February 13, 2020 • travel
Experience Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Like Arie Luyendyk Jr. on 'The Bachelor'
Located 30 miles north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean, Fort Lauderdale provides a relaxing coastal escape and embodies why Florida goes by the moniker “the Sunshine State.” Several world-famous beaches, museums, restaurants, and cultural attractions call the city home, making it a sought-after travel destination for couples, groups, and families alike.
Arie Luyendyk Jr. traveled here on Season 22 of “The Bachelor” on his journey to find love, so here’s how you can do the same when you visit.
Arrival
Unpack that bathing suit and get ready to kiss while getting sun-kissed! If you want to stay in luxury rooms with views overlooking the turquoise ocean, look no further than the W Fort Lauderdale, where Arie and the ladies stayed for their trip.
The W, which recently underwent a $55 million renovation, is in direct proximity to the beach and is perfect for guests who want to lounge on the sand or relax by the pool. You can also dine at their five restaurants spearheaded by the James Bear Award-winning restauranteur Stephen Starr. This hotel will win you over with a capital W.
To get a flawless view of the water while bumping up your heart rate a bit, start out your Fort Lauderdale getaway with a bike ride on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. Don’t hesitate to stop into one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area for a bite to eat, or just keep pedaling along the shore.
One-on-one date: A day on the canals
Locals call Fort Lauderdale the “Venice of America” because over 160 miles of canals weave through the city. You and your date can walk over to Las Olas Marina hand-in-hand and rent a boat to explore the city and famous Intracoastal Waterway. If you want to splurge a bit like Arie, opt for a yacht! The view has never looked better.
When you get tired of sunbathing, feed your inner adrenaline lover and hop on some jet skis. Ride around the water for a while and then head back to the boat for a champagne toast as the sun sets in front of you. Hold your date close and use this one-on-one time to expand your relationship’s foundations even more.
After your day on the water, you can spend your afternoon and evening admiring another form of transportation: the automobile. Given Arie’s background in race car driving, a trip to the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum to see their famous collection of classic cars was a must-see!
If you need a break from the sun, but don’t want to turn down the heat, walk hand-in-hand through the endless rows of timeless Packard cars. After all, what better way to drive your relationship forward than through some old-fashion conversation?
While Tenille Arts may not be there to serenade you for a night cap, feel free to split your headphones and dance the night away surrounded by the beauty of the museum.
Group date: Spare me some of your love
There are no gutter balls when it comes to your love story!
Maybe you and your group are a little too sunburned from all the hours outside and you feel like standing up on your feet rather than laying supine. Bring out your fiercest competitor and see who’s willing to spare it all for you during a bowling date!
If you’re with a bigger group, create two teams and up the stakes so the victorious team gets extra time with you. All your dates will be channeling their inner bowling champions as they try to win your affection.
You and the squad can keep the celebration going at dinner and drinks afterwards bonding over your experience at the bowling alley.
This is one of the few occasions where three strikes doesn’t mean you’re out!
One-on-one date: Everlasting love in the Everglades
Later, gator? Not so fast!
Take advantage of your location in South Florida and leave the beach for the day and head to the Everglades. For a different kind of boating adventure, check out Sawgrass Recreation Center. Cuddle up on an airboat and see all types of wildlife like turtles and alligators right in front of you. If you and your date opt for this activity, you can even try delicacies such as alligator tail and frog. Talk about eating local!
Feeling naughty? After your airboat tour, you and your date can check out Nautical Furnishings and scope out some new décor. There’s a chance you two could find an item that will symbolize your relationship for years to come. Where do you two sea yourselves in the future?
Rose ceremony
Fort Lauderdale embraces the nature around it, as seen in the Everglades and the Bonnet House, which hosted Arie’s rose ceremony. You and your group — or, just you and that special someone — can come to the mansion and stroll through its lush gardens and art museum hand-in-hand. You won’t have to look far to offer your date a rose as a symbol of your affection.
As the day ends, you can clink champagne glasses and laud this journey in Fort Lauderdale.