The Gold Coast Convention of Narcotics Anonymous XXXIV (GCCNA XXXIV) is scheduled for May 28–31, 2027, over Memorial Day weekend in Coral Springs, Florida. The official Gold Coast convention site confirms the event at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center, 11775 Heron Bay Boulevard, Coral Springs, FL 33076. GCCNA is supported by the Gold Coast Area of Narcotics Anonymous, whose service area includes communities throughout Broward County. Gold Coast Area Convention
Coral Springs gives convention travelers a different South Florida experience from staying directly on the coast. The convention venue sits in northwestern Broward County, close to green spaces and the edge of the Everglades, while Fort Lauderdale's beaches and waterfront remain within reach for anyone adding sightseeing time to the trip. Visit Lauderdale
Getting to Coral Springs
For most travelers flying in, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the most practical major airport. Marriott lists the airport at about 30 miles from the convention hotel. Miami International Airport is another option, but Marriott places it considerably farther away at about 48.5 miles. The hotel does not currently provide its own airport shuttle, so plan on a rental car, taxi, rideshare or other ground transportation. Marriott
A rental car can be especially useful here because Coral Springs is suburban and spread out, and many of the area's attractions are not clustered around a single walkable downtown core.
Keep Some Time for Coral Springs Itself
You don't have to drive all the way to the beach every time you have a few free hours.
Coral Springs has several easy local attractions, including the Sawgrass Nature Center, where visitors can see native Florida wildlife and plants, and the Coral Springs Museum of Art, which presents rotating exhibitions by Florida and other artists. Visit Lauderdale
Those kinds of shorter outings fit a convention schedule particularly well. You can spend a couple of hours away from the hotel without turning the day into a major South Florida expedition.
Walk Along the Edge of the Everglades
One of the most distinctive things about Coral Springs is how close it sits to the Everglades.
Visit Lauderdale recommends the Everglades Conservation Levee Greenway, accessed from the Atlantic Boulevard Trailhead along the Sawgrass Expressway, for walking, biking, birdwatching and sunset views across open Everglades landscape. Visit Lauderdale
For a recovery-centered convention weekend, this can be a particularly good option: open space, fresh air and a chance to slow down without committing to an all-day attraction.
Because GCCNA takes place in late May, go early in the morning or later in the afternoon if you're planning a longer walk. South Florida heat and humidity are already well established by then.
Explore Tall Cypress Natural Area
Another nearby outdoor option is Tall Cypress Natural Area, a 66-acre preserve in Coral Springs containing basin swamp, pine flatwoods and native wildlife habitat. Visit Lauderdale specifically highlights the preserve as one of the natural areas worth visiting in western Broward County. Visit Lauderdale
It's a good reminder that this part of South Florida isn't only beaches and high-rises. The wetlands and pine landscapes inland are just as much a part of the region.
Save a Larger Block of Time for the Beach
If you've traveled to South Florida and want at least one Atlantic Ocean outing, plan it rather than trying to squeeze it into a short convention break.
Visit Lauderdale places Coral Springs roughly 30–40 minutes west of the beach, depending on traffic and destination. Visit Lauderdale
That makes a beach trip reasonable before the convention starts, after it ends, or during a substantial open block—but probably not something to attempt between sessions.
Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach all put you on the Atlantic side of Broward County. Choose one coastal area and enjoy it rather than spending the day trying to jump between several.
See a Different Side of South Florida in Fort Lauderdale
If you have extra time, downtown Fort Lauderdale and its waterfront can make a good companion outing to the quieter suburban setting of Coral Springs.
Greater Fort Lauderdale's regional attractions include museums, parks, waterfront areas and cultural sites throughout Broward County. Visit Lauderdale
A longer outing could pair a few hours around Fort Lauderdale with time near the beach, then return to Coral Springs for the convention.
Again, traffic matters. South Florida distances can look short on a map and still take longer than expected, especially on a holiday weekend.
Make Food Part of the Trip
Coral Springs has a diverse restaurant scene, so there is no reason to treat every meal as a drive toward Fort Lauderdale.
Visit Lauderdale highlights locally based options ranging from Italian and Mediterranean food to barbecue and other independent restaurants. Visit Lauderdale
For convention weekend, keeping at least some meals local has an obvious advantage: less time in traffic and more time actually spending time with people.
A group dinner after convention activities can be plenty of sightseeing by itself.
Expect Summer-Like Weather
Although GCCNA falls at the end of May, South Florida already feels much more like summer than spring.
Greater Fort Lauderdale climate averages put May daytime highs around 85°F and nighttime lows around 72°F, with rainfall increasing compared with the winter and early spring months. Visit Lauderdale
Pack light clothing, sunscreen and something for rain. A small umbrella or lightweight rain jacket can be useful because warm-weather showers can develop quickly.
Hydration matters too, particularly if you're spending time outdoors near the Everglades or walking around the coast.
Memorial Day Weekend Changes the Travel Equation
GCCNA XXXIV runs across Memorial Day weekend, which can mean heavier travel activity than an ordinary late-May weekend.
Give yourself extra time for airport travel, major roads and any trip toward the beaches. If you are flying home Monday, avoid building a tight sightseeing schedule immediately before your airport departure.
The convention itself is already four days long, so you have more room than you would at a typical Friday-to-Sunday event. Use that time selectively rather than trying to see all of Broward County.
A Simple GCCNA Weekend Can Work Best
Coral Springs offers enough nearby variety that you can choose what kind of break you need.
Want quiet? Walk near the Everglades or visit a nature preserve.
Want something indoors? Try the Coral Springs Museum of Art.
Want a classic South Florida experience? Set aside a larger block of time and head to the Atlantic.
Or simply stay close to the convention, eat with friends and let fellowship occupy the weekend.
The destination should add something to GCCNA—not pull you away from it.
If You Have an Extra Day
An extra day makes a coastal outing much easier.
You could spend the morning on the beach, explore Fort Lauderdale later in the day, or use the time to see more of Broward County's nature preserves and Everglades-adjacent landscapes. Greater Fort Lauderdale includes extensive wetland and natural areas in addition to the coastline. Visit Lauderdale
If you're coming from outside Florida, that gives you a fuller picture of South Florida than simply driving from the airport to the hotel and back.
Find the Event and Plan Your Visit
View GCCNA XXXIV in our NA Event Directory
Official GCCNA XXXIV event information
Use the official GCCNA website for the latest convention-specific information as Memorial Day weekend 2027 approaches. The official source currently confirms GCCNA XXXIV, May 28–31, 2027, at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center. Gold Coast Area Convention
Photo credit: Photo by Juan Carlos Fernández Alemán via Pexels.