Patch of Heaven Sanctuary is a very comfortable and relaxing place. If you're an anxious person…read morelike I am, this spot is especially soothing and great for calming the mind. There are tons of beautiful plants throughout the property, making it a peaceful place to explore. I visited in January when it was pretty cold, so there wasn't much natural activity, but even then there was still a lot to see. I'd definitely recommend visiting when it's warmer to experience it fully. The sanctuary sits on about 20 acres, so be prepared for a good amount of walking. They also have a horse stable with some beautiful horses, and a "Bee Hotel," which sounded funny at first but was actually really interesting to learn about. There's a small restaurant on-site called Thai Tapas. The menu is limited, but the food is really good. Overall, this is another great spot for nature lovers and anyone looking for a peaceful, grounding experience.

Tucked away in a corner of Homestead this lush garden has an Indonesian, Indian, zen vibe to it…read morewith plenty of waterfalls, butterflies, horses and birds. Well kept grounds, interesting pop up restaurant and nice koi ponds. Best to visit in the morning when the heat is not so overwhelming.....

This is a lovely spot to explore Oleta Park. The kayaks and paddle board rentals are fairly priced…read moreand easy to rent. The waiver system can be a little complicated especially when checking in multiple children (8-12) at the same time. Each child requires the same lengthy form as a single adult. But overall, all the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. The waterways were fairly easy to navigate and a great way to get up close with Florida's lovely and expansive wildlife/sealife and the all the water equipment were in good conditions.

It was the most fantastic experience, the staff were very polite and that made the trip so awesome…read more It is easy to get to by car, there is a state park fee at the gate, if you are commuting using ride share you will have a 20 minute walk to the kayak station. The equipment is clean and the trip is worth it, plan for a good weather day because i feel like this is the only way to really enjoy it. I will be back to visit again for sure.

What a relaxing place to be. This is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of…read morethe city. Calming waters and fresh air is what you will get. You may even run into a random photo shoot taking place at this beautiful site. My only word of caution is to wear bug spray.

On my first day of my Miami vacation, I NEEDED to get in the…read morewater. So, after a quick Google map search, I headed out to Matheson Hammock Park. While it's not your traditional beach, it certainly got the job done for me ‍ I honestly loved the lake like feel. The fact that there were small fishes grazing along the surf and the muddy like sand upon reaching the water (which definitely smoothed away some calluses while I swam)! It truly is a great beach for families with kids, something I learned there while entertaining a whole bunch of kiddos with my hula hoop (which I, personally, didn't mind since I love kids but wanted to give a heads up for anyone that's looking for something more kid free). Once the sun began to set, I grabbed some wine from the beach's restaurant. The wine was amazing and very reasonably priced but what was even BETTER? The song selection! I stayed a whole extra 30 minutes just to vibe out There couldn't have been a better way to start my vacation, honestly! I think it's more than worth it to visit this spot the next time you're in South Florida

This place is indeed a hidden gem. It's unusual that it's right in the middle of residential area…read more You could be living steps away from it! Definitely a plus if you don't want to drive far. As this is a nature center and less a city park, there's no playground area, but instead natural trails for you to walk and explore. Great if you want to be out in the nature, without masks, and total socially distanced. This tranquil place is a great place to visit if you need to unwind. They have canoes for rent, a campfire area, and they have a sign that says butterfly garden - though I didn't see any butterfly and didn't quite know where exactly that garden may be. There's also a little free library as well. The restroom is clean and brightly lit.

The Bill Sadowski Park and Nature Center is named for Bill Sadowski, a former Department of…read moreCommunity Affairs Secretary who died in a plane crash in 1992 at the age of 48. He served in the House of Representatives and had a successful law practice in Miami where he practiced environmental law. It makes sense that a nature preserve would be named for him. The 30 acre parcel of land that makes up the park has three distinct habitats: pineland, tropical hardwood hammock, and drained Everglades slough. Hiking trails run through these areas. You do have to be careful while hiking, especially on the half mile Old Cuttler Hammock Nature Trail that is behind the nature center. This area was completely destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 but the canopy has since come back. There are a lot of limestone formations that are easy to trip on. Another of the trails leads to a canal where you canoe and fish while yet a different trail winds through a native tree arboretum. There is a nature center open daily from 10 to 4 with live animal exhibits and an 822 gallon freshwater aquarium. You can schedule tours and nature study programs at the nature center and rent kayaks. Picnic areas and rest rooms are available. Every Saturday night from 8 to 10 PM the Southern Cross Astro's meet in the parking lot near the main entrance. They have the largest public use telescope in Miami and the event is free. You might see a satellite, meteor, or the International Space Station. I hope to join them one evening.

