I visited Anne Kolb Nature Center on a weekday morning and was surprised by how easy parking was and how uncrowded it felt. That alone made the visit really enjoyable. I was able to take my time, relax, and actually enjoy being out in nature without feeling rushed. I explored the lakeside, mud flats, and part of the South Trail, and the views from the tower were excellent. I also saw a few different bird species and some butterflies along the way. There's also an exhibit showing a model for a new aquarium that's supposed to open in 2028, which was interesting to see. As a longtime Hollywood resident, I can't believe this was my first visit but it definitely won't be my last. read more

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This is one of our favorite parks to get outside & enjoy a nature walk. The trails are well kept and the animal are sure to be out! There's plenty of parking too! read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

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Absolutely a free educational nature adventure including an observation deck overlooking the entire preserve and waterway where boats were seen coasting by. We walked down some fishing trails where some lucky kids caught a few fish. For any of you dog lovers, sadly pets are strictly prohibited in the park. The nature center is inside a wooden hut nestled amongst mangroves with a long wooden bridge to access only by foot. A host greets you upon entry and then you browse all the eco-friendly visual and sound exhibits, which are too many to name. It was organized well for easy navigation. Gender assigned bathrooms and a gift shop inside. Great time while learning a few new things about our fragile eco-system. read more

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Great little nature walk and it's free to enter ! The museum is very informative and some cool stuff at the gift store. We seen lots of little crabs. Definitely would recommend and I plan to go back this week. read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - view from the observation tower - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Anne Kolb Nature Center is one the most well kept, Nature Center I've been too in Broward County. It is opened to the public everyday of the week to enjoy however the guest service office are closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as the Marina. Totally recommend visiting Anne Kolb Nature Center for a fun filled day. read more

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Really well maintained and educational center. I really geeked out at the collection of insects and skulls at the Exhibition Hall. They had a great couple of trails and we only went on two of the four that were pretty shaded but I know it probably has tons of mosquitoes during the other seasons so bring spray. Observation tower was really cool to check out. Highly recommend bringing cash if you want to buy any gift shop items! They're cash only. read more

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Beautiful nature center and clubhouse for the best parties. We enjoyed it very much and had the best party here to welcome convention delegates. Lovely. read more

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During a thunderstorm we decided to seek refuge in the nature park. I am so interested in the Florida sea life and the coral rock eco system that I grew up learning about. The center was clean and the turtles and hermit crabs were my favorite exhibits. A few other customers were looking around too. Very interesting educational experience for FREE. read more

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An awesome Nature center for sure! The exhibit portion is what really surprised me. I didn't expect it to be so extensive with their displays, from mock ups to actual real aquariums. The other thing that struck me about the exhibit portion is they have a live manatee. The guy is just walking around talking to people, it's crazy!!!!! Ok, that is not true. The trail network, though short is really nice and leads to some great views! read more

Neat place, nice education center to learn about mangroves, local fauna and flora. Walking is easy BUT be aware being water and a hat ..that sun can be brutal! There is an elevator (as well as 4 flights of stairs) going up to the observation tower. read more

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Very cool park to check out. A good place to go fishing, biking, hiking, and bird watching. They have a large parking lot, several buildings with a tall look out tower. The exhibit hall has lots of things to look at associated with the area. read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Signage - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

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A relaxing, quiet nature center. There are exhibits at a main building right off the parking lot. Inside includes a small gift shop with hand stenciled shirts, these ingenious little reusable shopping bags that fold up into colorful fish and a few other things. There is a spot where you can press little buttons and hear different bird calls of native avian friends found in the area. You can find a few brackish water aquariums, with fish specimens that have come right from the waters of the park. We had the pleasure of observing an employee feed the fish freshly diced shrimp meat! There are wooden walkways through the mangrove waters and paths, it is partially shaded and partially direct sunlight with a few areas you can observe over larger waterways. There is a multi level observation tower that has a staircase and an elevator to get up the third or fourth story. All along the front of the property there are paved walkways that you can take a stroll or ride a bike and take in the sights. A nice quiet place to come and relax and unwind from the hectic inter-coastal beach areas across the way. read more

