Although Fort Lauderdale is one of the most popular destinations in the United States, not everyone has heard of the smaller town situated just north of Fort Lauderdale on the eastern edge of Broward County. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a peaceful, seaside, charming community located  between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, and is part of the Fort Lauderdale metro area. 

Known as "The Prettiest Small Town In America", Lauderdale By The Sea is on land that is essentially a long narrow barrier island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal waterway (spanned by drawbridges), stretching approximately one-half dozen city blocks to the Atlantic Ocean bordering it on the other side. The town has a total area of 1.23 square miles: .51 square miles of it is land, and 0.73 square miles of it (59.35%) is water. The south part of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is situated between Fort Lauderdale and Sea Ranch Lakes, while the north half borders Pompano Beach. The town is centered on the junction of State Road A1A and Commercial Boulevard. The city also includes the neighborhoods of Belair and Terra Mar Island.

The main industry is tourism; the town has an array of places to stay, from quaint bed and breakfast inns and motels to five star hotels, as well as residences used during the winter by visitors. This is really the place to be for those who are looking for a place far from the hustle and bustle of traffic and crowds.

Pelican Square, at the intersection of El Mar Drive and Commercial Boulevard is the hub of this tranquil beachside community that features affordable lodging, fine dining, boutiques, and unique and charming shops. Pelican Square is located at the water's edge and has sitting areas under the palms near a dramatic award-winning sculpture of pelicans. The entire town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, including Anglin's Pier, has undergone an extensive refurbishment in recent years, complete with oversize brick sidewalks, street lamps and lush landscaping. Of course, all of the excitement of Fort Lauderdale is only a short drive away, complete with its trendy cafes and gift shops, boutiques, restaurants, jazz clubs and nightlife. 

At the ocean end of Commercial Boulevard is a long wooden fishing pier, Anglin's Fishing Pier. Well known, Anglin's Pier, is one of just four piers in Broward County, and it is also a popular spot with anglers and tourists. The pier has a quaint coffee shop at the beginning and then extends into the ocean: approximately 867' into the Atlantic Ocean, over a natural coral reef. Anglin's Pier opened in November 1963, and has been, and still is today, an important part of the city. Anglin's Fishing Pier offers two types of fishing: sand and reef, and rock. From the bait house to the middle house is sand, and from the middle house out to the T is reef.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is also listed as one of 8 great snorkeling spots in South  Florida. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea offers one of the most diverse ecosystems in the word, a living coral reef which can be found just 100 yards from the shore: this reef makes for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as fishing, sunbathing, and swimming.

One of the town's reefs is the final resting place for the underwater remains of the S.S. Copenhagen, an 18th century cargo steamer that sank in 1900. The shipwreck was designated as an official underwater archaeological preserve - one of only 10 in the entire state - by the Florida Division of Historical Resources in June of 1994. What makes Lauderdale By The Sea so unique is that unlike almost any place else, the offshore reef is easily accessible and can be reached with only a pair of fins: you can walk right off of the beach and swim right out to the reef. For this reason, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea was proclaimed the diving Capitol of South Florida by the Broward County Board of Commissioners in 1997.

The Lauderdale By The Sea beach is also part of one of the largest nesting sites for the Loggerhead sea turtles, and there are specific laws to protect the sea turtles. During the nesting season, bright lights along the shores are strictly prohibited, and the law also forbids the disturbance of nesting turtles and the stealing of eggs. The most important thing to remember about these turtles is to never approach or disturb them.
 
Unlike any other community in South Florida, Lauderdale By The Sea has no high rises on its 1 mile long beach, with nearly all the buildings in town 2 stories high and none more than 4 stories high due to the town's building height restriction. As a result, Lauderdale By The Sea retains the charm and the feeling of a small beach town.

For a very informative and free Visitor's guide for the area, visit the Lauderdale By The Sea Chamber of Commerce online at: http://www.lbts.com

Other helpful links are: www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov