Hello there and welcome to this UCPlaces Where to Live Tour of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My name is Shelly and I’ll be showing you around this amazing city on behalf of agent Derek Lee. Known for bringing a “natural curiosity” to everything he does, Derek Lee is masterful at identifying opportunities to connect people with solutions. Derek grew up in Northeast Ohio - a place often referred to as the “snow belt”. And after spending a week at his best friend’s home in West Palm Beach, he fell in love with South Florida. A few years later, Fort Lauderdale became his home. Derek is also very passionate about helping people and serves on the GLBX Board and the Cultural Arts Committee for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce as well as supports multiple charities in the area including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Covenant House, Broward House, The Poverello Center and Kakes 4 Kids, Good Karma Pet Rescue and Shih Tzu Rescue of Davie. He is active in several local Chambers of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Fort Lauderdale Class 22. At Compass, Derek works with Team JK, one of the top five largest real estate teams in the region. Team JK specializes in residential family homes with ocean access and commercial office space while offering over 100 years of cumulative experience and an ongoing commitment to providing an elevated level of personal service. “My mantra is ‘listen more, talk less’ so my ability to solve problems and identify hidden opportunities is laser sharp.” Outside of real estate, Derek is an avid runner, a voracious reader, a seasoned traveler, huge Star Wars fan and he loves to watch movies at home with his husband and their two adorable dogs, Jayden and Pascal. Derek would love to talk to you after your tour. Give him a call at 954-706-6950. Ok, let’s talk about Fort Lauderdale! Fort Lauderdale, nicknamed “Venice of America”, is home to 24 miles of Atlantic beaches as well as over 300 miles of intercoastal waterways. Water is a way of life down here. Unlike Its fast-paced neighbor Miami, locals here like to take things a tad bit slower. It might be the 3,000 hours of sunshine Fort.Lauderdale gets every year that keeps the locals so relaxed. That being said, there is no shortage of nightlife activity and you'll find the best spots on this tour. If you ever want to leave, but why would you, there are three international airports and three seaports, all conveniently located for all your travel needs. This tour will give you a taste of some of the best Downtown Fort Lauderdale spots to dine, shop and spend a weekend, as well as some hidden gems and best kept local secrets. The best part is you will be taking this tour on what's considered Fort. Lauderdale’s most scenic Mile, Riverwalk park. Go ahead and follow your navigation to East Las Olas Blvd and SE 6th Ave. Find a place to park and let’s go!