The Great Fort Lauderdale Slow-Down
The Great Fort Lauderdale Slow-Down
A Family Trip Journal
Location: Fort Lauderdale and Oakland Park
Day 1 — Arrival, Seafood by the Water, and Trader Joe’s
Our first stop after arriving in Fort Lauderdale seaside was a late lunch at Coconuts, a seafood restaurant right by the water.
It turned out to be a nice way to start the trip.
The restaurant sits along the waterfront and has a relaxed seaside atmosphere that immediately puts you in vacation mode. One pleasant surprise was valet parking for only $5 — pretty reasonable considering how busy the area was.
The meal was definitely on the pricey side (for us at least), but the food was very good. Fresh seafood, strong flavors, and a great view.
After lunch we stopped at Trader Joe's, which is easily our favorite grocery store in the U.S. As we chat with the cashier (who told us he grew up in Ithaca, NY and went to Cornell, now likely retired), he gave Ewan some awesome stickers and a free Florida TJ bag. That was unexpected and we were grateful.
We picked up some basic groceries along with several ready-made frozen meals. We had discovered these before during a trip to Ohio back in 2023 (see the blog) and already knew they were a reliable way to get a quick, balanced meal without spending much money or time.
That evening we had our first dinner at the Airbnb — a full meal made entirely in the microwave. We were, by that time , exhausted from the journey which started at 5am. The meal was satisfying and did not feel like frozen dinner.
Off to bed we went.
Day 2 — Surf, Sunshine, and a Beach Morning
One of the highlights of the trip was a surfing lesson at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
My coach, Darlan, was excellent. We had trouble finding parking and so I arrived late, but he stayed calm and patient the entire time. He even suggested I go help Florence move the car so we could get the whole family settled first.
The conditions were cooperative — sunny skies and manageable waves 2-4 ft, good for learning. It's been at least 15 years since I surfed last in Diego. And almost 20 years since surfing in Hawaii. Needless to say, I was rusty.
It turned out I was the only person booked for that lesson, so it became a one-on-one session. Darlan sent me so I would save energy by not having to paddle. That made the experience go so much further.
Afterward we stayed on the beach tossing a football around. I was surprised by how well Ewan can throw. It was his first time. It turned into one of those simple family moments that stays with you.
Lunch was at Mom's Kitchen, a local institution.
followed by a quick stop at Target and Trader Joe's.
A straightforward Florida beach day.
Day 3 — The Art of Doing (Almost) Nothing
Back in November and December last year, we made a decision: our next vacation would be different.
No packed itinerary.
No tourist traps.
No crowds.
No complicated plans.
Just slow down and relax.
That’s why we chose Fort Lauderdale — not Miami and not Orlando.
And the decision worked out well.
This morning Ewan made breakfast for us as promised. After that we tossed the football around in the backyard — something I always enjoy.
Later in the afternoon we scraped the idea of going to the beach since it was already 1pm. I needed to do a bit of work, and Florence wanted to visit Marshalls and pick up groceries at Trader Joe's.
Meanwhile I stayed back, watched some TV — a witty show called Poker Face — and finished up some work.
Day 3 — Backyard Football and a Good BBQ
Before dinner, Ewan and I played football in the backyard until it became too hot and sticky to continue.
Then it was time to BBQ.
I finally had the chance to show Ewan how to grill steak properly — aiming for medium rare. The steaks came out nicely, with good grill marks and solid seasoning. I also made sure they rested before cutting.
Ewan kept saying how good the steak was, which was nice to hear.
The drumsticks also turned out well. Overall the meal came together better than expected.
Dinner had a relaxed vibe and we shared a few good laughs. I cleaned up afterward since I still had energy.
Later we watched a chess show called Queen of Chess, since Ewan recently won a chess tournament at school.
Florence went to bed, and Ewan and I played one game of chess. He beat me again. I used to get frustrated when he beat me, but not anymore.
Afterward he gave me some chess puzzles to improve my game.
He told me he wants to become a chess master when he grows up.
I asked him why.
“To be famous,” he said.
“And to get a good girlfriend.”
