Fort Lauderdale – Joe Alexander

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.