While driving down the Sawgrass Expressway one day I noticed Sunset Hammock, a public art work…read morelocated in Sunset Point Park in Tamarac. I made a mental note to come back and get a better look. Completed in November of 2023, this monumental new artwork was created by artist Margi Glavovic who was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and grew up in Durban, South Africa. In 1999 she founded Glavovic Studio, an architecture firm in Ft, Lauderdale,. Since its inception Glavovic Studios has created affordable housing, parks, commercial spaces, museums, landscapes, and public art commissions. Nature plays a large part in her design inspiration. Sunset Hammock is an interactive in-situ metal land bridge structure that transforms into a community periscope to view the Everglades. An observational boardwalk, which includes a modular red aluminum walkway leads to a large community periscope measuring 20 feet by 3 feet, which offers a view into the Everglades that lie beyond the Sawgrass Expressway. The hammock in the artworks name comes from the hammock ecosystem found in the Florida Everglades. It is a shady tropical forest found on higher elevations and which provide important habitat for many species of wildlife, including nine federally listed species. While most hammocks are now federally protected many acres were lost to developers who were looking for higher ground to build on. This artwork was designed to give visitors a glimpse into the nearby Florida Everglades while bringing together conceptual art and nature. With this art piece Glavovic wants to raise awareness about the critical role of the Everglades within the ecological balance of South Florida. The project was created to integrate the adjacent wetland with this community park. Sunset Hammock is part of the city's Public Art Program and was approved by the city commission in April 2021. In 2020 it won am AIA Fort Lauderdale Honor Award and has been awarded grants from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Florida Land and Water Conservation Fund. The $1.1 million art installation was funded through a $400K Land and Water Conservation Grant and Public Art Funds. I love the interactive nature of this art. It incorporates art, science, community, and nature to spark interest in the Everglades which will hopefully lead to more people learning about the importance of its ecosystem. It is also a great place to watch the sun set.

If you're on the sawgrass, you'll notice the red bridge. I was thrilled to find out this was…read moreminutes from my house. Very small park but a nice one. They have pavilions with electricity to rent (affordable, I rented one), grills , bathrooms on site, covered playground and off course the red bridge. Great for parties, picnics and more. Lots of parking. Very quiet park. No pets allowed!

Flamingo Gardens is one of South Florida's most beautiful and meaningful attractions. Beyond the…read morestunning botanical gardens and incredible wildlife, what truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the 3Rs: Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release. The care and compassion shown to the animals is evident throughout the entire property. Many of the animals at Flamingo Gardens have been rescued and given a second chance, with the ultimate goal of rehabilitating and releasing them back into their natural habitats whenever possible. Their dedication to wildlife conservation and education is inspiring and makes every visit feel purposeful. The grounds are beautifully maintained, the staff and volunteers are knowledgeable and passionate, and the experience is both enjoyable and educational for visitors of all ages. It's wonderful to see an organization so committed to protecting Florida's native wildlife while creating an engaging experience for the community. Flamingo Gardens is much more than a botanical garden--it's a sanctuary, a conservation center, and a shining example of what can be accomplished through Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release. I highly recommend supporting this incredible organization and experiencing it for yourself.

This is a great nature and animal attraction. Not a zoo but a non profit rescue and rehabilitation…read more(and when possible, release) facility that is constantly evolving in its exhibits. The size is manageable for walking and the circulating tram provides a nice quick overview (and a bit of a rest). The paths are mostly shaded. The staff are truly dedicated to their mission. The wildlife encounters are informative and fun. The sculptures throughout are whimsically realistic. Everyone (except the cashier at the snack stand near the flamingos) was friendly and helpful. Free roaming peacocks and other critters make walking around even more fun. Give yourself at least 3 hours so you can see everything and time the educational presentations without being rushed. Things do run on schedule. It was not overly crowded at 2p on a weekday. Every fee was reasonable and we happily added a bit more to the donation boxes. A lot goes on behind the scenes in the care and feeding of the animals. They should somehow let the public see some of that-- I'm sure that would compel more donations!! Highly recommended and we'll return when next in the area.

The perfect little garden across from the Colonnade Outlets to view or sit and relax on the metal…read morebenches surrounded by four giant artsy gators including the leader Gaudi Gator himself. Two live feral black cats were seen enjoying the garden too. This garden is between the Grand Lux and the Villagio restaurants. Tonight there was a nice cool breeze and the bright white lights wrapped around the trees looked pretty.

The Gator Garden is located in the courtyard next to Grand Lux Cafe and in front of the Colonnade…read moreentrance. There are benches, a fountain, trees, and several alligators painted by local artists. The Gator Garden was created to celebrate the Sawgrass Mills Mall 20th anniversary. I was expecting to find a cute photo opportunity but it was actually kind of sad. A few of the gators were dirty and the paint was peeling. I think they neglected to seal the paint and now it is deteriorating as it is exposed to the elements. There is an Everglades themed alligator and one dedicated to teachers. My favorite is the one covered in mosaic glass. Since that one is not painted it still looks to be in good shape. There used to be signs next to the gators but they have all been removed. There are a few benches which makes this a good place to rest outside and the fountain is pretty. As far as the gators go, I think it was a good idea but the mall really needs to restore them. As it is now, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.

