7 Scenic Spots To Catch A Stunning Sunrise In Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach

Coastal sunrises offer a certain magic that’s hard to pass up—the light as it twinkles and dances off the water, the feeling you have knowing your whole day awaits you. Want to capture that magic? Pick one of these seven photogenic seaside spots in the Fort Lauderdale area, set your alarm for predawn and have your camera ready to hit the ground running. We promise you’ll want to do it all over again tomorrow.

Check out the Dania Beach Pier

Coral and flamingo hues flirt with the gray-blues of the ocean just before daybreak at Dania Beach Pier. There’s really no way you can get a bad shot from here. But if you want something a little more artsy, position yourself just south of the pier and wait for the light to emerge as the long, wooden planks romantically extend into the distance. Keep making your way south along the Atlantic for a long-distance vantage point of the pier, complete with palm trees swaying in the foreground.

Park along the A1A

Snag some of the best expansive beach shots along the A1A highway at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Find a safe spot to pull over, then take a seat on the low, curvy concrete wall. Shaded by a row of palm trees and with the ocean out in front of you, snap away—or better yet, take a panorama of the glorious Fort Lauderdale sunrise.

Visit the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Aside from beautiful sunrises, swimming and snorkeling are popular activities at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park.

Surf fishing, canoeing, swimming, boating and picnicking draw visitors to this popular state park, just a short drive up the coastline from Dania Beach hotels. The drive takes about five minutes, so time it just right to get beautiful shots of sun rising over the deep bluish-green ocean. Then hop in!

Take a seat at the Dania Beach Marina

Capture a near-perfect scene, with a boat (and maybe a fish) in your photo, at the Dania Beach Marina.

Give your photo a nautical feel from the Dania Beach Marina. With fishermen coming and going, the marina is a great place to people- (and fish-!) watch while you keep one eye on the sky and await your perfect sunrise shot. Boats of all sizes add an extra by-the-sea element you won’t necessarily see along a boardwalk or pier.

Find cheer along Las Olas Boulevard at Fort Lauderdale Beach

Visiting during the holidays? For a festive, postcard-worthy shot, snap the sunglasses-and-hat-clad snowman at Fort Lauderdale Beach along Las Olas Boulevard. This shot, framed by Florida’s signature palm trees, comes complete with a sandy backdrop. There’s even a lifeguard station in the distance.

Add texture at Secret Woods Nature Center

Broward County’s first nature center, Secret Woods combines several nature areas ranging from wetland to mangrove preserves that thrive along the New River. Just inland from the coast, the 57-acre designated Urban Wilderness Area offers no shortage of inspiring sunrise shots with a little more interest than your standard sun-and-sea photos.

Look inland and shoot the shore from the water

Time to switch things up. For your last jaw-dropping sunrise shot, plan to get out on the water for the morning. Book a sunrise paddleboard ride from one of several local Fort Lauderdale outfitters and set your alarm for an early start. The water will provide a certain stillness, as birds awaken and the sun appears from beyond the ocean.

Want to take a road trip? Head south to Key West and experience its scenic sunrises.