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Anne Kolb Nature Center brought me right back to my hometown in South Florida. Thanks for sharing your review Kim. What happy memories of walking with my boyfriend on the boardwalk nature path. I definitely recommend comfortable clothing and shoes plus lots of sunscreen and bug repellent! Now that I've been living in Manhattan I don't know how I handled the heat and humidity. It's been like Florida here the past couple years. I'm not a fan of global warming! I'm recommending you visit and enjoy exploring while you're young. When you get older there's a chance your heart won't be able to take the climate unless you go to Anne Kolb in winter. read more

Can say enough nice things about this lovely little nature center! The park is located off of Sheridan Street right before the inter coastal. There is ample parking, hiking and walking trails, fishing, a nature center, and an excellent lookout tower! The grounds are very well maintained and clean. The best part of the park is that it's free! No entrance fee, or parking fee! We have visited this park all times of the day, throughout every season and there has never been a time when it was overly crowded or impossible to park. During the winter they close earlier since the sunsets earlier so we look forward to daylight savings when the park remains open until 7:30. If we're looking for a longer hike we prefer to take The South Trail with its many twists and turns! On the last Saturday of every month there is a guiding trail stroll if you prefer to go with a group. If you're looking to get outdoors without spending a penny and avoiding crowds, this is the place for you! With excellent walking trails, beautiful waterways, and lovely small events, this park has something for every nature lover. Check it out for yourself! read more

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They park itself is beautiful and lots of trails to walk and the scenery is great. There are however homeless people living in and some trash laying around. read more

This is a nice nature center by the beach. They have a tower and you can see the ocean and everything around you. It's beautiful. Restrooms are inside so that's great because the air conditioning felt amazing there is also a water fountain. Plenty of parking and walking to do. You can also bring your own kayak if you want. The center was closed this time it's going through renovation but bathrooms are open. read more

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An amazing banquet hall. Best wedding on budget less than 10k. Full day inside and outside chairs tables all included. read more

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Free nature center with a lot of nice walking trails and scenery. Boat docks and fishing spots with beautiful scenery and foliage. read more

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Beautiful park with trails that aren't super long either so it's nice for anyone that is trying to get into exploring the outdoors for the first time. They have a beautiful little museum readily available to visit with the purchase of a ticket and next to it is a lovely watch tower that gives you a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. read more

Beautiful park in the middle of West Lake. Surprised to find a eco park spread out over 1500 aces in the heart of an urban south Florida city. Nice to explore the boardwalks along the mangroves. The interpretive center explains more about the endangered and threatened species that call the nature center home. The short film was interesting. Climb to the top of the tower for a bird's eye view. Elevator is also available for access to all. Kayaks and stand up paddle boards rentals are available as is a fishing pier, bike and hiking trails. Parking and entry to the park are free. Great park to spend a few hours exploring. read more

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This 1501 acre park opened in 1996; filled with mangroves on the coast. There is a picnic area, observation tower, trail, fishing, amphitheatre, and walking path. The most notable to me was the boardwalk; I'm a fan of boardwalks especially with lovely views of the water. The day we went, it was super hot, humid, and the mosquitoes were out in full force. There are meeting rooms and can be rented for events/weddings. This is also a stop for the Water Taxi. Overall, if you love nature, I recommend checking this place out; just bring sunscreen and bug spray. Also, stop by Hollywood Beach Broadwalk after. read more

This is a haven in the midst of the city. Entering it is like entering a peaceful forest far removed from the city. And then, there is the tower, a magnificent experience that everyone should explore. Bring the family and enjoy a walk in nature. I love this place. read more

What a beautiful, clean, and expansive park. I wish every park offered everything this one has! Lots of walking trails and boardwalks overlooking West Lake, plenty of mangroves and greenery with beautiful birds and peaceful iguanas, picnic areas with adequate trash cans, and kayak and canoe spots (rentals offered). I love the educational focus of the nature center, as it offers tours and events for kids to learn about the living creatures of the park. I had a date here during the pandemic lockdown haha, and it was a great spot given that it's outdoors and has nothing but fresh air, tremendously easy to social distance and offers a lot to see. We walked a trail that was labeled with the organisms that could be spotted at each point, then up the stairs to the top of a viewing tower. The top of the tower gave us a wonderful view of the greenery, boardwalks and lake. It was a relaxing excursion! I returned here post pandemic reopening for kayaking. They have a great push off spot next to a dock so that we were able to get out of the kayaks easily to finish. The kayak and canoe rental spot is right nearby, so you have company with the renters and guides. There are multiple routes to get out onto the lake and to the surrounding waters, so it's fun to choose one and see where it leads. It's not hard to remember how you came so you know how to go back. Being out on the water here was incredibly refreshing. I saw some iguanas slowly climbing trees and turning different colors at each minute. I was sad to have to go back and pack up! I'll have to return to find other wonderful nature spots on the water! read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - View from the boardwalk - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

