Rollerblading on and around the beach is common. Every day you can see men and women who regularly blade in very small shorts, but thongs and blades are a lot less common.   The roads are busy, so if you get of the sidewalk then stick to bike lanes or quiet neighborhoods.

The good news is that dogs are banned from the beach and the beach side walk. Before that was passed, dog shit was a common and slippery obstacle. That problem has now vanished, Hooray!  The other advantage is you don't get the dog going one way and the owner another, so no leads to trip you up.  NO DOGS on the sidewalk, this is a vast improvement.

There are still several other hazards. The first is palm trees and the uneven paving around the base. The trees are scattered up and down the side walk. It is fun weaving in and out of them but watch out for the pavers around the base of the trunks.

The second is sand. Look out for sand, it is as slippery as ice. They do blow the sand off the sidewalk every week but it's still a hazard. More so if there has been a strong wind or storm that has washed or blown sand in from the beach.

The third, and biggest problem is people. Most of the sidewalk on the north end is narrow, and silly people want to walk in clumps that block the sidewalk orj tend to jump the wrong way when they hear you coming. It is more of a problem when the beach is crowded, weekends and some afternoons. Today, Sunday at high noon on a perfect beach, day it was way to crowded for me to blade. Your skill level is different so your mileage will vary.

The best time for bladeing is mornings. Not to many moving obstacles.   When approaching people give them good notice you before you are right on top of them.  Be vocal, a cheery good morning will help announce your coming and give them waning.  The ipod generation are unfortunately effectively deaf and a complete liability. 

The side walk at the north end of the beach is narrow and two fat people can block it. One of the tricks to learn on the beach is how to blade, on one foot, inside the lamp posts. Between the black lamp posts and the wall. Practice without people first.

It is probably fine to blade in a thong but try not to hit the ground: The road rash could be bad.

If it was me, and I wanted exercise in a thong, I would run on the beach. Less hazards and more opportunity to see what the reactions are. But then that's just me, I like running.  When I get hot I just dunk in the sea.

If you blade, go early before the heat, and before the people start blocking the sidewalk.

Well, we just got home yesterday from our Ft. Lauderdale/Carnival cruise vacation.  You guys got a nice beach down there JM, but I was surprised at how narrow it is!  One morning the tide was in and a pretty good surf rolling in and the waves were hitting the wall along the sidewalk there north of Las Olas! 

In fact I believe that was the morning that a gent with a British accent went running by in a string/thong and gave a cheery "Hello have a nice day!"

It was a nice 3 days (rained the first day, but we just got a little wet!), and my wife liked Ft. Lauderdale a whole lot better than Miami Beach.  It is a nicer city, cleaner, cleaner beach, more family oriented maybe, but I missed the parade of thongs and topless girls on South Beach!  Less crowded too, but I didn't mind the crowds on South Beach either-more thongs to look at!

We stayed at the Best Western Oceanside. Nice hotel and almost on the beach, just had to walk out the back door and through the Sheraton Yankee Clipper's parking lot to get there.  The whole 3 days I never received a single remark or comment about my thong or sarong, even up where the beach is right next to the street, which I appreciated.

Also got to see the Regal Empress pulling in twice which was a treat, and the bus boats were a good way to get around too, and reasonably priced.  The city was gearing up for their annual yacht show, so LOTS of neat boats were in town too.  Really a super vacation.

Iowan

Hey JM,

               My wife's best friend and her boyfriend just got back from a trip down to Fort Lauderdale, they were there last weekend I believe. My wife said that her friend told her about a man running up and down the beach in a PEACH colored thong while they were there, was that you??? Her friend also said that there were a lot of overweight women in thongs there as well. Was the guy in the PEACH thong you JM??? I told my wife I would ask you, it's a small world you know.

JM,

       I believe my wife's friend was at the beach on Saturday or Sunday last week because she called on Monday from Fort Lauderdale with the news.  Personally, I figured it was like taking a shot in the dark, trying to pinpoint you as the thong wearer that my wife's friend noticed during her stay. My wife and I have been to Fort Lauderdale a few times, we know that you are not the only guy in a thong down there, if I was there I would have been thonging right along with you. My wife's friend and her boyfriend are kind of backwoods, do I dare say rednecks, this is why I think they made a big deal out of seeing a guy in a thong on the beach. I must admit, you rarely see a woman in a thong at the beaches in Delaware, they are illegal up here unfortunately. I don't think my wife's friend knows that I wear thongs to the beach either, my wife's a teacher, she doesn't want anyone to know that either one of us wear thongs to the beach, which I must respect. I'll be in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area in either the end of June or the end of August on vacation, see you then.

Has anyone had experience with thongs at FLL beach hotels/Inns pools?   Many years ago I remember a girl in a very tiny G string around the pool at the Marriot Marina on 17th st., and she didn't do a very good job of wearing her top!

The Marriott on 17th street is right on the Intercostal, right by the ship docks, but a MILE walk from the beach.

Thongs and even topless are common at hotels, WHEN thong and topless women are guests.

It just depends on who is there that week. Are there lots Europeans and cosmopolitans? Or are they hosting the orthopedic shoe sellers convention?

The Marriott Marina hotel is across the road from the cruise ship port. I would have thought it would get a lot of overnight Iowans staying, just the night before, or after, their cruse.

