Hollywood

 

Founded in 1925 as an East Coast counterpart to the home of motion pictures in California, Hollywood boomed in the ’50s and ’60s. Sunny skies and salty ocean breeze attract people who live the healthy, energetic Florida lifestyle. With miles of beaches and 60 parks to choose from, the city keeps its residents laid back—but never bored.

Tucked between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, this coastal gem is Broward County’s third-largest municipality. Anchored by the major commercial and retail center of Young Circle and home to lush parks, golf courses, playgrounds, and cuisine from all over the world, Hollywood is filled with active, smiling, and sun-kissed residents.

From wild mangrove trails to historic downtown, this village-like city can satiate every appetite for adventure. Rent stand-up paddleboards or ocean kayaks to drift along Whiskey Creek and you’ll spot manatees and other marine life. Then dress up for a downtown dinner, followed by a foreign film at independent theater Cinema Paradiso or a live show at the 500-seat Hollywood Performing Arts Center.

With an average annual temperature of 75 degrees, residents of Hollywood like to be outdoors. Whether it’s a beach volleyball game or a round of golf, sporting opportunities are easy to come by. If you seek relaxation, enjoy oceanfront moonlit dining and people-watching as you sip a frozen cocktail by the Broadwalk.

If a big shopping mall with luxury stores is your comfort zone, you’re better off taking a quick ride to Aventura, the Galleria in Fort Lauderdale, or Gulfstream Park in Hallandale. In classic Hollywood, it’s more about locally owned boutiques and shops.

Hollywood has homes to accommodate any taste, from high-rise condos with waterfront views to cozy, single-family homes with swimming pools, mango trees, and Argentine barbecue pits in the backyard. No matter where you settle down, the Atlantic Ocean is always near.

With live music and picnics in the parks every weekend, the only difference between a holiday weekend and any old Saturday in Hollywood just might be the fireworks display.