This is a lovely spot to explore Oleta Park. The kayaks and paddle board rentals are fairly priced and easy to rent. The waiver system can be a little complicated especially when checking in multiple children (8-12) at the same time. Each child requires the same lengthy form as a single adult. But overall, all the staff we encountered were very friendly and helpful. The waterways were fairly easy to navigate and a great way to get up close with Florida's lovely and expansive wildlife/sealife and the all the water equipment were in good conditions. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

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It was the most fantastic experience, the staff were very polite and that made the trip so awesome. It is easy to get to by car, there is a state park fee at the gate, if you are commuting using ride share you will have a 20 minute walk to the kayak station. The equipment is clean and the trip is worth it, plan for a good weather day because i feel like this is the only way to really enjoy it. I will be back to visit again for sure. read more

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We had such a great time kayaking at Oleta River Park! The check-in process was super easy whether you made a reservation ahead of time or just showed up. Getting the life vests and paddles was all done in the same building, which made things super convenient. The whole rental experience was smooth and stress-free. It is a perfect outdoor activity for families or even just a relaxing day out. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something fun and outdoorsy to do. read more

Great staff and we had such a blast last night in our kayak full moon tour We highlight recomend it Thank you team read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Oleta park - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

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Pretty fun experience! Tandem kayaking was pretty cheap, about $25 for an hour in a half to go explore. Make sure to go upstairs first to buy your ticket then go downstairs to get the kayak gear (Or the guys downstairs will be annoyed with you). Went during October and it wasn't that busy, I feel like summer would be chaotic. Another word of advice, bring bug spray! Mosquitos are everywhere. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

I love the canoes there and the mountain biking trails. Paddleboarding is pretty right by the mangroves and the cafe has a good fish sandwich. read more

Our experience on the water was fantastic and exceptionally well-organized once we got started. There were plenty of guides keeping a close eye on the group, which made us feel very safe throughout. The bonfire on the island was truly unforgettable, with more than enough s'mores for everyone to enjoy. The island's bathroom facilities were impressively clean, adding to the overall comfort. A female tour guide even offer to take our picture which was very nice! That said, I do wish there had been clearer guidance on where to go after checking in. Our group almost left without us, which caused a bit of stress at the start. We brought an inflatable kayak, and while it worked out, I'd recommend practicing the distance you'll be paddling in advance and getting familiar with inflating it quickly. The inflatable kayak was less buoyant than a regular kayak, which made it more challenging to maneuver, but it was still a fun and rewarding adventure! read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Drink purchased beforehand on website for bonfire - nice and cold! - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

Do the kayak sunset tour! The sunset kayak tour was such a unique experience. I've grown up in south Florida and have never seen the beauty of north Miami like we did during this tour. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and shared funny stories but also the history of the islands and nature. It was a great workout and very unique date night! read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Sunset Kayak Tour - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

We love renting kayaks here. It is a beautiful area. You can kayak through mangrove areas and some open water. There are two islands where you can pull up and swim and picnic. We brought masks and snorkels also. There is also a sandbar during low tide. You do pay fee to go into the park but there's plenty to do if you stay after kayaking. I will return here again and again. read more

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This is a beautiful state park north of Miami. We came to kayak. Our first time, we couldn't go because it was too windy, so there was no kayaking. We had better luck the second time. We kayaked for about 90 minutes. There's a nice loop path through the mangroves that's really pretty. Part if it goes out into the harbor and to a beach. The beach is a nice place to stop and relax. The park itself is great. I'd recommend bringing your own kayaks if you have them though. It was easy to rent them, but when we tried to return them, the company makes you wait in the same line as people who are waiting to get a kayak. It was fine when we got there, but we waited almost an hour before we could leave (and they had our credit card so we had no choice). The minimum rental time is 2 hours and it costs $45 for a tandem kayak. I wish they offered a 1 hour option. The kayak rental company isn't great, but the state park is beautiful. read more

