Pastel-striped inns, low-rise condos, and a palm-lined plaza set the tone in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (LBTS)—a walk-everywhere beach village perched between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano. Park once, trade shoes for flip-flops, and you can snorkel a living coral reef before breakfast, grab fish tacos for lunch, and dance to live trop-rock under string lights by dusk. With building heights capped at four stories and cross-walk signs shaped like surfboards, LBTS feels straight out of a 1950s postcard—except with fiber-optic Wi-Fi and latte art on every corner.
Reef, Waves & Waterfront Fun
Snorkel the Nearshore Reef
One of Florida’s rare nearshore reefs rises only 100 yards off the sand in front of Datura Avenue. Slip on fins, kick past the gentle surf, and you’ll hover above brain coral heads frequented by parrotfish, nurse sharks, and the occasional spotted eagle ray. Local dive shops rent gear and post daily visibility boards, while lifeguards keep watch from sunrise to 5 p.m.
Anglin’s Square & Pier Plaza
Although Anglin’s Fishing Pier remains under restoration, its new shore-end plaza buzzes with adirondack chairs, Instagram swings, and musicians belting Jimmy Buffett covers on Friday nights. The town pipes “walk-don’t-run” jingles through tiki-themed crosswalk speakers, adding kitsch that visitors can’t help but film.
Village-Style Dining & Nightlife
Sea-grape-shaded terraces spill onto Commercial Boulevard, where chef-owned joints serve everything from conch fritters to handmade pappardelle. After dinner, locals wander to Sloan’s Ice Cream for neon-colored scoops or sip craft rum at 101 Ocean while pelicans glide overhead. Weekly “Friday Night Live!” concerts turn the plaza into an open-air dance floor, and the first Saturday of every month sees a vintage market hawking mid-century rattan and sea-glass jewelry.
Parks, Paddles & Bike Trails
• El Prado Park—Steps from the sand, it offers shaded picnic tables and outdoor shower towers.
• Washingtonia Zip Trail—A protected bike lane leading north to Pompano’s Fisher Family Pier in 12 shaded minutes.
• Mobi-Mat Beach Access—ADA-friendly mats roll across the dunes so strollers, wheelchairs, and coolers glide easily to the shoreline.
Getting Around
LBTS hugs A1A, but most visitors ditch cars. Free “Pelican Hopper” shuttles loop every 45 minutes, and Broward B-cycle docks sit beside the plaza. I-95 is 12 minutes west via Commercial Boulevard; Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport lies 25 minutes south, and Palm Beach International sits 45 minutes north. Tri-Rail’s Cypress Creek station, 15 minutes inland, offers rail trips to Miami for cruise departures or Heat games.
Why Choose Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach?
Where mega-towers and valet chaos dominate many Gold-Coast shorelines, LBTS keeps life simple: small-town policing, no paid parking after 9 p.m., and sunrise yoga taught by the mayor’s wife on Tuesdays. Add a snorkel-ready reef, open-air cafés, and a plaza that doubles as the town’s living room, and you’ve found South Florida’s most charming stretch of sand.
Business Information
Prime Air
150 East Palmetto Park Road, Ste 800, Boca Raton FL 33432
(561) 855-0659
Next Up: Spanish River Park, FL
Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park offers dune-backed beaches, tunnels under A1A, and dog-friendly shoreline hours.