Palmetto Bay, Florida

The Deering Estate is a magnificent and historic property with a home built in 1900.  To see the house and check out its immediate property, you will need to pay to enter the gates.  However, just 50 yards south of the entry to the Estate is a small service road that leads down to the "People's D...

There are few places as beautiful and serene as Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden! Located right in Coral Gables, near Miami, this garden boasts an extensive amount of well-groomed acres with hundreds of different tropical flowers and species of plants. When exploring the gardens, it is likely th...

Matheson Hammock is a beautiful park in the heart of one of the oldest sections of Miami, just off of Old Culter Road.  This is far off the tourist map which is mostly confined to South Beach. However, it is just 20 minutes from the beach and 10 minutes from Downtown.  The park is enjoyed by many...

Virginia Key North Point Trails offers 8.2 of mountain bike trails ranging from novice to advanced and expert. There is a variety of cool features and bridges to ride on, overlooking the beach and Downtown Miami. The trails are constantly maintained as there are volunteers every weekend. Virginia...

There is so much to do in Wynwood, however, this adventure highlights the famous street art.  Bonus for Covid times, most of it can be done outdoors!  There are some indoor features, but that is definitely not the main attraction in my opinion.    The late Tony Goldman, a real estate developer wh...

The Everglades National Park is a superb spot for viewing wading birds and alligators off an easy paved path. There are a number of observation decks along the way, off of the main path. The trail begins at the Visitor Center, following Taylor Slough. The Anhinga Trail is one of the best places ...

The Shark Valley loop allows you to experience a peaceful bike ride and close encounters with wildlife found in the Everglades. This paved trail takes about 2-3 hours to complete and includes an observation tower with quite a view.Fill up or purchase water bottles at the Visitor Center for your a...

I would like to preface this adventure by saying that if you prefer to bike Shark Valley, please reference Rob Witt's adventure "Bike through Shark Valley".  Biking is certainly the best way to see the whole trail, and not spend the entire day doing it.  Hiking (really walking) this trail is a sl...

Park at the trailhead and hop onto the boardwalk trail. Its very short--just 0.2 miles, so take your time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Partway through the hike there is a lookout tower which is great for getting a high vantage point to enjoy the landscape from. Be aware of wildlife around y...

I was very impressed with the mountain bike trails at Markham Park. Not knowing exactly what to expect, we were hesitant at first but quickly warmed up to the trails.Markham Park and Target Range is a popular spot for locals. In addition to the mountain bike trails, there's also a target range, p...

Located a short drive off the main drag to the Flamingo Visitor Centre (and only a few hours from Miami) this short boardwalk through a lush Mahogany and Gumbo-Limbo plants is an easy walk for families.Elevated upon a well-serviced boardwalk this trail passes the oldest Mahogany tree (Swietenia m...

Hugh Birch State Park Loop is a loop trail where you may see local wildlife located near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

If you only do one thing in the Everglades, I highly recommend canoeing through the mangrove and lake meadows of 9 mile pond. I had thought the Everglades would have been swampy, but they are in fact "glades" or open meadows in a forest.We decided to rent canoes from the concessionaire near the ...

Easterlin Park's 18-hole disk golf is the perfect balance of challenge and fun for all skill levels. And it is FREE. The course is one of the first to open in South Florida but every hole is very well marked. You can find a pdf of the course map and scorecard here. Expect lots of beautiful cypres...

This reef can be accessed from Loggerhead Park Beach in Fort Lauderdale. The reef is located around 600 feet off the shore and is around 15 feet deep making it an ideal spot for snorkeling. However, this reef is also very popular for local scuba divers and scuba classes. The reef is known for its...