Riding my bike through the Riverwalk and stopped for a cold tea at Pura Vida where the giant THRIVE…read morecavelike stone sculpture proudly stands with green vines filling the sides of the cave. Im not really an art buff, but this sculpture by Daniel Popper was impressive. The stone sculpture depicts a woman cracking open her rib cage with both of her hands symbolizing transformation and hope. People can be seen taking pictures inside the cave. Its worth a few minutes to take a peek at this artwork if near Las Olas in Ft Lauderdale.

The Thrive Statue is one of those pieces that stops you mid-walk. It's powerful, expressive, and…read morequietly emotional--capturing strength, growth, and resilience all at once. The scale alone draws you in, but it's the details and posture that really make you pause and reflect. Set against the modern surroundings, it feels both grounding and inspiring, like a reminder to keep pushing forward even when things feel heavy. Beautifully done, thoughtfully placed, and absolutely worth a moment (or a photo) if you're in the area.

Marc Quinn's "Broken Sublime," is a stunning stainless steel seashell sculpture on Las Olas Blvd &…read moreSE 6th Ave. The conch shell, a piece by British artist Marc Quinn stands over 7 feet tall & weighs more than 5,500 lbs, This larger-than-life stainless steel seashell sculpture valued at nearly $1 million graces the grounds of downtown's long-awaited Tunnel Top Plaza, an artificial turf zone that cost taxpayers $10.6 million. This new sculpture and sitting area is in front of the cheesecake factory. The beach is steps away and the new art here is meant to evoke positive feelings about the Fort Lauderdale seashore.

Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is a new stainless steel public art piece that was purchased for the…read morenew Tunnel Top Park that sits over the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. You can find the giant stainless steel conch shell between the Cheesecake Factory and Sushi Garage on Las Olas Boulevard. The shiny conch shell is over 7 feet high and weighs 5,500 pounds. This art piece and future pieces that will be placed in the park were paid from a 5 million dollar donation from the estate of the late James Winder Laird. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) is by British artist Marc Quinn. Quinn is a contemporary visual artist whose subjects include the body, genetics, identity, environment, and the media. Although primarily known as a sculptor, he has also produced prints and photographs. Quinn has had exhibitions in major galleries like the Tate and he has created public art work for cities all over the world. The public art here is meant to make Tunnel Top Park an inviting place for tourists to hang out on Las Olas Boulevard. Broken Sublime (The Hunger) in particular is meant to evoke the idea that the beach is a short distance away and that Ft. Lauderdale is a beach town. I think this piece adds interest to an otherwise plain pedestrian area. It is also a nice place to take a selfie.

Flamingo Gardens is one of our favorite places in South Florida. Honestly, I'd even call it a…read morepeacock garden because there are so many of them wandering freely throughout the property. I especially love visiting during the winter months when the weather is cooler. It's the perfect time to slow down, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a little picnic with the kids. There are plenty of peaceful spots to sit, relax, and watch the peacocks walking around. The grounds are always clean, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. When you buy your tickets, you can also purchase bird food. We fed both the flamingos and the peacocks, and while it was a fun experience, here's my little tip--don't feed the peacocks from your hand unless you're ready for a pretty strong peck! I learned that one the hard way. There is also a small café, guided tram tours, and on weekends they often have live music, especially in the evenings or during holiday events. Around Christmas, the gardens are beautifully decorated with lights, making the whole place feel even more magical. If you're looking for a relaxing day surrounded by nature, Flamingo Gardens is definitely worth a visit.

Hoping I can offer a yoga or soundbath class here one day !!! Crossing fingers…read more Flamingo Gardens is such a beautiful hidden gem The gardens are gorgeous, the animals are amazing, and there's so much to see beyond just the flamingos. I especially loved seeing the peacocks roaming around, the wildlife, and taking the tram through the gardens. It's a peaceful, family-friendly experience and also a great place to visit if you just want to spend a few hours surrounded by nature. I really appreciated the educational aspect and learning more about the animals and the sanctuary.

Last Saturday I had an amazing touch tour with my two best friends. Guided by Debbie, David and…read moreSonia. The attention to detail and enthusiasm was felt through out the entire tour. Fredrick and Evelyn Bartlets Whimsical Art work and timeless decor was breath taking. The courtyard and beautiful grounds are so inviting and peaceful. Thank you David ,Debbie and Sonia for making me feel at home and invited into an amazing Family story. I will be back!!!

