Ft. Lauderdale is home to Sawgrass, one of the largest outlet malls in the country, popular among visitors and locals alike. It’s about a 30-40 minute drive from the beach or Wilton Manors — well worth it for discount-luxury shoppers. Beyond Sawgrass, you’ll find all of the usual suspects here, along with a few gay-specific shops for your gay-specific needs.

The long strip of Las Olas Boulevard is brimming with shops, restaurants, bars, and a handful of art galleries in between. Extending all the way to Las Olas Beach, you can easily peruse the popular thoroughfare before heading to the water.

Las Olas has a full calendar of events such as the Las Olas Art Fair and the Las Olas Food and Wine Festival, where artists and foodies indulge big time in their respective passions. The architecture is not to be sniffed at either, as Las Olas boasts Mediterranean influence and landscaped gardens.

• Leather Werks (1226 NE 4th St) continues to serve the leather community with garments, accessories and play equipment.
• Pride Factory (850 NE 13th St) men’s fashion, gym, swim and underwear, adult DVDs and novelties, lubricants, cards, CDs, pride gear and gay-themed movies; jewellery, bracelets, pendants and watches.
• To the Moon (2205 Wilton Dr) candy, sweets and gourmet food from 80 countries, especially dark chocolate and licorice goodies; with over 90 types of dark chocolate bars and famous hard-to-find candy, this store is a heaven for those with a sweet tooth.
• BALL Beachwear is the place to go for the the perfect outfit for your next pool party. BALL Beachwear stocks the brands such as of Sauvage, Ruff Riders and Nasty Pig, as well as their own swimwear line.
• Mixing gay culture, high culture and the joys of retail is Gallery XO, located in Wilton Manors and presenting one of the largest gay art collections in the world.

Broward County Transit offers an expansive system of buses covering many areas of the country. A one-way fare costs $2; an all-day pass is $5. The Tri-Rail commuter train stops at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and downtown Fort Lauderdale. A round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, for example, costs just $5 on weekends.

Even when the ocean is rough, the inland waterways are ideal for paddle boarding or kayaking. Hop-on, hop-off water taxis cruise the Intracoastal Waterway from Oakland Park Boulevard (just north of Wilton Manors) to 17th Street Causeway, providing a refreshing, affordable break from the city’s car culture.

Fort Lauderdale is a busy year-round destination thanks to its sunny climate. Peak season is between December and April. Yes, anytime in that whole half of the year. The warm climate (between the high 50s and mid-80s) makes it an ideal getaway for anyone looking to escape bitter winter temperatures.