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I chose a kayak and my husband chose to paddle board. I've never kayaked before and while they didn't give me any instruction, it's pretty self explanatory. It was a simple experience to get everything but we also did come before 12 on a Friday so coming early may play a factor in your experience. The mangroves are really cool (you don't want to go swimming in there) but it also opens up to the ocean, which was so cool. We ended up paddling up to a beach which was near the fishing pier and it was amazing!!! We did the minimum 2 hours but coming out for a whole day, you'd have plenty to do if you kayak out into the ocean, to the island, the beach, take a cooler and stop and have lunch somewhere. There's pretty much no rules to what you can do. I hope I can come back one day. 10/10. ALSO DO BE AWARE OF MOSQUITOES!! I barely saw any yet today am in agony... so itchy! Bring bug spray or wear a rash guard. You'll thank yourself later. I live no where near water so totally forgot about this.. read more

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Came here to rent a kayak on Friday morning. The staff was mostly very helpful and friendly. If you're new they will give you instructions, if you know what you're doing, they're pretty hands off (which is nice). The equipment was in good condition and I felt safe and comfortable using it. I was a few minutes over the hour and they rounded down. Overall very good experience, I would definitely come rent here again! read more

I have a wonderful experience in this place. Also the service is so excellent that people help you and explaining things correctly. The food was amazing make me want to eat more and the kayaking was so much fun The Map Tell To Go and how to come back on your way to You can hang out with your families and love ones it's so calm and clean that it looks like a paradise for minute I thought wasn't on vacation . Even forgot I was Miami XD Also the have this island amazing beautiful beach view, and water Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5 read more

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It was amazing! The weather was beautiful! It wasn't very crowded. Angie was our guide and she was phenomenal! We learned a lot about the environment and animals. read more

It's always nice to discover adventures in your own backyard. Oleta River Outdoor center gave my husband & I that this weekend for our anniversary. We decided to try something new & this was a great choice. While looking for kayaking in Miami we came across Oleta State River park & compared to all others it looked most organized. We got to the park & it wasn't too packed. We made our way in fairly quick. $6 fee which isn't bad at all. We parked in the first lot & made our way up to the Outdoor Center. The guys in the front explained the process which was to sign the waivers & make our way upstairs to get set up for our rental. The gift shop is upstairs which has clothes, water shoes, water proof bags, & snacks. They have the register which you give your ID & then given a ticket to take downstairs to get your rental. They have other options such as canoes, bikes, or paddle boats. We got the tandem kayak. The time starts 10 minutes after you give the card to the guys in the first floor. There you get your life vests & oars then walk across the way to get your kayak. My day was beautiful except for when I fell right when I got to the "launch area" there are no signs & the floor is uneven. I missed a step & fell on my knee. So careful because there are no signs or warnings. The staff is aware that this is unsafe since they made a comment after I fell saying a lot of people fall there & it should be posted. My knee was pretty banged up and hurt for the rest of the day which was a bummer & my only reason for rating this a 4 because they should be more attentive if they were aware. After that we got on our kayak & we were off. In the gift shop they tell you to take a pic of the map ( they should have one for you to take during your trip because it can be hard to see a phone with the Sun glare) but it's not a hard place to navigate so no biggie. We didn't need to look at the map the whole time we were out. We made our way through the mangroves then onto a little beach that was beautiful. The water clear, the area quiet. We stayed there and had a picnic & even snorkeled before venturing off again. We made our way to a little island that even had a food boat? Lol instead of a food truck which was pretty cool. That island was more packed than the beach so we headed back to the beach. You do need to be aware of your time since you pay by the hour. Once we arrived back they collect your kayak & you make your way back to the Center to collect your ticket. Then you go back upstairs to pay. They should have 2 lines for people renting & people returning but it moved along rather quickly because after a few minutes of waiting in one line they opened up another that was meant for people returning, but a couple of people that were renting switched over . They add up your time at the end even though it is explained at the beginning before rental how much each time is & if you go over. We paid $58 for 2 1/2 hours. We thought the price was great. All in all it was a wonderful time we can't wait to go back with our kids. They have so much to do. Highly recommend for a date or family time. read more

