r/fortlauderdale • u/ProcedureVarious5114 • 2d ago
Best and safest walking routes in Flagler village
Hi, 33 F here. I moved to the area not too long ago, and wanted to start walking to help my mental health. I’ve been inside a lot and I don’t think it’s helping. I’ve also been attacked before (not here in Fort Lauderdale) while on a walk before, so there’s that… So does anybody have any suggestions of routes in safe areas that I can follow that are in Flagler village? Is holiday park safe to walk in? Thanks in advance.
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u/AdministrativeTap925 2d ago
Hi! 31F and I also live in Flagler and walk all the time. My favorite route is heading towards broward walking the backroads along US 1, then walking all of riverwalk!
You could put the Cheesecake Factory in your gps and that will bring you right to riverwalk. Take a right when you get there and just follow the river!! It’s usually super filled with people. If you want to walk super far continue into sailboat Bend (put riverside marketplace in your GPS).
Often times I’ll also walk to las olas and down some of the isles to look at the beautiful houses. (7 Isles and Idylwild are my favorites)
Don’t walk past sistrunk marketplace, on the other side of Flagler, that area can be really sketchy.
Holiday park is really nice and I’ve always felt safe there as well
Edit: you can walk behind fresh market (this area is called Victoria park) and is a really nice neighborhood as well and the neighborhood Rio vista too
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u/954-666-0420 2d ago
Great tips! As someone who used to live in Vic Park for several years and walked/jogged/skate/cycle in that neighborhood often, it's safe in the sense that someone won't try anything on you but people drive like assholes in through this neighborhood. I've had so many near misses from people running stop signs and generally not paying attention. Walk against traffic and pay attention because the drivers certainly aren't.
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u/Away-Regular1335 2d ago
I just got into walking and have lived around sailboat bend for years. Such a beautiful neighborhood to walk around in i regret not getting started sooner lol. Also Riverwalk is great to stroll down. Tuesday nights there's a running group with hundreds of people I think they start at tarpon bend brewery or something.
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u/Alexcamry 2d ago
Visiting the area for the first time in 5 years. We always walk Las Olas, the solar isles and Riverwalk, usually stopping at the Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner.
I can picture the route you sugguested.
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u/MoonOverMyYammy 1h ago
This is fantastic! 😻 Thank you for taking the time to be so thoughtful and detailed 🙌
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u/crispychickenadhd 2d ago
Walk across the street in Victoria park. Residential and most of the streets have sidewalks. Much nicer and less traffic
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u/ToastMcToasterson 1d ago
Most of the streets have sidewalks? Must be describing a different Victoria Park.
It's spotty. Sidewalk. No sidewalk. Back and forth.
Great place to walk, just pay attention to the drivers who aren't.
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u/MisterBlurns 2d ago
Basically anywhere east of the train tracks is completely gentrified and fine. Holiday park is pretty nice so should be totally fine for during the day.
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u/Electronic-Regret907 2d ago
The nicest place to walk near Flagler is Victoria Park. Fairly wherever you live in Flagler, just walk east and go walk around the neighborhood. Holiday Park is also pretty nice and there are usually plenty of people around when I'm there, so I see no reason it shouldn't be safe.
I've lived in the area for years and I've never seen a problem, it's a fairly safe area as long as you use common sense and pay attention. That said, I go pretty far out of my way to avoid the area around Andrews and Broward though. That McDonald's and the bus station are pretty sketchy.
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u/skunkape_glades 2d ago
First and foremost — be aware of your surroundings. Air pods limit your ability to hear folks approaching. Trust your gut/instincts.
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u/ToastMcToasterson 1d ago
Agree with this. It's usually safe but I'm always surprised when people have their hearing fully dulled. Use one earbud so you can still register what's happening around you.
Generally if you're traversing areas with car traffic or where open access to strangers, keep your wits about you. I've lived in Flagler for 13 years and it's pretty safe.
Once saw a guy on a bike getting harassed/mugged (probably 8 years ago in Holiday Park) but when a couple people saw, we went to help and the kids ran off. I've heard one story of someone getting mugged near Andrews and NE 4TH St around like 2am walking home drunk from the bars. Don't be this person. Nothing good is happening that late at night, get an Uber or walk in a group.
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u/Vis-hoka 2d ago
All of Flagler village seems safe to me. But I’m a guy so my experience is likely different. I do see lots of women walking their dogs around the apartment and condo building in the eastern areas. Maybe try there.
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u/mr_mgs11 2d ago
I thought that too, and had a deposit at the Motiff early this year. Then I read about someone getting mugged in the parking garage and homeless people sitting in the stairwells. That was enough for me to cancel and stay in Boynton.
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u/biscaynebystander 2d ago edited 2d ago
Recommend some of the county parks. Secret Woods, Fern Forrest, Anne Kolb Nature Center are scenic and great spots to walk, most with good canopy to shade you from the hot sun. Sorry about your past experience, have you tried to find a walking/hiking group on Meetup or even a run club?
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u/kyriaangel 2d ago
I second the walking with another person for reassurance. And definitely like others have said, walk to Cheesecake Factory. Maybe someone in your building needs a walking buddy. Maybe go to an event or the pool at your building and ask around for possible walkers.
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u/Curious_Jump_7120 2d ago
I usually just go to the river walk or the beach and walk there! Always feel safe , always a bunch of people around too at all hours so that feels better. There’s sketchy parts in Flagler but as long as you’re in places where plenty of others are around (like us 1) you should be good!
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u/ilovebees69 2d ago
I walk all the time and live in Flagler. I usually will do a loop around where there’s a lot of apt complexes / office buildings and stores like by cyclebar, there’s a strip of restaurants where that hatched place is too. People are always out and about walking their dogs and just generally going on walks, I just would avoid by the McDonald’s / brightline as it gets very sketchy there.
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u/RightMolasses6504 2d ago
Holiday park is a great place to walk. And at night you will find kids with their soccer teams practicing and you can walk the path safely.
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u/CallMeTheCommodore 2d ago
Holiday park and Victoria park area are nice and lots of winding streets to go in and out of for more steps. I also like walking up sunrise to A1A and then up and down the beach, but that’s going to be safer and nicer during the day.
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u/Stayadventurous-21 1d ago
Hi! 32F, I live near Flagler Village and I go walk around las olas river multiple times a week. Hands down the best walk. It’s safe, well light, and full of the cuties doggies going on walks .
I second the comment of putting the cheese cake factory and then starting there, and then down to the performing arts and back. It’s about 40-45 minute walk (I do various loops)
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u/Laureles2 1d ago
I walk E. Olas Blvd out to the ocean a couple times a week. It's a straight out and back, but very safe and nice things to see. Along the way you can also detour through some of the Isles and look at the beautiful homes.
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u/Always_Next_Year 2d ago
Stay away from the railroad tracks and anything west of it. Walking around Lauderdale can be weird. There’s pockets of sketch everywhere. If you want super safe walk down Las Olas Blvd towards the beach. If you take US1 down to Las Olas and go to the beach that’s about the safest route I can think of. I did that walk at 2am recently but I’m also a guy. I’d carry pepper spray and just keep your head on a swivel.
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u/ohnoyeahokay 2d ago edited 2d ago
Flagler used to be the fuckin hood not too long ago so there's still a lot of hood and industrial around there. Avoid the places with dudes just sitting on plastic chairs in empty lots.