This ocean front park in Miami Beach is named in honor of my favorite Floridian, Marjory Stoneman…read moreDouglas (1890-1998). Douglas was an author and environmentalist whose seminal book The Everglades: River of Grass brought awareness to the importance of this ecosystem preserving it from development. She worked with Ernest Coe to have the Everglades named a National Park. Douglas was a tireless champion for the environment and so it seems appropriate that a number of parks have been named in her honor, including this beach park in Miami Beach. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park has a limited number of metered spaces along the street. Parking can be frustrating depending on how busy the park is. It is worth the effort though because the park is a leafy green oasis filled with tall shade trees. As I was walking around I couldn't help but notice the trees were filled with squeaky Monk Parakeets. The centerpiece of the park is an enclosed, large, shade covered playground with poured in place surface surrounded by benches. There are two play sections, one for ages 2-5, and one for ages 5-12. The playground has slides and climbing structures. Other park amenities include a shower, restrooms, and a water fountain. Surrounding the park are large paved paths ideal for walking and biking. The park offers direct beach access and at the perimeter you can pick up an electric City Bike which I think is the best and most fun way to see South Beach and avoid the parking headache. With the playground, beach, and all the other amenities, this is a great place for a family outing.

This public park located in South Beach Miami offers various outdoor activities such as sunbathing,…read moreswimming, picnicking, playground and stunning views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Located at Ocean Dr and 3rd St., it features a a nice park at the southern end of Miami Beach.

Lummus Park runs between Ocean Drive and the beach, acting as a beautiful green space in the middle…read moreof South Beach. It's lined with palm trees, walking paths, workout areas, and beach access points. People come here to jog, cycle, relax on benches, or watch the sunset. The park also offers some of the best views of the ocean and the colorful lifeguard towers. Restrooms are there at end of park.

Lummus Park on South Beach has been renovated & is now a destination. Lots of shade and an outdoor…read moregym were busy on a Sunday morning. There are benches to sit in the shade, beautiful foliage, picnic tables, city bikes, and even volleyball nets in the sand. There were beautiful bodies working out & others here trying to create a beautiful body.

A classic, must-go spot in Miami. Great for biking, hanging out in the lawn and getting some sun…read more(when it's not super hot), and grabbing a bite to eat (though expect steep prices). There's public restrooms and a small water park for kiddos. Obviously, the path takes you to the beach which is relaxing and really nice. Can get a little crazy during peak season.

South Pointe Park Pier is built on constraint. It's not a beach destination, it's not a fishing…read moreresort, it's a working pier where the water isn't about recreation, it's about commerce. Container ships move through this harbor. You stand on the jetty and watch scale happen in real time, cranes and stacks and the whole industrial apparatus that makes Miami function. That's more honest than another beach bar with a sunset filter. The pier is maintained like it matters. The surface holds, the railing is sound, the whole structure feels like someone decided it shouldn't fall apart, and they stuck with that decision. The breakwater gives you rock access, shallow water, tide-dependent depth. Early morning swimmers treat it seriously. The jetty extends far enough that the city shrinks behind you, and you're in dialogue with the open water instead of looking at it from shore.

Great playground right off the beach. Close enough to the bars to keep the parents entertained by…read moretheir children's game of freeze tag. I almost removed 1 star for the absence of enough benches for the adults to sit in but could not bring myself to do so after watching my daughter play here for well over an hr. Modern playground facilities in a tranquil setting lends this area to a wonderful play time break from playing at the beach. From here we plan to walk to a Colombian bakery as a treat for a day well played! There is also a couple of volleyball courts adjacent to keep you entertained while your kids decide who is the lava monster for the 50th time

Who knew there used to be a Polo field in Miami Beach!…read more The polo field was enjoyed by millionaires and ran from 11th to 15th streets east of Alton Road. It was located adjacent to Carl Fisher's Nautilus hotel. Today you are still greeted by a reminder from that bygone era by the polo player statue. "The Polo Player" statue was built in 1923 and is still a prominent figure at Polo Park, Miami Beach. This park is one of the oldest in Miami Beach. The land was part of the Flamingo Golf Course, which was built in 1921 for Carl Fisher's hotel. The Northern end of the park was a polo field. A hurricane destroyed the golf course in 1926. The city of Miami Beach purchased the land in 1929. The park was used for boxing matches. An open air theater was built in the park in 1932. The theater was later demolished.

I was curious as to why there would be Polo Park in Miami Beach. Polo is a sport you would more…read moreassociate with Wellington. It turns out there once was an actual polo playing field on Miami Beach adjacent to Carl Fisher's Nautilus Hotel. The polo field enjoyed by millionaires ran from 11th to 15th streets east of Alton Road. When you enter the park you are still greeted by a reminder from that bygone era by the polo player statue created in 1923 but today you are more likely to find pickleball than polo. In addition to the the pickleball courts in this spacious 4.6 acre park, Polo Park also has tennis courts, a USE fitness station, basketball courts, a softball field, open field area, walking path, and a shade covered playground for ages 2-5 and 5-12. The playground is fenced in for safety and has poured-in-place rubber surfacing, spring rider, twirl around, and swings. I came during one of South Florida's frequent rainstorms so I had the park to myself except for a gentleman walking around the perimeter for exercise. When the weather is nicer I can easily envision this park filled with fitness enthusiasts. pickle ball players, and kids enjoying the playground.