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The Oleta River Outdoor Center is a nice little shop to stop in after a hike. They carried Clif Bloks, which I love, Gold Peak iced tea, and even had a rather inclusive display of Sun Bum sunscreen, which is always our go-to because of its easy applicator. The space had a few tables with chairs to sit and eat your snacks at, and service was masked, friendly, and quick. We really enjoyed the space and would drop back in again. read more

Beautiful area to explore. Easy check in. Easy check out. Decent equipment. No manatees. Unreservedly recommend this business.

We visited over Labor Day weekend and were pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds and waiting times. The staff was not only friendly but also did a fantastic job explaining everything. While the sandbar was no longer available, we opted for a kayak adventure to the island indicated on the map, and it turned out to be a great choice. On the island, we found other kayakers and boats parked, as well as some food vendors on boats. One word of caution, though: the left side of the island had quite a few jellyfish and raccoons, but if you stick to the right side, it's completely animal-free, based on our experience. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Map - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

This place was super clean and super easy to rent! Loved the "bike wash" to clean up our feet before heading home

I absolutely loved this state park. My nurse had recommended me getting some Vitamin D after my more recent surgery. We didn't want to go to a very busy mainstream beach area so we were looking for another option when I came across Oleta. The drive wasn't too bad for us. When we arrived, we stopped at the rangers station. The entrance fee on the weekend was $6.00. I'm not sure if it's the same price throughout the week. There are quite a few bike trails to the right when you first enter the park. As you continue to drive, there are kayaks available for rent. We saw a food truck when we were there although we didn't make a stop on this visit. The beach area was towards the back along with a dock for fishing. There is a building with restrooms. The bathroom was a little dark and dingy, but honestly it was nice to have one period. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is a little ways. There are picnic tables with charcoal grills that are first come first serve, and pavilions that are available for rent. We picked a spot on the beach and setup shop. There is a roped off swim area for the beach. The beach is very short but beautiful with clear and pretty water! We didn't see much seaweed either which is a huge plus! We had the perfect day. The water was very still and tranquil. This time of year the temperature was quite brisk, but we went in a little just to cool down from the sun. There were people on large yachts, paddle boards, kayaks, and motorized small boats. People were swimming, fishing, getting exercise, and just chillin'. This was a nice find, and we will definitely be back! read more

Ubered over an hour to come kayak and showed up only to find they weren't allowing kayaks on the water. The lady up front wasn't friendly and told us we would need to pay to enter the park to go discuss with them. We paid, parked, and received a phone call 30 minutes after our scheduled time. We were even running late. They could have called us ahead of time. read more

Fantastic time on the Oleta River! Even the screenagers loved it. Their favorite activity all week, especially kayaking to Racoon Island. read more

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I have seen the signs for this park for years and since I was in the area this was the day to finally check it out. This is Florida's largest urban park and it is located on Biscayne Bay. The first thing to know is there is a $6.00 entrance fee for a car with multiple people. Since I had never been here I was looking forward to exploring it. The first area we drove throughwas the cabin rentals. You go down a dirt road, along the way passing mountain biking trails and come upon a large hill with the cabins perched on top of it. For $55 a night you can rent a rustic but adorable cabin and spend the night in the park. The cabins don't have their own bathrooms or a kitchen. There is a communal bathroom nearby. The next area we came on was the kayak and paddle board rental. The service is provided by BG Oleta River Outdoor Center. In addition to watercraft they also rent bikes. If you are interested you can check out their pricing online through the park website. They encourage you to book online in order to reserve what you would like to rent so you don't end up disappointed by having it gone when you arrive. Apparently items go fast. They also offer fun events like paddle board yoga and full moon kayak tours. I found their prices to be a little higher than those at nearby Greynolds park but supposedly the Oleta River is the nicer place to kayak. I love to kayak and am putting this at the top of my list when I have the time to come back. Everyone looked like they were having a great time out on the water. The last part of the park we explored was the beach. As we walked in from the parking lot we passed a butterfly garden and a playground. I can't think of many parks in South Florida that you can swim at but this park has a large sandy beach where you can park yourself on the sand and have a swim in Biscayne Bay. We saw so many families celebrating birthdays, having cookouts, fishing, bike riding, and just lounging on the beach. We even saw people being baptized. I loved the seagulls that were hanging around the shore line. On the day we went it was overcast but I can imagine how beautiful it is on a sunny day. Even though it was about to rain the park was still full. I can see how it can get crowed on a weekend in the summer. In fact there are signs in the park warning people that the park can reach full capacity and if they leave they are not assured that they can back in. This park offers a wide range of recreation including swimming, biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Most remarkable of all is it is located in the densely packed city of Miami. I loved seeing the park sign as I left that said this is the real Florida. How great it is that you can get away from the urban stress and indulge in nature in the heart of North Miami. read more

