There are actually a number of different beaches in the Ft. Lauderdale area, each with its own personality. Fort Lauderdale itself is as hip as Miami Beach, with expanses of beach separated from the hotels by AIA and a promenade ideal for rollerblading and biking. In the Greater Lauderdale area, Pompano Beach’s pier welcomes fishermen of all ages, and Deerfield Beach is a South Florida surfer’s Mecca with cove-like beaches nestled between rocky shores.