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Beautiful spot to walk around and take photos! At the time we went they required you to wear a mask inside and we didn't have any on us so we planned to come back! read more

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Anne Kolb is a very nice park located right near the beach! It has its very own parking lot and a gorgeous pathway that takes you through mangroves over water and over to a nice little gazebo that you can just sit and stare out into the water! There is ample amount on parking and the parking spaces are nice size so any sized car will be able to fit in the spot! They have a couple different things keep you busy and they also have a little docking section to where if you rent canoes you are able to bring them into the water and push off to go explore from there! They also have a little Amphitheatre Outdoors for when a camp or School may come so they can show the group animals. You're able to set up in the little Beach area and go for a swim and they also have an amazing Watchtower that you were able to climb up. Unfortunately that was closed for renovations when we were there so I can't tell you who the view or what it looks like. One of the best things is it also has an elevator so you are able to take the elevator up if you are unable to walk steps because let me say it is high up there! read more

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This is the very first time I give a park less than 5 stars. Why you ask? Let me explain. While the nature center and the boardwalks are beautiful. The actual trail is super confusing. There are no signs to indicate where the loop that is shown in the map as being 2.3 miles. Ended up being over 3 because we kept making the wring turn. None of these wrong turns are shown on the "map" at one point I had to rely on the Pokemon Go app as a map. Yes you read it right, I said Pokemon go. After that we were able to get on the right path. Terrain is a little rough. This trail is strictly for walking, there is no jogging here unless you want a sprained ankle. Overall though, it was an adventure, and great workout. I would definitely come back, now that I know the trail. read more

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The boardwalk is very good and made of the right material but sadly pets are not allowed which seems to make sense. There is plenty of parking. Looking forward to enjoying the park itself when our dog is not with us. read more

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I've passed this park many times over the years but unfortunately never thought to stop and take a look around. We were looking for a little nature adventure close to home and coincidentally Anne Kolb popped up on my Yelp search. We walked around the board walks along the Mudflat Trails and took a few pics of the birds and the trees along the paths. The observation deck at the end a nice covered bench area were you can sit and take in the view. It would probably be a nice spot to have a little picnic but there are no trash cans around and most people might be tempted to just throw the trash in the water so I digress. We didn't get a chance to go up the tower this time but I hear it has a great view. It's on the list on things to do on my next visit. I saw that they also have a 30 min boat ride for $5 where they teach you about the local plant and animal life. It sounded like it would be a lot of fun and is something I may bring my nieces and nephews to do on their next visit. We really enjoyed our time there, always love to learn and are definitely going back since we would like to rent a kayak to explore more! read more

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My family and I had a great time riding our bikes on the path. We all loved seeing all the wild animals . I would love to see more places like this closer to where I live. read more

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Great walking or running paths, wooden and pebbled. Enjoy walking through the mangroves and see lots of crabs, birds, and fish. There is a lovely observation tower overlooking the inter coastal and Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. This would be a great place for a wedding or event. They have a nice large room to rent for this. They also have bathrooms, lots of shade, and a wonderful outdoor amphitheater. Good for tourists and natives alike! read more

Beautiful location and atmosphere. I can't wait to potentially fish here some day. The nature and the vibes would make it perfection.

