If you’re looking for a less dense and relatively more quiet area to raise your family outside of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood could be your Huckleberry. Plenty of people move to Hollywood to escape the dense, loud, and fast paced environments surrounding it on most sides. There’s still a taste of that, the beach bars and downtown restaurant scene and other social shenanigans, but locals mostly see it as a more mellow and beautiful South Florida home to raise their families.

Here's a local's pov on living here:
*Great weather. All. The. Time, pretty much. Can be a bit humid, but
Sunshine, and there are shade and breezes, so it's not oppressive either. No need to bundle up & wear galoshes or anything. We Never get that Gray and gloomy sleet and ugly syndrome for more than a few Hours, let alone Days or weeks like some places. That's the biggest plus for me, No snow to shovel, no black ice to drive on.... This is a Great place to live at any age for many reasons. You can wear pretty similar clothes almost all year, and so many more clothes & shoes Work here!*

A Suburban Island

The Best Thing About Hollywood, FL?

If you’re looking at this page, chances are that you’re eyeing a move to South Florida. If your goal in that is to experience the fast pace and exciting Florida you’ve heard about, there are better options. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have that if you move to Hollywood, but with all of the other options both to the north and south, living in Fort Lauderdale or Miami might be wiser places to start your search.

The pov of a local who loves it here but notes its not one of the bigger cities: 
*I think Hollywood is a nice in-between buffer area to the bigger cities surrounding it and would recommend anyone to move here. Not to mention the incredible boom were having. Take a look at young circle and Hollywood boulevard. Its constantly being developed and the homeless problem has died down 10x . Things are really shaping up and I predict property value will skyrocket in 10 years around downtown hollywood.*


You Might Not Want it to Be

The Worst Thing About Hollywood, FL?

Hollywood locals are known for being a diverse group with a lot of pride in their neighborhoods. They take advantage of above average public schools, own their own homes at relatively high rates, and enjoy life outside. They accomplish the last of these in a variety of ways, with trails, beaches, golf courses and more well within reach. There are more highly rated bars and clubs in Hollywood than your average United States suburb, but not compared to the surrounding cities. One complaint from current residents is that the area has gotten more dense in recent years as more and more people move out of big cities around the country and move in to warmer, quieter cities like Hollywood.

If you want to see the happenings in Hollywood check out the calendar of events:
https://hollywoodfltap.com/event-calendar/


Lifestyle of Hollywood

If you’re tired of living in big cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale but not tired of the Florida weather, Hollywood is one of the best options in the state to consider. Just know that many others are as well.


Beat The Rush

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Downtown Hollywood is a fun spot and a good place to start your search if you’re a young professional. It has plenty of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and blocks of great boutique shopping and art galleries along the brick-lined walks. It plays host to a majority of the city’s festivals, street markets, and much of the entertainment in the city. It also has plenty of apartments and condos that are a part of or a short walk to the commercial district. 

Hollywood Beach is another option for those who want to eschew the downtown nightlife and focus on the beach. It’s beautiful, fun and filled with every possible kind of water play option any zoomer would crave. There are also tons of beach bars and casual eating joints when you feel like staying close to home in one of the many local apartment buildings. 
- Downtown
- Hollywood Beach


Young Professionals

Downtown

If you’re looking for the fanciest of neighborhoods for raising your precious ones then take a look at Lake Eden. It is not cheap but along with the pricey homes comes beautiful yards, tree-lined streets, great schools and tons of outdoor play areas for the kiddos to play. 

Another neighborhood option that is also nice but a bit less expensive is Hollywood Lakes. Plenty of beautiful historic homes and even more outdoor options than Lake Eden because you’re along the intercoastal and really close to the ocean, which makes it both family and water-friendly. It has plenty of parks, several golf courses, its own set of shops and restaurants and some of the most beautiful beaches in the greater Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area.
- Lake Eden
- Hollywood Lakes
- Hollywood Hills
- Emerald Hills


Families

Lake Eden

Hollywood, like much of southern Florida, has amazing options for retirees. There are places like The Summit, an active lifestyle condo complex overlooking the Atlantic. It has a fitness center, sports courts (tons of pickleball!!!), outdoor pools and you’re just a short walk to the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk. If you want to live actively this is a good place to start your search. 