I visited the Bonnet House to see the Zim sculptures on display through April 19, 2026…read moreThe exhibit includes over 2000 hand carved sculptures by over 100 Zimbabwe artist. There are many large sculptures throughout the gardens, they are all labeled with the name of the work, the artist and the material. There is a large market with sculptures of all sizes for sale. The exhibit is so large it is only displayed in one location per year. While we were there, there were two sculptors working on new pieces, both took the time to speak with us. Love is in the air at the Bonnet House, while we were there they were setting up for a wedding and we saw a proposal. A beautiful setting for both. They have special events throughout the year, including an orchid show and Christmas holiday wonderland. Guided and self guided house tours are available,$30-40, we opted for the grounds tour only, $15. The gardens are well shaded so even on a warm day our visit was comfortable.

This post is long overdue but I had a wonderful time when I visited the Morikami Museum & Garden…read more The museum is small but well curated and organized. There is a snack cafe on the way out to the gardens where you can purchase drinks & light food items. There is also a museum store and a theater inside the museum. I do recommend that you visit the museum as early as possible to have the best experience with fewer people and cooler temperatures. However, the real showstopper here is Roji-en (Garden of the Drips of Dew) - the 16 acre Japanese garden with over a mile of accessible walking paths to explore and enjoy. The original museum building (the Yamato-kan) measures approximately 2,000 square feet and is set inside the garden. There is a huge pond in the garden as well, and plenty of nooks and crannies to discover/ When driving into the museum grounds, you experience part of the 200-acre Morikami Park, which includes pine forests, nature trails, and picnic spaces. You can definitely continue to enjoy your day surrounded by nature in the park once you've toured the museum & garden. Open: Tuesday -Sunday 10am-5pm Adult entry: $18 Plenty of parking in the large parking lot Arigato!

I can't even tell you how lovely this place is! 25 nature destinations walked in a loop that goes a…read moremile long, with bridges, waterfalls, bamboo parks, pagoda-styled buildings. Big bright green iguanas prancing around the property. It is a wonderful day trip, you can have lunch at the cafe on the outdoor patio and enjoy a variety of Asian dishes, boba tea, and other cold treats. There is a short movie that tells visitors about the inspiring life of George Morikami, the man who created this place and dedicated hundreds of acres back to Florida. There was an exhibition on Japanese Bridal Kimonos, Japan's efforts in American wars, and a model 16th century tea house with a very informative diagram explaining the traditions and build out. The gift shop had so many cool things bookmarks, Japanese candy, art, keep sakes, clothes, and so much more. Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens is unforgettable.

Since their first public art project, the covered bridge in 1963, Coral Springs has become one of…read morethe leading public art cities in south Florida. The art is paid for during development and redevelopment in the city. Fees are collected from permits during building construction and renovations in the city. None of the art is paid with public tax dollars. Opened in October of last year, ArtWalk, is an event and entertainment space in downtown Coral Springs. It is on NW 31st Court and runs between University and Coral Hills Drives . The ArtWalk is 1300 feet long and has benches, a seating wall, native plant landscaping, and room for event tents. It serves as a park and a place for the city to display temporary art works, some of which they will eventually purchase. I enjoyed checking out the six art works on display which currently include Coalescence, Ascent, Beyond, Union One, and Give Them Wings. My favorite was the steel orchids that make up Coalescence. It is free to enjoy the art and it looks different depending on whether you visit during the day or at night. I look forward to seeing what else the city adds as well as attending events here.

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

Ilene Lieberman Botanical Garden was named for Lauderhill community leader Ilene Lieberman. She…read moreserved as a council women in 1984, mayor in 1988, and as a Broward County Commissioner in 1996. The garden is a small sized at only two acres. Although they didn't have a lot of land to work with they maximized what they had. The garden has an outdoor amphitheater that seats 40 people. There is also a gazebo, a tot lot playground, and an observation deck. Throughout the park there a walking trail, botanical gardens, and public art. The city of Lauderhill uses the park to stage events like the Jazz Picnic in the Park. This park provides a welcome green space in the middle of the city where the community can exercise, play, and gather together for events.

We love art! You got to--to appreciate this space. Great staff Rachel (so informative), Alex in…read morespray paint, and Alex -the one checking tickets- all sooo friendly and great. Rachel is above and beyond awesome. Beautiful art space outdoor and indoor (this was a great break from the heat). The outdoor fans, great idea but they aren't cold so not helping anyone cool off hehe On our second visit we brought the kids and did some spray painting on canvases and a skateboard. Such a great experience. Alex and her partner Andres were so helpful made the experience very enjoyable.

