Dawn Park is one of the 21 community parks in Cooper City that the Parks and Recreation Department…read moremaintains to support the recreation and healthy lifestyles of residents and visitors. This is the neighborhood park for the Dawn Estates community in Cooper City. Dawn Estates is a quiet, family-friendly residential neighborhood in Cooper City. It feature 82 homes and is considered a safe neighborhood close to schools and shopping Dawn Park is a spacious four acres. There is a small playground with a slide and climbing equipment. The park also features shade trees, benches, a picnic table, and open space. However, there is no dedicated parking or restroom facilities. An important point to note is that the park is not fenced in, so you'll need to keep an eye on children to ensure they don't wander off. It ended up being the perfect place to sit for a few minutes while I planned my next destination. If you're looking for a park to take a nature hike consider nearby Jerry Morgan Park.

This amenity is by far my favorite inside of Tree Tops Park. It is totally free and easy to access…read more Parked my car next to the paved walking path and took about one minute to walk to the four story wooden viewing tower that was heavily surrounded by trees and brush. Walked slowly to the top tier with my bum knee but made it. The view is nice but no wildlife observed except for a few colorful birds that were singing. The tower is secluded and adventurous but dont get your hopes up to get a glimpse of a wild hog or coyote cause its not gonna happen.

Located in Broward Estates, the site of Maye Frances Brooks Jenkins Park was once a dilapidated…read morewater plant. Broward Estates was annexed into the city of Lauderhill in 2006. Soon after, homeowners association president Jacob Greene began working with officials to revamp the area by adding a park. The city commission named the park in honor of community-minded former resident, Maye Frances Brooks Jenkins. Jenkins worked as a chorus director at county schools and is remembered for her years of dedication to youth and to Broward Estates. She provided financial aid to students, often out of her own pocket. Jenkins passed away in 2005. The park was built by the Fort Lauderdale-based architecture firm EDSA .The 44,000 square foot outdoor space has flowering trees and landscaping, a playground, a public art amphitheater, benches, an illuminated walking trail, and a parking lot. Unfortunately the playground looks damaged and was taped off during my visit. Lauderhill commissioners want the park to serves as a symbol of Broward Estates inclusion into their city.

My wife and I walked down the Riverwalk path and stopped at this sandy oasis with ten wooden lounge…read morechairs surrounded by curved wooden benches. A place to kick your feet up and just completely relax with the million dollar view of the yachts floating under the Andrews Street Bridge.

Like to stop here and chill . Looking at the birds in the water swimming is very relaxing . I can…read morealways count the Different birds coexisting and having fun in the water. Next time I come to the park I'm going to bring a loaf of bread to feed them. This too is one of my favorite things to do at this park, is feed the birds and chill.

I was in the neighborhood and stumbled on this great park on the shores of Oak Lake. The park has a…read morecommunity center, playground, benches, and a fishing dock on the lake. The thing I loved most about it was the number of birds. There was a huge flock of ibis along with ducks and Egyptian geese. Off in the distance you can see the new Hard Rock guitar shaped hotel. It's a nice peaceful place to get some fresh air and enjoy wildlife.

Tortuga Trail is a beautiful scrub preserve located on the campus of Florida Atlantic University,…read morewith a surprisingly rich history. Before World War II, this area was part of the vast South Florida scrubland. In 1942, it became the Boca Raton Army Air Field, where over 100,000 soldiers trained for combat. The Army constructed more than 800 buildings and four runways, and planes from across the country flew here to have radar installed. This development reduced the native scrub habitat to a small "island" between runways, which was regularly cleared. When FAU opened in 1964, part of the former base became a regional airport. The remaining conservation area continued to be mowed until the 1970s, when a determined botanist began restoring it to its natural state. In 1971, the National Audubon Society designated the preserve as an owl sanctuary--and impressively, it has continued to thrive even as the university has expanded. Originally over 100 acres, the preserve has gradually shrunk to about 90 acres due to campus development, including the stadium, parking lots, and student housing. Still, it remains a vital pocket of native Florida scrub habitat. Running through the preserve is the two-mile Tortuga Trail, an interpretive nature path built and maintained by FAU's S.E.E.D.S. club (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity, and Sustainability). The green trail begins at the parking area and connects to the blue and red loops; the red trail leads to Parking Lot 5 behind the stadium. Along the trail, you might spot threatened gopher tortoise and burrowing owl--the university's mascot. The plant life includes sabal (cabbage) palm (Florida's state tree), saw palmetto, slash and sand pine, live and dwarf oak, rusty lyonia, and even the fragrant tarflower. Notably, the rare Toothed Rein Orchid was discovered here in 2016. I didn't spot any owls or tortoises on my visit, but I did enjoy bright yellow prickly pear blooms, wild coffee, lantana, a cute grasshopper, and plenty of buck moth caterpillars covered in spiky (and stinging!) bristles. The trail itself is rustic and easy to follow, marked by green, blue, and red posts. Some sections are in full sun, but much of the path offers shade. Just be mindful of your footing--you may need to step over small fallen branches along the way. It was such a nice surprise to discover this hidden hiking spot. Parking is available at Lot 5 or across from the north entrance.