A classic, must-go spot in Miami. Great for biking, hanging out in the lawn and getting some sun…read more(when it's not super hot), and grabbing a bite to eat (though expect steep prices). There's public restrooms and a small water park for kiddos. Obviously, the path takes you to the beach which is relaxing and really nice. Can get a little crazy during peak season.

South Pointe Park Pier is built on constraint. It's not a beach destination, it's not a fishing…read moreresort, it's a working pier where the water isn't about recreation, it's about commerce. Container ships move through this harbor. You stand on the jetty and watch scale happen in real time, cranes and stacks and the whole industrial apparatus that makes Miami function. That's more honest than another beach bar with a sunset filter. The pier is maintained like it matters. The surface holds, the railing is sound, the whole structure feels like someone decided it shouldn't fall apart, and they stuck with that decision. The breakwater gives you rock access, shallow water, tide-dependent depth. Early morning swimmers treat it seriously. The jetty extends far enough that the city shrinks behind you, and you're in dialogue with the open water instead of looking at it from shore.

Beautiful mini park offering a green oasis in the heart of a concrete jungle. Great place for…read moreretail and service workers to rest, parents to take their children on a picnic, couples to have a little date and so many other wonderful things for the community that provides a big asset to those living here. But unfortunately, the recent lawsuit returning this park to the developer, the Allen Morris Company, is threatening this tiny park's future since the company is trying to upzone the park so they can destroy it to build a high-rise. They will shoot themselves in the foot if they do this - those living in Brickell are becoming fatigued at the total disregard for public amenities and continuing threat to quality of life by destroying nearly every public space we have. Demand will plummet and condos and apartments will start to empty if this continues. Enjoy our miniscule parks while we have them and before Brickell goes under. Please support the petition on change.org to try to save Allen Morris Park.

This is a beautiful slice of paradise in the middle of the banana republic. Take some time to walk…read morethrough. What may be the last on spoiled land in the neighborhood.

$8 fee to enter; cute little town-like center with stores and restaurants a bit of a drive in, then…read morea long road to a group of about 6 really huge parking areas that give access to the trails, beach and lighthouse. Easy to spot public restrooms sprinkled here and there, seemed in decent shape. The beach is utterly beautiful, though aggravating in that so many tourists obnoxiously ignored to many posted signs to keep off the dunes and stay off the rocks. The lighthouse has tours, but the attached cabin seems semi-permanently closed. All in all, I'm glad we took the time to visit... and the bridge to Key Biscayne is its own treat.

I find myself back on key biscayne exploring this park often! Such a peaceful getaway that feels…read moretropical without such a touristy feel! Definitely worth the trip, and recommend going for sunrise!

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. lots of history here. had a private tour for my class's field trip…read more super cool place, they're doing a really amazing job restoring the forest

There is a lot of history here at this 15 acre preserve. The land is currently owned by EEL, the…read moreDepartment of Environmentally Endangered Lands. The preserve is named after Hattie Bauer a school teacher, whose pioneer family homesteaded in the early 1900's. Hattie passed away in 1961. The land became a private farm in 1922 and a year later it was sold to Lee Arthur Fennell who turned it into one of Miami's first roadside attractions, Fennell's Orchid Jungle which opened in 1923.. Four generations of the Fennell family occupied the land for 70 years until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the attraction. Fortunately for the Fennell family their luck changed when they won several million dollars in the lottery. Shortly after that the land was was purchased by the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Florida Communities Trust who turned it into a preserve. In 1999 Orchid Jungle was designated as a historic site by Miami -Dade County. The preserve has a loop trail with interpretive boards. Some of the old historic Orchid Jungle buildings remain but you are not allowed to go in them. The trail goes through a tropical hardwood hammock lined with gumbo limbo and oak trees which add to the feeling that you are walking in a jungle. The preserve contains rare plant species including ferns that grow in the solution holes formed when acid rain eroded the oolitic limestone. The Miami-Dade Parks Department periodically runs $6 guided hikes through Hattie Bauer. Call (305) 242-7688 for future dates.