Dolphin Isles
Built in 1991, this small Intercoastal Waterway neighborhood is one of the best kept secrets in Fort Lauderdale. It is very close to the beach and enjoys direct Atlantic Ocean views, yet it is also a quiet and peaceful community away from the crowds in the height of visitor season. There is lovely landscaping, and the surrounding neighborhoods are upscale communities, plus the protected Birch State Park. Dolphin Isles, mostly water front homes has 24-hour security and a free trolley bus to shopping and restaurants.
This small neighborhood is located on Fort Lauderdale's barrier island just north of the central beach with the ocean on one side and the intracoastal waterway on the other.
This is the neighborhood closest to the central beach that you can still buy a single family home directly on the ocean and also on a canal or the intracoastal! Many of the homes are directly on the intracoastal with the rest on wide, short canals. There are condos and apartments directly on the water at the northern end of the neighborhood as well as a few high and mid-rise condominiums with water views.
With this incredible location, obviously this neighborhood is for the very well-healed. If you aren't lucky enough to be on the ocean or you just prefer parking your boat in your backyard, there are two public access points to get to the white sand beach. This area has a commercial area to the north clustered close to Oakland Park Blvd. with several great restaurants including some local favorites directly on the water. Birch State Park is just to the south with its winding trails great for biking, walking, or a BBQ along the water. The beach is in your backyard, golf at the Coral Ridge Country Club is 5 minutes away, downtown Fort Lauderdale, 15 minutes and the International Airport is 20.
From Dolphin Isles you need to go under the Sunrise and Las Olas Blvd. bridges which both have a 24' clearance and open on demand. Then you go under the 17th St. Causeway with its 55' clearance when it's closed. It will open upon request anytime at 15 min. intervals if necessary. It takes 10-15 minutes to get out to sea. Some of the point lots wrap around giving you 200'+ of waterfront but most lots are either 100' or 50' and your dockage will be 10' less. The intracoastal is around 300' wide and the canals vary from 110-180' wide. You can take up 1/3 of the canal including your dock and boat so this area gives you plenty of space for any sized boat. These are deep canals but it varies so check the nautical charts for more accurate information on specific canals. Obviously if you are on the ocean, you can't park your boat out front and will have to accommodate it elsewhere.
- Square Miles: .39
- Population: 191 Households: 115 (43% families)
- Median age: 50
