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.

This pretty park is located in Coconut Grove next to the bay. We took a short walk along S…read moreBayshore Drive on a nicely paved walkway. We saw joggers, families and athletes working out. You can take a stroll to the bay to appreciate a marina and the boats as well as beautiful views of the Miami area. You can also jog, bike, push your baby in its stroller, or walk your dog. There are a couple of tall colorful metal sculptures of a giraffe, horse and a bull for kids to climb. All in all it's a nice, quiet park to explore. There are approximately 280+ parks in Miami-Dade county to enjoy.

We took a quick stroll to come and see the fountain. It was a small park with a lot of areas fenced…read moreoff. Not sure if it was in preparation of an event coming up or if it is always like that! There was a tall fence around the fountain where I was just able to get my phone high enough not to include in a photo, but wouldn't be able to get selfies or full body photos without the ugly fence. We sat by the water for a short time and enjoyed watching the boats and cruise lines coming back & forth. There was a shopping market happening across the street, so we ended up going there to kill more time before meeting the rest of our group.

This park takes its name from the Miami Rock Ridge, an oolitic, outcrop of limestone which is part…read moreof the Miami Formation that formed in a large swath throughout southernmost South Florida. The Miami Formation is part of an ecosystem that formed portions of the Everglades. The coastal ridge is part of the endangered Pine Rocklands which supports many rare and threatened plant species. The habitats that live on this harsh rocky terrain are some of the most biodiverse in Florida. You can see the remains of the oolitic rocks throughout this park. In addition to being a part of this areas geological history, this park has many family friendly amenities enjoyed by the community today. These include a paved exercise loop around the perimeter of the park that is ideal for walking, running, and bike riding, several outdoor exercise stations that use your body weight to build muscle, a covered playground with sand floor, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables. Note that there are no restrooms. This park is ideal for exercise, play, picnics, and taking in the wonder of Mother Nature.

Great park. Parking is limited. Close to school and home. Has a nice sidewalk to ride bike, walk or…read morerun.

Hammocks Community Park is a neighborhood park in Miami next door to Lakeview at the Hammocks…read moreCondominiums. Park amenities include a lighted baseball field, racquetball court, benches, picnic pavilion, playground, and a recreation center that offers school break camps, youth leagues, and after school programs. The park also has teqball tables which is a new sport to me. Teqball uses a table that looks like table tennis but instead is curved. The sport combining table tennis and football was invented in 2014 by Hungarians: Gabor Borsanyi and Viktor Huszar. Borsnyi was injured playing soccer and wanted to find a less aggressive sport. Today soccer players use it for supplemental training. It has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. After less than 10 years, more than 100 countries already have their own teqball associations. I really loved my visit to Hammocks Community Park. From the parking lot it doesn't look like much but I picked up the pathway that goes past the playground and sports fields to the back of the park where it runs next to a scenic lake. There are large trees in the back of the park offering shade and shelter to wildlife. For anyone looking for more exercise, you can pick up the 7.3 mile Hammocks Lakes Loop at the entrance to Hammocks Community Park. The paved trail winds around the lake and apartment complexes. It is ideal for birding, walking, running, bike riding, and dog walking.

I love this park so much! I've been here a couple of time and I love how you can walk since they…read morehave a path to do so, and enjoy the beautiful lake as well as the greens around the entire park. They have there benches around so you can even have a sit and relax and a playground too.

So quiet. Peaceful…read more Up the river is the Wharf. The Wharf is a cool place, been there a couple times, paid $300 minimum for the group to sit in a comfy lounger by the water. But you bring a cooler, a small grill, or use theirs, a call table and chairs and you have the same thing but waaaaay more peaceful. Watching the yachts going up and down the river is fun. This is not your typical free for all park jammed with families on the weekend. No one knows about this little park !! One gazebo, a few picnic tables, playground with rubber below, a couple grills, benches by the water. Plenty of shade. Great park to make- out.

