Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

From Dania to Hallandale with a few plots of sea trees in between, Hollywood Beach is a place of all ages.
Food places of all types, Spanish, Italian, pub food, Russian, Turkish, Peruvian and more all along the mile
And a half of beachfront. Bikes for rent and a bike space available. Rollerblading is also popular.
Lots of hotels beachside. Incredible place.

The water was clear and felt like the Caribbean. It was a perfect 90 degrees weather day and the water was super warm.

There were plenty of restaurants to choose from. Lifeguard ready. Pretty beach and clean.

Good to go early mornings for an early walk, jog, run or bike ride. It has some shopping and dining. Restaurants are decent nothing really special. But the views and ambience are really nice. Food would be considered mediocre. Service is good.

The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is impressive. You're probably thinking boardwalk, and that's totally ok. Yet this 3 Mile or so path, is wide enough to allow for pedestrians walking, rollerblading, biking, or for the Hollywood Police to drive their vehicles down it. That's awesome in a lot of ways. Close to the white sands, you can see the green water and palm trees.

There are all kinds of stores, restaurants, and hotels on it. Food and souvenirs are expensive. That's to be expected, but was shocked by how high in areas. One part I liked was near the northern side. There everyday they had a singer. Thank you to the gentleman who honored my request of "That's Amore!" Tipped him w couple bucks, and enjoyed his rendition of Dean Martin's classic. Also liked the free Latin music concert at night. This is a happening spot.

I loved walking the Broadwalk for 2 hours!

While some of the attractions have closed along the way including a mall/shopping complex near the end, most of them are still open and it's a leisurely stroll for about 2 miles from one end to the other if you are coming back to where you started.

The broad walk is more than wide enough to accommodate walkers, riders, etc. Everyone was polite and friendly and made way for bikers or paddle-riders as people made their way along.

Enough shops remain for you to look for some souvenirs or some beachwear if you need it as well as hotels and restaurants. There is also a wave pool where several surfers were trying their hands at improving (or showing off) their skills.

Got some pistachio soft serve at about the halfway point.

Staff were on hand to answer questions and to keep the spaces neat and tidy by cleaning up trash and emptying the trash cans while I was on site.

Parking is either at the North end lot, street, or one of the several lots along the way.

This is an easygoing and quiet beach that I enjoyed as my favorite while in Ft. Lauderdale for several days.

Imagine being persuaded to visit a little beach town in Florida that you've never heard of. You hop a flight and arrive at FLL, order your ride and wait with anticipation. As you get closer to your destination, you can smell the saltwater and feel the ocean breeze. You approach a bridge and lights begin to flash, then it begins to raise - A drawbridge! You pass over the Intercoastal and begin the final stretch of the drive to your destination: Hollywood Beach, Florida.

You pass a number of quaint low-rise hotels with a vintage, yet modern, feel. There are a few newly constructed hotels that rise above the rest, but nothing that looks tacky or out of place. There are a number of shops and beautiful restaurants lining the Intercoastal that catch your eye. You arrive at your desired destination and check in, eager to get your bags in the room and your feet in the sand!

As you leave your hotel, you head toward to beach and stumble upon one of the most magnificent sights you've seen - The Hollywood Broadwalk! Maybe you've been to other oceanside boardwalks before (or, maybe you this is your first - Lucky!)... But, the chances that you've experienced anything quite like this before - are slim to none.

Let's take note of all The Broadwalk offers:

1. International cuisine. You can find a restaurant that offers food from just about every corner of the globe and you really have to look hard to find the bad ones. The majority are locally owned and operated and strive to delight every customer.

2. Shopping. There are beach toys and swimwear shops; sunglass stores and convenience stores; trendy shops and souvenir/gift shops. There are bike rentals, chair and cabana rentals, hookah lounges, massage on the beach and so many more. There's even a few liquor stores so you can pick a favorite!
3. Entertainment. There's a good chance you'll find live music at the Hollywood Stage or the patio of over a handful of bars and restaurants. Volleyball nets are located every few blocks and palm trees are always free for hammock hanging. The Water Taxi boards just across the street and offers transportation to Miami or Ft Lauderdale. You've got plenty of options. There's even a surf water ride located directly on The Broadwalk.
4. The beach. You won't find many beaches in Florida that are as long, wide and filled with all day sun, like Hollywood Beach! There's always a breeze and the water stays pretty warm throughout the year and the sand is a beautiful off white. Some days the water is smooth as glass and crystal clear; others bring seaweed, Portuguese Man of War washing up and huge crashing waves. The sunrises are world class. There's even nesting sea turtles for a few months!
5. The people watching. If you love it - This is a mecca.
If you don't - Don't judge or disturb those of us that enjoy it!
6. The locals. I've met some of the happiest and friendliest people, on or along The Broadwalk. We've shared dinners, drinks and poolside hangovers and I'm always looking forward to meeting someone new.
7. The Broadwalk. Stretching almost 2.5 miles and lined with palm trees, guard shacks and everything you could possibly want to satisfy any of you or your family members senses. There are multiple lanes, so please make sure you don't walk in the bike lane. If you hear a beep, kindly step back into the lane for for pedestrian traffic.

