Fort Lauderdale Attractions

lcome to MetroGuide Networks' overview of Fort Lauderdale-area attractions. The Greater Fort Lauderdale area is full of attractions for all ages. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s famed beach -- once the “Where The Boys Are” Spring Break Capital of the Universe – in recent years has proactively upgraded from a steady diet of wet T-shirt and banana-eating contests to offer a tonier menu of more diverse attractions, all within an increasingly smart resort city atmosphere. That goes for the rest of Broward County, too, altogether covering some 1,200 square miles and encompassing 30 municipalities and 1.7 million residents. On South Florida’s Gold Coast, midway between Palm Beach and Miami, Greater Fort Lauderdale stretches from Deerfield and Pompano past Fort Lauderdale on south to Hollywood and Hallandale. Westward, Greater Fort Lauderdale sprawls toward the eastern edge of the Everglades and embraces planned cities such as Coral Springs and Weston. In between are wild west-oriented Davie, trendy Wilton Manors and miniscule Lazy Lake. County seat Fort Lauderdale, the largest of all, has 150,000 residents and is navigable not only by its “Venice of America” waterways, but also by a grid system with east/west boulevards and north/south avenues. One main-drag exception is the 17th Street Causeway, a major east/west artery that leads over the Intracoastal Waterway past Port Everglades and curving north into A1A, the scenic beach route. Florida’s only tunnel, on Federal Highway, burrows under New River just south of Broward Boulevard. As the “Yachting Capital of the World” underscored by dozens of gleaming yachts docked at places like the famed Bahia Mar Yacht Basin (fictional home to the Busted Flush, Travis McGee’s twin-dieseled houseboat in those John D. MacDonald novels), Greater Fort Lauderdale is a place where watercraft of all ilk get dressed up big time for holiday boat parades. It’s a destination that has come a long way since incorporation in 1911 with just 175 residents, getting its name from Maj. William Lauderdale, who in 1838 built a fort at the mouth of New River during the Seminole Indian wars.

Fire Island Pines, NY - USA - I am going for sure - Are you ???

Fire Island Pines, NY - USA Fri. August 14, 2009 - Sun. August 16, 2009 After an amazing launch in 2006, Summer 2009 will be the biggest and best Ascension yet! This gay and lesbian daytime world-class beach party is brought to you in part by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Fund in the Sun Foundation. Not only is Ascension a blast for everyone in the Pines, but it raises funds for worthy charitable causes. What could be better than miles of sun-drenched sand, a cool ocean breeze and scintillating music uniting a crowed of 4,000 celebrants by lifting and ascending their spirits? It's time for Ascension! Won't you join us for the only gay and lesbian, daytime beach party in the New York metro area and the largest gay, daytime beach party in the North? 2009 Ascension weekend is sure to be legendary with 18 exciting events scheduled over a 3-day weekend.

Ipanema Beach

If it's beach fashion you're going for, it's here in Ipanema. It is right in the middle of the action - there's a particular stretch which is to be found at the end of Rua Farme de Amoedo - the place to be at, if you wish to be seen and cruised!.

Summer time, from December to end of February, the crowd on the beach is quite spectacular; Cariocas take pride in looking after their bodies but then you would if you spent half of your life as if you a model on catwalk.
while on the beach you can get refreshing tropical fruit juices, energetic drinks, beer, you name it. It's all delivered to you by numerous beach vendors; while you're at it, you can also rent beach chairs and parasols from the? friendly guys who work on the beach. Lots of locals try to make a living selling stuff on the beach, but don't worry, they're not pushy at all.

Rio de Janeiro - Gay destination

The All-Out Rio Gay Guide
Rio de Janeiro is the main gay holiday destination for many South American visitors. The Rio gay scene is ideally suited to those who enjoy partying the night away, the rhythm of a large city and the laid-back feeling of a beach resort all rolled into one.

Every year an ever increasing number of gay guys head down to Rio in search of an exciting and hot gay holiday destination. They're coming down to the right place. In recent years Rio has become an excellent choice for the gay traveler. As the weather is hot all year round, the beaches are all loaded with eye candy all day long.

Brazil - The place to go

So close and easy to get to, yet unknown to most Americans, Brazil is fast becoming the new go-to getaway for savvy travelers seeking something totally different. In increasing numbers gay visitors are discovering in Brazil a vast country with countless treasures, from music and cuisine to art and architecture to a budding gay culture and a pulse-quickening undercurrent of same-sex attraction (a welcome departure from our more rigid definitions of gay versus straight).

Just do the math: With an exchange rate of over three reals to the dollar, it's also an incredibly inexpensive time for Americans to visit. This winter forget that tired old gay resort. Dust off your passport, brush up on your Portuguese and head to Brazil. Begin your discovery with our primer on the top destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Rio de Janeiro's setting is one of the most spectacular of any city œ the blue-green South Atlantic Ocean laps a wide expanse of white beaches, abutting the lush greenery of a semitropical forest. Superimpose a pulsating city and a vibrant nightlife and culture for a complete view of Rio's offerings. The city underwent a major facelift for the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development a few years ago, making now one of the best times ever to visit. A renovated airport, a speedy new route from airport to city, a bicycle path along the beachfront, spruced-up parks and an increased police presence in tourist areas are the major improvements.

Of course, Rio is famous for its Carnival. Besides the fantastic spectacle of the parade itself, there are lots of street parties and balls during the days before and after the main event. The gay ball is O Grande Gala Gay (official gay ball). This was once the gay event to go to, but it has taken a turn to the more commercial side, attracting a mostly straight audience in search of the exotic drag queens and transvestites that fill the ball to capacity.

There are a lot of other alternative gay neighborhood parades (Blocos and Bandas) such as Banda de Ipanema and Banda da Carmen Miranda, that wind around the Suburb of Ipanema, a dazzling cacophony of samba bands, exotic drag queens and beautiful Brazilian men and women.

These bands are followed by a big crowd singing and dancing samba on the streets of Ipanema from midafternoon (immediately after beach time œ attire consisting of swimming suits, bikinis or shorts) until late at night, ending up in one of the popular neighborhood bars, Bofetadaat Farme de Amoedo Street.

The Banda da Carmen Miranda leaves only once, on the Sunday preceding Carnival week. They crown the gay Queen and King of the parade, usually TV stars or other Brazilian celebrities. The most fun float of the Banda is from the Le Boy nightclub, with a huge crowd following it back to the door of the club in Copacabana at 10 p.m. The Banda de Ipanema leaves twice during the event, on the Saturday and Tuesday of Carnaval.