That hotel is also on the intercostal waterway, hence it's name 'Marina Marriott'. If you wanted to 'see' thongs and topless women then you my have more luck just watching the human decorations on the prows if the leisure yachts that meander under the adjacent 17th street bridge. It's normal to see 'babes' on the foredeck catching some rays.

If you want to see thongs then just go to the beach. There were plenty there this morning. A perfect day at the beach. Today is the day after Thanksgiving. Cooler air, warm sun, not too hot, not too cold and the summer smell of tropical seas blended with coconut sun tan oil.

It's generally true that you will see more topless women in settings that are a bit more intimate or private. Out on our boats, at quiet or adult hotel pools, places where Europeans congregate, or at our back yard pools.

Right by the beach there is a small pool with a large sun deck in the rear of the Atlantis nightclub. It's open to the public.  Because it is attached to a nightclub/bar so there is normally no kids. On a day when it's windy on the beach it's a good place to catch some rays because it has a high wall around it. Just don't dive in the pool: It's only four and a half feet deep, so the drunks don't drown. Located on the beach, one block north of Las Olas. I think the street number is 219. Walk though the cavernous interior and the pool deck is out the back.  (UPDATE: ATLANTIS IS CLOSED AT THE MOMENT) 

There are a number of small hotels and guest houses on the streets behind the beach. Mostly along and around Birch road. They are only a couple of blocks from the beach and cost less than the big hotels. Some cater to adults and some cater to gay adults. Around the pools that have privacy screens almost anything goes. Just try a google search on 'fort Lauderdale' + gay' + 'guest house'. Or any similar search like 'Fort Lauderdale adult guest house topless pool'. You will find dozens of establishments that allow or encourage their guests to be a little liberated. We even have a guest house where wearing cloths is frowned on, but so are single males with a video cameras.

If you are coming to visit and would like a thong friendly pool, stay at one of the smaller guest houses that cater to an adult or European crowd. One with an intimate pool.

Unless you have the funds to own or rent a yacht, and you personally know the right sort of bow candy to decorate the bow, I suggest you put on your own thong, then head for the beach.

Should, by chance, you find your self behind the wheel of such a yacht, and looking over your martini notice the bow candy is lacking, or has fallen off, then proceed directly to Shooters. Pull up to the dock any time after midday on a weekend. Replacement bow candy is available by the iced bucket full. They know the routine: You provide the yacht and drinks, they provide the view, just as soon as you pull away from the dock.  (Do they still have the weekend thong competitions in the pool?)

hello,

thank you for all the details ypu put into this beach report.  i was wondering where i could buy a mens and womens thong swimsuits in that area

Very nice read! Nonetheless, with all that information gathered.. I have a specific question to ask. I'm trying to figure out where my girlfriend and I will go on our Spring Break trip.

Can you tell me the best place for my girlfriend to go in a really small micro gstring bottom and a moderate coverage top? Somewhere with alot of people. The thrill for her is to wear it when alot of other people are around. We are in the 18-24 age group, so preferably a place with some people our age, as well as younger and older (all age beach). The beach would be best if, in addition to being thong tolerant, has a good number of other girls who wear thongs throughout the day. Also, we are both compeltely straight, so we dont want to wind up in the gay strip of the beach! I won't be wearing a thong, only her.. so I guess just some place that is very female thong friendly and very active.

Is there a place with both tourist and local environment? Which would you say is more 'fun'? I live in alabama and usually we go to destin/ft. walton.. but we want a city that is less inhabited by 'redneck' tourists. 

What hotel do you suggest for the part of the beach that fits this description? Possibly with a thong tolerant pool as well.

Last one, Will the answers to these questions vary if I go at different times of the year? Spring Break vs. Mid-Summer. If so, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Reply to mpike's questions.    Probably the best bit of beach to go if you want to see and be seen,  Las Olas Blvd and A1A.   More locals in the two blocks to the south and more tourists and spring break kids in the three blocks going north. 

All this section is basically a straight bit of beach with a young crowed.  The gays will be about  6 blocks north of Las Olas.  They all sit together by one life guard stand. You cant miss them. 

During spring break there are more young people, on spring break. Q.E.D.  They come here because we have sun and fun.  But .... they still think like they do when they live in the north or mid west.  So you are more likely to see locals in thongs in the summer and kids in board shorts in the spring.  But you are more likely to find people your own age, and serious partying, during spring break.  Spring break runs for a couple of months.  Who is here in any one week depends on what universities have break that week.

This is a lot of great information, thanks.  I'm planning a 4-5 day mini-vacation down there right after I take the bar exam but am curious as to the spring break crowd.  I'm be there from the 24th of Feb to about Mar. 1 or 2.  I know that's pretty early but if the spring breakers will abound, I'll probably head somewhere else.  How thick are the kids that early?

Thanks

No idea on just when spring break starts.  I think most of them don't show till March.  Christmas through Feb is rich snow bird time.  Lots of big yachts and fancy cars in town.

In Feb we often get the tail ends of the fronts passing through FL.  This can cause bad wether for several days.  If you are comming for only four or five days it may be perfect or it may be shitty.  That's just wether.

