Things to Do in Ives Estates

At Bloom Nursery, owner Diego Scort and his staff of green thumbs nurture the tender blossoms and lush foliage of their palms, shrubs, and budding vines. They strive to help customers gussy up their gardens with organically and locally grown plants, as well as those that have been adapted to thrive South Florida's climate. In addition to sending visitors off with flourishing florae, the staffers also equip gardeners with materials, supplies, and tips necessary to keep plants from sprouting rampant weeds or eloping with tumbleweeds just passing through town.

Sometimes a party needs that extra spark, an added dimension that sets it apart from just another get-together. Party Explosion Fort Lauderdale helps you to make your celebration one to remember, offering rentals ranging from essentials such as tables, tents, and linens to festive luxuries such as bubble machines, hot-dog carts, and fog machines. Dance floors and disco balls compel partygoers to boogie at jubilant wedding receptions, and chair rentals for corporate functions help to prevent the CEO from having to sit on the CFO.

AquaShop is in the business of defying physics; inside, water flows uphill. The FlowRider wave machine—an attraction usually reserved for theme parks or cruise ships—projects a frothy current blasted up a slanted ramp, emulating a wave for surfers, wakeboarders, and ambitious belly floppers to catch anytime, regardless of tide conditions. Before visiting, guests can check out the fun from the company’s live camera view, which shows off sweet rides and spectacular wipeouts during all business hours.

Water isn’t the only element AquaShop harnesses. The emporium of all things extreme hosts shred sessions on its Big Wave mechanical surfboard and encourages visitors to fire foam balls back and forth in the Cannon Ball Blaster arena. The in-house Thrill Zone features a padded obstacle course with a climbing wall, a slide, and a secret portal that grants one wish from Kelly Slater’s magic bald head.

Fully certified by the United States Coast Guard, Corsair Sport Fishing's seasoned captain charters his speedy, 46-foot, twin-diesel Hatteras through South Florida's picturesque waterways in search of mahi mahi, reef fish, and kingfish. As deep blue waves lap against the Corsair’s hull, the captain navigates toward well-populated waters to ensure a bountiful catch for his guests. A plethora of modern fishing equipment and bait helps fishermen hook bottom feeders instead of deep-sea truck tires.

Aboard Gondolas West’s 22-foot boat, you may notice a strange sound coming from the vessel: silence. That’s because the boat is electric, and its burble-free ride allows captain Chris McCoy to get his passengers up close and personal with the wildlife that inhabits Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic ecosystem. His tours explore the narrower waterways around the city, many of which prove too tiny for larger boats and vacationing humpback whales to navigate. Whether a two-hour voyage or private tour, the enthusiastic captain narrates each trek, regaling passengers with city history and information about the wildlife and ecology of the area. In the interest of preserving that delicate ecology, the electric boat produces zero emissions and leaves no footprints, handprints, or paw prints on the environment.