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Beautiful park, is more like a barbecue weekend. If you reserve pavilion you can't add decorations or balloons anything. I reserve one for a gender reveal and they don't allow it. Even if you pay for reservation you still have to pay $6 for entering the park and if you leave you pay again. Is a beautiful location hope one day they open to decorate pavilion even though they have strict rules to clean and leave it clean and inspection after leaving to see if you leave the place clean. $260 if you leave trash. And I reserve the $160 pavilion 50+ people. They have a lot of outdoor activities I still be coming but not good for special events. read more

I had so much fun at this park!!! It can be a bit expensive but it was a great time. The entrance to the park is $6 for a car with more than one person. Once inside, you can rent bikes, canoes, paddle boards, and kayaks. They also have picnic pavilions for events or groups and overnight cabins to rent. The park also has access to a small beach, a fishing pier, and grills for BBQ. We came on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy some outdoor activities. I have been here before for kayaking and I had a great time. They have several routes to choose from, some on open water while others in between the mangroves. Fun! On this visit, we wanted to try the bike trails. We rented the mountain bikes for $25 each for 1.5 hours, which is the minimum amount of time for the rentals. The park currently has over 4 miles of novice trails and over 10 miles of intermediate and expert mountain bike trails. I am no expert but after doing the novice trail, I felt comfortable to try the intermediate level. The trails were awesome! The trails had wood bridges, hills, zig zag patterns, cliffs, and more. It was a bit scary but at the same time exciting. It is a true workout!! The intermediate level was very difficult at times. I was using all my muscles in order to keep up with my husband who was speeding through the trails. It was a beautiful ride surrounded by nature. I will come again soon. The park does not have food for sale only some snacks but there was a Colombian food truck parked inside by the rental hub. I am not sure if the truck is always there, so it is best to bring you own food and drinks or just wait to eat at one of the restaurants in the North Miami Beach area. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Nice bike trails - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

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I did the full moon kayaking on Saturday, Nov.24 and let me tell you what a great experience it was. The parking is $6.00 either cash or card when you 1st enter the park. We checked in about 5 p.m. right after the park closed to the public. The staff were amazing and knowledgeable of all the questions we had. The full moon tour is about 2.5 hours long. Since it was a big group, we had 4 tour guides. Lauren was my guide and she was awesome! Everyone in the group got glow sticks. Once we got to the private beach, we had a campfire set-up. We got to sit around and chill at the beach for a while. We got to make s'mores, which was all provided. I would definitely recommend this tour for everyone. My son, who's 10 truly enjoyed it. read more

Rented a few bikes here. 10/10 would NOT recommend. Both of the bikes had issues with their gears and you couldn't ride for longer than 2 minutes until the gears fell off the chain. We called the help line but they didn't offer any help and just told us to walk the bikes back. When we requested a refund the manager was very short with us and didn't even offer an apology. The trails are fine, but definitely recommend renting bikes elsewhere. read more

Had a beautiful day out doors with my brother and it was a two hour kayak trip. I recommend this if you like the out doors and looking at nature. I did tip the kayak over by mistake so wrap your phone in plastic as well as anything else important. read more