Opened in 1996 Anne Kolbe Nature Center bears the name of an environmental activist. In 1970's Anne Kolbe was a journalist and the first woman to sit on the Broward County Commission. She recognized the importance of the environmentally sensitive mangrove tract in Hollywood and she worked along with other environmental groups until it was saved by the creation of West Lake Park where the nature center now sits. Today West Lake Park is the largest mangrove area between Miami and Palm Beach. There is no admission fee to visit the nature center. It is part of the The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail which is a network of 510 of the best sites to view wildlife in Florida. The exhibit hall is the first building you encounter. It houses a 3.500 gallon salt water aquarium and an eco hall that has hands on nature exhibits for children. The hall has rotating nature displays by different photographers and artists. Also located here is the 3,304 square foot Mangrove Hall which can be rented for weddings or other events. Behind the exhibit hall is a 200 seat amphitheater with stage that can also be rented. There are three trails available for walking at the nature center. The 783 foot Fishing Pier Trail leads to two fishing piers on the intracoastal. You can fish or just relax and watch the boats drift by. The Lake Observation Trail is .2 miles long and leads to an observation pavilion (currently closed) that gives a stunning view of West Lake. Mud Flat Trail is .3 miles long that leads to a covered look out pavilion with seating that also gives a view of West lake. After you explore the trails you can climb a 68 foot 5 story observation tower to get a breath taking view of the area. The tower has a wheelchair accessible elevator. There is also a thirty minute $5 environmental boat tour. You must call the park for availability. From the youngest to the oldest member of your family there is something for everyone to enjoy here. It is a credit to the city of Hollywood that such an important environmental treasure was saved from development. Everyone should visit the area that Anne Kolb so loved. read more

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Located along Sheridan St., Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park, is a large acre (more than 1,500) of coastal mangrove wetlands that is home to various plants and animals. The center is open daily from 9am - 5:30pm and there is plenty of parking. The place is very serene and there is no entrance fee. Anne Kolb, whom the nature center is named after, was a journalist and an environmentalist. She was also the first woman elected to the Broward County Commission in 1974. Anne worked with County government and environmental advocacy groups, fighting to protect the endangered lands. She died of cancer in 1981. At the Anne Kolb Nature Center, they offer a variety of activities such as: * Environmental boat tours (30-min. tour on a 35 ft., 12 passenger boat) * Exhibit hall (interactive displays, eco-room, & nature gift shop) * Educational tours & programs * Fishing (From shore & pier on Intracoastal Waterway) * Walking trails (Lake/Mud Flat observation trails) * Five-level observation tower (with an elevator) * Nature hikes ($3 per person) * Wildlife viewing * Friends of Anne Kolb Nature Center Volunteer Group You can visit the Visitor's Center to get general information and make shelter/building reservations. The Mangrove Hall is available for public rental for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions. Reservations needs to be made up to one year in advance and a park facility permit must be filled out to ensure reservation. It accommodates 160 people. The Amphitheater is an outside facility that is also available for rental. It accommodates 250 people. read more

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The Ann Kolb Nature Center was nice. It has two trails, the Mud Flat and the Lake View trail, both on boardwalks with lookouts. I would not recommend the West Lake south trail, it is supposed to be a 2.3 mile trail, it was poorly marked, desolate, and nothing to see. read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Ann Kolb Park - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

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Beautiful, very peaceful and nice. The people that go here are very nice as well. Lots of older couples just enjoying the peace together

Beautiful park to walk and look out on the tower . This park has a learning center for children and adults . Anne kolb was an environmentalist as well as a journalist and because of her efforts we have this beautiful park available. Come check out this park off of Sheridan street right before the bridge . read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Took a relaxing, but hot walk at Anne Kolb nature center. I loved the view and all the pathways to walk. The viewing tower is Ada/kid friendly with a elevator if you need it. They also have some fishing areas and spots for resting. Bathroom also available and clean. read more

We noticed this park on the way back from Hollywood beach - so we came for a mini look around. We did not see much of the park, just walked to where you can see the boats coming and going. It definitely is on our list to come back for a proper visit and walk about when it is not so hot. It for sure would be a nice place to come and sit awhile and people/boat watch! read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Early morning weekend wake me up. Went here with a group of ladies getting our hiking on. We did the south trail and after going down two paths that totally the wrong way we landed on the right one. There were smooth and rocky terrain to walk through. The views are amazing from the peaKs of the intercostal. The trail takes about 1 1/2 hours to walk but less time I if you run. Be careful if yOu run the area is really rocky. My neXt trip will be to do tHe north traill and more bug and animal spotting. Meet at the amphitheater for a snackk and conversation. While here I spotted a small land crab. The hall is nice and tthe bathroom was clean. Will bring the family for a day of exploitation. Just make sure you bring off or another bug spray as the mosquitoes can be vicious. Might be a great outing for those YELPERS wanting to become one with nature. read more

Anne Kolb Nature Center - Parks Near Me - Hollywood, Florida

Highly recommend for kayaking. Wonderful staff and beautiful scenery. Don't skip this park.