I have a soft spot in my heart for Ft. Lauderdale. During Covid I left my home in NYC and moved in with my best friend on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. Before that I had only visited for a weekend here and there, but this was my first experience actually living at the beach for an extended period of time. I fell in love with the vibe of the city and knew it had to be a Bad Girls Yoga destination!

Ft. Lauderdale gives you everything that Miami does, but with a more laid back feeling. The beaches, restaurants and hotels are just as stunning as South Beach, but there is a more down to earth feeling in the air. People seem to just let their freak flag fly and have a good time with no judgment from others. Unlike Miami you can find the best dive beach bars in the country and keep the weekend 100% flip flops and bikinis if that's your thing. If you prefer to party in stilettos all night you can easily find that in Ft. Lauderdale as well, but I love that you have all the options!

What to do if you want a bit of both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale? You take the Brightline!! It’s easier than ever to make a day trip to Miami Beach if you want to get a bit of both worlds on your Bachelorette weekend. The Brightline is a brand new, beautiful train that goes direct from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. It has such a luxury feeling to it and the experience of riding makes the trip worth it in itself!

Insider tip: First class tickets include an open bar and a Lyft that will pick you up at the station. Yes please!

The laid back vibe you find in Ft. Lauderdale goes perfectly with some Bachelorette Beach Yoga time. That stunning, crystal clear blue water is an incredible backdrop to a yoga class. Part of the Bad Girls Yoga philosophy is about taking some time away from the party to find a bit of balance. Ft. Lauderdale gives you both the opportunity and the space to do just that. There are tons of beautiful areas and beaches to choose from and Beach Yoga is all about the location. It really only works if you have the right vibe for the private group yoga experience. If it’s too many people walking around showing off their abs and spray tans it can be challenging to let loose and flow for an hour! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of the tiny bikini, but there is a time and a place for everything and I'm not looking to focus on my abs while trying to hold a tree pose in the sand. Beach Yoga isn't just a normal beach day, it should bring something a bit different to the table. Your instructor will help you find the perfect Beach Yoga spot for your group to flow before you all go back to the bikinis and beach bar margaritas. In my personal opinion, there is no better location in Florida to hold a Beach Yoga session than Ft. Lauderdale!

Here are my 5 favorite Ft. Lauderdale spots, in no particular order.

1- Elbo Room: Say what you want, this is the best dive bar in America. I will stand by this until the day I die! It’s been a classic since the 1930’s and it won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Right on the beach and open all day and all night, there is live music non stop on the lower level and a DJ on the upper. To say it's not fancy is the biggest understatement of all time but you can't beat the people watching, music and location. A MUST.

2-Las Olas: A beautiful town that’s about a 10 minute drive from the beach. Filled with shopping, bars, restaurants, and stunning homes it has everything you could ever need for a day or night out with the girls!

3-Lauderdale By The Sea: The cutest little town you have ever seen! Filled with waterfront restaurants, cute bars and shops, it’s the perfect little beach town.

4-Salt: A trendy waterfront restaurant in Las Olas that turns into a bar / lounge in the evening. Amazing cocktails and food. Put on your best outfit and head over for the night.

5-The W Hotel: My favorite hotel in Ft. Lauderdale! Right on the beach and the pool is a non stop party. You can buy day passes for the pool on most days and it's totally worth it.

Looking for more Ft. Lauderdale Bachelorette ideas? Check out the Bad Girls Yoga Pinterest page!

See ya all on the mat, (or beach towel)!!

Namaste, Gillian xo

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