To the uninitiated, the sheer size of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) – with its seven locations spanning 90 acres – can seem intimidating. The show has changed and grown even more in recent times, with expanded areas to explore this year.
Beyond simply understanding where to go and how to get around the massive show, there’s also the question of how to best experience the city of Fort Lauderdale itself. What’s the perfect lunch spot during the show, which restaurants do the locals swear by and where should you go after hours? Whether you’re a show newcomer or veteran attendee, get the inside track with BOAT's survival guide...
Getting around
While spread out, the show’s seven locations are all easily adjacent to the network of waterways that run through Fort Lauderdale, earning the city is moniker of the "Venice of America". Much like Venice, the best way to get around Fort Lauderdale is by water, especially during a busy time like FLIBS when the roads can be packed. "I always recommend first timers get on the water taxi," says Mark Theissen, VP – Client Development for FMC GlobalSat. "It’s a good way to get around the show and the best perspective to appreciate Fort Lauderdale."
There are three water taxi routes at FLIBS this year, and a day ticket costs $15 while a ticket for the entire five days of the show is $65. But, BOAT 's social media director Adam Geast cautions to allow for plenty of time "for long water taxi queues, especially getting between the Superyacht Village and Bahia Mar." The show will also be operating shuttles and golf carts to whisk attendees to the various sites. Like the water taxis, these start to operate one hour before the show opens and stop one hour after the show closes.
For those driving to the show, long-time FLIBS attendee and BOAT contributor Marilyn Mower has some advice. "Don’t bother trying to park near the show, the traffic is nuts. Park near where you want to be after the show and Uber to the closest water taxi location – and don’t forget the Las Olas area water taxi stop," she says.
"Better yet, ask your yacht broker or charter broker for a lift from their office or your hotel. They all have minivans, luxury cars and SUVs rented to transport customers or potential customers as well as their staff for the show." Many brokerage houses and builders will also be welcoming their clients to private villas on the waterways and will have their own tenders to ferry clients around as well.
Specialty areas inside the show
FLIBS has three million square feet (or more than 278,000 square metres) of exhibition space. Within this sprawl, there are many specialised areas depending on your interests. "The Designers Pavilion at Superyacht Village has expanded this year and is set to show some pretty cool new designs and innovations for yachting, I’m excited to take a look around in between my yacht tours," says Geast.
As well as plenty of space for tenders and toys within the Broward County Convention Centre, FLIBS is usually an excellent venue to scope out the latest water toys.
This year, the show is upping the ante. "FLIBS is always a great show for new water toys," says Mower. "Several local suppliers such as National Marine Suppliers and Brownie’s Third Lung, among others, will be bringing out all the new goodies for winter-spring boating season. Maybe it’s time to add a foiler to your toy collection!"
The Broward County Convention Center also hosts family-friendly activities. The Kids Corner in the lobby has face painting, arts and crafts and other games for the kids to get involved in. You can also check out the Kids Fishing Clinics if you’re at the show on a Saturday or Sunday.
Take a break
This year, the Windward VIP Club has been upgraded and expanded and is newly located at the Hall of Fame Marina. Perks include a premium open bar, private restrooms and complimentary water taxi and shuttle service.
VIP club 'members' will also get into the boat show one hour earlier than everyone else, via the Hall of Fame Marina entrance, so you can scope out the yachts before the crowds descend. Weekends tend to be busiest at FLIBS, so serious buyers should plan to attend earlier in the week.
Where to eat
Go beyond the festival-style food stalls and booze carts inside the show and head out for lunch or a cocktail. Luckily, there are excellent restaurants just outside the show boundaries.
Just north of the Hall of Fame Marina, you’ll find the Fort Lauderdale institution of Coconuts. This waterside restaurant is a must visit for lunch or a post-show drink. "My favourite treat after a long day at the show is to grab a dockside table at Coconuts and have a Green Goddess salad and a glass of chilled crisp sauvignon blanc," says Cecile Gauert, editor of BOAT International US and a Fort Lauderdale local.
Coconuts is also a favourite among the entire team, as BOAT International Editor-in-Chief Stewart Campbell also recommends trying their Scoobies – blue crab fried in copious amounts of oil and garlic – washed down by a Bloody Mary.
If you’re at one of the locations on the 17th Street end of the show, like the Pier 66 Marina or convention centre, you have a bevy of restaurants on your doorstep.
Carla Limatola, project manager in the marketing department at Feadship, says, "Mystic Lobster on 17th Street is my absolute favourite – you just have to try it, you can thank me later!"
Also on 17th Street is Boatyard, a long-standing Fort Lauderdale staple serving up laidback vibes and a large menu. A stone’s throw from the Superyacht Village and across from Pier 66, it’s the perfect place to head for dinner with colleagues and friends post show.
As a former Fort Lauderdale resident, this author highly recommends dining at Sushi Rock on Las Olas Boulevard. It’s just a three-minute (traffic depending) drive from the Las Olas Marina location of FLIBS, at the north end of the boat show.
Sushi Rock has been a Fort Lauderdale mainstay for decades and for good reason, known for its rock-n-roll themed sushi rolls, which are large both in size and on flavour. Try the Wallflowers roll, filled with shrimp tempura and topped by creamy baked crab, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a spicy tuna roll with kimchee and jalapeños. If you want to go all out, order the Snoop Dogg, an enormous roll with spiced ceviche served "hot dog style", which can be cut in half upon request.
From cocktail hours and superyacht parties, the show is also known for its nightlife. It’s not a boat show without ending up in a Fort Lauderdale haunt, like Waxy’s Irish Pub on 17th Street or Elbo Room on the beach, the ultimate dive bar that was made famous in the 1960 film Where the Boys Are.
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