Ft. Lauderdale Florida: Where’s the rush?

December 16, 8:07 PMAlbuquerque Travel ExaminerNeala Schwartzberg

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Riverwalk from Riverside Hotel (c) Neala Schwartzberg

"Where are you from?" asked one of the staff at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Blvd, in the trendy section of Ft. Lauderdale. "New Mexico," I replied. "Oh," he noted, "we don't get many folks from there."

No, probably not. When I live in a place that has (I think) the best weather, and the best quality of life in the country, why leave?

The answer is... this is a good time to visit Ft. Lauderdale. The prices are down, the weather is warm but not hot, and the streets? Well, you won't hit the crowds that used to clog the streets and restaurants.

"Business is down 30% over last year," said one tour boat owner, sitting at his booth without a customer in sight. "Who would come down when they're worried about losing their jobs?" noted his friend, the boat captain.

It's snowy and freezing back in Albuquerque, but here I'm strolling along the river. This is a pretty good time to come on down.

I paid $250 round trip all taxes included for an American Airlines flight from the Sunport through Dallas/Ft. Worth, and into Ft. Lauderdale airport. I rented a car (I personally like Enterprise) and drove a few minutes to the center of Ft. Lauderdale.

I'm staying at the Riverside Hotel, a lovely hotel originally built in the 1930s and renovated into updated, gracious charm. It's not the cheapest place, but you can find good prices online. The staff are very friendly and the location is perfect. And the views are perfect.