This area is so nice and peaceful I would recommend grabbing a kayak with a partner and enjoying the ride through the park You really get to spend time with nature and city This place and very beautiful and you get a great visual of wildlife Get some sunblock and stay hydrated read more

Beautiful park! Well worth paying $6 per car! Our whole week in Sunny Isles was great, and our afternoon in Oleta River Park was one of the great parts! I would love to return to kayak and bike. We thought our toddler would be too little for that this trip (he's 22 months old), but the bike rental place did have bike trailers for kids, so he would have been fine. We went to the beach and walked on a couple short paths. The beach was great because there were no waves. That was my toddler's favorite beach! This is the only one he actually swam in. The park is really nice, has plenty of clean bathrooms, and some shade! I hope to return! read more

Great park and the only place I've gone kayaking for years. Just know that if you arrive anywhere near 11:00 on weekends the line of cars to get into the park might reach onto the road. It's happened to me more than once. The entry fee is $4 for solo and $6 for double passengers. There is a small beach, bike trails, canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals, and more. The kayak rental process is usually quick but you need to sign a waiver upstairs first. I enjoy kayaking through the mangroves BUT sometimes there are so many mosquitoes and you're stuck. So now I always bring bug spray. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

Great state park with very nice waterways to kayak but a little on the pricey side. I would go here again because the prices aren't super ridiculous and it is worth it but I have been to nicer places in miami to kayak that were less expensive. We paid 42$ for an hour and a few minutes on a tandem kayak. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

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This park is located on the intercoastal in the middle of the city but it has the magical ability to make you forget about the rat race going on right outside its borders. Oleta is a Florida outdoor sports persons playground. With offerings like picnicking, kayaking, paddle boarding, MTB biking, a beautiful beach, nature trails and cabin camping there is plenty to do. And if you don't own a kayak or bike that's okay there are rentals right on site. Where for a reasonable price you can enjoy a great day paddling through the mangroves or exploring some of the small islands just south of the park. Or take a MTB ride on some of the 13+ miles of great off road trails that vary in level from beginner to expert with plenty of each level to challenge all. If paddling and biking are not your thing try the nature trails. A short stroll wil take you meandering through native flora and fauna with kiosk in place that point out plants of interest. Still more than you want to do? Well then the beach may be your speed. Not the largest but a beautiful sandy place to sit and look out at a semi private cove. The water has a gradual slop making it perfect for lounging in and safe for small kids. With pavilions that can be rented located throughout the park you can set up a picnic a large party and have a covered area with tables and a grill in some of the better waterfront spots in the park. This is a great place to escape from the city grind. Need a break, grab a bite and check this place out. I bet you'll come back for seconds. Cheers. read more

I can't believe I have never reviewed my favorite State Park in the 305 aka Miami. I used to come here almost every Sunday to mountain bike. Now I go less frequently but I should really get back into my hobby. Let me tell you why this is my favorite park. Oletta has options for the entire family. They have mountain bike trails ranging from beginner to advanced. Kayaking, canoeing, butterfly trail, barbeque pits, shelters for parties, fishing pier, beach, playgrounds, primitive camping sites, cabins for rent and much more. I just love spending the day here. Yes they have 13 inexpensive cabins here but book online and they book fast. They have kayak and bike rentals available first come first serve and helmets are mandatory to ride bike inside the trails, safety first and rangers will stop you from riding bike if you don't have a helmet. There is a snack bar by the bike rental/shop and they also repaire bikes. They have a small private beach with a small fishing pier. I used to have parties in the shelters located next to the beach, perfect location where kids can run in the water and you can watch from the shelter. Nearby is also a playground and non-airconditioned bathroom facilities. There's plenty to do at this park, entrance is affordable $6 per car and activities are low cost. Yes you can bring your own kayaks and bikes etc. Pro Tip: bring mosquito repellant especially during summer. Bring hydration (water) especially during long bike rides, there are no water fountains in the long trails. Bring extra clothing, you will get dirty in trails. Sunscreen. Enjoy an active day out with the family or by yourself in nature, explore! read more