Reply to : JM_Runs

For ALL vacation/trip planning, I use WeatherPlanner.com...    They forecast weather up to a year in advance.   I have used them for several years and their forecast  for temperatures and precipitation has never been wrong for me.    Even during Florida's hurricanes, weatherplanner had those dates marked as Severe Storms months beforehand.   The only bad thing is that it is now a subscription service.

In march I will be staying at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, for a week.  Saw that Marriott was mentioned above, not sure this is anywhere near there though.  Please excuse my extreme ignorance regarding Florida geography.

Does anyone know what the thong g string atmosphere might be re the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort?

Thanks

Last week my wife and I went to Fort Lauderdale, stayed at a Marriott resort.  The first day we were there, I wore my black Suits You g string under my regular bathing suit.  I dragged a chair to one end of the beach.  My wife came down and I asked her if she cared if I wore my g string.  To my surprise she said she didn't.  So, I took off my bathing suit and was just wearing my g string.  My very first ever time wearing a g in public.  She even put sun screen on my back and my buns for me.  I stayed there all afternoon, about 4 hours.  Quite a few people walked by, some looked, no one said anything.  I got up the courage to go into the water and had a great time.  Overall the day was a great success.  The next day we went again.  HOwever, there were a bunch of adolescent boys around, wearing dork shorts and, get this, their boxiers underneath.  They'd sag their shorts so their boxers were exposed above the dork shorts.  Now, I think the dork shorts are stupid but someone please explain the point of wearing boxer shorts underneath a bathing suit!!!!!  Anyway, I did take off my suit and was in my g for a while but my wife said the boys were acting goofy, so I put my shorts back on. 

The first day we were there, there were two late teen or early 20s girls in thongs and I saw another female in a thong, that evening I saw a girl in a yellow g string along the main part of beach in the crowded section.  Absolutley no other guys though.

Anyway, the one day was great and I thorughly enjoyed it.  My wife's reaction was really a pleasant surprise, in fact she took a couple of pictures of me with my digi cam, another surprise to me.  You have to understand that I'm 61 and she's 56 to add a little perspective.  I also went down to Haulover two days and enjoyed the nude beach there, she didn't accompany me though.

The weather looks real nice.  I am going to be in Ft. Lauderdale for 4 days, starting next Wednesday.  Can't wait to break out the thongs!!

JM (or others), is the Broward Co. public transportation system pretty good?  I'll most likely be staying at the Hilton in Sunrise, so a few miles from the beach, but I won't have access to a car.

This last weekend the beach was trashed.  But by the time you come we will have have picked up all the trash and glass bottles left over from this last weekends Air-Sea show.  (Millions of red-necks watching jets and marines who storm the beach).  Ran the beach on Monday morning.  Clean as a whistle in the Las Olas and central beach section.  Still a lot of bottle caps and plastic where the food booths were at Sunrise but they are cleening it up faster than in privious years. 

Wether this week is intermitent cloud and overcast.   Normaly sun it's a better bet early in the mornings.  If the sun is out be on the beach.  You can't controll the wether but you can get a look at the clouds here:  Local satellite  (Now there's an oxymoron).  Down there the clouds often move West to East.  (Click the play button to animate.)  Looks like crap wether in the middle of this week.  Should be better by the weekend.  We have a running race on Saturday morning. I hope it's not wet.  Fort Lauderdale Wether Link

Looked up your Sunrise Hilton.  It's NOT in the city of Fort Lauderdale.  It's in the city of Sunrise on N. University.  About 80 blocks west of the beach.  Not a problem if you have a car.  If not, then try to see if the hotel has local ground transport or shuttle and use that.  The hotel says " Local Area Transportation; USD 5.0"  -  What ever that means.... Probably they have a local shuttle that will get you to the mall, but will it get you all the way to the beach?

Failing that, you will need to get the local bus.  The #2 bus South to the West Regional Terminal and then the #22 bus to the Central terminal, and then the #11 or #40 buss to the beach.  (#11 is quickest)   It will probably take you the best part of an hour, or longer on weekends because the busses are not as common.  Link to the buss system map here.  Bus map  You will have to zoom in to figure out the street names.  To locate your hotel on the buss map, the hotel is at the interseciton of route #2 and Route #56.

I have been asked about the wether in the summer. It's hot and humid, and often rains in the afternoon. The mornings can be wonderful so plan to be at the beach first thing. If you get up early you will probably be greeted by a spectacular blue sky and no clouds about.

Some guy called John Ford lives in Fort Lauderdale and has taken thousands of candied beach pictures.  Most are of cute girls in swimsuits.  Some are just of the beach or people there.  

At first I just thought there were a few pictures but then I clicked on the small ones to the left.  That brought up even more pictures.  Then I realized that there are lists of photo-logs, and then even more in achieves going back for years. 

While most are not thong photos, the colection gives you an good idea of what the beach, and the people on it, look like.  The photos look like they were shot with a high power zoom.  This tends to compress distance and make it look like the beach is more crowded, and the water is closer than in real life. 

Here is a link to the site  http://johnford.net/beach/ 

Asked by PM about transport and bikes. I would advise anyone who plans to visit to bring, rent, borrow or buy a bicycle. If staying near the beach it's all you need. A lot less cost than renting a car and then parking a car. You can even purchase a cheep mountain bike and sell it on to some one else before you fly home. Bring a small back pack to cary your beach supples.