This is private airboat tour with experienced guides. If you have the opportunity and you want to…read moretry something off the beaten path, this is a great experience! We met up at the Everglades Safari Park. Captain Bill took us on a small airboat all around the everglades. We were able to see alligators, birds of all types, turtles, and the different plants of the everglades. Captain Bill told us details of each one. When alligators approached the boat, he called out to them to encourage them to approach. He also made sure we got a good picture by coaxing the alligator to open its mouth. He even seemed familiar with the individual alligators- he told us which ones had gotten into a fight and where they had been hurt. He was also very good at pointing out turtles underwater and baby alligators in the swamp grass (so cute!!!) He also told us about the history of the swamp and pointed out historical sites, such as the cottage where Dwight Eisenhower took fishing/hunting trips. After the tour, the captain brought us to the Everglades Safari Park to enjoy the alligator park. There, we watched the typical alligator show (entertaining and fun for the family) and walked through the exhibits. There is a decent cafe there, too. I would highly recommend this company!! The captains really care about the everglades and the flora and fauna. They are very friendly and informative. This is definitely a terrific experience, you won't regret going on this airboat tour.

GREAT tour!! Bill is super knowledgeable, super personable, showed us a bunch of beautiful sights…read moreand a great time . Book now!!

Very cool community center in Deerfield Beach, with Tai Chi and other activities. Kids playground…read moreand ball field. Classy center with friendly staff.

The Johnny L Tigner Community Center is located in the the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex, a…read more15 acre park with sports fields, a walking trail, gym, picnic areas, and a playground. The beautiful, state of the art, Johnny L. Tigner Community Center is a crown jewel for Deerfield Beach. It was named in honor of Johnny L. Tigner who was born in Georgia but grew up in Deerfield Beach. He was well regarded for spearheading many city initiatives including Big 3 Basketball, Family Kickball, Family Fun Day, and Women's Flag Football. He worked at many athletic events in positions as varied as selling concessions, officiating games, or operating the PA system in his distinctive voice. He especially had a heart for the youth in the community and strived to make Deerfield Beach a better place to live. Community Center amenities include a BSO sub station, ballroom, kitchen, and outdoor patio. Upstairs there is a multipurpose room, dance studio, and a production studio. The community center is available for private rentals with a discounted price for Deerfield Beach city residents. I attended an event in the ballroom that was created to benefit the Deerfield Beach Historical Society. Titled George Was Here, it was a photographic exhibit of pictures of former Beatle George Harrison and his then wife Pattie Boyd and the Beatles' assistant Mal Evans on a 10 day trip to Deerfield Beach in November of 1970. It took place after the break up of the Beatles. Harrison came to visit his aunt and uncle and he stayed at the Shore Road Inn, now known as Pier Walk. Just before the trip he put the finishing touches on his solo album, "All Things Must Pass." In 2024, 18 never-before-seen photographs of Harrison were found at a Deerfield Beach apartment building owned by his maternal uncle and aunt, Edmund and Mimi French. To protect his privacy, many locals kept the secret of Harrison's visit for over 50 years. Fun fact, Florida has another Beatles break up connection. John Lennon signed the legal papers dissolving the Beatles on December 29, 1974, while staying at the Polynesian Village Resort at Disney World in Orlando. The event was very interesting and it benefitted a great organization which strives to preserve the history of the city. I also enjoyed checking out this new community center. In addition to the photographs and historical information, there was light bites from the Deerfield Beach Historical Society, beer, wine, and soda for sale, event posters for sale, and a live band playing George Harrison's music. This was a reminder of just how much Deerfield Beach has to offer. George Was Here is for two nights only, concluding today.