the daily loop Living on the mile
Errands are on the boulevard, the beach is behind the towers, and after dark it's still a neighborhood.
If you already live here
Most days settle into a routine. Mornings are for the sand, or for the sidewalk on Galt Ocean Drive, which belongs to the people who live along it rather than to the through-traffic on A1A. Errands are one block west at the marketplace, where you'll find CVS, the bank, the cleaners and coffee. For dinner, there's a short list on the eat page. Most daily errands don't need a trip across the Intracoastal.
The beach in front of the towers is the city beach, and today's conditions are on the beach page.
Who's in the towers
The towers on Galt Ocean Drive are shared by residents, snowbirds and spring-break guests. To see what the season looks like, read spring break on the mile; the places to stay on the strip are in the hotels list.
If you're thinking of moving here
When people talk about the mile, they mean the wall of condominium towers between Oakland Park Boulevard and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. What draws them is a lobby that opens toward the Atlantic, a pharmacy on the next street, and a shore that's quieter than the central beach.
Building fees and wind insurance vary from tower to tower, and they're the monthly number that matters. The balcony photos won't show you that.
Which street
Galt Ocean Drive is the ocean street, with the buildings standing between it and the sand. North Ocean Boulevard, which is A1A, runs one block west and has the marketplace and the traffic. A place "on the mile" can be on either, and the day feels different on each: one is the walk to the water, the other is the walk to the store.
Ask which street the door is on before you fall in love with the word mile.
The whole mile is ZIP 33308, from Oakland Park Boulevard, where the bridge crosses to the mainland, up to the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea line. South of that bridge is the central beach.
After dark
For a late night, there's Bamboo at 4040 Galt Ocean Drive, Blue Jean Blues and the Sunday party at Fishtales on NE 33rd, and Aruba up in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. For what's on this week, see this weekend, and dinner is right here on the two streets.