Ten Reasons Lighthouse Point Is the Best Beach in Broward

Throughout the summer, "Best Beaches" will highlight the best beach spots Broward has to offer. Don't agree? Check back next week; your favorite beach in Broward could be next.

You know the saying "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"? Lighthouse Point covers just over two miles in north Broward, but we'd put those two miles up against any other two miles the county has to offer. Size doesn't matter in this instance; two miles of beach is two miles of beach.

You don't ever hear people complaining about how little the Bahamas are, and you know why that is? It's because the Bahamas are tiny but at the same time really awesome, like gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles. Lighthouse Point is the Simone Biles of beaches in Broward, and here are ten reasons why:
10. Traffic.

Chances are you've been in Lighthouse Point and not even known it. If you had realized it, though, you would have wondered to yourself whether there are some sort of natural holistic calming herbs being added to the water. Many beaches we've covered have manageable traffic, but in Lighthouse Point, the people you do find in traffic are noticeably more chill. Our guess is this is because a large percentage of the population on the roads is either on vacation or visiting someone who is on vacation. When you're on their relaxed level, you appreciate the change of pace from the rest of the Broward roads. 
9. The crowds.

All the best beaches in Broward share one common characteristic: The crowds that populate them create a certain vibe. Lighthouse Point has a lot in common with neighboring Pompano and Deerfield Beaches in that the people who frequent them give the beaches character. Lighthouse Cove has a unique crowd that is made up of a mix of locals and out-of-towners that makes the entire two-mile town feels like a slice of vacation dumped right in the middle of normal everyday life. There aren't gaudy gift shops or sign-spinners on every corner; there are just people looking to maximize every moment of their time where they are. 

Lighthouse Cove gives off a small-town feel, which is hard to believe considering it's located in South Florida. That's because it's a melting pot of people who have come together to make Lighthouse Cove Staycation Spot USA. 
8. The Hillsboro Inlet and Lighthouse.

Arguably the most special feature of Lighthouse Point is the Hillsboro Inlet and the eponymous lighthouse that rests on the north side of it. On the south side of the inlet sits an old pier made of rocks and wood that has been a popular locals fishing spot for decades. It's the sort of spot residents have known about forever and tourists migrate to. There isn't anything fancy there; the biggest attraction is simply beautiful glimpses of boats leaving the Intracoastal and entering the Atlantic. 

This is another one of those locations in Broward you wish only you knew about but at the same time you feel the need to share with others. The Hillsboro Inlet has gone unchanged for decades, and that's part of what makes it so special to so many people that grew up enjoying it.
7. Nauti-Dawg Marina Café.
2841 Marina Cir., Lighthouse Point; 954-941-0246; nautidawg.com 

If a lesser-known beach is going to rise to the top of your beach preference list, it has to have at least one hidden culinary gem. It needs a restaurant that makes you both wish the owners could move to a bigger location so more people could enjoy their food and selfishly want it to stay a secret so you can always get a table easily. Nauti-Dawg Marina Café is that place in Lighthouse Cove. (Well, there goes that secret.)

Nauti-Dawg — located at the Lighthouse Cove Marina — is everything you would expect from a waterfront café and more. They've got everything from hot dogs to seafood platters, bloody marys with a beer dumped in them, homebrewed coffee options that encourage you to drop shots of espresso into them, omelets with a side of pancakes, oversize burgers served with crunchy-chips... you get the point. They cover pretty much every single craving you could have, all right there at the edge of the water. 
6. Scenery.

Much of what makes Lighthouse Point the best beach in Broward are the simpler things, like the landscapes and scenery.  Sometimes, you'll hear people mention that a certain place is practically straight out of a postcard, and Lighthouse Point is definitely one of those places. The blues and greens seem brighter than normal. The beach scrubs are maintained better than you've seen anywhere else. The signage seems vintage, but not old. Every view in this small city complements the next view, like a painting whose colors blend into one another. 
5. Seaside Grill.
Lighthouse Cove Resort, 1406 N. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-783-3193; seasidegrill.com

As mentioned earlier, part of the reason we love Lighthouse Cove so much is because it feels like you're on a minivacation there, sort of like a day trip to one of the northernmost Keys. It's all the laid-back Florida fun sans the driving. The real estate that lines the coast of Lighthouse Cove is made up predominately of condos and time shares. Inside one of those time-share-hotel hybrids is the Seaside Grill, an upscale restaurant that overlooks the Lighthouse Cove Resort. 

While it may be meant as just an option for guests staying at the resort, its location makes for one of the coolest dining experiences in Broward. It's set above the pool at Lighthouse Cove, giving you a glimpse of the vacationing guests and the beach in the distance. The food is superb, especially their crab cake burger, and the bar is the kind that — despite the upscale vibe — encourages you to come in covered in sand. 
4. Proximity to entertainment and restaurants.

Lighthouse Point is tiny, which of course means it's surrounded by lots of coastal real estate that is quite nice. Pompano Beach is just up the road — like, literally, just up the road. Within two miles, you will run into the Pompano Beach pier and everything that comes with Pompano Beach. Go the other way, and within five minutes you're running into all the best things Deerfield Beach has to offer. Lighthouse Point is located in the perfect spot. 

Beaches are obviously in close proximity in South Florida, but few have the unobstructed access to other beaches that Lighthouse Point has. All you need is a Spotify playlist that runs five songs deep, and you're at the next location. 
3. Lighthouse Cove Resort.

Lighthouse Point is littered with condos and time shares, but a few stand out above the rest. Lighthouse Cove is definitely the cream of the crop. As mentioned above, it houses the Seaside Grill, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to a great restaurant, Lighthouse Cove has a huge pool and tremendous tiki bar that offers daily music and karaoke. While Lighthouse Cove is restricted to those who are staying there, the bar and the restaurant are open to everyone.  

Lighthouse Cove is one of those hidden gems that makes Lighthouse Point head-and-shoulders above any other beach in Broward. It's not always about the glitz and glamour; sometimes it's just about what feels like South Florida. 
2. Bonefish Mac's Sports Grille.
2002 Sample Rd., Lighthouse Point; 954-752-6227; bonefishmacs.com

Every good neighborhood needs a good sports bar, and Bonefish Mac's is that place for Lighthouse Point. In other parts of Broward, Bru's Room and Bokampers take up this role, but in Lighthouse Point with its small-town feel, Bonefish Mac's just fits. Mac's has everything you would expect from a great sports bar, with a setup quite similar to a Beef O' Brady's but with an island theme and a focus on fresh seafood. The ample selection includes crab legs, bucket o' bait peel 'n' eat shrimp, and their famous Fuji fire shrimp. If you're in Lighthouse Point and looking for a place to watch the game, this is where you should go. 
1. Parking.

At least for a limited time, Lighthouse Point is the best beach to park at in all of Broward. It's a mere five-minute walk up the road from Pompano Beach; thus it shares the new parking garage located near the Pompano Beach pier. Through August, parking at this pier is free. Located on NE Second Street between A1A and Pompano Beach Boulevard, the free parking garage includes 669 spaces and numerous others surrounding it on the outside roads.

Not having to battle for a parking space is undoubtedly a top reason to visit Lighthouse Point. You're close to so many other beaches, yet so far away from everything you dislike about them.