Wynwood Art Walk Tours isn't just walking past murals. It's walking with someone who knows which…read morewalls have stories attached, which artists took risks, which pieces cost the neighborhood something. The murals themselves are massive and they're professional, but scale alone doesn't make art work. Context does. Shepard Fairey's augmented reality layer is the differentiator here. It's not a gimmick. When you scan a mural with your phone, the piece opens up into layers and motion. It's the artist's way of saying "there's more here than what you see." It works because it's restrained, not constantly pulling you into your screen. You're still in the neighborhood. You're just seeing deeper. The guide we had knew the economics of gentrification in Wynwood. Knew which artists have been here for years and which are new money. Knew the politics of murals, why some walls get painted and others get buffed, why some artists collaborate and some don't. That knowledge cost something to build. You're paying for it. We took three teenagers, ages 14-17. Not a group naturally inclined to stand still for street art. They asked questions about technique, about why certain artists choose certain walls, about whether the AR experience changes how you see the piece or adds distraction. They engaged. That's not about impressive art alone, that's about the tour structure creating room for actual thinking instead of passive consumption. The neighborhood is dense and chaotic and intentional all at once. You'll see pieces that are technically flawless next to pieces that are deliberately rough. Some murals are massive, some are character-scale. Some artists are making statements about politics, some about beauty, some about ownership. The variation is what keeps it alive. A sanitized art walk would kill this. Walking it yourself is free and worth doing once. Walking it with the tour is $29 and worth doing if you want to understand why these walls matter to the city and why some artists chose to paint them. The difference is context. Context costs something, but you leave with more than photos. The sun hits different at 4 PM than at 11 AM, so timing matters if photography is part of your thing. The neighborhood gets foot traffic but it's not overwhelming. You're in a real place, not a theme park. That texture is part of why this works.

Green Turtle and Blue Tang is another one of the beautiful public art works in…read moreLauderdale-by-the-Sea by artist Laura Fisher Huck. I have always admired this piece at the entrance to Green Turtle Plaza, the home of one of my favorite sub shops, La Spada's. Laura Huck created several pieces for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea including the Coral Reef Arch at the town entryway. Town Manager Connie Hoffman first spotted Huck's work in Nova Scotia where the works were installed in 2002. Huck specialized in outdoor painted sculptures and has developed a process where they do not weather. She ended up designing five colorful sculptures for the city with inspiration drawn from her dives with scuba instructor Rene Bobadilla. Artist Laura Fisher Huck visualized, researched, designed, and then drew the art work. It was then cut and fabricated by a structural engineer. The pieces were made out of aluminum so it would not corrode, coated with zinc oxide primer, and then hand painted with UV protecting acrylic paint. During the last step, six coats of UV protecting epoxy were also applied. Green Turtle and Blue Tang was installed in 2013 and features a green sea turtle, the largest of the hard shelled turtles. They are unique because they are herbivores with a diet consisting of sea grass and algae. Green turtles are found around the world but their numbers have declined as they have been used for their meat and eggs. They have also lost nesting habitat due to coastal development. They are listed as an endangered species. Surrounding the turtle are colorful blue tangs, a fish often seen on Florida's reefs. The blue tangs are giving the turtle a bath by eating the algae off of its shell. In 2021 Lauderdale-by-the-Sea budgeted $200,000 to restore the Laura Fisher Huck sculptures by the beach. Green Turtle and Blue Tang has never looked better. I love the intricacy of this sculpture and it's theme. It's a great reminder to protect endangered sea turtles and keep your garbage off the beach. These and other sea turtles nest on the beach a few feet away March through October.

I loved that this trail is so close to my house, I just wonder why I never knew about it…read more The walking trail is free as well as the parking. The trail is nicely shaded and has a paved walkway which makes it easy for parents pushing their child in a stroller or the casual jogger out on a nice morning. The trail has plenty of benches as well as beautiful views of the natural landscape and the water that separates the path from the golfers on the course. Along the way there are information boards to learn about the Preserve environment. There are emergency posts located along the 1.1 mile trail incase there is a problem if 911 needs to be called. I also noticed a cute painted rock collection that stretches over 30 yards in the shape of a snake. Next time I will will be bringing a rock to contribute. Overall, I thought this place was great on a nice day but it would be too hot during the summer to visit.

This trail has really blossomed with all the foliage since opening many years ago. About half the…read moretrail is shaded now. There are views of waterways and the golf course. There are informational stands along the one mile path. Make sure to find the rock snake:) There is easy parking at the golf course. There's a restroom in the clubhouse.