A bike is a good way to get around and see people on the beach. When biking on the sidewalk you can see almost everyone who is laid out on the beach. When in a car you are lucky to see their heads, if they are siting up. Bikes are a fun way to get to the shops, mall and even go out to dinner. Much better than walking. You can ride on the sidewalks, (Pavement for UK people). Just don't ride the wrong way in the bike lanes. So on the beach, where the traffic runs one way, ride the lane going north and the sidewalk going south.

You can take your bike on the local buses. The buses have a bike rack that folds out on the front. You clip your bike in the rack and board the bus.  Bus from Airport to down town is the #1.  From down town to the beach - via Las Olas and then north is the #11 and the #40 goes to the beach via the longer route, past the convention center on 17th street.

There is a free shuttle that runs between Beach Place on the beach, via Las Olas, to Riverside and the down town.  Only runs in afternoons and evnings, till about midnight.  (Other busses stop sooner)

Any recommendations for smaller, quieter hotels/motels near the beach that allow topless as well as thongs poolside?

I remember visiting a few years back and had lunch at the cafe of one...was pleasantly surprised to see topless women quite relaxed around a pool, walking back and forth to the pool from rooms, etc.  Dont remember the name of the place, but it was oceanside.

Regarding your request for "recommendations for smaller, quieter hotels/motels near the beach that allow topless as well as thongs".  Sorry, I.m not much use to you.  I live here and so don't need a hotel, therefor have not tried them out.  But as a general rule any place that is gay friendly will welcome thongs, and some allow nude too.  

I dont know if you plan to come by your self, or with a spouce, for g/f, b/f or kids.  Your sexual orintation and accompanying travelers will make a big diffrence to where to start looking. 

You may want to get a copy of Microsoft 'Streets and Trips'.  It comes bundled with many computers as part of the 'MS Works' package.  You can bring up Fort Lauderdale beach, turn on the hotells and you will see a several dozen hotel and motel names with their locatons.  Ask your friends, some one has MS Works bunndled with their PC.  Ckick on the hotel icon and it brings up the address and phone number.  How cool is that ? !!   (Don't use google maps, jhas not got the hotels.)   

Wether:  So you want to know if it's hot, very hot, bloody hot in Fort Laudale.   It may be cool or coold if you catch the winter month.  We get a month of winter delivered over three months, with hot bit's in the middle.   Due to global warming we are getting short changed.

TODAY  >>>  http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KFXE.html  (This should be called a back-cast, because it reports only what has allready happned.)

For the this weeks Fort Lauderdale forcast >> http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=33301

Today, Dec 2nd, 2005, it's one in the afternoon and the temp is 72F, 22.2C.  Was a little nippy when I ran this morning,  was only 60F (13.3C) with a light wind of 5mph out of the NW.    When I arrived the locals were bundled up, and there was a little chill in the air.  By the time I split, at about 10:30 am, every one was coming out in shorts or swimsuits. 

Got a Private Message from some one coming to town this Saturday, First week in April 2006. They were asking about thonging and parking.... Thought I would post the answer here as well.

Beach will be packed with local kids this weekend. First day of spring break for the local schools. I would seriously avoid the zone in front of the bars like the 'Elbow Room' and the Hooters. Interesting zone to see quite a few women in thongs, but quickly becomes overcrowded and rowdy as the day develops.

It is much better just a bit south of Las Olas, near the swimming hall of fame. The only shade is near the road. Kids all over the sidewalk and wall because it's Spring Break so take an umbrella and setup by the water or rent one of the chairs with umbrellas.

About two to blocks south of Las Olas. Metered parking in small lot across from Hall of Fame will probably be full but you might get lucky.

Parking in south lot and walk north (all day one fee), or lot at Las Olas, (By the hour and through the noise, fills up early) or under the Las Olas Bridge, take very first right after coming over the bridge and follow the road around under bridge to parking lot, then walk three blocks to beach, and then walk south three more.)

Or - I would select the beach outside the Bonnet House, 1/10 of a mile south of Sunrise. Only three trees for shade, be first or take an umbrella. Not much parking near by, that keeps the crowds down.

Or - I would select the beach running North of Sunrise for the next half mile, where the grass covered dunes are between the road and the beach. Quite a few tress for shade, but the spots may be taken. IF you get there EARLY then parking along A1A is FREE. If you get there later you will have to park in the State Park and walk through the tunnel to the beach. To enter the park from the beach road, turn W on Sunrise and make the first right. Fixed price all day. Make first right after entering the park.

P.S.  If you have a question, just post it as a reply in this thread.  You don't need to send me a PM. If you end up sending me a PM it's because I have not made the information clear or available, so I will probably post the response here anyway, for others who may visit.  It makes it simpler for me to answer a reply post, becuase I don't have to summarize the question from the PM before posting the answer, so that things make sense to others. 

RE: Finding thongers on Fort Lauderdale beach.

Thonging is no problem anywhere along the beach. The life guards and police will give you no grief, so there is no need to seek out a thong ghetto. Therefore you are unlikely to find a group of thongers all clustered together. (Unless you look behind the dunes at the northen end because there you may find a group of older gays who like to show off.)

Most of the time thonging is no big deal so people just do it where ever they find parking. That said, most male thongers stay away from the BBQ and kids zone on the beach accross from the parking lot near Bahia-Mar.  They also give 'The Strip' a wide birth.

