Hollywood

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The 2.2-mile brick-paved Hollywood Beach Broadwalk (that's not a typo!) may be a postcard-perfect promenade, but it's far from the only artful amenity in this charming seaside city between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Founded in 1925, Hollywood is blessed with an Art Deco downtown that's every bit as stylish, pastel, and retro-cool as South Beach. And just like its neighbor to the south, Hollywood has dedicated itself in recent years to strikingly creative endeavors — most notably, transforming a boring traffic circle into a 10-acre interactive ArtsPark, where you can catch a concert, watch a glassblowing demonstration, or explore public sculptures.

In addition, each month, the downtown district hosts a Saturday night ArtWalk, during which galleries open their doors to strolling art lovers. But despite these trendy additions, Hollywood hasn't lost its laid-back Florida spirit. The favorite local hangout, the Le Tub Saloon, may serve what GQ calls one of the best burgers in the country, but that doesn't mean the place is fancy: Housed in a 1959 Sunoco station, this dive on the Intracoastal Waterway uses old bathtubs and toilets for decor!

Spring
ArtsPark at Young Circle

So just how much art can you pack into one 10-acre traffic circle? Quite a lot, according to the designers of ArtsPark at Young Circle, which was built in 2007 in the roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Hollywood Boulevard. Boasting a butterfly sculpture by Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto and a dancing fountain by Japanese landscape artist Ritsuko Taho, the circular park has become a literal hub of the Hollywood art world. At the on-site Visual Arts Pavilion, you can watch a glassblowing demonstration, learn how to make jewelry, take a salsa class, or view one of the rotating contemporary gallery shows. And starting during the spring and into summer, the 2,500-seat amphitheater hosts free kids movies and concerts.

Summer
Art and Culture Center of Hollywood

Housed in a historic 1924 Mediterranean Revival mansion, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood is the city's go-to spot for art lovers and aspiring artists alike, complete with contemporary galleries, performance spaces, and an art school. Each year, the center hosts a series of summer camps, at which your kids can learn a skill, such as drawing, painting, drumming, or musical theater.

Fall
Josh's Organic Garden

Celebrate harvest season with a trip to Josh's Organic Garden, a green market and juice bar that sets up shop right off the boardwalk each Sunday. Instead of only pumpkins and gourds, you'll find a smorgasbord of organic produce, from tropical fruit like durian and mamey to heirloom tomatoes and just-picked herbs and greens. Some of the items are so fresh, in fact, that they're marked with a "picked last night!" sign. Best of all, owner Josh Steinhauser's philosophy is just as fresh as his produce: He donates the majority of his leftover produce to a nearby homeless shelter.

Winter
Anne Kolb Nature Center

Opened in 1996 just west of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Anne Kolb Nature Center encompasses 1,500 acres of coastal mangrove wetlands. You can rent a canoe or kayak and explore the park's five water trails or simply view nature from the two boardwalks. The center is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and the South Florida Audubon Society suggests visiting in winter for the best chance of great sightings.