The Village Art Plaza is a new event space and sculpture garden next to City Park. The art plaza is…read moreon the site of the City of Sunrise's first post office that served residents from 1970 until 2007. Once a gathering place for people to send mail, buy stamps, see a friendly face, and chat with neighbors, the space has now been turned into a different kind of community space. This public art space was designed to be a place where Sunrise and its visitors can gather for cultural events. The colorful open space has murals on the wall including the Stay Sunny mural by Surge Contemporary Artist Murals. There are also several sculptures, my favorite is the T-Rex. There is a stage and lots of seating in the area along with beautiful landscaping. This new space kicks off with The Village Art Plaza Grand Opening on March 29th. This event will run from 5 to 9 PM and it includes live music, food and drinks, giveaways, and kids crafts. Other upcoming events include food trucks, morning yoga, story time, and a farmer's market. I am super excited to enjoy this brand new space where the community will be able to experience art, food, and cultural events.

There was a special for educators and their family to go free. So, as a teacher, I had to take…read moreadvantage of it while on maternity leave and check out the space for potential field trip. They gave a welcome goodie bag with information, which was cute. It's a small space for kids to explore, create, and learn. The interactive exhibits and hands-on art stations can keep kids engaged while making the experience fun and educational. A spot that inspires creativity. It is definitely geared towards older, school aged kids. I had my 8 month old with me and their wasn't much for him to do. It probably would be good for lower elementary students. They had painting stations, and a lot of recycled materials to make puppets. Admission can be pricey but its worth checking out on a hot or rainy day. I'm glad they do events for educators to see the space!

Super cute place! We went for a friend's kid's birthday and it was wonderful! A variety of…read moreactivities and a nice amount of free play. Many different stations with art projects. The staff was friendly and kind. I would go check this out on our own for sure!

An outdoor semi-covered shopping extravaganza hosting several restaurants and outlet stores even…read morewith an escape room and an arcade for an added experience. Over the years, businesses have come and gone, but the Yard House, Johnny Rockets, In The Game, Cheesecake Factory, Old Navy, Nordstrom, Reebok and the Regal 23 Cinema are main draws at the Oasis. In the last few weeks, the Mojito Bar and California Pizza Kitchen have finally shut it's doors. Every weekend the Florida Fresh Market provides tastes of multi-cultural and international foods within the Oasis. Love the deep discounts provided by the stores and the happy hours at the eateries. Gender assigned bathrooms are on the property. Shoppers beware of the thunderstorms that plague this area in the summer. Not much cover so bring an umbrella.

We needed to beat the heat on a hot June day. We took advantage of a Groupon. We were greeted by…read morefriendly employees, including Elie. He was very helpful and explained everything to us. A personal pan pizza and drink was included with the Groupon so we had a chance to check out the Johnny Rockets. It was a positive. Thank you Elie for taking such good care of us. We will return thank you.

This area is always well kept. I usually just come here for the tot area with my toddler. Well…read moremaintained.

Really underrated area, I took my daughters here and we all had a great time! The atmosphere to the…read moreplant life it was wonderful

GATOR vs PUPPY At…read morethe Colonnade Outlet Shoppes there are the three giant mosaic gators in the Gator Garden with one imparticular named Gaudi. It was funny that Yelp had this piece of art entered as an historic landmark, anyways so here we are learning about Gaudi. It drew my attention when my puppy was going to lift his leg on Gaudi Gator but I discouraged him (see pic). Good picturesque opportunity but dont go out of your way for it.

It wasn't even a possibility for me not to get a picture with the notorious Gaudi Gator right…read moreacross from the Colonnades in the Gator Garden. There were a few fashionable mosaic seven foot tall gators but Gaudi stood out and looked the best.

The hotel is literally next to Sawgrass Mills, which makes it very convenient if you're planning to…read moredo outlet shopping. Free parking is also a plus! I want to shoutout Elizabeth (supervisor?), who really went above and beyond. She helped cancel and rebook our room over the phone and arranged a complimentary upgrade for us as a Gold Elite member, and guaranteed a late checkout. She handled everything very seamlessly and made the whole process completely hassle free. Kelly was also very helpful in extending our stay for an extra day and allowing us to remain in the same room. My only complaint is that the hotel lacks a few basic amenities such as Q-tips, robes and slippers. Disappointing... Housekeeping also tends to come quite late in the afternoon, usually after 2 pm. Otherwise, everything was decent.

Took a crack at this three year old AC Hotel bar at the Colonnades Outlets. The bar was dead and…read morehappy hour was over at 7pm but we viewed the drink menu and wanted to order a cold Funky Buddah draft beers but the oddly quiet bartender advised that all the co2 was out and only the domestic bottle beers were available - bummer. OK, so I ordered a Samuel Adam's bottle beer for $7.00. The lounge area surrounding the bar is classy and provides comfy seating for gatherings. There is an outside patio with a plethora of couches and tables for relaxing just a bit too humid tonight. We decided to take the elevator to the 8th floor event patio which overlooks the Fort Lauderdale and Sunrise skyline and allows an unobstructed view of the multi-colored illuminated Hard Rock Hotel. The current room prices are $189.00 and only five have balconies. The continental breakfast is $16.00. The fitness center is open 24 hours although there is not a pool on the property. This hotel provides a perfect location for international tourists on vacation.