Came out here for the first time to go Kayaking and it was GREAT! Aside from the Kayaking, this place has something for everybody! From bike riding trails, kayaking, paddling boarding, camping grounds, fishing, hiking, and so much more, this place place has it all. And It better, considering its Florida's largest urban park. I came out on a July 4th morning, and it wasn't too insanely busy. We were able to comfortably find parking and rent out kayakes. This was also my first time kayaking and it was absolutely beautiful. You start off rowing through a river that opens up to the ocean. We were rowing along side beaches, yachts, and the mangroves. Wonderful experience that I highly recommend read more

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First thing is first! If you're a service connected veteran, get your FREE lifetime annual pass for Florida State Parks! Now, first time to Oleta and we decided to go kayaking and I'll certainly be going back for mountain biking. If you're wanting to kayak, you park and go to the little rental building and fill out your paperwork. From there, downstairs to get your life vest and your paddle then head over to the water and pick up your yak! Everyone was great! From the waiver to the equipment to the yak. We went during low tide which could be problematic for us huskier folks! I bottomed out on the exit from the river to the intracoastal. Had to get out and help my little kayak along. We ventured out to the sandbar near Haulover and it was such a fun time! After a couple of hours, we headed back to the park and well, I got hit by a boaters wake and took a spill in the channel! So! Make sure you bring your ziplocks to protect your electronics. Get outside! Have fun! Get to Oleta! read more

By far one of the best state park! I love kayaking at this park and passing through the mangrove area. The price is not bad either to rent the kayaks. I recommend you get the single one instead of the Tandem kayaks. It's hard to paddle with another person. The park also offers biking trails, canoeing, and you can even stay in a cabin. The small beach has this beautiful blue water and the park is pretty clean. Becare of your food, their is lots of hungry raccoons on the island. This park also seemed like it was good for fishing. After you are done with your outdoor activities there are many good restaurant surrounding the park. read more

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My trip to Oleta River State Park really got me out of my shell and allowed to be enjoy the beautiful nature in Miami! I had a delightful day on the river. We arrived around 9 AM and had no issues getting two double-kayaks to take out onto the river. At that time, there were only a few other people there and nothing kept us waiting too long. They have a small gift shop in the same area where you sign waivers and pay for your water sports, complete with waterproof pouch necklaces - I recommend! The mangroves were majestical to paddle through, with wildlife buzzing all around! (Yes, buzzing, so wear your bug spray!). We ended up paddling through the mangroves and into the open seas, parked up at the sand bar for a little bit, then paddled back in a different direction. When we were returning our kayaks around 1ish, the place was SLAMMED. Lines everywhere, and tons of people waiting for oars, boats, and to simply get into the water. If you want a more peaceful and relaxing vibe, definitely come earlier in the morning. Also, use the restroom before you get here! There are some restrooms by the parking lot (not in the gift shop area), but they're unkept. Some of the stalls didn't even have doors. All in all, a delightfully peaceful yet adventurous day in the gorgeous Miami waters! read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida

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Pros: Great place to bbq, kayak/canoe, or simply lay by the shore. I didn't know there were nice hidden beaches at this park, that was a nice surprise. Great for gatherings! Cons: Roads need a little maintenance. read more

This park is awesome because of the small beach that they have. The water is always a perfect temperature and since it's coming from the base they are never any waves or rough waters to deal with. Its the perfect place for small children to be able to enjoy soft sand and calm waters. There's always plenty of parking and it's not too far of a walk to get to the beach. I've never been there with too many people around so you get a good private and relaxing environment. There is opportunities for kayaking paddle boarding, and other outdoor activities as well. There is an admission cost which is about three dollars per person which is fine because you're contributing to a state park that was maintain pretty well. read more

Oleta River Outdoor Center - Paddleboarding Near Me - North Miami Beach, Florida