South FL-need party venue ideas

[jase]

My husband and I are thinking of throwing his parents a surprise 30th wedding anniversary party. I'm thinking upwards of 100 people will be there. Does anyone have any venue ideas that we could look into? Some web searching has proved to be really random.

I was thinking we could find a nice restaurant to rent out (either a room or the entire facility) or maybe a conference/ballroom in a hotel. I think sticking in the Ft Lauderdale area would be best. We'd like a place that would be really elegant and classy. Everyone's looking for a reason to get all dressed up!

Thanks!

[HeatherFL]

In Ft. Lauderdale the place that comes to mind is the sister property of the Westin Diplomat-The Diplomat Country Club and Spa (http://www.diplomatcountryclub.com/). Just beautiful and also intimate. If you are looking for more loud and crowded, then I'd say head to the Westin Diplomat (www.diplomatresort.com/). It is really nice!

Sorry I don't know as much about Ft. Lauderdale, but if you decide to go a little south in Miami the first house that was ever built there is called The Barnacle State Historic Site. It's in the Coconut Grove on the water. Very private and beautiful.

The pictures on their websites don't do it justice at all:
Barnacle 1 (http://www.floridastateparks.org/thebarnacle/)

Barnacle 2 (www.funandsun.com/parks/Barnacle/barnacle.html )

Vizcaya (www.vizcayamuseum.org/) is also beautiful.

Good luck, let us know what you decide!

~H.

[maniach]

There are tons of hotels and stuff on and near the beach in Fort Lauderdale, the Bahia Mar, the Yankee Clipper, and one on 17th Street Causeway called Pier 66 or something like that. I am certain that they would all have ballrooms and the possibility of nice ocean or river views. Plus, there are probably tons of country clubs and yacht clubs all around down there. I'm sure with a little internet surfing you are sure to find something. A good way to find banquet sites is always wedding sites. Even if you're not doing a wedding, there are plenty of places listed to choose from.