{"id":12122,"date":"2025-10-20T11:27:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T11:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/12122\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T11:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T11:27:11","slug":"this-florida-town-is-the-antique-capital-of-the-south-and-its-just-minutes-from-the-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/12122\/","title":{"rendered":"This Florida Town Is The Antique Capital Of The South\u2014And It\u2019s Just Minutes From The Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

As \u201cBroward\u2019s first city,\u201d historic Dania Beach sits between two of the busiest metropolises in South Florida\u2014Fort Lauderdale<\/a> and Miami<\/a>\u2014but visit and you\u2019ll feel worlds away from the region\u2019s famous hustle and bustle. When even locals consider it a \u201chidden gem,\u201d you know you\u2019re onto something.<\/p>\n

Incorporated in 1904 as the Town of Dania, this seaside city is nicknamed the Antique Capital of the South, mostly thanks to its collection of antique shops and art galleries located along US-1 near Dania Beach Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Sophia Marro, a 24-year-old PR executive who resides in Dania Beach, shares, \u201cI moved to Dania Beach just over two years ago and honestly wasn\u2019t sure what to expect, but the town has completely won me over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between the beautiful beaches and brimming vintage shops, low-key Dania Beach has a coastal charm worth exploring. Read on to learn more about the best things to do in Dania Beach.<\/p>\n

Go Treasure Hunting<\/p>\n

Dania Beach gained notoriety as an antiques capital in the 1940s as the region\u2019s tomato-crop boom began to recede; predictably, the top thing to do in Dania Beach today remains hunting for hidden gems.<\/p>\n

Along Dania Beach\u2019s Antique Row, visitors can find everything from furniture to jewelry, glassware, chandeliers, oddities, and more. Don\u2019t skip peeking into Akiba Antiques<\/a>, Lone Ranger Antiques<\/a> (specializing in Swedish country antiques and Gustavian furniture), the Kodner Galleries<\/a> auction house, or even the nostalgic media selection at Retroitis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The historic buildings (including Broward County\u2019s first movie theater), housing many of the shops, add to the overall appeal of vintage-browsing here. As you stroll, you can spot Greek Revival, Mission Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and Art Deco architectural styles.<\/p>\n

\"VisitThings to Do<\/p>\n

Not into antiquing? If shopping, nature, sports, or the convergence of art and technology is more your speed, Dania Beach still has the power to win you over.<\/p>\n

Mad Arts<\/a> is a unique museum where visitors are treated to \u201cinteractive experiences, outdoor sculptures, experimental labs, artist prototypes, research projects, and large-scale projections.\u201d Lauren Voorhies, who grew up in Dania Beach (and also happens to be my cousin!), calls it \u201ca fun, quirky art museum that\u2019s great for a rainy day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Dania Beach hotspot is Dania Pointe<\/a>, a mixed-use development spanning nearly a million square feet of retail, restaurants, offices, hotels, and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something for everyone, no matter your age,\u201d says Marro. \u201cThere\u2019s a movie theater, a must-visit comedy club that hosts celebrity performers, a bowling alley, and mini golf, so you can pretty much find any activity you\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in town on the second Saturday of the month October through April, Dania After Dark<\/a> is a fun, free, family-friendly event series with craft stalls, live music, food vendors, and more.<\/p>\n

And for something totally different? Check the jai alai match schedule<\/a> at the popular Casino at Dania Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t personally care about the gambling, but they do live music shows and if you\u2019re looking for something fun and kind of quirky, go to a jai alai match,\u201d says Voorhies. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s played regularly anywhere else in the US, but it was quite popular for a while in South Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LuckyEat (and Treat) Like a Local<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re seeking the one place you must hit while visiting Dania Beach, well, you\u2019re in trouble\u2014because this little town has at least two non-negotiable can\u2019t-miss eateries.<\/p>\n

The first is, undeniably, Jaxson\u2019s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant<\/a>, a family-owned landmark since 1956, where you\u2019ll find old-fashioned ice cream, all-American eats, and a country store selling \u201cnovelty toys, retro knick-knacks, and penny candy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a late-night sweet treat, Jaxson\u2019s Ice Cream Parlor is a classic in Dania,\u201d says Marro. \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of place you can sit outside with friends for hours, chatting away with sticky ice cream hands; their praline pecan is a must if you\u2019re a fan of Southern comfort. Driving past all the fun lights at night makes it feel even more special\u2014you know you\u2019ve officially entered the city when you see that Jaxson\u2019s sign.\u201d<\/p>\n

Voorhies feels the same: \u201cJaxson\u2019s is a Dania Beach institution! I always try to make it there when I\u2019m home\u2014the best ice cream, old-fashioned candy, and just the best vibe. You feel like you\u2019ve been launched back in time.\u201d<\/p>\n

As beloved as Jaxson\u2019s is, perhaps equally important to the fabric of Dania Beach is a newcomer: beachside Lucky Fish<\/a>. Although the restaurant only opened last spring, it has quickly cemented itself as a must-visit in Dania Beach, especially for tourists arriving from the Fort Lauderdale airport or Port Everglades, who consider it the perfect first meal on their trip.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Lucky Fish opened on the beach, it\u2019s really brought a breath of fresh air to the community with live entertainment, events, and fun beachside bites and drinks at fair prices,\u201d says manager Shane Francis. \u201cLocals love it, but I\u2019ve also noticed travelers arriving from the airport or leaving the cruise port come straight to Lucky Fish\u2014the beachfront tiki huts really make you feel like you\u2019re on vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n

One last honorable mention is Grampa\u2019s Restaurant<\/a>, a semi-famous bagel joint by a pair of New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrampa\u2019s\u2014best known from the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives\u2014has become my go-to local breakfast spot,\u201d says Marro. \u201cTheir bagels aren\u2019t just the best in town; they might be some of the best I\u2019ve had since moving to South Florida. Pair one with their cranberry chicken salad and it\u2019s an unbeatable combo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other Dania Beach picks include Grumpy Gary\u2019s at Dockers<\/a>\u2014which Voorhies describes as a \u201cgreat dive bar\/restaurant with good seafood, live music, and water-side seating\u201d\u2014and Tarks<\/a>, another seafood dive she says is \u201cvery popular with the locals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also consider\u00a0Quarterdeck<\/a>\u00a0on Dania Pier for waterside views, craft beer at\u00a03 Sons Brewing Co.<\/a>, and\u00a0Tiki Tiki<\/a>\u00a0on the Intracoastal for full immersion into the tropical surroundings.<\/p>\n

\"GettyHit the Beach<\/p>\n

Of course, life\u2019s richest pleasures are the ones that can\u2019t be bought\u2014even in a treasure trove like Dania Beach. That\u2019s why hitting the beach here is a must, even considering all there is to enjoy away from shore.<\/p>\n

Pay a visit to Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park<\/a>, an undeveloped coastal ecosystem just south of Port Everglades, where you can swim, fish, boat, hike, bike, or just go for a picnic in unspoiled Floridian nature.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the park\u2014once the designated \u201ccolored beach\u201d of Broward County\u2014is named for \u201cCivil Rights Movement leaders who led \u2018wade-in\u2019 protests to desegregate South Florida beaches in the 1950s and 1960s,\u201d according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website. Nothing better than a beach with a bit of Florida history.<\/p>\n

Within the park, consider a water sports rental from Whiskey Creek Hideout<\/a> to explore the serene waters and mangrove trails for yourself. Visitors also enjoy the Dania Beach Pier, Tigertail Lake Recreational Center, and Ocean Park Beach.<\/p>\n

Read the original article on Southern Living<\/a><\/p>\n