The Strip is the zone from the parking lot just south of Las Olas for the few blocks to Beach Place. (Three story bar complex with orange awnings and the Hooters, etc.) You get a lot of young youth and quite a bit of drinking. But, on the flip side, you do get lots of young women in thongs in that zone.

Right now its Spring Break. This changes everything!  Most of the people on the beach this week are not locals. They come from cold places like Michigan. They bring their Michigan beach style with them. Once spring break is over, the beach should get back to normal.

Just go out and thong. Who cares if the rest of the world does not. The lifeguards, the police, and most of the people, will give you no problems, so just chill.

Thongers in Fort Lauderdale are not pack animals. They tend to be loaners. If a male thonger were to plonk right down beside another male thonger, unless it was the gay section, the first would probably move away a bit. They are probably straight, and do not wear a thong so they could get cruised.

So if there is another male thonger, pick a spot a little away. That way he will not feel you are moving in on him. You can always get to meet in the ocean or at the shower. (See above)  Did I mention that it's good to set down near shower, but not too near so you get to see, and bee seen, as you walk back and forth.

If you are a women it will be no problem. If you are a man you may get a couple of funny looks, but you may also get quite a few admiring glances. You may even get some jerk suggest you put some cloths on, but on examination you will probably notice said jerk is wearing the most inappropriate beach cloths, and therefore should not be taken seriously as an authority.

One thing that many visitors to the Fort Lauderdale beach miss, is the social importance of the fresh water shower. On Miami beach you can get to know people by heading to the concession stand at the same time, and talking while standing in line. Unfortunately its an expensive introduction because of the price gouging in Miami.

In Fort Lauderdale a trip to the fresh water shower is not just reserved for after you pack-up for the day. NO dear reader, it's part of the dance. Every time you have been in for a swim, or about every 20 to 30 minutes when it's hot, you head for the shower and wash off the salt, sweat, or just get cool.  Most are spring loaded so it's considered polite to offer to hold the knob on while your new, soon to be best friend, gets to use both hands to rinse off. (The sand can be very hot in the summer so you need flip flops or, if you are cool, a pair of crocs to get to the shower.)

I was there last week and JM you are 100% right, The all the beach was full of surfers and a lot of spring brakers, so I decided to avoid the crowds and I parked my car after sunrise near the best western hotel, there is like a little montain of sand there, thats blocks the visibility from the street so I thought that was  a good idea to thong there, then I saw like 3 or 4 mens there one  of them with a black G string, he was like 45 years and he get in panic when he saw me that suddenly he put on his short. I was planning to thong there but it start to rain so bad luck.

on sunday I want to SoBe and I want to thank you for the advices that you give to the Acapulco guy. I was in south beach and is hard to thong when you are the only one, or at least for me, so I saw a girl near the beach thonging alone and I remember your advice so I went close to  and asked if I can thong with her, she told me with a big smile in his face sure so I put my towel close to and SHUT MY MOUTH. she start to asking me questions like were I was, what I was doing there... I answered all the Q and asked a few others but always easy going. If she wants to said something i responded nicely if she dont want to said anything was ok too. She was 18 years, last year of high school at  Washington DC so she founded a little bit crazy a men in thong but she told me that she loves it then she told me that she wants to have a pic of our butts but she dont have the valor to ask some one to take the pic so I think that was fun to do it so I ask for the camera. We were really close to the beach so first passed walking a family with kids and I told that it is not a good idea to do it then a guy was coming and as soon as he get closed i ask him if he can take a pic of us, as used he said sure, then she told him -n our butts?he didnt said any thing and we turned face down for the pic. After that we got a lot of confidence she ask me for my email and my phone number and she told me that she was going to send me the pic.

She was waithing for a friend and I was waithing for my parents, they are coming to take a cruise so I told her that I got to go to the airport and she understand it I said bye and we shake my hand and we kissed each other, then  ask her about going to dance she told me ok but she never call me. When I was thaking my towel she told me that she loves the way that I think. I forgot to tell thank you for the complement. I just left the beach but it was an unforgetable experience

Reply to erik3000:

Glad you took my advice for how to pickup girls in thongs (from another thread).  Sounds like it worked out well. 

You said you parked  "after Sunrise near the Best Western hotel"   There are two Best Western hotels on the beach, one south and one north. The north one is the "Best Western Pelican Beach Resort", about a mile north of Sunrise.  This is the point to the north where the road leaves the beach.  It is just a little south of the Palms, (the enormous new pink towers). 

You said "There is like a little montain of sand there, thats blocks the visibility from the street."   I know exactly where you were,  about 1 mile north of Sunrise.  Unfortunatly the bit behind that dune is a bit of a gay zone.  To meet women, you would probably have been better off about least 1/2 a mile to the south.  There wou will also find grass dunes that  block the street view. 

Sorry that you only had two days in South Florida.  Next time stay a week.

Reply to Beachstrapguy,

If you don't like the 'long looks' from some of the gay men then don't thong at a spot where the gays ten to hang out.   You don't have to thong with others, just find a quiet spot and lay out.  All the beach is thong friendly.  On my morning runs I greet the lifeguards, and the local policeman if he is out on his ATV.  You can thong anywere on the beach, just pick a section that you feel comfortable in, or pick a bit and go so often you get to fell comfortable there.

