Top 15 Things To Do in Hollywood, Florida

Why Hollywood Belongs on Your Adventure Shortlist

Hollywood is often described in the language of easy pleasures — warm sand, a walkable Broadwalk, and palm trees flossing the skyline — but the place earns its keep for travelers who want active days without alpine commitments. Here, the water is the main attraction and it arrives in many forms: the wide Atlantic surf for morning swims and stand-up paddling, the quieter Intracoastal Waterway for boat tours and boat rental, and a spiderweb of mangrove creeks that reward a low-slung kayak or a patient angler. The town’s human scale is part of its appeal. You can rent a bike for an hour and thread a route from the hotel strip past local cafes to Anne Kolb Nature Center, launch a kayak where the urban shoreline blurs into protected marsh, then sign onto a late-afternoon jet ski rental or a sunset sailing trip that tips the day toward long, reflective light.

Adventure in Hollywood is pragmatic: outfits and outfitters are plentiful and competitive, which makes last-minute boat tours, guided kayak trips, bus tours of the region, and even scuba excursions accessible without a months-long plan. That abundance also makes it possible to tailor your trip to any appetite — a family-friendly walking tour and a calm snorkeling excursion suit a multi-generational group as readily as a full-throttle day of fishing and jet-skiing suits adrenaline seekers. The nearby Everglades tilt toward a wilder register—airboat excursions and wildlife viewing are a short drive away and provide a complementary inland counterpoint to the saltwater focus. Skilled travelers will pair the city-side comforts with these rawer experiences: an early-morning kayak run when birds are most active, an afternoon boat rental to reach a favored snorkel spot, and a nightcap at a beachfront bar with the ocean’s hush underfoot.

Practicalities matter here: hurricane season (June–November) reshapes schedules and outfitters’ availability, and summer thunderstorms can shorten day trips. Peak winter and spring months bring the best temperatures for long days on the water, while shoulder seasons can offer value and emptier launch points. Above all, the destination rewards a modest, layered approach to planning: stack short, well-executed outings—boat tour, kayak, bike rental, walking tour—rather than chasing a single epic. That way you’ll sample the breadth of Hollywood’s water activities, fishing, snorkeling, and sailing without burning out, and you’ll leave with both a sense of place and a few practical skills for your next coastal stop.

Access is immediate: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport sits nearby and local outfitters run shuttles or provide clear directions for boat ramp access. Many beaches and the Broadwalk are pedestrian-friendly, making transitions from one activity to the next quick and logistic-light.

Culture and cuisine are an unsung part of the adventure: seafood docks, Cuban and Caribbean influences, and casual seafood shacks make it easy to plan meals around outings, and a short urban stroll or a city tour reveals local history and architecture between water days.

Choose Your Adventure Level