City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Pompano Beach, Florida
The sunny shores of Pompano Beach, found just north of Fort Lauderdale, offer fishing piers, natural attractions, shopping and entertainment for boaters of all types. Whether your private boat dock for rent is in Harbor Village, Pompano Isles or Cypress Point (or some other prime Pompano Beach neighborhood), keep reading to find some fun things to see and do.
Butterfly World
Photo: Butterfly World Facebook
Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road
Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
Waterfalls, tropical flowers and fountains always have a place in a Florida itinerary. Home to more than 20,000 butterflies, Butterfly World is the largest park of its kind in the world. Take a walk through an English rose garden and visit a Bug Zoo, a Tropical Rainforest habitat and an aviary for tropical birds, macaws, hummingbirds and lorikeets.
The most fun, though, is watching butterflies of all colors, shapes and origins sipping nectar, nibbling on fruit and flitting about. You can even view the laboratory where the butterflies are raised. Check out butterfly life stages as they go from eggs and caterpillars to pupa. The park has the largest collection of passion flower vines in the world, as well as mounted and live insects such as scorpions, mantids, water bugs and beetles.
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
Photo: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek
5550 NW 40th Street
Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
If you’re more of a high-roller than an insect addict, you’ll want to check out Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. With 2,000 slot machines (progressive and non-progressive) and 70 live table games (blackjack, baccarat and poker), as well as tournament poker, video poker and virtual roulette, it’s a little slice of Sin City right here in the Sunshine State.
Looking for food and entertainment? This is the place for casual and fine dining, bars and nightlife. The Pavilion is a 10,000-square foot, 1,200-seat venue that features performers such as George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Pat Benatar, Grand Funk Railroad and Lil’ John. You can also see acts such as ventriloquist Terry Fator and comedian Paul Reiser.
Festival Flea Market Indoor Mall
Photo: Festival Flea Market Facebook
2900 W. Sample Road
Pompano Beach, Florida 33073
The Festival Flea Market combines a mall and marketplace. The open-air indoor setting has more than 250 stores, boutiques, outlet shops and art galleries. You can find everything from shoes, jewelry and accessories to electronics, home goods and men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing. Seasonal and annual events include boat shows, car shows, live pro wrestling and music and food festivals.
The Festival Marketplace also has restaurants, bakeries and fruit/vegetable vendors. Pick up something tasty to enjoy at your boat slip rental later in the evening.
Fishing Charters / Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center
Photo: Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center Facebook
2705 N. Riverside Drive
Pompano Beach, Florida 33062
While you’re in Pompano, why not catch a pompano? Or a marlin, mahi or grouper, for that matter. Choose from a wide variety of deep-sea fishing charters that leave out of the Hillsboro Inlet Fishing Center. Sailfish Alley, on the Gulf Stream, is a popular spot for catching all sorts of fish.
Half day and full day fishing charters, as well as trips to the Bahamas, are available for large or small groups. The center’s fleet of sportfishing charter boats include a 53’ Hatteras, a 52’ Merritt Custom and a 46’ Hatteras with names like Reel Bandit, Ringmaster and Rebound (you just gotta love the creativity of a good boat name). Parasailing excursions are also available and make a unique way to see the land and seascape of Pompano Beach.
Private boat docks for rent on Cypress Lake, Lake Santa Barbara or the Hillsboro River make the perfect anchorage for your Pompano Beach day trips. We hope you’ve found a few new spots to put on your South Florida to-do list.
