Fort Lauderdale Pelican Grand Beach Resort Getaway

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – July 27, 2021 – As we all know, the last few years have been blanketed in a grey cloud of yuck. To replace that with the aqua waters and blue sky of Fort Lauderdale for a mini vacay was a much-welcomed burst of happiness.

The four-star Pelican Grand Beach Resort is situated in Fort Lauderdale, an area I honestly knew little about apart from its international airport and proximity to Miami. Therefore, I was eager to jump in the car and head down from Jupiter, FL to see what the area had to offer. Arriving at the resort, carrying a suitcase stuffed to the brim with non-essential items that my husband doubted would even leave the suitcase, we entered what looked like a Southern mansion. The first impressions of the resort were impressive without being pretentious. A grand piano neatly tucked in one corner with a comfy seating area and to the left, the OK2 Lounge, which we later discovered has some fabulous cocktails like the scrumptious Tropical Banana Punch, and the full flavors of a Dragonberry Mojito.

The front desk staff were cheerful and following our quick check-in, we went to our room which was situated on the 9th floor. I was slightly nervous of the height, but as soon as we opened the hotel room door that diminished when we saw the view. A half hexagon of windows overlooked the white sandy beach and the crystal-clear ocean below. The room was spacious and clean, with modern accents and a roomy bathroom. We even had a little balcony to enjoy the view.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the millionaires yachting capital of the world, with more than 165 miles of intercoastal waterways and canals. So, on our first evening, we thought it fitting to pick somewhere to eat near these fabulous yachts. The Boatyard restaurant was a mere 12-minute Uber drive from the resort. Yep, Uber is fully functioning in Fort Lauderdale and our ride arrived at the hotel within 3 minutes. This lively fish restaurant has a fun vibe, with an outside seating area overlooking a waterway. Inside there is a large dining area with a large bar. The music was pumping, but not so loud that we couldn’t hear ourselves speak and the clientele was a 30 + crowd.

The next morning, we had a full and tasty breakfast on the hotel’s grand veranda, overlooking the 500-foot private beach. My husband enjoyed a perfectly cooked omelet, and I had a yogurt parfait. The rays of sunshine were bouncing off the waves as they lapped on the sandy shore and for the first time in months, I felt relaxed.

After our breakfast, I headed to the hotel’s luxury PURE Spa, while my husband relaxed by the pool. The spa is on the 11th floor with floor to ceiling views of the ocean below. In my robe, I waited for my appointment in a modern egg shaped chair, appreciating the moment.

PURE SPA is based on the concept of overall well-being and the Swedish lifestyle which originates from this Swedish-owned Resort. I was scheduled for a ‘PURE you’ massage which enabled me to choose my massage specifications with my masseuse for the morning, Susan. She was delightful and the massage was truly one of the best I have ever had.

Chilling at the SPA and nearly falling asleep, I realized I had left my husband to fry by the pool for a little too long. I jumped up and headed to the lazy river to join him.

After I told my husband all about my lavender infused massage, we then grabbed an early lunch next door at Shooter’s Waterfront restaurant, and the food did not disappoint. Then it was off to the beach with our snorkeling gear in hands. Beach Ventures at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort provides guided SEABOB snorkel excursions along with Jet Ski rentals and private yacht charters along the Intracoastal and ocean side. We were quite happy bobbing around on our own, taking things slowly and decided we would try the Jet Ski next time we visit. After grabbing an Ice-cream at THE EMPORIUM, a small store located in the resort, we then had a siesta before dinner.

That evening, we had a table booked at the resort’s OCEAN 2000. Before heading to dinner, we dropped in at the hotel’s OK2 Lounge and had an enjoyable cocktail. A short walk across the hotel lobby and we entered OCEAN 2000. Greeted by the restaurant Director, Silviu Pop and the manager, Oscar Escalona we were shown to our table outside. A ledge below the veranda there was additional decking where tables were set apart enough to feel private and literally being a step away from the sandy beach.

Observing the clientele, we noticed a mixture of age groups from the old to the very young. There were also several family reunions and lots of photos being taken.

My husband and I shared a plate of crab & lobster cakes with jalapeño-fennel slaw, balsamic vinegar-rum glaze, and basil aioli. This starter was just enough for the two of us and was packed full of crab and lobster with the additional ingredients not overpowering the freshness of the seafood. My husband then had a succulent- 12 oz. wagyu rib eye steak, which was served with a truffle mac & cheese, and green peppercorn sauce. I really enjoyed the shrimp & scallop scampi with coconut-scented jasmine rice, and caper & sun-dried tomato butter. OCEAN2000 uses mainly local ingredients, including the fresh seafood, with just a hint of a Latin influence infused into the flavor of the dishes.

The next morning before our departure, we had a long walk along the beach to the busy end of Ft L Beach Blvd. Even though it was 9 am, there were lots of vacationers and locals hanging out at the numerous cafés and restaurants. We were quite happy to then head back to the serenity of the resort and grab one last breakfast before our reluctant departure.

Even if it was only for a few days, the Pelican Grand Beach Resort offered my husband and I the opportunity to star in our very own mini vacation love story getaway. Feeling like Audrey Hepburn in the classic movie, Roman Holiday, I too wanted to experience yet again the beauty that freedom can offer. 

Like opening a window to a sunny day after the storm has passed, these last few days really felt like the start of a new beginning.

InFlorida.com things to do in Fort Lauderdale

TOP PICKS:

Adventure – A great way to explore Fort Lauderdale is on a bike tour.

Shopping lovers – check out Las Olas Boulevard for a mile of unique and chic fashion, cafes, and galleries.

Art appreciation – NSU ART MUSEUM - located in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s arts and entertainment district, the museum’s 83,000 square-foot modernist building contains over 25,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 256-seat auditorium, museum store and cafe.

Nature – Many Floridians have encountered alligators but what about butterflies? We loved the Butterfly World which happens to be the world's largest butterfly park and home to more than 20,000 live butterflies from all over the world.

Explore – Buy a hop-on hop-off water taxi ticket, sit back and listen to a narrated tour from any one of their 11 stops throughout Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. The captains and crew share their knowledge on the stunning homes, yachts, and history of the area.