Florida – Joe Alexander

Watching a passenger jet land during a South Florida sunset

Waiting for my flight to take off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, not long before sunset – another jet comes in from the west for a landing.

I was a little lucky to get these shots – but there is more to the story.

The main runway at Fort Lauderdale’s airport runs east-west. On this day, planes were landing from the west and taking off toward the east (toward the coastline). As we got ready to take off at about 7:15 p.m., I had my camera in my hand intending to take some photos of the coastline right after we got in the air.

Right before we rolled onto the main runway, we were stopped as we waited for the plane in the photo to land. Because I had positioned myself by a window to see the coastline as we left, I was perfectly positioned to see this other plane coming in from the west.

Squire: my new favorite horse at Gulfstream Park

Squire ridden by jockey Joe Bravo won the second race at Gulfstream Park on Friday, April 18, 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — Squire ridden by jockey Joe Bravo won the second race at Gulfstream Park on Friday, April 18, 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

Sometimes something about an athlete – or on this occasion a horse – just grabs your attention.

That was the case on this sunny Friday afternoon at Gulfstream Park just north of Miami in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

The second race included a horse named Squire. From the time he was saddled up until he left the winner’s circle he was, in the simplest terms, a spaz.

When I first saw him it looked like his trainer and jockey could barely manage his overflowing energy. He was the favorite in his race, so he obviously had talent.

I figured he would do either really bad or really great. As it turned out, he came around the outside and won a close finish. Joe Bravo was his jockey in the 4 1/2-furlong race.

He’s a 2-year-old so it might be worth keeping an eye out for him next year.

Race story by Brock Sheridan from FTBOA
Florida-bred Squire Takes Juvenile Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream

Gulf Stream Park for some spring horse racing

A day of horse racing at Gulfstream Park on Friday, April 18, 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — A day of horse racing at Gulfstream Park on Friday, April 18, 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

With the Kentucky Derby about two weeks away, I was in the mood for some horse racing.

I stopped in at Gulfstream Park, located just north of Miami in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Sea birds in flight at sunrise in South Florida

A bird in flight over Fort Lauderdale Beach with hotel and condo buildings along Highway A1A in the background. - photo by Joe Alexander — A bird in flight over Fort Lauderdale Beach at sunrise with hotel and condo buildings facing the Atlantic Ocean along Highway A1A in the background. – photo by Joe Alexander

Any time I go to the beach, I try to get at least one photo of a sea bird.

This time I wanted to see what I could get from Fort Lauderdale Beach as the sun was coming up over the Atlantic Ocean.

Sea bird in flight at sunrise at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, in April 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — sunrise bird – Fort Lauderdale

High rises, restaurants and bars along A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach

High rises that are home to luxury hotels and condos face the beach and have an orange glow as the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Lauderdale Beach. - photo by Joe Alexander — Morning: High rises that are home to luxury hotels and condos face the beach and have an orange glow as the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Lauderdale Beach in April 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

Fort Lauderdale Beach is a place where Florida spring break legends are born.

While a few holdovers like the legendary Elbow Room remain, things have changed. Over the years the beachside skyline has evolved from little bars and mom-and-pop hotels to high rise hotels and luxury condo buildings.

Palm trees sway in the breeze off the Atlantic Ocean along Highway A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. - photo by Joe Alexander — Late morning: Palm trees sway in the breeze off the Atlantic Ocean along Highway A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Restaurants and bars overlook the beach on Highway A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. - photo by Joe Alexander — Afternoon: Restaurants and bars overlook the beach on Highway A1A and are just footsteps away from the sand and salt water in Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Cars drive past the beach on one side and bars, restaurants and high rises on the other on Highway A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach in April 2025. — Evening: Cars drive past the beach on one side and bars, restaurants and high rises on the other on Highway A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. If you look just above the cars stopped at a traffic light, you can see the Elbow Room.

South Florida beach life at Miami and Fort Lauderdale

The beach just north of Las Olas Boulevard at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, in April 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — The beach just north of Las Olas Boulevard at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, in April 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

You can’t make a trip to South Florida without hitting at least one of the beaches.

Two of the most popular places for salt and sand are Miami Beach at Lummus Park and Fort Lauderdale Beach between Las Olas Boulevard and Sunrise Boulevard.

The beach at Lummus Park at Miami Beach, Florida, in April 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — Miami Beach, Florida

Sunrise over the Atlantic on Fort Lauderdale Beach

Something forgotten after yesterday's sunset sets the stage for today's sunrise. View of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. - photo by Joe Alexander — Something forgotten after yesterday’s sunset sets the stage for today’s sunrise. View of the sun coming up over the Atlantic Ocean from Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. – photo by Joe Alexander

Maybe sunrises and sunsets at the beach are no big deal if you live there.

I’ve never gotten tired of seeing the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean or setting over the Pacific.

Sunrises especially seem to attract me. It’s like God’s way of giving us hope for a fresh start.

And since it was just a short walk from my hotel to the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach, I had to dedicate a little time one morning to see and photograph the sun coming up.

View of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. - photo by Joe Alexander — Fort Lauderdale Beach sunrise

Fort Lauderdale murals

Mural in Fort Lauderdale near the beach. - photo by Joe Alexander — Mural in Fort Lauderdale near the beach.

I always love it when I stumble across artwork out in public.
These murals are about a block or so away from Fort Lauderdale Beach not far from the intersection of A1A and Sunrise Boulevard.

To find them, look for the Primanti Brothers pizza place on A1A and wander around the shops and parking lots behind there.

Ocean Drive in South Beach

Ocean Drive in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach. - photo by Joe Alexander — Ocean Drive in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach. – photo by Joe Alexander

The art deco facades on Ocean Drive bring back memories of Miami Vice.

I didn’t see any TV cops cruising down the street in a Ferrari on my most recent visit but I always enjoy strolling through the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida.

Murals of Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood

Mural art in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida.

What was an industrial and warehouse section of Miami north of downtown is now largely covered with colorful murals.

The best known section of this is the Wynwood Walls, which is surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars.

I spent some time just a few blocks away and found myself wandering by myself around an area that was off the beaten path near a construction site and yet still had plenty of amazing art work to explore.