This is very clean park with a cornered off area for the kids. Then standing majestically…read moreoverlooking the other part of the park area is Carl Fisher. Who is he you might ask? He was a key figure in the development of Miami Beach. This is definitely worthy of a stop. They have some very pretty trees here. Pleasant for a pit stop, rest and some shade.

Fisher Park was named in honor of Carl G. Fisher who left his fingerprints all over Miami Beach…read more Fisher was an entrepreneur who made money in the automotive industry, highway construction, and real estate development. Along with his partner Jim Allison, he developed automobile lights based on acetelyene gas and the men millionaires in 1917 when they sold their Prest-O-Lite company. The partners went on to found the Indianapolis 500 Speedway and the Lincoln Highway. On a vacation to Miami in 1910, Fisher saw the potential in the swampland that ran between Miami and the ocean. Along with John S. Collins and the Lummus Brothers, Fisher was a founder and developer of Miami Beach. In 1913 he built the first luxury hotel in the area followed shortly after by the Lincoln Road shopping district. Fisher built a street car connection to Flagler's railroad so he could develop the area. He invested in infrastructure and set Miami Beach on the path to be the tourist destination it is today. On April 10, 1941 the citizens of Miami dedicated a memorial to Carl G. Fisher. The memorial features a bronze bust of Fisher, wearing his floppy hat, glasses, and smiling. Fisher was known for his trademark glasses. He suffered from severe astigmatism, which resulted in difficulty paying attention in school, headaches, eyestrain, and blurred vision. The vision problem was so bad that he ended up quitting school at age 12. The inscription on the monument reads: "Carl Graham Fisher - he carved a great city out of a jungle". The memorial is located in Fisher park at the corner of Alton Road and Lakeview Drive. Fisher Park also has a recently renovated 2-5 year old and 5-12 year old covered playground with a poured rubber surface. The playground has a back to nature theme. Play equipment includes a tree house, education tree area, dragonfly seesaw, and mushroom spinner. The park also has an open space with large tree for shade and benches. The park is open Monday - Sunday; Sunrise to Sunset.

this was my 3rd visit to city, and i am not sure, why i had not visited this site...In the heart of…read moreDowntown Miami, just a short drive from Edgewater, lies a place where city life meets waterfront beauty it is a beautiful spot right next to the bright blue water of Biscayne Bay, great place to relax. There are palm trees, a little sandy beach area, and nice open spaces. What makes it even cooler is that the peaceful park sits right beside downtown Miami's tall buildings. You get a mix of nature and city views at the same time. Plus, there are plenty of good restaurants and bars nearby, so it's a nice place to hang out and enjoy the area. Park also offers Amphitheater: Hosting up to 10,000 guests for concerts, festivals, and performances. Tina Hills Pavilion: A charming open-air venue perfect for smaller gatherings and community events. Restored Fountain: an Scenic Baywalk: A favorite for walkers, joggers, and those seeking stunning views of Biscayne Bay and the Downtown skyline. it is a must-visit attraction. Bayfront Park sits on the bay of Biscayne Bay and offers beautiful views from many angles.

This park is iconic Miami, with a waterfront view, surrounded by fun, colorful art sculptures, with…read morea huge grassy lawn. It is conveniently located right next door to the Perez and Frost museum. We headed here after visiting the museum, thinking this was a good spot for the kids to run around in before heading back. They took off for 'the playground' which ended up being adult exercise equipment.... with lots of kids climbing all over the equipment. Getting picked up here with L yft was difficult- I don't recommend that!

What is listed on Yelp as Island View Park is really just part of Maurice Gibb Park. Once called…read moreIsland View park, this three acre park had it's name changed in to honor the death Maurice Gibb who passed away from cardiac arrest while undergoing surgery at the age of 53 in 2003. Maurice was a member of the seven time Grammy award winning musical group the Bee Gees. He liked to take in the view from the park and the group recorded at Criteria Studios now the Hit Factory in North Miami in the late 70's and early 80's. Maurice also lived in the area. His former home sold for 13 million in 2012. In 2007, the year the name change took place at the park, it received $75,000 worth of improvements including landscaping and a three ring mosaic that was created by artist Dale Bryant. It was added to the park near the sea wall. The yellow ring represents peace, red is love, and blue is tranquility. The park was rededicated in a ceremony attended by members of Maurice Gibb's family. Tributes to Maurice Gibb are small in the park. Besides the ring on the southeast corner of the park there is a small granite carving with his name and there is a plaque outside the playground. In March of this year, the park reopened with two upgraded scenic lookout areas over Biscayne Bay, a green space, a brand new music-themed playground, a new dog park, fishing pier, shade structures, pavilion, outdoor seating, walking paths and additional native trees and shrubs. A living shoreline was created to minimize coastal erosion while creating a natural habitat for fish, aquatic plants, and wildlife. There park has 30 spots in the lot and you have to pay at the kiosk or through the phone app. Additionally there are also a few street spots, also pay by app. The main attraction of this park is the stunning water front view. You can sit on a bench and watch the mega yachts sail by. On the southern end of the park is a wooden boardwalk providing a view of the Venetian causeway. You can launch a kayak from the park to Flagler Monument Island. It is about a 15 minute paddle from here. This park is the perfect place to take in the view of Biscayne Bay and enjoy being outside in the beautiful Florida sunshine.

Island View Park in Purdy Avenue is a well maintained park on this part of South Beach. You can…read morestroll, walk your dog, jog, do yoga and relax and enjoy the view. Close to a lot of restaurants, publix and shops. Check it out!