I normaly run at least 3 days a week, M,W,F in the morning.  Running some time between 7:30 and 10AM.  I don't run for all that time, only run for about hour.  From the Haul of Fame, south of Las Olas, up to the shower just south of where you normaly thong, and back again.  It takes about 22 minuites each way.  Then streatch time and bike back home, or some days linger and eat breakfast before going home.

If sitting on the beach, there are parts of the beach I personaly would avoid:  The bbq zone at the south end becuase over time the coal from the bbq's has made the beach dirty;  The zone right in front of the Elbo room and Beach Place;  The block just south of Sunrise across from the bars.  I also don't chouse to lay out in the section running north from a point about  1/2 mile N of Sunrise, where the beach is skinny and right along side the road.  (That's up by where you went)

I run the lenth of it several times a week and often spend time hang out with friends after running.   On the other hand I rarely lay out to tan unless hanging out with with friends.  Get enough sun on my morning runs and just have too much else to do in life.  If I spend time on the beach, other than running,  then I like the beach south of Las Olas, by the Hall of Fame.  It's just a habit left over from years ago, my girlfriend would do a spinning class at the gym there, and we would meet after our workouts.   Good beach if arriving by bike, but parking can be a hassle, so if we go by car, going for a picknic with food in a cooler, and maybe others in the group, then we may use the beach north of Sunrise, accross from Birch Park.  The beach there is wide, some palm trees for a little shade, and parking is free so we are not watching the clock.

I often see other thongers on the beach, but rareley the same people in the same place.  Today Monday, I noticed that by 10am there were quite a lot of women thongers, no men, and two girls topess.  I am not searching out thongers, and normaly have other things going on in my head when running, so there are probably more that I just have not noticed.

Reply to jn9195,

Sorry to hear you are feeling less comfortable in a thong.  Over the years is I have become more comfortable on the beaches here.  I don't know if thats an affect of the environment at the beach, or my self confidence growing with time and age. 

You stayed at the Beach Plaza hotel in Fort Lauderdale.  This is not a part of the beach that gets many locals because there is no available public parking lots for more than 1/2 a mile in either direction.   There is some parking on the center of a few streets but it's universally used up by the tourists at the local hotels and motels.  This being summer time, you are likely to find the lower priced hotels in this zone populated by budget families who drove down from Tennessee or Ohio.  The beach here is a reflection on the people in the motels and hotels.  (This part of the beach is also being re-developed into condos for rich old retirees from up north, not exactly a thong crowed.)

There are several large huge construction jobs going right near the Beach Plaz,  with lots of dust, and lots of red neck builders.  Maybe not the best bit of beach to be.  I think I would have walked a few blocks north and thonged accross the street from the bonnet house estate.

Locals coming by car are more likely to go where there are large parking lots, like south of Las Olas, or free parking, like north of Sunrise.  Locals on foot or bicycle are likely to be near the connectors to the main land, Las Olas or Sunrise, or to bike to the better sections of the beach.

As you may know, I normally get out and run on Fort Lauderdale beach, in a thong, three times a week.  Not very often in the last three weeks: Been away up state and and very busy.  This last week I was able to get to the beach, but only twice:  On Wednesday and again  today, Saturday.   Normally I do not pay much attention to other men in thongs, except to maybe say good morning if I pass close.  If you were not wearing a thong I probably did not notice you at all.

From last Wednesday, I may have seen more, but there are only two other male thongers that I can remember now.  One in an unusual  horizontal striped thong in the colors of the German flag, and one at the shower at top end of the beach by 18th street.  I remember him because he stopped to talk with me when I was drinking from the shower.  He asked where I got the thong I was wearing.  I told him the INTERNET, and recommended the board to him. 

I had read your posting just before biking to the beach, and was thinking about it on todays run.  So today I counted men in thongs.  I started out at about 8:30 am.  There were not many people on the beach that early in the day.   On my way north I noticed several women in thongs but only one man in what was a thong, or speedo bunched up.  (Did not get close enough to see). 

I expected to see the usual one or two men in thongs behind the dune north of 18th, but today that part of the beach was invaded by a large crowed of teens from a summer camp.  They had erected a white tent and had a mob of about forty teens with surf boards.    I did see one more man in a black thong as I was running back south, and then was surprised to see the old couple on the beach in front of Bonnet House. He always thongs but I have not seen them for a while.  (They are normally later on weekends and I am normally out early weekdays.)  So todays count was only three, or four if you include me too.  But since my survey ended at 9:30 am, and most people don't get to the beach that early, there may well be more out there as I type this.   It's safe to say they are widely dispersed.  

I also noticed that I did not see the same person twice, even though I rand up and back.  This shows the turnover rate this morning.  (This is unusual because I often see the same person on the return run).

I think the problem, or the joy, with our beach is that there is not one thong ghetto.  Unlike the kite-surfers or the dog walkers, we thongers are not restricted to one part of the beach.  Therefor we are spread out over many miles.  If you just plonk down in one spot you may or may not see any of the other thongers.  I get to see a few men in thongs because I run several miles of beach, though I must admit, I don't have much interest in men in thongs, and notice the women more. 

On my morning runs, apart from obvious common spots like 18th street where there may or may not be several male thongers, on the regular beach I guess the men in thongs are randomly distributed, with gaps of a half, to a full mile, between them.

