Florida is a popular destination for many British people who go in search of sunshine and wide expanses of beach.

But in my mind, and perhaps the minds of a few others, the Sunshine State is divided into two halves – Orlando towards the north for the Disney experience and Miami in the south for nightlife, art deco buildings and posing on South Beach.

Few people would automatically consider Fort Lauderdale, an hour’s drive north of Miami, as a holiday experience in its own right.

But with flights from London launched direct to Fort Lauderdale, more of us will get to sample a city that deserves to break away from the shadow of Miami.

For it offers art, culture, top restaurants, outstanding beaches and its very own take on posing on the promenade.

We stayed at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, a twin tower behemoth of a hotel built right next to the white sands of Hollywood Beach. Nearly every room has a balcony looking out to the Atlantic.

And the view is the ocean in widescreen, a pure unspoilt beach panorama going on for miles with the sublime surround sound of crashing, foaming waves lulling you into slumber through an open balcony door.

To say the hotel is luxurious is an understatement – there's a show-stopping fountain in the hotel lobby and the rib-eye steak I sampled at the Westin’s Hollywood Prime restaurant was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavour.

The lesser known East Coast Hollywood is a beach town just to the south of Fort Lauderdale.

We kayaked at the town’s Anne Kolb Nature Center, paddling through the mangrove trail whilst spying some unusual wildlife such as golden silk orb weaver spiders, also known as banana spiders.

These harmless arachnids weave their webs from the mangroves and provide a thrilling gasp-out-loud factor hanging above you as you wend your way through the sun-dappled waterways.

Having never kayaked before, I found the paddling trail extremely easy to follow.

Nearby, the Hollywood Broadwalk has been voted among America’s best beach boardwalks.

We hired a four-person cycle from Sun & Fun Cycles and found that eight legs really are better than two, as we powered our way up and down the two-and-a-half mile stretch of boardwalk.

Passing roller-bladers, joggers and cyclists, the route is perfect for people watching and the atmosphere is buzzing with friendly hellos from strangers.

The Fort Lauderdale area can also offer a world class night out.

Our group enjoyed an evening at the BB&T Center in nearby Sunrise, home to the Florida Panthers ice hockey team, but that night playing host to Cher’s Dressed to Kill Tour. And with support from Cyndi Lauper, the show was dripping with diva-esque quality.

Part of the appeal of Greater Fort Lauderdale is snatching glimpses of opulent homes of the rich and famous along the intracoastal waterways which snake through the city.

We took a catamaran cruise with Tropical Sailing Catamaran Charters which took us past the former homes of Sonny and Cher and Cindy Crawford and anchored to allow us some swimming time.

A water taxi, costing $22, or $18 after 5pm, services Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. One of its routes is Las Olas Boulevard.

The boulevard is a central hub of restaurants, bars and quirky independent shops, all of which were open even as we strolled along late on a Sunday evening.

Lined with twinkly fairy lights and with couples dining al fresco in the balmy Floridian air, it’s clear to see how Fort Lauderdale earns its reputation as the ‘Venice of America’.

We ate outside at Johnny V’s, a restaurant overseen by chef Johnny Vinczencz, which offers American cuisine and some creative seafood specials. The city is also a good base from which to travel out to the Florida Everglades for a bit of alligator spotting.

We took an airboat ride at Sawgrass Recreation Park and were lucky enough to see three alligators, instantly zeroed in upon by our guide, Captain Disco.

The park is home to a number of endangered species, including the Florida Panther.

The Fort Lauderdale area also has a lot to offer for those who prefer their creatures in the form of creature comforts.

Sawgrass Mills is North America’s largest outlet mall with more than 400 retailers. Let loose for an afternoon of shopping, I clutched my trusty mall map and went into battle with some feisty bargain hunters to score decent discounts off some big brand names.

Coupled with the improving exchange rate, it’s a worthwhile visit.

We ended our trip staying at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach, a hotel in the shape of a ship, a nod to Fort Lauderdale’s better known guise as a cruise liner port.

But as I experienced during my time in Fort Lauderdale, there is so much more to this often-overlooked city than being a near neighbour to Miami.

It offers a holiday in its own right, unique in character, friendly and relaxed, with the city’s attitude perfectly summed up by the motto emblazoned on servers’ shirts at Coconuts, where we enjoyed our last laid-back meal overlooking a bustling waterway.

“Be Nice.”

Getting there

Norwegian Air Shuttle fly from London to Fort Lauderdale twice weekly from £179 one way including tax and subject to availability. norwegian.com/uk

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offer double rooms from $189 (approx £113) diplomatresort.com

The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel offer double rooms from $149 (approx £88) sheratonftlauderdalebeach.com

For more information on Greater Fort Lauderdale visit sunny.org