In December last year the Miami Convention Center closed for a $500 million facelift that will take 36 months to complete. In the meantime the sensible money is moving their conventions north to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center. With the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport on it doorstep, this is a great location for your exhibitions, conventions and conferences.

If your organisation is taking advantage of moving from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale here are a few hints about the area, of course always keeping a firm eye on the important things in life.

The first is a list of traditional breakfast venues to choose from that will take you beyond those hotel dining rooms and out of ‘downtown’.

Just 6 miles west of Fort Lauderdale – a 12 minute drive - is the city of Plantation. Within it’s city boundaries lies a brilliant selection of diners all with ample parking and all offering a true American breakfast menu at great prices. Here are just a few of them that, with the guidance of my pal Rick Strunck, I have sampled and enjoyed.

LESTER’S DINER
250 State Road #84, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33315 – www.lestersdiner.com


I have to start with Lester’s as I have made a point to breakfast there for more than 10 years during the run up to Cruise Shipping Miami (now Fort Lauderdale). It has been serving up fine, wholesome food for over 40 years and is the home of the 14oz cup of coffee. The waiting staff are great, the atmosphere is exactly what you would imagine a true American Diner to be. The is an amazing breakfast menu but my personal favourite is corned beef hash, two eggs over easy and home fries. Yes, of course they also do great pancakes with lashings of butter and syrup.

GEORGIA PIG BARBECUE
1285 South State Road 7 (441), Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33317


This quite small diner has been going since 1953. As the name suggests, they specialise in pork, smoking and curing their own meat. Be warned, this is a CASH ONLY establishment. Service is friendly, decorated with interesting photos and knick-knacks. The food is simple but tasty – no frills here. Breakfast served from 7 am to 10.45 am. Well worth a visit just for the atmosphere.

PLANTATION DINER
6903 W. Broward Boulevard, Plantation, Fl 33317 – www.plantationdiner.com


While it was established in 1989 it has not been in this venue for very long but it is so good that you are lucky if you do not have to queue for a table – yes, even for breakfast. As in all of these diners, the service is friendly and efficient. The breakfast menu only covers two pages!! My favourite here is the Eggs Neptune (with Lox – smoked salmon to us Brits) but only available as a Weekend Special. With a choice of 17 types of 3-Egg Omelettes, who’s going away hungry? Opening from 6.30 am.

WEBBY’S – Neighborhood Grub & Pub
6910 Cypress Road, Plantation, Fl 33317

Tucked away in a small shopping area, this is one of those little gems that only a local would know – thanks Rick. It is a simple establishment, you will probably find Mr. Webb working away in the kitchen, serving a good selection of tasty breakfast dishes. Service as expected, very friendly, coffee & fresh orange juice flowing freely and compliment the well cooked food.

DINER 84
11432 State Road 84, Davie, Fl 33325


This establishment claims to be South Florida’s Largest Diner and who am I to argue with that. It is large and with it comes a fairly substantial breakfast menu which is served ALL DAY seven days a week. Steak n Eggs, French Toast, Waffles are included in a page full of delicious breakfast dishes. Open daily at 5.30 am so no need to wait for breakfast if you have flown in from Europe and woken up too early.

HORIZON DINER II
401 S State Rd 7, Plantation, FL 33317



There obviously is a Horizon Diner I somewhere but I don’t know where. Open for breakfast seven days a week from 5 am, another target for those European insomniacs. There is definitely a ‘mom & pop’ feel about this little diner. Good home cooked food, lashings of coffee and juice at reasonable prices.

Next is SHOPPING.

SAWGRASS MILLS®
12801 W Sunrise Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33323-4020
http://www.simon.com/mall/sawgrass-mills


MALL HOURS
o Monday to Saturday
o 10am - 9:30pm
o Sunday
o 11am - 8pm

This constantly expanding shoppers and diners paradise is only 10 miles from Fort Lauderdale. Huge parking areas that seem to fill up at weekends. Make sure you know exactly where you have parked your car. Most of us have rentals so we probably would not recognise it from a distance. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for some serious walking as this really is a massive shopping mall.

The next must visit location is

BASS PRO SHOPS OUTDOOR WORLD
200 Gulf Stream Way, Dania, FL 33004


This mind blowing sporting goods store is just off Interstate 95 and, even if you are not particularly sports minded, it is really worth a visit. I won’t spoil your fun with too much detail but, just walking in the main doors will take your breath away.

And finally

SWAP SHOP
3291 W Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Well worth a visit, at least once. This in-door out-door complex comprises of many small shops selling fruit, veg, flowers, T-Shirts, luggage, you name it they’ve probably got it. There is even a small exotic sports car museum in the middle of the shops (The owners little hobby). At the weekend this place is buzzing with stalls selling second-hand items that overflow into the parking areas. I replace my suitcase here every other year as the prices are so cheap.

I know many of you are experts on the Miami Beach area but I hope this will open your horizons on what is just a short distance by car from Fort Lauderdale. See you all there from 2016 onwards.

GETTING THERE

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport is just 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) west of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The airport is also near cruise terminals at Port Everglades.

There are many domestic airline connections as well as a few international ones. From the U.K. there is now a non stop flight from London's Gatwick Airport operated by Norwegian. This 'low cost' long haul carrier operates two flights a week in the winter period. For more information regarding schedules and prices visit http://www.norwegian.com/uk/flight .

The main international hub is Miami International Airport which is 34 traffic clogged kilometres (21 miles) south of Fort Lauderdale.