Must-Do Moments at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

It’s back again—the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, cruising into town October 31^st. (Of course, you might have been counting down the days already…)

The “big one” of the boat show circuit, it’s a boater’s dream, nestled in the heart of a sunny, South Florida paradise when the rest of the country is bundling up for fall. You don’t need a reason to come and bask in the gorgeous weather and on-the-water atmosphere, but we’ve got a few anyway.

Read on as we share our top, must-do moments to check out at the show!

Explore the big, “Blue Wild”

The “Blue Wild” of the ocean is filled with aquatic treasures to discover, and this expo offers opportunities to discover them firsthand. Throughout the show, be sure to swing by the expo to hear from experts in the fields of underwater photography, spearfishing, free-diving and much more. If you’ve got a penchant for the artistic side of aquatics, the Marine Art Display room is your place to be—see aquatic art and photography to get a whole new feel for the water you love so much.

Enter the Aquazone

Looking to amp up the adventure? All show long, Nautical Ventures will be hosting in-pool demos of some of the latest water sports and technologies—from flyboard “aquabatics” to stand-up paddleboard yoga to underwater drones and more. This is for the boater who has an eye on the future of aquatic adventure, so be sure to come by and see what’s new (and get a hands-on chance to learn about new skills, too!).

Get to know the world beneath the surface

As boaters, we naturally spend a lot of time above the surface. At the Coral Reef Stage, we’ll get a chance to see what’s going on below, too.

Here, experts on the underwater expanse will be speaking about the subjects they know best—for Dr. Martin Grosell from the University of Miami, that’s Mahi-Mahi. Dr. Derek Burkholder of Nova Southeastern University will also be shedding light on a topic that’s familiar to many South Florida beachgoers—sea turtles—and how we can help with their conservation. These talks offer unique opportunities to get to know the water in an all-new perspective.

Unwind in style

Fort Lauderdale is known for its effortlessly lux on-the-water lifestyle, and its boat show offerings do not disappoint in this area.

When you’re looking for a place to retreat to, after enjoying the hustle and bustle of browsing the show, you have a couple choice options. Kick back at the Angler’s Lounge, where $65 a day gets you entertainment, indoor seating, complimentary beverages and an expansive menu of fresh bites to choose from, tapas style. Over at the Windward VIP Club, a $300 package lets you get to know fellow boaters and members of the industry, all while enjoying a delicious menu, serene environment and use of the famous Water Taxi for getting around.

We’ll be at this year’s show—will you be, too? Come by to check out the latest from Chaparral and to soak up the fun of the Fort Lauderdale boating scene. This year’s show promises to be one for the books!