Coffee, Coastlines, and Hidden Nature Trails: A Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide

jadiedelgado1
Oct 13
5 min read

This post is part of my South Florida travel series — exploring Fort Lauderdale’s cozy coffee shops, colorful eats, and lush nature escapes before heading south to Miami.

A canal in Fort Lauderdale

When Business Trips Turn into Beach Escapes

I flew into Fort Lauderdale for work — suitcase packed with business casual clothes and a quiet hope that I could squeeze in some sunshine between meetings. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this coastal city, often overshadowed by Miami’s flashier energy. But what I found was a slower rhythm — equal parts ocean breeze, iced coffee, and tropical wildness peeking out from strip malls and high-rises.

By the end of my trip, I’d discovered that Fort Lauderdale has its own personality: warm, welcoming, and unexpectedly full of life — from iguanas on the sidewalk to the best espresso I’ve had in months.

A First Bite at La Bamba

My first night in town, I was starving. The kind of hungry that makes everything taste twice as good. I searched for something close by and spotted La Bamba Mexican & Spanish Restaurant, a brightly lit spot next to my hotel.

Inside, the restaurant was vibrant and authentic. I ordered mole enchiladas with rice and beans, plus chips and guacamole. Every bite was perfect, the beans in particular — rich, creamy, and comforting.

I loved it so much I came back another day for lunch, bypassing my plan to find Cuban food. Sometimes, you just trust the universe (and good beans).

Wells Coffee Co: Where Work Meets Weekend

Fort Lauderdale has this way of mixing business with pleasure — which is exactly what Wells Coffee Co. embodies. It’s a modern, minimalist café-meets-co-working space filled with people tapping away on laptops, surrounded by the scent of freshly roasted beans.

I ordered a banana-tini espresso (yes, banana) and set up at a window seat. Between the caffeine buzz and the quiet hum of productivity, I almost forgot I wasn’t in my usual LA workspace.

Duffy’s Sports Grill: Dinner and a Double Happy Hour

After a day of meetings, I walked over to Duffy’s Sports Grill, the city’s answer to "where do you go when you’re craving good bar food, cold drinks, and every game playing at once?”

Duffy’s has buy one, get one free happy hour — all day, every day, which feels like a stroke of marketing genius when you’re located next to a hotel full of traveling professionals. The staff was friendly, the service fast, and the atmosphere unpretentious. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Avaline Nail Spa (and the Iguanas of Target)

Between calls, I decided to treat myself to a manicure at Avaline Nail Spa. It’s tucked in a strip mall, affordable, welcoming, and doesn’t require an appointment — perfect for walk-ins like me.

The surprise? The spa also houses a coffee and boba shop, where I got an incredible Vietnamese iced coffee while waiting.

But the real entertainment was outside. On a small patch of grass near Target, I spotted four massive iguanas lounging like they owned the place. I couldn’t get over it — this was my official “Welcome to Florida” moment.

Expresso Coffee Co: The Unexpected Morning Favorite

At 6 a.m. (3 a.m. LA time), bleary-eyed and barely awake, I needed caffeine before a pre-dawn airport pickup. A quick search led me to a small drive-up stand called Expresso Coffee Co, and it turned out to be one of the best surprises of my trip.

Their iced mocha — served in a simple foam cup — is now in my personal my “mental museum” of memorable coffees (up there with the mocha at LACMA back home in LA).

Sometimes the most unassuming spots make the strongest impressions — literally and figuratively.

The only photo I took of this amazing beverage. (The balloon hat is from the night before at Duffy's...)

Nature in the City: Secret Woods Nature Center

You don’t expect to find a lush, living ecosystem minutes from the highway, but Secret Woods Nature Center delivers exactly that.

This 57-acre urban oasis winds through mangrove wetlands, tropical hammocks, and shaded boardwalks. As I walked, I noticed tiny creatures everywhere — crabs with one oversized claw scuttling into holes (likely male fiddler crabs), small lizards darting across my path, and the occasional butterfly floating past.

Then I looked up and saw a massive golden orb-weaver spider, one of Florida’s many colorful (and thankfully harmless) residents.

It was hot and humid — exactly the kind of weather people warn me I’d hate. But I didn’t. I love humidity. The air felt thick and alive, and for someone from California’s dry climate, that felt like a luxury.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: Fort Lauderdale’s Hidden Jungle

For one last nature fix before my flight, I stopped at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Locals call it the “Central Park” of Fort Lauderdale, but I wouldn’t go that far. Lol.

The park covers about 180 acres, with walking and biking trails, a freshwater lagoon, and shaded picnic areas that open up to the ocean. You’ll find everything from gopher tortoises and raccoons to over 180 species of birds.

If you only have an hour or two, do the Perimeter Loop Trail (around 2 miles) — it gives you a taste of all the park’s ecosystems without requiring a full day.

Where I Stayed: Embassy Suites Hilton Fort Lauderdale

My home base for the trip was the Embassy Suites by Hilton. It’s everything you want in a business stay with a splash of tropical luxury.

The lobby is an open atrium filled with lush indoor plants, waterfalls, and bright natural light.

Every evening, the hotel hosts a happy hour for guests — two complimentary drinks and a table of snacks — which quickly became the highlight of my evenings.

It’s polished but relaxed, perfectly Fort Lauderdale in spirit.

Met some of the most lovely people in my industry this week.

Final Thoughts: Fort Lauderdale’s Quiet Charm

Fort Lauderdale might not shout like Miami, but that’s exactly its appeal. It’s a place where you can find peace between palm trees and platefuls of comfort food, where business trips turn into impromptu adventures, and where iguanas casually coexist with shoppers at Target.

If you’re looking for the other side of South Florida — the slower, sunnier, espresso-scented version — Fort Lauderdale delivers.