A laid back variation on Miami's sun-soaked beach culture, Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city with an engaging spirit. It wasn't until 1838 that the United States established the eponymous fort in the area, though the fort was abandoned after the Second Seminole War, leaving the area relatively undeveloped until 1890. It wasn't until Fort Lauderdale was established as an air force training center and military base that population surged. Today, Fort Lauderdale is a popular yachting center just outside the busy waters of Miami with a harbor dotted with swanky yachts, offering a range of water activities and scenic white-sand beaches to visitors. Among its many attractions, Las Olas Boulevard with its chic bars and trendy boutiques and the paved brick roads of the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk stand out.