Before heading to bed we spent a few minutes planning the next day — our last full day.
We decided to visit the Wings Over Miami Air Museum.
So it looked like we were heading to Miami after all.
Day 4 — Old Airplanes and Aviation Stories
We started the morning with coffee at American Coffee Shop.
Simple name, good coffee.
Before leaving the house, I made quick egg and ham sandwiches using the last of the food in the fridge. Nothing fancy, but it felt good not to waste anything.
Then we drove south to the Wings Over Miami Air Museum.
At first the museum felt a bit underwhelming. The hangar was older and a little dusty.
But just as we were about to leave, we met Vincent, the managing director of the museum — and a pilot himself.
That changed the experience.
Vincent spent time showing us several aircraft and walked us through the plane he personally owns. He explained how some antique aircraft use fabric coverings over certain parts of the frame so they can be patched easily during maintenance.
He also pointed out a Venturi tube, which uses airflow to create suction. As he joked, it’s basically how a pilot’s bathroom system turns liquid into mist outside the aircraft.
Restoring antique planes, he told us, can cost over $300,000, but he believes it’s worth it because these aircraft are pieces of aviation history.
He also mentioned how upset he is about the recent spike in aviation fuel prices.
During our conversation he asked where we were from. We told him Hong Kong originally, and he said he had been there. His son, who is nearing retirement, is a Boeing 777 pilot for Cathay Pacific.
During the conversation he also mentioned — completely unprompted — that the United States could really use a new president.
What started as a quick visit turned into an interesting conversation.
Day 4 — Cuban Lunch, Outlet Mall, and Pasta Night
After the museum we grabbed lunch from a Cuban food truck called Havana Island.
Simple, authentic, and satisfying.
Then we drove to Sawgrass Mills.
The mall is enormous, but we kept things simple and only stopped at Marshalls.
By mid-afternoon we were all getting tired, so we headed back toward Oakland Park.
That evening we made dinner at the Airbnb — meatball and shrimp pasta. Another simple meal that came together easily in a well-equipped kitchen.
Day 5 — Lunch with the Vice Mayor
Our last day brought one of the more unexpected moments of the trip.
We started with a stop at the CVS Pharmacy inside Target to pick up stye cream for Florence’s eye. She had gotten a mosquito bite the night before while we were sitting outside at dinner for maybe thirty seconds.
While we were there we also scored some good-value Hot Wheels cars to bring home for a friend.
For lunch we returned to our favorite restaurant of the trip: El Guanaco Taqueria Y Antojitos.
We ended up eating there three times during the trip. Each time Ewan ordered exactly the same thing: Baby Carne Asada — marinated skirt steak with French fries.
He had steak four days in a row. He clearly knew what he liked.
As we were finishing our meal, two women at the next table complimented Ewan on how well behaved he was. That actually happens fairly often when we travel, and we are always grateful to hear it.
They asked where we were from, and we told them Toronto.
One of the women then mentioned that her friend sitting with her was the Vice Mayor of Oakland Park: Aisha Gordon.
She was warm, thoughtful, and very genuine. During our conversation she joked that the U.S. might need a new president, and that Canada might need a new prime minister too — and that Ewan might have some potential.
When I mentioned that he had recently won a chess tournament, she said she could tell he would do very well.
I offered my email since we had such a pleasant interaction and mentioned we might return next year. She gave me her business card and we took a few photos together.
A pretty unexpected way to end the trip.
The Value of Slowing Down
Looking back, the best part of the trip wasn’t a specific attraction.
It was the time spent together.
Our Airbnb in Oakland Park worked out extremely well. It had everything we needed: a well-equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, beach chairs and umbrella, even a football for backyard games. There was a screened-in front porch, and the TV had an almost absurd number of channels.
Most importantly, it was in a safe neighborhood and close to the beach.
All in all, this trip reinforced something simple.
Maybe the best vacations aren’t about doing more.
Maybe it's about intentional about your needs. For us, this week was about slowing down enough to enjoy the moments that happen along the way.
Thanks for reading.
Sounds like a great trip! Glad you guys were able to relax!
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