During March 2017, there were 400,000 spring breakers in and out of the beaches and bars of Fort Lauderdale. After the antics on Panama City Beach were exposed in 2016, party goers had to find alternative plans, and most of them chose Fort Lauderdale. Known for its high-energy nightlife in downtown and warm spring days with tiki bars lining the beach, Fort Lauderdale is one of the most ideal spring break spots in the country, ranking #4 on one list for top spring break spots in America.
In 2017, there were 43 arrests of Fort Lauderdale spring break partiers throughout March, and they were mostly related to drug use and disorderly conduct. After issues arose last year, the Fort Lauderdale police are cracking down on the behavior of spring breakers in 2018. They plan to be more strict about drinking alcohol on the beach, littering, fighting, loud music, lewd behavior, and doing anything to interfere with the police. Violators of any rules could be arrested or fined up to $500.
Though Fort Lauderdale does not want to be formally known as Fort Liquordale anytime soon, they are still looking forward to their busiest season: spring break. In the first week of March alone, there will be 1.3 million college students heading out of their dorm rooms and onto the beach.
Exit 66 is a four-story club that has both an indoor and an outdoor club area. On weekend nights, DJs play music until the early hours of the morning for college-aged students who slug vodka sodas like there’s no tomorrow. On Saturdays and Sundays, they host beach parties that start at 1:00 p.m. and go until the early hours of the next morning. America's Backyard provides a more low-key environment with the same chances of having a wild night. They have daily drink specials and happy hours, but their best night is technically Sunday because it doesn’t get packed until after midnight.
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Also by the beach, there’s McSorleys Beach Pub and Blondie's, both which are known to be the spring break spots. McSorley's is unique because they offer a free van service that will both pick you up from home and bring you back at the end of the night. Blondie’s is your typical spring break bar with half-naked beach goers still in their bikinis and board shorts.
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If you’re big into activities, try the Cycle Party; a mobile and multi or single-rider bicycles that help you both burn off your beers and drink more at the same time! It's available from 11:00 a.m. to sunset each day on the “strip,” or the section of beach along Route A1A.
Read more about spring break in Fort Lauderdale and register on 954area to stay in-the-know about everything in Fort Lauderdale.
Cover photo courtesy of Flickr