While looking for place to get a few steps in I stumbled across Mary Brandon Park. It is a small…read moreneighborhood park tucked near the northeast corner of the West Palm Beach Golf Course, just east of Forest Hill High School and the West Palm Beach Country Club. It's named after Mary Brandon, a local politician who served on the city's Parks and Recreation Commission in the 1960s. Established in 1999, this park holds the distinction of being the first dog park in the City of West Palm Beach. It features two separate fenced areas--one for small dogs (25 pounds and under) and another for larger dogs. Amenities include dog-friendly water fountains, play tunnels, as well as plenty of chairs, benches, and tables for owners to relax. In July 2019, the city unveiled a brand-new playground, replacing older equipment with updated, shade-covered slides and climbing structures. In addition to the dog park and playground, the park also offers picnic pavilions, a baseball field, restrooms, and a large open green space that's perfect for running around or getting some exercise. I really appreciate how the city created a space that caters to both kids and dogs. It's a welcoming, versatile park that serves the neighborhood well--perfect for a casual afternoon outdoors. I'd definitely come back, especially if I brought my dog or just wanted a quiet place to unwind outside for a while.

We were heading south on Georgia Avenue after our lunch and came across this neighborhood park…read more This is a West Palm Beach park of about six and a half acres. It's perfect for kids and dogs. There is a nice playground area with a structure, benches, a softball field, a basketball court, a walking path, and open grass to run around in. For the pet owner, there are two dog "parks"/dog run areas for differing size dogs that are fenced in. When we stopped by, there was only one other car parked in the lot. It was lovely weather so I was surprised that more people were not taking advantage of the first sunny day in a while. There are some large old trees providing shade, too. We'd be here often if we lived in the neighborhood.

Participated in the Annual Heroes for Education 5K walk/run and it was one of the best experiences…read moreI've had at events likes this. Everything was very well planned. Signage was displayed everywhere, very easy to follow. So many volunteers for such an awesome event. I know that the event was the star of the day but it wouldn't have been possible without this great location. The park looks like it's well taken care of, with great potential and seems to offer many enjoyable areas for all ages.

This beautiful park is one of the most expensive in the area. It has such a large variety of things…read moreto offer. I first came to find out about the park as it is a poke event day hotspot. But just after one visit we realized what an amazing park this is and often drive from two cities away just to visit. This park is a lovely escape to nature in South Florida. Boosting, many walking paths, bike paths, a dog park, a splash pad, frisbee, golf pitch, fishing areas, boating lake and many other sports areas. Overall, the paths pavement are generally well maintained, however, you do get a little bit of cracking as you do with most paved areas in Florida due to the heat- nothing too extreme, it was still easy to push a stroller. The bathrooms are always clean, yet admittedly, they are quite dated and dark on the inside, even though hygienically they are up to standards . Perhaps adding some better lighting on the inside could help make it feel a little nicer. Today while walking around the park, we visited many of the small playgrounds and our young child enjoyed getting out to play .

wow, what a park. It's a bit of a drive from me, so I hadn't…read moremade way up there to Okeeheelee till recently. Some different friends who also Disc Golf had said it was one of the best courses around so I finally felt the urge to make it up there. The open a little early which is nice too. Entering the park is impressive in itself. There are so mnay things going on from a large lake spanning waterpark, wildlife all over, a BMX park that's a good size, and of course, the disc course. The things some had said that was obvious immediately, is that the place had far more rolling hills than any park or place in South Florida. I started off at the top of a hill and had to through down to the bottom of the hill. There were shots later where I had to throw over a pond and up a hill. From the elevation changes to the great forest and water holes, it really was worth the drive. Heck, I've been back 2 more times this month already.

Hands down one of my favorite parks in the community! Okeeheelee Park has so much to offer, and…read moreI've been coming here for years. During the COVID lockdown, walking the trails became my favorite pastime. Especially as a pregnant woman looking for peace and fresh air, lol. Years later, those same trails are still a favorite activity for my son and me. More recently, I've taken up disc golf and was excited to find out the group I joined regularly plays at the Okeeheelee course. It's been such a fun and engaging experience! Just yesterday, I attended a picnic at one of the park's pavilions, and it was wonderful. The swings and playground next to the pavilion made it perfect for a family-friendly event. The space provided plenty of seating and shade, so everyone could enjoy themselves without being overwhelmed by the heat. There's still so much of this park I haven't explored yet, and I genuinely look forward to continuing to visit for years to come.

