Fort Lauderdale

The Charity: Fort Lauderdale Historic Society

The Girl: Sharon

These characters (and some of them truly are characters) manage the historic buildings of Fort Lauderdale, and are some of the most enthusiastic, and energetic people I've ever met.

Top Five things to do in Fort Lauderdale:

Five: Take the train to Miami

Four: Take a trip to any of the beautiful beaches

Three: Las Olas Street

Two: Riverwalk

One: Fort Lauderdale Historic Buildings

Things I passed on: Drinking Heavily, Hard Rock Cafe

Good places to stay: Denis Beausejour couch. It comes with a blanket of love, and a pillow of care.

Fort Lauderdale’s Ratings. On a scale from 1 to Boston: 7

Fort Lauderdale has weather, water, and a nightlife. Previously, I would have said it does not have “character”, but I must admit a chance visit to a historic society meeting changed my opinion there.

Fort Lauderdale doesn’t have much to do other than beach and drink.

The story: While Fort Lauderdale doesn’t rate highest on the city list, it may contain some of my best stories. As I was walking along the river walk, I was just about done, and I was reading some historical placards about original houses in Fort Lauderdale. Then I asked two nice people standing on the steps of a building where I could find the next one, at which point- I made a friend- Sharon. She invited me in to the monthly meeting of the Fort Lauderdale Historic Society where they fed me, and I got to hear an animated presentation of Governor Broward, namesake for Broward Country (where Fort Lauderdale is located). I honestly think these were the most hospitable strangers I’ve ever met. Literally, within two minutes of seeing me (and what I a sight I am with a 20 pound pack, and a second one slung across my front) they decided that they should invite me into their special club- and FEED ME! I was in heaven. Then we went around and did introductions, and they asked me all about where I was from, which naturally devolved into my 30cities30days trip. As I was leaving I found a $20 bill on my backpack- and felt like it was a cross between going to a bridge game with my grandma (no offence, but I was the youngest person there by about 20 years) and being an old fashioned troubadour- I showed up and told my story and was given money on my way out. Needless to say, I’ll be donating the money back to the charities on website, which happens in this case to be the Fort Lauderdale Historic Society. This made my trip, and my new friend Sharon is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. Other than that I caught a train ride to Miami (missed one which delayed me an hour) and then finally caught the last two minutes of the Patriots game. I had been following the rest of the game on this GDing blackberry, which despite it coming in handy to follow the Patriots, I still hate the phone when I arrived and set off to the bar Versache used to eat at to watch the Patriots capture a win. Barely. Not exactly the performance I want to see, but a W is a W.

Donate to the Historic Society of Fort Lauderdale- they are good people.