Staycations have been redefined during COVID-19, thanks to the partners and friends of Riverwalk A&E District Fort Lauderdale! Offering a wide range of virtual programs, The District’s partners are allowing a delightful mix of arts and culture to flow into homes across the world, putting viewers in a new kind of vacation mode.

Once social distancing has ended, The District will welcome guests back to soak up the culture, dining, hotels and more that make downtown Fort Lauderdale the exciting international destination it is.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, home is where the vacation is! Our partners and friends are brightening up home life with spectacular arts and culture virtual programs, which make viewers laugh, learn, and love special adventures,” said Carmen Ackerman, cultural tourism director at The District.

Following are examples of these engaging virtual programs and offerings:

• A farm-to-table favorite restaurant in downtown Fort Lauderdale serving delicious breakfast and lunch dishes, Old Fort Lauderdale Breakfast House is famous for its oven-baked pancakes! These can now be delivered right to customers’ doorsteps for the perfect way to rise and shine!
• Viewers can take a trip to the beautiful Bonnet House Museum & Gardens on their computer, tablet or smartphone with a Virtual and Vintage Tour. The exploration of this 35-acre estate next to the Atlantic Ocean includes a tour of the house, oral history and clips from the Bartletts’ home movies (including footage of some notable historic figures!)
• Each weekday at 11 a.m., viewers can live stream the Historic Stranahan House Museum as part of its family-friendly “Live from Fort Lauderdale” series. Kids enjoy this fun and interactive program that includes live storytelling, arts and crafts, and more. The storied Historic Stranahan Museum, considered the birthplace of Fort Lauderdale, is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County.
• Broward Center for the Performing Arts’education page, perfect for the whole family, offers enjoyable interactive classes. The Broward Center’s other virtual features include trending playlists, featuring beloved artists and award-winning performances.
• Viewers can virtually roam NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale’s new curated “Happy!” exhibition. “Happy!” is produced by artists who aim to engage the viewer emotionally. Perhaps the virtual tour will inspire viewers to try to create their own happy masterpiece!
• A virtual stop at History Fort Lauderdale’s YouTube channel brings many lectures by prominent authors, historians and civic leaders. Their stories of challenges, achievements and discoveries helped to make Fort Lauderdale the unique and exhilarating destination it is today.

The District is also offering some tips to give homes a true vacation feel:

• Spruce up the home with fresh-cut flowers, or even a tropical candle.
• For fresh hotel-style sheets, take ½ cup of baking soda and add it to the washer while it’s filling. Then, add sheets and let them soak for 30 minutes before starting the wash cycle. Once they are washed, dry as usual!
• Make a vacation-worthy drink by following along with The District’s friends at the Riverside Hotel’s Boathouse, on this video to learn how to make the perfect white sangria.

Once things are back up and running, The District’s Stay, Play & Ride hotel getaway or Plunge Into Fort Lauderdale package are wonderful ways to step back into life with a delightful getaway. Both of these packages can be booked now for future dates.

Those who participate in any of the above programs are encouraged to share photos of their home adventures at #DoTheDistrict.

About Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District

Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District is a unique partnership of arts and entertainment organizations located along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale with the express mission of promoting cultural tourism in South Florida. Presenting over 1000 individual events each year, The District attracts well over 1 million visitors annually. Partners of The District Consortium include Broward Center for the Performing Arts, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, History Fort Lauderdale, the Historic Stranahan House Museum and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. It is supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information about The District and its partners, visit www.riverwalkae.com.