Jewell Cove Natural Area is located across the street from the Lake Worth Municipal Park. It is…read morejust South of the Lake Ave. Bridge along Ocean Ave. on the east side of the Lake Worth Lagoon. This natural area is a maritime hammock which is a natural band of forest that grows on the stabilized back dunes of barrier islands. This natural area is 11.4 acres with 1,200 feet of shoreline on the Lake Worth Lagoon. In February 1967 this land was leased for 99 years to the Milton Steinhardt family. In 2012, Judge Raphael Steinhardt, grandson of Milton Steinhardt relinquished the lease so that the land could be donated to the City of Lake Worth to be enjoyed by the public. This parcel has now been turned into a nature preserve, nine acres of which are submerged so that mangroves and sea grasses can grow. A maritime hammock community makes up another 2 and 1/2 acres. In 2015 and 2016 volunteers removed exotic plants. Fifteen truckloads were removed along with concrete material that had been dumped to prevent erosion. Three thousands tons of limestone were then installed to create a breakwater that prevents erosion and creates a habitat for oysters which filter the water. Clean sand was added and sea grass and mangroves were planted. The mangroves also filter out pollutants and acts as a marine life nursery. The marsh grass breaks up wave energy and provides a wildlife habitat. The Jewell Cove Natural Area serves as a refuge to the animals of the Lake Worth lagoon. This includes osprey, tricolored heron. snowy egret, little blue heron, and white ibis. Plants found here include coralbean, cabbage palm, sea grape, strangler fig, sand cordgrass, green buttonwood, and mangroves. There is a hiking trail through the preserve and you can launch a kayak on the Lake Worth Lagoon but the main benefit of this preserve is to improve the health of the Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem. In 2019, the commission voted to put on the ballot a 99-year lease on Jewel Cove's 11.4 acres submerged along the Intracoastal and to keep the land on the southeast side of the bridge a natural area. This ensures that the area stays a natural living shoreline, protected by Palm Beach County. The county will not be able to build on the land and it will be maintained as a sanctuary.

What a pretty small wild area this is!…read more It's located just north of Hypoluxo Island, very close to the Lantana Municipal Beach (reachable by foot) and has one side on the Intracoastal. It is a busy road, but it's kind of hidden and there are no big signs indicating the entrance. The parking lot is very small, but when we went there, we were actually the only ones. There is a gazebo at the beginning of the path, which is not paved, but no restrooms. The preserve is very small and you will walk it for just about 15 minutes, but it is so peaceful! I also love the fact that it's so full of trees and that makes the path completely shaded; there are also a few benches outside the main trail, where you can spend some relaxing time.

We stopped here on our way back from lunch. We weren't sure about walking the trail(s) as it had…read morejust started to rain and thunder. There's parking in a small lot. The preserve is located on the north side of Ocean Avenue. There's a separate entrance and exit for cars. So we only got to see a very little bit of the preserve. However, I loved that they had great signage telling you what to look for in plant and animal life. And a small covered area just as you started the trail(s). This place is great for a little bit of hiking/walking, some birdwatching, photography, and communing with nature. You get to see a little bit of what Florida used to look like before all the construction and increase in human population. We will have to come back when it's cooler and drier to explore some more.

While heading through Lantana on my way to the beach, I stumbled across a beautiful Intracoastal…read morepark and decided to stop and get a few extra steps in--and I'm so glad I did. This hidden gem is now known as President Gerald R. Ford Lantana Bicentennial Park, renamed in 2007 to honor President Ford's 1976 visit commemorating the nation's 200th anniversary. Today, it's a peaceful and well-maintained waterfront spot right at the base of the bridge. The park offers a great mix of amenities, including picnic tables, grills, a playground, a picnic pavilion, a spacious green lawn, and clean restrooms. There's also a seawall and a fishing pier, making it a great place to cast a line or just relax by the water. Directly across the way, Sportsman Park provides even more fishing opportunities. The pavilion can be reserved through the city, but the picnic tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is metered unless there's a special event, in which case the city provides a shuttle. Lantana also hosts community events here, including Fourth of July celebrations and a local green market. Even on a regular day, though, it's a perfect spot to sit along the water, take in the scenic views of Lake Worth Lagoon, and watch the boats drift by.

