I've lived here for most of my life and somehow I don't think I've ever been to the Stranahan…read moreHouse, despite passing right by it a million times. They recently started offering free tours for locals on Wednesdays, so I decided to take advantage. It's a free self-guided tour, and they give you an audio device that gives you all the information on each room. The volunteer who checked me in was super sweet. Stranahan House is the oldest structure in Broward County, and I really enjoyed learning more about the history of the area, and especially about Ivy Stranahan's activism. It really gave me a new appreciation for the area. My favorite part was the upstairs porch, with a beautiful, relaxing view of the New River. I took the volunteer's advice and sat up there for a minute enjoying it instead of rushing through, and I'm so glad I did. Be aware that upstairs isn't air conditioned, so half of the tour is really hot. Dress accordingly or bring a fan! Overall, I'd highly recommend stopping by! It's something fun to do that's a nice change of pace.

My husband and I finally took a self-guided tour here since we saw they recently made it free…read moreadmission on Wednesday's for locals and it's definitely worth the visit! The tour took about 45 minutes and was super interesting and informative. Just a heads up that the second floor isn't air conditioned so it was just a little warm up there!

We stopped by to see their beautiful light didplay! There were many different setups great for…read morephoto ops. They did a great job! The castle was popular, but the sled was awesome. I even convinced my teen boys to take pictures, so you know it was a good set up! There was plenty of parking and the different areas were spread out enough for an easy flow. Very festive! Thanks to Councilmember Louis Reinstein for the recommendation. See you next year!

The Plantation City Hall that exists today was dedicated in 1973. I have always loved this stately…read morebrick building with neoclassic columns and it is one of Plantations most scenic spots. In front of City Hall is always my favorite place to catch the annual Fourth of July parade. City Hall was even featured in the opening scene of the comedy There's Something About Mary when it doubled for Cumberland High School in Rhode Island where Ben Stiller's Ted first spots Cameron Diaz's Mary. As beautiful as Plantation City Hall is, it is never grander than in December when it is trimmed in lights, garland, and wreaths, and serves as the backdrop for Plantation's holiday decorations. Young and old are enthralled with the huge Christmas trees, photo op in front of a gingerbread house, and multiple lighted decorations across both sides of the lawn. The standout feature of the display is a large, open castle frame strung with candy colored lights that children enjoy running through. I love that the City of Plantation sets this display up for the community to enjoy every holiday season.

I love coming to this community center, there is truly so much to do! My favorite activity has been…read morethe weekly line dancing class. The instructor is fun, engaging, and helpful, and the group of attendees makes it such a great time every week. They offer a wide range of classes (not just lining dancing) during both the day and evening, with options that are free or available for a small fee. There's something for all ages, from kids to seniors, which makes it such a welcoming and inclusive space. The center itself is spacious, clean, and has convenient restroom access. There's also rental space available for events or gatherings. Class offerings range from language and crafting to games, dancing, gardening, and more -- there's always something new to try! There are several other community centers in Pompano as well, so it's worth exploring them to see what each location has to offer.

They have a wide range of courses with excellent instructors. in particular I go for the duplicate…read moreBridge lessons and my wife goes for tai chi.

I love to post reviews where I've had a long term perspective. Ft Lauderdale is one of my faves in…read moreSouth Florida for a lot of reasons. Not the least of which I lived there back in 1979. A nieve kid moved there looking to live by the ocean,fish,scuba dive,sail. However,it was a far different place then . Relatively undeveloped with respect to industry and jobs and totally different culture. Minimal urban sprawl or freeways. I did enjoy it for a year before returning to Texas. The clear tropical water,yacths parked in backyards, freshwater river. What's not to like. I've visited many times over the years and always wonder what my life would have held if I'd stayed. Ft Lauderdale should definitely be on your visit list if in south Florida.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is an international hot spot for beach goers, active night life,…read more affluent living along the intracoastal and on the Las Olas strip with the threat of rampid homelessness lurking at every corner fueled by the lower income residential community and mental issues in addition to halfway houses, community outreach programs and funded soup kitchens. Fort Lauderdale businesses and restaurants/bars thrive due to the influx of new residential rental sky rises forcing a continual influx of customers. The tri-rail, bus station, Fort Lauderdale Police & Fire Departments and a busy International Airport and Sea Port are strategically centrally located for easy access to all members of the population.

I always get chills driving thru Surfside on Collins Ave and 87th...remembering the tragic collapse…read moreof the 12 story Champlain Towers condo building killing 98 people at 1:14 am. Most were asleep at that time. This was national news for weeks. Only three individuals were pulled alive from the debris in the immediate aftermath. It was very upsetting to us as we live very close by there and frequently drive by. This happened 4 years ago. There is a new building going up now. Surfside is a small one-square mile oceanfront area that is a walkable, residential beach town located between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour. It is known for its quiet, family-friendly atmosphere, pristine beaches, luxury oceanfront condos and charming downtown with unique shops and restaurants. It offers a mix of luxury and small-town appeal, with beautiful parks, and public art installations like the "turtles" on a corner of Collins Ave. It is so pretty there during the Christmas season with all the lights up. Many tourists stay in Surfside instead of South Beach because it is more peaceful and quiet.

