Travel As more Americans move to Florida to escape the cold northern winters, cities in the Sunshine State have had to develop innovative ideas to help with morning and evening commutes to downtown areas. A year ago, Tampa and St. Petersburg ran a one-year pilot Cross Bay Ferry program which proved to be very popular for removing traffic stress from the inter-city causeways. It also proved to be very popular with snowbirds and tourists, who could now enjoy the restaurants and attractions within walking distance of the two linked downtowns. Hopefully, we will see its return sometime in the next few years. So what happens when morning rush hour is over? Commuter transport continues to run with far fewer passengers, providing us with a wonderful way to explore the cities and surrounding attractions before the afternoon “rush” starts...or perhaps stay over for an evening on the town. In this article, I’m going to share a few of my favourites for you to enjoy: Yes, many Ft. Lauderdale business folk do commute by water. With the area’s heavy traffic and side canals cutting off direct road access, a ride to work on the water taxi can be a much faster way to reach the office. But what’s in it for snowbirds? A canal trip on these taxis will take you past the rear areas of multimillion-dollar homes, with their lush, down-to-the-water landscaping. In non-rush hours, the captain provides a running commentary as you glide along the Dave Hunter is the award-winning author of “Along I-75” and “Along Florida’s Expressways,” the quintessential guides for those driving to and in Florida. With his researcher wife Kathy, he enjoys travelling with history, gathering unusual and mysterious local stories. The Hunters winter in Lakeland, Florida. A Florida Commute for Snowbirds Travel writer Dave Hunter finds out what happens to commuter services when all of the workers are tucked up in their downtown offices. waterfront; you will discover many interesting stories and secrets of the film stars and other celebrity-owner lifestyles. The taxi captains see it all, especially after dark! The company operates three linked routes with canal-side drop-off/pickup stations in Ft. Lauderdale and neighbouring Hollywood. Fares are reasonable, but youmay have to wait 20 minutes or so between taxis, depending upon the route. Buy your pass on board with cash or credit card. Incidentally, you can hop on and off using the same ticket, which is good until 10 p.m. each day. It’s a great way to visit local attractions in the morning and afternoon, with a stop at a waterside restaurant for lunch. Ft. Lauderdale’s Water Taxi 26 | www.snowbirds.org
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