Things to Do in Hollywood, Florida: A Local Guest Guide

What is Hollywood, Florida known for?

Hollywood, FL is known for the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk — a 2.2-mile paved promenade that runs along the sand from the north end of Hollywood Beach down toward Hallandale Beach. It's the reason most first-time visitors come, and the reason a lot of them come back. The town sits between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, close enough to day-trip either one but with its own beach town identity: low-rise buildings, a walkable downtown strip on Harrison Street, and a beach that doesn't feel like a resort corridor.

Unlike some of its neighbors, Hollywood's beachfront stayed public and low-key on purpose — no high-rise wall blocking the shoreline. That's part of why it draws families and long-stay visitors as much as spring breakers.

What can you do on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk?

Walk, bike, or rollerblade the Broadwalk any time of day — it's flanked by beachfront cafes, ice cream stands, and rental stands for bikes and surreys on one side, open sand and ocean on the other. Mornings are quiet and good for a run; late afternoon brings out street performers and vendors near the Johnson Street plaza.

The Broadwalk has no car traffic, which makes it one of the easier stretches of South Florida coastline to manage with kids, strollers, or a rented bike for the whole family. Public beach access points are spaced along its length, so you're rarely far from an entry point regardless of where you're staying.

Is Hollywood, FL good for a family trip with kids?

Yes — Hollywood, FL works well with kids because of the calm, shallow-sloping beach, the car-free Broadwalk for scooters and bikes, and a downtown that's compact enough to walk after dinner. It's a lower-intensity alternative to South Beach if you're traveling with younger children or want an early bedtime option nearby.

For groups traveling with kids, a house with its own pool cuts down on beach-gear logistics and gives everyone a place to decompress between outings. The 5.5BR Tiki Villa in Hollywood has a heated pool, a tiki hut, and an outdoor grill, plus free parking — useful if you're driving down with bikes or beach chairs. The 4BR Quiet Villa sits in a quiet residential pocket of Hollywood with its own heated pool and BBQ grill, which suits families who want a break from the Broadwalk crowds at the end of the day.

What's beyond the beach — Hallandale, downtown, and day trips

Hallandale Beach and the ArtsPark

Hallandale Beach sits just south of Hollywood and shares the same barrier-island stretch of coast, with its own quieter beach access and Gulfstream Park nearby for racing and shopping. Downtown Hollywood's ArtsPark at Young Circle anchors the inland side of town — an outdoor amphitheater and green space that hosts markets and events through the season, a short drive or rideshare from the beach.

Fort Lauderdale and Miami as day trips

Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas strip and Miami's South Beach are both close enough for a half-day trip without relocating your whole stay. Hollywood's position between the two — plus its own Amtrak/Tri-Rail station — makes it a reasonable base if you want beach town quiet at night and city options during the day.

Where to stay near the Broadwalk and Hollywood Beach

Staying in or near Hollywood puts you within a short drive of the Broadwalk while giving your group more space and privacy than a beachfront hotel room. Several StayRnR listings sit in Hollywood and the surrounding Broward towns, each with a private pool and free parking.

• 5.5BR Tiki Villa, Hollywood — sleeps 10, heated pool, tiki hut, outdoor grill, free parking
• 5BR Pool & Spa Home, Hollywood — sleeps 10, single-level layout, heated pool and spa, outdoor grill
• 4BR Modern Villa, Hollywood — sleeps 8, heated pool, BBQ grill, free parking
• 4BR Remodeled Retreat, Plantation — sleeps 8, fully remodeled, heated pool, a short drive from Hollywood
• 4.5BR Dream House, Miramar — sleeps 10, heated pool, BBQ grill, modern kitchen

For a broader look at what's available across the region, the South Florida market page covers listings across Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, and the rest of Broward County.