Hollywood Beach-Quadoman - Hollywood, FL

The City of Hollywood was founded in 1925 and developed into a retirement community for American snowbirds during the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1980s, it saw a surge of development along with the arrival of thousands of French-Canadians seeking warmer weather during the colder winter months.

Art and museum lovers may want to stop in to check out the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, the Anne Kolb Nature Center or the Reel Hollywood Intertainment Museum of Florida. Hollywood also offers the Downtown Hollywood Art Walk every third Saturday of the month, situated several miles west of the beach in the shopping and entertainment district.

The length of Hollywood Beach contains a wide range of multi-ethnic restaurants and fine eateries. Billy's Stone Crab Restaurant and Market, located at 400 Ocean Drive, draws the crowds on a seasonal basis for fresh stone crab claws and sunset views. Its close proximity to the beach allows for a great post-dinner walk, or visitors can dock their boat and sit on the waterside patio to enjoy baked stuffed jumbo shrimp, seafood marinara or fresh Everglades frogs legs.

Tired of the sunset view? Sample Caribbean-French fusion food beachside at Sugar Reef Grill as you bask in the afternoon sun with a cold beer in hand. The restaurant serves scrumptious blackened sea scallops, spicy sautéed calamari and Jamaican pork loin. If dinner doesn’t fill you, the rich deserts certainly can. Sugar-Reef also opens early for breakfast.

Nick’s Bar and Grill has been a fixture on the Hollywood Boardwalk since the late 1970s, and many locals call it home. During the summer months, the clientele consists mostly of locals, but as soon as it gets cold up north, the French-Canadians pile in to enjoy the local and traditional American music. Dress casually, bring some friends,and enjoy the cold draft beer by the mugful.

If you crave a more electric atmosphere, take a short drive over to Spice-Resto Lounge on Hollywood Boulevard. This venue has awesome live music, Brazilian dancers, a sound and light show, and great eats should you get the craving. Spice-Resto lies in downtown Hollywood’s entertainment district, so you can find other venues within walking distance.

Most residents of Hollywood Beach walk, jog, rollerblade or use their bicycles. The entire length of the beach has a designated and paved path for those using wheels of any kind. In the town center, taxis remain available without being frequently seen. Broward County operates bus routes in the city itself, but most people in the area utilize their own private vehicles or resort to calling Uber should the occasion require it. Trolleys also provide service on the beach. I-95 and the Amtrak station are both situated 4 miles west of Hollywood Beach. While the beach area does provide a safe environment for bikers and pedestrians, vehicles along South Ocean Drive have a tendency to exceed the speed limit and fail to yield for others traversing the thoroughfare, so do be careful. However, if you have your own vehicle, be prepared to pay $1.50 to 2 per hour for public parking.

Hollywood Beach residents have the good fortune of living in close proximity to two of South Florida’s nicest parks. At John U. Lloyd State Park, families can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, diving and cook-outs. This park has built a significant network of nature trails through native subtropical foliage, which everyone enjoys exploring. Cyclists enjoy riding through the park's paved roadways, and your canine-friend can enjoy the beach and water along with the rest of your family. The park charges $6 per vehicle, regardless the number of family members or dogs. Hollywood North Beach Park, which consists of 56 beach-front acres, costs $7 to enter and houses an exhibit for endangered sea turtles. Bring the kids and the fishing gear, enjoy a cold beverage in the café, and watch your children reel in the big ones from the pier.

Compared to the rest of the city, the Hollywood Beach district has a very high cost of living due to supply and demand issues, especially during the winter months. The rental price of most one-bedroom residences fall between $1,600 and $2,200. A trip to the city center in one of the locally run trolleys costs several dollars, and a beer in the local pub sets you back $6. If you need to fill up your own vehicle at a gas station, plan on spending 2 percent above the national average.

Hollywood Beach has a string of lower-priced boutiques and stores for beachwear. If you want to go shopping for higher-end clothing, try Bonita’s Boutique, located at 2121 Hollywood Boulevard. This exclusive little store has carried an assortment of clothing, jewelry and accessories for more than two and a half decades and remains a favorite of local female professionals.

Two Kisses Boutique on Harrison Street specializes in plus sizes, rare vintage finds, accessories and shoes. Another option, located near Hollywood Circle, is Fashion Boulevard, which specializes in both men’s and women’s clothing. Downtown Hollywood also acts as home to art galleries and jewelry stores.

Food lovers rejoice, as everything is conveniently located on Hollywood Beach. You can find several tiny convenience stores within walking distance that do carry some of the more basic sundries. For weekly shopping and dinner parties, try Publix Supermarket on Hollywood Circle if one of the smaller grocery stores does not have what you want or need. If you have a palette that demands organic foods, take a short drive over to the Yellow Green Farmer’s Market (open daily) on 1940 North 30th Road.