At the turn of the century, the land where the park is was the property of Civil War General Samuel…read moreC. Lawrence of New England. He was injured in the Battle of Bull Run in 1861. In Miami he created an estate with a lush garden in which he planted with royal palms and a boat slip. He grew grapefruits on the rest of his land. After Lawrence passed away in 1911 the land was subdivided and the city of Miami purchased the land where the garden was 1964. A park was created and named for Miami pioneer Everest George Sewell who opened the first store north of the Miami River on March 26, 1896. He also served four terms as mayor of Miami. He died on April 2, 1940 at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The park is 10.33 acres along the Miami River next to the 17th Street Bridge. The park is two levels with the upper level near the parking lot containing a playground, barbecues, and benches. In this portion of the park you can see a historical marker and columns and stairs that are the ruins of Lawrences guest house that the city demolished in 1969. There is also the remains of the water pump Lawrence used to irrigate his garden. The lower portion of the park is a large linear green space along the Miami River providing a beautiful view of the water. The large royal palm trees that General Lawrence planted line the river bank. Here you will also find caves that belong to the Miccosukee Indian Tribe. There is a no trespassing sign but it is fascinating to think that there might be artifacts in there. I would be remiss if I did not talk about the cats here. This park is filled with stray cats. As an animal lover I was concerned but there were trays of food everywhere and they had the notch in the ear indicating that they are fixed. They looked well cared for. Eating at the buffet and interacting with the cats were various raccoons. Another interesting fact about the park is that the Miami New Times claims it is the best public park for Santeria rituals due to it's proximity to the river. Santeria is an Afro Cuban religion. Supposedly offerings of candy, fruit, and other objects are left on the river banks. The beautiful view and history make this one of Miami's more interesting parks to visit.

Yesterday we stopped by this lovely little waterfront park in Miami's Upper East Side, known for…read moreits views of Biscayne Bay and a large red and white domino sculpture. It offers a peaceful and relaxing experience with walking paths, playgrounds, and picnic areas, and is a popular spot for families, pet owners, and photographers seeking scenic views IG shots. It is very well maintained and shows pride by the neighborhood. It wasn't very crowded on a Monday. Note: there are no restrooms at this park. There is some street parking around the neighborhood.

Albert Pallot Park is a small but unique spot right by the water. If you're driving on the I-195…read morefrom Miami Beach to Midtown, you'll easily spot the park thanks to the giant red domino pieces standing tall near the waterfront--definitely a cool design that makes for great photos. The park itself is well-maintained with clean pathways and a peaceful vibe, making it a nice place to take a walk, relax, or snap some pictures by the water. While the park is a gem, the surrounding area could use some improvement. Hopefully, as the city continues to develop and clean up, Albert Pallot Park will feel even more connected to the rest of the neighborhood. Overall, it's a nice place to visit, especially if you're looking for a quick stop to enjoy the view and take some cool photos. I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

Stillwater Park is one of several triangle shaped neighborhood parks in Miami Beach near the…read morewaterways off of Biscayne Bay. Miami Beach is built up with a lot of businesses and residential housing. Green spaces are lacking in this area so Stillwater park along with Crespi, and Tatum parks provide much needed recreational resources to the neighborhoods they are in. Stillwater Park is located at the entrance of gated Stillwater Dr. in the Biscayne Beach neighborhood. Stillwater Drive is a single street that is its own neighborhood. Jutting into Biscayne Bay, it is a rectangular peninsula that can be accessed via two streets, 86th Street on the north side and Hawthorne Avenue on the south. This area was once a patch of mangroves that were filled in and developed during the late 1930s by the Biscayne Point Realty Company. Stillwater like much of North Beach exploded after World War II with a boom in population and in housing. A key feature of the park is a playground designed for children ages 5 - 12 with spring riders, a climbing board, zip line, seesaw, toddler and youth swings. Other park amenities include stationary fitness equipment, a lighted basketball court, grassy field for open play, and benches. In 2008 a Miami Beach Police Department Canine Training Facility was added to the park. At the east end of the park stands a covered pavilion which is equipped with water fountains and restrooms. The pavilion can be rented for private events. This park is fenced in for safety. You can find limited parking around the perimeter but it is mainly used by local residents who walk over. Like all of the parks in Miami Beach, Stillwater Park is very clean and well maintained.

Looking for outdoorsy free activities?? visit a local park and enjoy the sunny weather…read more This park is a little gem in the Miami Beach area. There are a few nice and well maintained parks and this one is really convenient. Parking can be a little tricky but is manageable.

Best, most cleaned, serene park ever! Great for all ages! Elderly, middle aged, young adults, and…read morekids. My family and I loved it!! It doesn't seem like it from the outside but it's humongous! Nice for nature walk, Picnics, and exercise. The kids have lots of place to run wild.

You know that no one loves parks more than the big guy…read more Miami Beach, you've done a really good thing here. This park is beautiful and a welcomed oasis in the zaniness of South Beach. The playground is great but the should've known that the zip line was going to be the big hit and put multiples The meandering paths and hills create inviting zones to picnic and just hang out. Tennis courts that are open to the public are a nice touch Parking? Where is it? We found parking but I'm not sure it was entirely legal so