Call me ignorant, but I had no idea that Fort Lauderdale, FL was referred to by some as the "Venice of America" for its canals.
But I know it now as one of our excursions was a family paddleboarding trip up and down them past some million dollar homes and conds and some multi-million dollar yachts.
In addition to two visits to Dania Beach where the kids enjoyed the warm waters and mild waves (apparently, the Bahamas acts as a kind of massive reef-another fact I didn't know), Nadia, who planned most of our trip, guided us to the Wynwood Walls.
Some pictures below to add color, but it's a remarkable example of urban innovation.
Apparently, there were some developers (Tony and Janet Goldman) who were trying to figure out what to do with some warehouses in an area that was suffering from urban blight.
Their genius was in creating an outdoor art museum to celebrate street murals which seem to get refreshed each year and are just magnificent. Now, the area is revitalized around the art as tourists come in to see it.
When we were there, it was pretty hot, but it's a destination where I could have spent a few hours just mesmerized by the colors and images.
There are a few indoor exhibits to complement the outside works as well.
Definitely worth it.
Subscribe to RSS Feed