This park was across the street from where we were dining. After lunch we walked over. It's a joint…read moreeffort between the city of Lantana and the Lantana Chamber of Commerce. The signage and park also honors former President Gerald Ford. In front of the park sign, and in front of all the flagpoles, there's a separate small stone slab highlighting each armed services branch including the coast guard. Behind the signage is a large art installation. And there's a small butterfly sculpture nearer the waterway. The park is located on the north side of Ocean Avenue just west of the bridge going over the Intracoastal. There's a nice sized playground area -- including structures to climb and slide on, and also a set of swings. A few kids were loudly enjoying this. There's a covered pavilion; and bathroom facilities; there are benches spaced periodically. And a walkway along the wall running along the waterway. A fisherman was trying his hand from the side nearer the bridge. And a few folks were just enjoying the water views from benches and taking a "me" break. My husband is already planning to come back here to fish. And I'll be bringing a good book to enjoy while he catches us dinner.

This was a nude beach when I was a kid. That ended in 1982 when it became a beloved state park…read more They have done a lot to preserve native plants. You can rent kayaks here or swim. It's usually not too crowded. This is where we would go to see sea turtles laying eggs. And that continues to this day. It's a great location and a beautiful park.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park seemed like such a hidden gem from everything I had read and…read moreseen online. I loved that it offers so many activities in one place--kayaking, paddleboarding, the beach, picnic areas, a gift shop, and educational exhibits--all at very reasonable prices. Parking was only $5, and the kayak and paddleboard rentals were affordable too. Unfortunately, I happened to visit on a day with an extremely low tide. Paddleboard rentals were suspended, but kayak rentals were still available. The staff did warn us about the low tide and advised us to stay near the edges to avoid getting stuck. However, as someone new to kayaking, I didn't realize just how much the tide would impact the experience. For a large portion of our trip, the water was so shallow that our kayaks constantly got stuck. We had to repeatedly get out and drag them through the water. At times, the water wasn't even ankle deep. I completely understand that the staff can't control the tides, but I honestly wish kayak rentals had also been paused that day because the conditions made it difficult to really enjoy the experience. By the time we finished kayaking, we were exhausted and felt pretty gross from walking through the murky water, so we ended up skipping the beach altogether. Outside of that, the park itself looked lovely. There was a nice picnic area, a cute gift shop, and they even had a rescued sea turtle with a volunteer sharing information about sea turtle conservation, which was a really nice touch. There also appeared to be several educational exhibits throughout the park, although they happened to be closed during our visit. One downside was a pretty unpleasant smell near the gift shop, but I'm guessing that may have also been related to the unusually low tide. Despite my experience, I haven't written the park off. The photos I've seen online make it look absolutely beautiful, and I think we were just unlucky with the timing. I'd definitely consider coming back on a day with higher water levels to give it another chance. It sounds like a great park overall--I just recommend checking the tide conditions before planning to kayak or paddleboard so you can enjoy it at its best.

Mounts is the perfect date/day trip to take when the weather is nice! We went on an extremely hot…read moreday but there were still lots of trees to provide great shade. It's unfortunate that mounts is located right by the airport with many planes and helicopters flying overhead, sort of takes you out of the tranquil ambience but my fiance seemed to appreciate the unexpected airshow. The flora and fauna of mounts is extremely varied and we discovered some new plants we'd never heard or seen before. The natural beauty was also very picturesque and we snapped so many good close ups of flowers butterflies, trees and even koi fish! I would recommend packing a lunch and some waters as they have stone benches and tables for sitting in many hideaway areas of mouths.

This was a great morning walking around the Winter Plant Sale…read more Beautiful grounds with lots of educational opportunities as well as the obvious vendors of all sorts. We got plants, seeds, and even a membership for the Garden!