If on the other hand you prefer a more luxurious option then check out the Four Seasons at Parkland. It’s a gated 55+ community with stunning single-family homes, a grand clubhouse, walking and biking trails and a dozen beautiful lakes. If you are excited about the idea of creating a community within the city this is a good place to check out first. 
- The Summit
- Four Seasons at Parkland 
- Sheridan Lakes
- The Hallmark 


Retirees

The Summit

Hollywood

**What are the best aspects of living in Hollywood, FL as a young adult?**

South Florida resident for decades, and an appraiser, so I know neighborhoods5y
Compared to so very many places...
Great weather. All. The. Time, pretty much. Can be a bit humid, but
Sunshine, and there are shade and breezes, so it's not oppressive either. No need to bundle up & wear galoshes or anything. We Never get that Gray and gloomy sleet and ugly syndrome for more than a few Hours, let alone Days or weeks like some places. That's the biggest plus for me, No snow to shovel, no black ice to drive on.... This is a Great place to live at any age for many reasons. You can wear pretty similar clothes almost all year, and so many more clothes & shoes Work here!
This weather means Endless Flowers and foliage, All kinds of bright and beautiful Colors, and they're copied in the homes/buildings as well.
Diversity, we're shot full of it. Many interesting people from anywhere and everywhere. People are pretty approachable, they're not really paranoid about being mugged, as again, it's a pretty nice place! Beats the heck out of some big inner city place, IMHO. Great place to walk the dog and meet people.
Festivals, all year and especially in the fall & winter months, even into spring. Lots of cool stuff to do, and many things cost very little or Free like the
Beautiful Beaches! Man oh man, they're Something else! Music, again a lot of variety, and signing up for Best Free Events in Broward or similar Meetup groups (Yahoo I guess) means there's a lot more to try out on a shoestring.
Not that hard to find a job if you catch on and are able to put your phone down and actually focus on that job. Bosses tend to be pretty grateful for that kind of thing and they reward it. Now, if you act all entitled and like showing up alone is doing them a big favor, there are lots of people looking too.
Wow, it's late, but those are a few of the things I personally love about south FL and Hollywood is one of the better areas, closer to the beach and all.

**What advice would you give to someone who is moving to Hollywood, FL?**

Make sure your home is setup for hurricanes. (Windows or shutters/ auto-generator or portable one)

Use a city inspector for roof, electrical… Hollywood has very strict inspectors that will help you.

Sign up for the Hollywood newsletter. It tells you the schedule for events( food trucks/ free concerts/art & craft shows) as well as public meetings.

You can pay your city bills online so signup for that.

Explore the restaurants and parks.

TY (Topakeegee Yugnee) park has multiple trails that are from 1.5 - 2.5 miles as well as outdoor gym equipment. It is free during the week and 1.50 per person on weekends & holidays. There is a pool that charges 7.50 I think. Tennis courts are free.

Anne Knolb Park has trails that go thru mangroves. West Park, across the street, rents kayaks & canoes.

Hollywood FL has something for everyone and is VERY inclusive.

Welcome Home.

**What is it like to live in Hollywood, FL?**

Great depending on what side of Hollywood you live. Near the beach is great. I’ve lived there my whole childhood and it was a blast. Ppl are always happy because the weather is nice. You meet ppl from all around the US because everyone ends up moving there. But beware: the crime rate is higher and your gonna pay more to live because of the location.

**Does Hollywood feel more like a transition city, or a suburb of Fort Lauderdale?**

My parents had a house in fort Lauderdale and I went to school in school in Hollywood for 10 years. I love both cities. Prefer Ft Laud more, tbh but Hollywood is cute. Fort Lauderdale to me is more high end and trendy and Hollywood is more like family? If that makes sense. I lived off 441. 15 mins from Fort Lauderdale Beach. I live in north Florida now and personally would never go back. But I love to visit old friends. It's nice to be able to leave.

**Does Hollywood feel more like a transition city, or a suburb of Fort Lauderdale?**

I live in around Hollywood now and grew up here. Hollywood in my very biased opinion is the best of all worlds of south Florida. Not too rednecky like Davie / west palm, English is the primary language unlike a lot of places in Miami. Most of all though your still right in all the action, with most places you'd go to for entertainment in a 20 min drive. The ghettos in Hollywood aren't anywhere near as bad as other cities nearby. The schools are decent, kids just skate and smoke pot growing up for the most part. However, it's not Weston so you still have to lock your car, can't leave your bike outside, etc. Hollywood Beach is the perfect in-between of not too crowded but still has things to do unlike South Beach or Fort Lauderdale. I would say it's a way more laid-back suburban area. The city was originally designed after Hollywood, Ca. So as such, we have plenty of little corner stores and such that will keep commutes way down in comparison to a drive to the store other places. The people are ime kinder, and more welcoming than fort Lauderdale and Miami by far, but not as country souther hospitality type generosity you might find in Loxahatchee, Davie, or Southwest Ranches. I think Hollywood is a nice in-between buffer area to the bigger cities surrounding it and would recommend anyone to move here. Not to mention the incredible boom were having. Take a look at young circle and Hollywood boulevard. Its constantly being developed and the homeless problem has died down 10x . Things are really shaping up and I predict property value will skyrocket in 10 years around downtown hollywood.

Hollywood, Florida