FORT LAUDERDALE -- OVERVIEW

Palms sway and sea oats rustle along seven miles of sand in Fort Lauderdale, a sun-drenched playground of seaside cafes, picturesque waterways, a chic gas-lit shopping street and a leisurely lifestyle that makes 'later' seem like far too much pressure.

Once upon a time, one could look down the road along Fort Lauderdale beach and inland along US-1 and see flat land and the occasional scrubby palmetto as far as the eye could see.