Now, this is where it gets rough... You've spent days walking this gem, taking in all the sights, sounds, smells and taste it has to offer and you've loved every moment. You've discovered that the vibe is truly ONE OF A KIND. Now, you're faced with the hardest thing to do in Hollywood Beach: Leaving! Take those wonderful Broadwalk memories back with you and when they start to fade, guess that means it's time to book a return trip?

Hollywood Beach Boardwalk is one of my favorite places in Florida. I stay in the same place every time I visit. My spot is right off the boardwalk. I get to watch the sunrise, grab my Cuban coffee, tacos, ice cream, and any items I need from the surf shops.
People are very active here. Unfortunately there are no dogs or skateboards allowed on the boardwalk. This sets it apart from the Venice, CA Boardwalk.
Maybe when all the old people expire, the rules will ease up. I feel it's unfair to still be so judgmental against these activities in life! Other than those two ridiculous rules, the boardwalk is the place to be!

[Short Review Alert]

So remember that delicious dessert I got from [Hiccups & Churroholic] ?
Well, yeah I decided on Sunday I would rollerblade it off lol...

Anyways, Hollywood Beach - Boardwalk was a great way to enjoy that Sunday Weather. It was chilly that day ,but with the help of the sun - it made my rollerblading experience enjoyable.

A lot of people were either running, walking, rollerblading, riding their bikes, or even renting out those bike carts. Besides the fun activities, Holly Beach Boardwalk offers plenty of restaurants to choose from! Plus Dessert places! [Oh!] and I can't forget mini shops too!

It was nice to see other people enjoying their Sunday with their friends or families.

Overall, I rollerbladed for a good 2 hours. I am thinking... maybe I did 16 miles (?). I do know I went back and forth 4 times LOL.
Heck, I had a great time by myself ! Listening to my 80s, 90s, and just anything funky jams!
Rollerblading and doing my own thing.
[Oh!] people there were even polite enough to move when they saw me coming their way. :)

When I think of a beach boardwalk I think of the Jersey shore with carnival rides, games, shops, and food. it turns out Hollywood founder Joseph Young had the same idea in mind when he created his city in 1925. Inspired by the City Beautiful Movement and Atlantic City's boardwalk, Young built a 30 foot wide cement promenade, a broadwalk, along 1.5 miles of Hollywood shoreline. It is not a boardwalk because it was not built from boards. It is broadwalk built from coral rock dredged from the Intracoastal Waterway and later paved over with asphalt.

Young's broadwalk was home to the Hollywood Beach Casino which was built at a cost of $250,000. The casino had 824 dressing rooms, eighty shower baths, a shopping arcade, and an Olympic-sized salt water swimming pool with a three story diving tower. Young built both the Broadwalk and the Casino to draw tourists to the ocean. Eventually the pool was demolished and the half block lot where the casino sat was left empty for decades.

During WWII the Hollywood Beach Hotel on the broadwalk was taken over by the Navy and commissioned as the US Naval Indoctrination and Training School. One thousand officer trainees graduated in the first class. Two months later it became a navigation school with subsequent classes of 1,500 and more. During this time beach access was restricted by the military who were looking for German U boats off the coast of Florida.

Today the broadwalk stretches nearly two and a half miles along the Atlantic Ocean and has been named one of America's Best Beach Boardwalks by Travel + Leisure magazine. Parking for the broadwalk is available at garages and metered spaces on side streets. Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Resort occupies the space left by the old Hollywood Beach Casino. The new resort is set back from the broadwalk but still has access to it and it has a large hotel, restaurants, and several pools.

The smooth surface and safety from vehicle traffic makes the boardwalk a popular destination for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, rollerbladers. They have really fun quad surrey bikes you can rent to pedal around on. Lining the broadwalk is the beach on the east side and restaurants, hotels, tiki bars, parks, and shops on the west side.

I always love coming down here for exercise and people watching. There is always something interesting going on like a demonstration of a new sport called footbolley that looks like volleyball but is played using your feet. A lot of south Florida cities have beaches but no one has a broadwalk like Hollywood. I think Joseph Young would be pleased to know that his broadwalk is still drawing people to the Hollywood beach today.

So much great food options to choice between. The beach is beautiful and clean !!! No dogs are allowed in the boardwalk or on the beach. Which is a good and a sad thing. Been here plenty of time and it's always something new ! They also have Charnow park that has a wonderful light exhibit.