Hollywood Florida Hotels and Travel Guide

Located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Hollywood, Florida has the same fantastic beaches as its South Florida neighbors without being overrun by all of the crowds during peak season. And with a wide variety of hotels and resorts to choose from, a trip to Hollywood can be just as extravagant or as economical as travelers want it to be.

Hollywood Florida Travel Guide

Hollywood is a comparatively young city (it was incorporated in 1925) that sprouted during the South Florida land boom of the 1920s but really blossomed in the decades following World War II. There is a historic arts district built up around Young Circle, named for city founder Joseph Young, who envisioned a “Dream City in Florida” with a wide boulevard (Hollywood Blvd.) extending from the ocean westward to the edge of the Everglades, and the incorporation of three large circles of land located along his planned principal boulevard.

Today, the heart of Joseph Young’s original city plan is the ArtsPark at Young Circle, which features 10 acres of lush green space, broad paved promenades for strolling or jogging, and a children’s play area with an interactive fountain. The nearby Art and Culture Center of Hollywood (www.artandculturecenter.org) holds art exhibitions as well as theater, music, and dance performances.

As with any city in South Florida, all roads lead to the beach, and Hollywood Blvd. is no exception. After exploring the historic downtown arts district, a trip across the Hollywood Blvd. Bridge will take you right to Ocean Drive. Some of the biggest resorts in Hollywood are located between Ocean Drive and the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, including the Hollywood Beach Marriott, Ramada Hollywood Beach Resort, and the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa. Moderately priced accommodations—such as the Hampton Inn and Quality Inn—are only minutes away from the shore.

Built in 1923, the Hollywood Boardwalk is over two miles long, featuring a thirty-foot wide landmark pedestrian promenade that combines dramatic coastal views of Hollywood Beach with the nostalgic feel of a Main Street thoroughfare. The Hollywood Boardwalk was named one of America's top ten nostalgic promenades by USA Today, and as an auto-free zone, it is a welcoming environment for bicyclists, runners, walkers and rollerbladers. In addition to soaking up the sun on the Atlantic coastline, visitors can enjoy the boutique hotels, unique shops, and Oceanside eateries.

Hollywood already bears the name of a rather famous city in California, but this South Florida town also has a little bit of Las Vegas in it as well. The smallest Seminole Indian reservation in the state of Florida is located in Hollywood, and it is home to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, a gigantic 24-hour gambling resort that also features a tropical pool area and an auditorium. With numerous restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and all of the slot machines and poker games that one might expect from a full-fledged casino, even the most dedicated beachcomber won’t have a problem finding something to do when the sun sets over Hollywood, Florida.