shop in Davie is worth a visit?
I too would like to know about the Pro Shop in Davie and if there's anything to do at the stadium on a non gameday?
so check this out... http://www.sunlifestadium.com/sun-life-stadium-tours stadium tours on non game days. There's a price list if you follow the link. I doubt that they'll be able to fit my group in on short notice, but I'm checking anyway. Would be totally awesome. For future reference guys.
Take dump in paper bag. Smuggle into stadium. Deposit in Jeff Ireland's office. (For bonus points, add an open tin of sardines)
only five... I said group in my post to make myself seem more important Thing is I don't know how many they take at a time. Would be cool if we both could go eh? Try filling out their form and see if they respond. I haven't heard back yet. I'm going to the stadium regardless. I guess there's a pro shop there too. Was thinking of going to the training facility but I don't think there's much to do there during the season other than try to stalk players. Oh and I'm trying for the 2pm time slot, but wouldn't be against going at 9am... just getting up early with the three hour time difference on our first day there is going to be difficult... not for me, but the two rug rats.
looking at pics of the pro shop at the training facility.. maybe it is a permanent structure, IE open daily (not just during training camp).
okay pro shop at training facility is open 10 to 6 weekdays 10 to 2 on saturday. phone number that actually works is 954-452-7099
yeah, since they have a pro shop at the stadium that I believe is open daily, we probably won't go to the davie facility.
Made it on the field. Thx to a great security guard and Mike from Dolphins Business Development. Totally scored as they dont do tours the day before games. Will post pics later. Kickin it in South Beach right now. lol.
I will update this thread with my picks of Dolphin Stadium on the field, outside, and a review of our time in Fort Lauderdale / Miami. Just a preview, "and people think folks in Southern California drive nuts? Holy sheep ****... South Floridians (is that even a word?) are INSANE! We rented a car... I saw these two cars getting into a shouting match on the 95 down to Miami. Two black ladies... one of them in a silver Impala eventually said **** it, pulled really close to the other one, rolled down her window and started yelling at her. The cars were stopped in traffic. I got out of there before bullets started flying. Between the blacks, Italians and Cubans, it's destruction derby."
