Coral Ridge - Fort Lauderdale, FL

As an exclusive and upscale canal-filled neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Coral Ridge homes were built for the affluent from the very beginning. Private docks for the many boat owners hint at the water-oriented lifestyle of residents here.

Prior to the 20th century, and before the city of Fort Lauderdale was incorporated in 1911, this area was the "New River Settlement." The Florida land boom of the 1920s brought developers, but it really wasn't until after the second world war that the population really began to swell. Fort Lauderdale was transformed into a major US Navy base, and its Naval Air Station trained pilots as well as radar and fire control personnel. Upon the war's end, these Navy veterans came back to enjoy the sunny climate.

A wide variety of restaurants, from the usual chains to unique and exotic bistros can be found within a five-minute drive of Coral Ridge. Try Hot & Soul, combining the tradition, spice and bold flavors of New Orleans with lessons learned in San Diego. Enjoy craft beer and ethnic cooking with fresh ingredients sourced from small farms and fisherman. A tempting menu of such choices as Filipino chicken adobo, Louisiana gumbo and oxtail gnocchi would not be complete without savory vegetarian items such as soba noodle salad or vegan coconut polenta with mushroom gravy.

Health-conscious diners must visit the Myapapaya juicery + kitchen for all-natural whole food cuisine in surroundings infused with earthy ambiance. Come here to the first cold-pressed juicery and fresh kitchen in Fort Lauderdale for the freshest sandwiches, organic salads, small batch soups and raw cold-pressed juice. It specializes in gourmet goodness with just the right balance of flavor and nutrition; you won't find deep frying or microwaves in the open-concept kitchen, which offers you a chance to see the chef in action.

USA Today ranked Fort Lauderdale's Sublime Restaurant and Bar within the top ten in the nation for serving cuisine with a clear conscience. In 2005, it was voted South Beach Wine and Food Festival's Best Restaurant in Broward County, and the Sun-Sentinel awarded it four out of four stars. Even Zagat noticed this rare jewel, giving Sublime the well-deserved "Top Restaurant Decor" award. Numerous celebrities have endorsed both the cuisine and ambiance at this local favorite. Jasmine rice, coconut cake, and Thai red curry top the menu here — prepared in accordance with vegan standards containing no animal products.

With dozens of restaurants, bars and clubs to choose from in nearby downtown Fort Lauderdale, especially along Riverwalk and Las Olas Boulevard, nightlife in this surrounding area explodes. Choose from the Culture Room’s live music, Fort Lauderdale Improv’s comedy or live theater at Broward Center for the Performing arts — Fort Lauderdale can keep you busy.

While numerous Broward County Transit bus lines run through Coral Ridge, most residents here own and drive their own vehicles. There is no tri-rail station near this part of town, but taxicabs and Uber may be called. Free parking may be found throughout most of this neighborhood, but in downtown Fort Lauderdale, it can cost a few dollars per hour.

Residents access Interstate 95 via a short drive westward on Sunrise Boulevard, and US1 runs alongside this part of town for its entire length from north to south. Safe streets and fresh ocean breezes draw residents out for exercise and socializing, so you will find numerous bike riders, joggers, parents with strollers and people out walking their dogs here.

Nearby Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, named for the man whose former estate was a gift to the people of South Florida, has beach access via a pedestrian tunnel under A 1A. This nature lover's delight, a collection of tropical hammocks, sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. A mile-long freshwater lagoon beckons, and here you can take advantage of canoe rentals or fish from the seawall. The well-paved park road has a smooth surface for biking and skating, or you can just take a walk. Two short trails contain signs teaching about local flora and fauna. A great place for picnics overlooking the water, pavilions can be rented here, and they come with water and electricity. Organized groups may book the group/youth campground.

Free to enter on most weekdays, this park also does charge a fee on weekends and holidays. Bring your children and Fido, too, but the park has no fenced-in dog park section.

The nearby historical Bonnet House, named after the Bonnet Lily, holds a place in the US National Register of Historic Places. Fort Lauderdale’s two downtown museums, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Discovery & Science, have continuous interesting exhibits throughout the year. Downtown Fort Lauderdale also supports a very active arts scene with frequent festivals along the New River at Riverwalk and performances at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Some of the more popular festivals include the Riverwalk stone crab & seafood festival, Fort Lauderdale Irish festival & parade, and the annual Las Olas art fair.

Higher than the city average, the cost of living here reflects privileges such as beach and downtown access and large, luxurious homes. Just the same, you won’t pay more than $5 round trip for a visit to downtown Fort Lauderdale via city bus.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, $1200, actually doesn’t really seem all that high when you consider the perks of living in this fine community. A beer sets you back less than your parking tab in Fort Lauderdale at about $4 for a draft.

Gas in this neighborhood runs about 10 percent below the national average

The fabulous Galleria Mall’s shopping, situated at the south end of Coral Ridge, hosts events on a regular basis and provides several popular choices such as Macy’s, Nieman Marcus, Godiva and Dillard’s. Downtown Fort Lauderdale also has a fairly well-developed shopping district at Riverwalk as well as along Las Olas and Sunrise Boulevards. Here you can find high-end boutiques and quaint bistros waiting.

The Galleria Mall's Flora Ottimer Children's Boutique, a fine children's clothier for over half a century, also carries high-end quality toys. Monogrammed items available include towels and dresses, and they sell clothing for the lines of dolls they carry too. Also located in the Galleria, Intrigue Couture’s designer clothing, jewelry and accessories keep the ladies dressed in vivid style. Lilac and Lilies, on Sunrise Boulevard, has one-on-one fashion consultations with an in-store stylist and hosts exciting trunk shows as well as other special events. Voted “Best Boutique” by Gold Coast Magazine for the three years in a row, it has also been featured in print and on TV, including Redbook Magazine, Lucky Magazine, Shape Magazine, Deco Drive and others.

For groceries a Publix supermarket sits conveniently across the street from the Galleria, and you can find a Whole Foods Market on nearby US1. The closest farmers market, Marando Farms, may be found right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale just south of Davie Boulevard off Andrews Avenue.