Thongers also come and go.  Regular locals get to see the beach often, and so don't need to spend all day.  We are only there for an hour,  or two at the most, then split to do other stuff.  So while we may go often, we don't stay long.

With regard to your feeling uncomfortable because of comments you have heard.  Over the years I have learned to ignore the red-neck who comes by in a pickup and yells "put some cloths on."   This happens probably at least once or twice a week.  (A major road A1A, runs along behind the beach)   On the other hand I get lots of positive responses every day, from a large number of people, so one or two idiots are easy to ignore.  

Just today, after running, a long time friend B__ told  me that she looks forward to seeing me on the beach and days without me are less colorful.  I asked, "really?"  She replied that it was not only her, but J___ (who is an older regular walker and wall sitter)  who misses me, ( I had not been out much in the last few weeks).   J___ had jokingly accused my friend B__ of hiding me.

I don't know what you are looking for.  If it's to be part of a pack of skimpily dressed males, you may need to go to Haulover beach in Miami.  If you are looking to be mobbed by a bevies of hooters girls in thongs it's not going to happen.  That's not to say I have not been stopped by groups of girls.  Some have asked to take a picture with me, or some just ended up talking for a while.  Some have been groups of teens and some times its like stunning south American mother and daughter couple that I ended up spending most of the morning with.  Yes, sometimes I am approached by girls who looked like they stepped out of a photo shoot, but not very often.  Being stopped wile running is rare, probably only once a month.  On the other hand, people coming over to chat when I am at the shower is more common, probably once a week. 

If there is a large gathering or group, all standing together, say 20 to 50 people, I will normally notice this from some way off and aim to run one side or the other.  Until you are right there you never know what the reaction is going to be.  I have had rounds of applause from a yoga class and smirks and snigger's from a school field trip.  Often there is no reaction, or maybe it does not start until some time after I have passed.   

Today there was a wedding on the beach.  Fake plastic flowers, on fake plastic arch, with real plastic chairs setup like an open air chapel.  They all had cameras, and there was even a pro with a video setup on a tripod.  They were setup on the narrowest part of the beach, right by the walkover from the Sheraton Trader,  so there was little room on each side and I was forced to run by within about ten feet.   Got quite a few smiles from the congregation, and I think couple of pictures, but only one friendly wave when I first passed.  They were starting to take their seats when I went up the beach.  On the way back they were down by the water doing what looked like the after-the-fact group pictures and they all looked more relaxed. 

Most days I just see the locals and tourists.  Locals say hi and otherwise don't react.  Tourists some times nudge each other and point.  Some times I will hear one call to the other something like "Sally, Sally look!"  and I often notice one of them reach for a camera. 

I was going to write that I am not out on the beach to garner approval from other people, so it does not matter if some plumbers mate, or spotty teenage boy thinks I am strange.  On the other hand I do appreciate all the positive feedback I get,  so I can't claim to be indifferent.  I guess we all filter the input and only hear what we want to hear, and weight it according to our level of paranoia.  

Over the years I have made a conscious effort to be friendly to the rest of mankind, and that appears to be paying off.  I don't cruse, leer, loiter, I just get on with what I am about.   I treat others with respect by being friendly and saying good morning.  There are still a few people who pass by on the side walk with their noises in the air pretending I don't exit and that they have not seen me:  There problem, not mine.  All in all I find the beach to be thong friendly, but if someone does say something negative I just ignore it. 

My advice for negative comments from groups of teenage boys,  NEVER EVER let them see that they have riled you.  Don't show it by where you look, or by your body language.  Think like a poker player.  After one or two shouts of derision, or whistles, they will loose interest.  On the other hand if they get a rise out of you, If they see the weakness, they will circle in for the kill.

I don't know what will make you feel comfortable when wearing a thong on the beach.  If having a girlfriend along, thronging or not, would make you immune, then ask a girl to go to the beach with you.  Tell her you wear a thong to the beach and would like some company so you don't get teased by the teenage boys in board shorts.  Girls understand going out in a group for mutual support.  Telling her you thong before you go will make you a lot less nervous on the day.  (Don't surprise her, your worry over her reaction is likely to give you heart palpitations)

Make friends while in your thong.  Be sociable with the life guards, beach vendors, regulars etc.  There are some regular beach chair rental people that I pass on my run.  Most days they are setting up the umbrellas when I come by.  If I fail to greet them it's me who is on the receiving end of a shot of "What? No good morning?".   If I fail to notice some of the regulars and give a wave or nod in their direction they are likely to call out my name and wave.   Yes hundreds of locals know my name, and many more don't remember my name but have made my acquittance, so therefor I am not some weird man in a thong, but someone they know. 

Pick a bit of beach you like.  Become a regular.  Identify and become acquainted with the other regulars.  Not the people laying out on the sand, most of them got Ipods on and just want to be left alone.  Become acquainted with the people who work the beach, walk the beach, sit on the benches, or are sitting around waiting on others, for example mothers who are just child watching and would probably like a little adult conversation.  Mothers with kids are often some of the friendliest people on the beach.  They know you are not hitting on them because It is obvious they are already married and got a brood.  They often applicate some one else holding the shower on while they wash off a sand covered urchin.  They appreciate some one watching their stuff when they have to take a child across the road to the bathroom.