These are pictures of outside the Surfside community center. As it is a coastal community, the…read moreTown of Surfside has made it a part of its mission to save the planet--and with that, Florida Loggerhead sea turtles. That is why turtle art features outside. This multi-purpose Community Center was built with amenities that include a recreational pool with lap lanes, plunge pool and slide, children's activity pool, and Jacuzzi. Additional amenities include two multipurpose rooms to host a variety of activities and programs for all ages. It is also equipped with locker room facilities, family restrooms, and a first aid station. To the east of the center is a green space, the perfect setting for party rentals and community events. Enjoy a snack or bite to eat at the onsite snack bar and grill. Since the opening in June 2011, the Community Center is home to the Parks and Recreation and Tourist Bureau administrative offices.

I didn't even know this beautiful community center existed but I discovered during a flea market…read moresale held in the parking lot. The center's construction began in June 2018, and it was completed in 2020, earning LEED v4.1 Gold certification for Existing Buildings. I got a chance to check out the inside and was impressed of the building. This community center in Cresthaven is named after Charlotte Burrie, a former Commissioner and Vice Mayor. She was an advocate for building a community center in the Cresthaven neighborhood of Pompano Beach. She served as a city commissioner from 2007 until 2018. The community center has an lobby and reception area, administrative offices, small conference room, auditorium with stage and dressing rooms, warming kitchen and two multi-purpose activity rooms. Programs held here include line dancing, Silver Sneakers, yoga, bunco, karate, jazzercise, and Zumba classes. There is also a community board game night. There are flyers for all kinds of events posted in the community center and a listing of dates and times on the website. This community center serves as a hub for cultural, civic, and recreational activities in a building that was designed with a focus on accessibility and functionality. Community centers provide inclusive spaces for diverse groups to meet, learn, and grow which reduces the feeling of isolation while empowering community members with skills. Providing affordable recreational and wellness programs is a vital component of a communities well being and the Charlotte Burrie Community Center does an excellent job of meeting this need.

Fun place. Fun activities. Good people. Nick Lazazzara is…read morethe best. Nothing more I really needs to be said.

The Hollywood Historical Society is a non profit organization, founded in 1974 for the purpose of…read morecollecting, preserving, and educating the public about the history of Hollywood, Florida. They are located in the historic Hammerstein House on Polk Street where they operate a research center that has over 20,000 pieces in it's collection. There is a small store at the research center that sells photos, postcards, and books. They also give free tours of the Hammerstein House on first Sunday of the month, October through May, from 1:00-4:00 PM. On the events page of their website you can see the dates for their lecture series as well as an upcoming lunch on January 19th at the Tropical Acres Steak House. Also on their website is a great printable tour map that gives you a self guided walking tour of historic places along the beach and in the downtown. I love what the historical society is doing to preserve the history in Hollywood. It is always fun to discover on of the plaques they have installed on a building and read about the history of the place. You can support the historical society by becoming a member, making a donation, or serving as a docent at the Hammerstein House.

My 1400th year I saved this milestone review for this organization that I have been a Lifetime…read moremember of since moving to Hollywood 19 years ago. This is a wonderful organization that's mission is preserving and protecting Hollywood's history. The headquarters is located a short walk from my home on the Southside of the golf course, on Polk street in the historic district of Hollywood Lakes. The Hammerstein House was donated to the City by the Hammerstein's who have a great love for this city as well as no children to pass the property down to. The Historic Society rents the property on a 99 year lease for $1. per year. There is free tours given of the home first Sunday of the month from October through May. The historic details are magnificent such as the Cuban tile that is original to the home as well as the grand archways. The kitchen has cabinets that reach up to the top of the ceiling and it really lent itself as a place for entertaining. The grounds have beautiful greenery and lush trees. As a past President I had my own home featured on the Annual Historic Home Tour. That year we featured the homes of Northlake which also included the Hollywood Women's Club that is located around the corner from my home across from the Hollywood Beach Resort and Country Club. I highly recommend you stopping by the home for a tour as well as learn more about the City of Hollywood's fascinating history as well as former residents that called Hollywood their home.

The 1913 Shippey House was the home of Broward County's second judge, Frederick Beeker Shippey. Fed…read moreShippey served as county judge from 1920 to 1933 when an illness forced him to resign. As a member of the Elks Lodge, he was recognized for his work with disabled children. Also of note was that he married the celebrities of the time including presiding over the wedding of Tarzan actor and swimming champion, Johnny Weissmuller. The home was slated for demolition in 2008 but was saved and moved at a cost of $200,000 from its original location in Sailboat Bend on Southwest Seventh Avenue to the Riverwalk, home of Ft. Lauderdale's historic buildings. After 5 years of renovation a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in 2016. The building now houses Cycle party Tours, a recreational equipment and tour business. They finished restoring the landscaping and interior of the house. The rent kayaks,bikes, and segways as well as offer tours of Ft. Lauderdale. Next to the Shippey House is a public parking lot that allows people to park and access the river front.