There is nothing that quite puts some religious nut off his sermon about how you should not wear thongs because of the children, when between the two of you walks a mother and kids, who brightly greets you with a personal good morning and asks how you are doing today.  Yes this happened once.  I think she heard the nuts words as she approached, and her timing was perfect.  The nut walked off in a huff.   I got to thank her a little later in the day.

I think thats another important point.  Just because some jerk has an issue with what you chose to wear, does not mean that every one else on the beach agrees with them.  It is far more likely that they resent his demonstrative outburst.  (how come jerks are 99% male?)  In cases where I would have just ignored the jerk and said nothing, there have been several times when other people have stepped in to tell a jerk off. 

OH, yes.... When leaving the beach today on my bicycle,  I heard a very loud rumble of motorbikes behind me.  Four bikes, five riders, and it sounded like more than eight un-muffled exhaust pipes.  Uh Oh, I thought, but needn't have worried.  A women on the first pair of motorbikes draws up alongside,  and with a big friendly grin shouts "Nice speedo" before roaring off. 

UPDATE:  Ran on early on Monday.  Not many people on the beach but did notice one fit looking guy in a small red thong or G-string walking south outside Bonnet House, and on my way back he was then walking to the north, north of Sunrise.  So very few people out early today, and only two men in thongs, that man and myself.

Second Update:  Ran again Friday.  It was very early but was hot and sticky because the sea breeze had not yet started.  On the first mile of beach there were only three people on the sand, the rest were chilling in the sea.   Of the three people, one was the same fit man walking up the beach in the same red thong that I saw earlier in the week, one was me, and the other was a women emerging from the sea.  So in the first mile 66% of the people on the sand were men in thongs.  (I know, "another skuid survey like that and I could retire for life", it's a quote from a famous cartoon drawing.)   Same man was then laying out about half a mile north of his first location when I ran back down.  So it's not just me that moves around a bit.   One women I passed later was walking with two very serious looking men, but as I passed by she called out "You have brightened up my morning".  It's always good to get positive feedback.

A question for JM_Runs or anyone who knows:

Is the Doubletree Oceanfront hotel mentioned in this thread specifically called the Gallery One? I have a couple weeks off and want to visit...checked expedia and that is what I found.  Have read about the good location of this hotel but want to be sure it is the right one. thanks.

Doubletree Oceanfront is closed.  Trashed in last years huricane.  No longer a Doubletree, no name on the building.  They appear to be gutting it, internal walls missing.  Will probably get rebuit and referbed some time during the next year. 

The Gallery One that you asked about is a  Doubletree hotel but is not on the beach.  It's west of the intercostal on Sunrise Blvd, a block from the galleria mall, hence the name.  Its the white building in the Photo  as you can see that one is 5 minutes walk from the beach.  I understand it too is going to be turning into a condo tower.  $400,000.00 for a one bedroom room condo ?? !

If you stay at that one you will have a five minute hike to the beach.  I dont know what sort of place you would like, or who you are travling with, so it's difficult to recomend a hotel.  The beach near here is quiet, thong friendly with low dunes between the road and the beach.  The beach stores by Sunrise range from tacky to super tack, but you can get low cost food like pitza and maybe a good fish sandwage.  The advantage is that this is the wet seasion.  Having the mall next door will give you somthing to do in the aternoon when the thunderstrom stops play.

At the south end of the beach is the Sheriton Yankie Clipper.  That one is right on the beach, no road to cross, but it is a good ten minutes walk south of the main beach.  The harbour beach hotel is just a little to the south of that and is a new first class hotel with a very quiet beach and a 15 to 20 minute walk to the main beach.

I should add that there are MAJOR changes taking place on the beach.  A lot of the hotels along the strip north of Las Olas are being torn down or rebuilt into condos.  Lots of noise and dust.  A lot of the resturants are closed pending re-development or somthing, so night life along the beach is now confied to a few bars and the few still functioning resturants. 

Thanks for clearing that up for me.  Too bad about the Doubletree; sounded like once was a great place to stay in a good location.

So, can anyone recommend a hotel/motel on the beach (away from gay area) relatively inexpensive to stay for a few days? (main priority will be laying out in g-string at the beach) so nothing too fancy.  Thanks all for input.

greg bakus posted a reply to jn9195's post of  08/05/2006 in which he stated:

"For you or anybody in South Florida area who wants to see and be seen, and do *not* recommend Fort Lauderdale at all. It cannot come close to South Beach, Miami. It is 5% of "SoBe" for those who want to see and be seen."

The rest of the post was all about south beach so the post has been moved to the >> South Beach Thread.  Look for post dated 08/22/2006

On a recent trip to FLA got to spend some time on the beach at Ft. Lauderdale beach in thongs.

After visiting South Beach it seems pretty tame!  I only saw a handful of thongs on others there, and the crowd was mostly tame, some midwestern tourist kids were the wildest.  Never got any hassles about my suits down to Dore Very Low thongs/ G and V strings.

I'd say it was a somewhat positive experience--

If thongs are numerous and thongers looked on positively like south beach is a +10 on a scale of  thongs 1-10 ( clothing optional over and above ) then Ft. Lauderdale is a 7.  ( places like Daytona would be a 3----places like Atlantic Shores in Key West a 15,  Haulover a 12)