Since this National Park is 95% water, you have to book some water activities to fully appreciate…read morethe uniqueness of this park! We did a snorkel tour our first day, which took us out in the bay where we got to snorkel in the mangroves and near a limestone shoreline that was filled with lobsters and unique marine life. Sometimes you will get to go snorkel the coral reef, however it was too windy the day we were there, which was disappointing but safety is first priority. Our second day, we kayaked the mangroves. This was my first time kayaking and it took a little while to get the hang of it but it was a cool experience. Going down the mangrove inlets was very peaceful and you could see some cute crabs hanging out at the root of the tree. Be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen. You will need it! This park is free to enter, but excursions do cost. They are pretty affordable though. If you don't go on any, at least walk the trail around the visitor center and watch the 20 minute video about the park.

Biscayne National Park was a nice surprise on our Florida Keys trip. We didn't go in expecting…read moremuch, but it was actually quite beautiful and they had some fun activities on site. There were nice paved and groomed walking trails around the peninsula and bay, as well as a ranger-led fishing experience on the bridge, which didn't cost anything. One of the kids caught a neat looking fish. There was also a nice little visitor center with all sorts of information about the wildlife in the area, as well as different maps and rangers there to talk about what there was to do. Of course there were also junior ranger badges to get, which we made sure to do to add to our collection. Overall this is definitely worth a stop on any trip. Five stars!

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.

Nicest beach for family and friends or just you and doggie like me...! Plenty of parking space,…read moregreat bar restaurant on the beach!

Great spot for a picnic, there is more of that than anything (unless you have a boat and are going…read morefor the marina). Pretty big green space that invites you to just sit and eat. The 'beach' is really like a lake, but you do have some sand to give the beach feeling. Didn't hear the live music when we went but people were playing their own from speakers. Was expecting a bit more, but not a bad place to spend an afternoon.

What a beautiful place. I love to go and sit by the waterfall and meditate…read more The energy throughout the property really is beautiful and so serene. The Sensory Gardens are so fun (for kids AND adults). I keep going back to get away from the city and enjoy a day in nature.

Tucked away in a corner of Homestead this lush garden has an Indonesian, Indian, zen vibe to it…read morewith plenty of waterfalls, butterflies, horses and birds. Well kept grounds, interesting pop up restaurant and nice koi ponds. Best to visit in the morning when the heat is not so overwhelming.....

Our next summer adventure with the kids take us to Quail Root Park located in miami with a category…read moreof  4.6 and more than 155 reviews this park is the best. With four different designs for children, one looks like a pirate ship, another a castle, it also has walls to climb and more attractions so that the little ones in the family have a day full of unforgettable fun. High recommend place if you want your childrens having a perfect day.

So we didn't even know this park existed until we got off the highway to head to The Berry Farm…read more Saw it and thought, "WOW!!!" Because that is your first instinct when you see the park from afar. It's a ridiculously BIG PARK!!! We went to The Berry Farm and had to stop by this park on the way home. Had to!!! MUST!!! The entrance to the park is weird and you enter through the shopping plaza and it's on your far left. Don't worry, you're going the right way. You'll see it at the end. Can't miss it. When you walk it, the park has a huge wow factor because you just can't believe how big this park really is. Needless to say, my kids were in heaven. I joked and said I paid to get into The Berry Farm but this awesome park is free! Haha. There are basically three different sections. Left, middle and right side. It's pretty AMAZING!!! Check out the photos and see for yourself. I wish we had a super cool park like this close to our home.

This is a small local park. I came today as I saw on the map that it was located right next to a…read morenature preserve area, and I was hoping to go through a stroll there. I did not see any access to it, and I am not sure it is even open to the public. I was therefore rather disappointed.

Whispering Pines Park is a smaller version of one of those *larger parks* in neighboring Palmetto…read moreBay. I appreciate that there is plenty of covered space for kids to play and most importantly, shaded areas for adults! The playgrounds have the rubber ground which adds points as a parent because you don't need to shake out shoes or worry about dirt. They even have a small pavilion for bbqs and parties. Every 4th of July, Cutler Bay throws a huge party at Whispering Pines Park after the annual parade. They have vendors, bands, face painting and food. This was renovated several years ago however I was disappointed that no restrooms were added during construction. That's the only thing missing from this hidden gem in Cutler Bay.

Palmetto Bay Park is the recreational hub for the City of Palmetto Park. On February 5, 2002, the…read morecommunity voted in favor of incorporation. Voters approved the municipal charter and the name on September 10, 2002 and the Village of Palmetto Bay became Miami-Dade's 33rd municipality. Shortly after the formerly 5 acre Perrine Park was transformed into a 25 acre passive and active recreational resource for the newly incorporated town. In 2006 the City Council changed the name to Palmetto Bay Park. Today Palmetto Bay Park is a multi-recreational facility. Outstanding features of the park include an community center, an expansive greenspace, walking paths, picnic gazebos, skatepark, basketball courts, the largest covered Boundless Playgrounds in South Florida, and a six-field, state-of-the-art softball complex with batting cages. The city isn't done yet. They are adding a pickleball court and making cosmetic improvements to the park. Whether you visit the park for a basketball game, to enjoy a picnic, unleash the kids on the completely fenced in playground, or to take a family stroll beneath the trees, Palmetto Bay Park has something for everyone to enjoy be it an active day outdoors or a peaceful retreat in nature, So, pack your picnic basket, lace up your sneakers, and immerse yourself in the serene splendor of Palmetto Bay Park. It is a true gem nestled within the heart of Palmetto Bay.

Palmetto Bay Park is a nice sized, well run park. It has several baseball fields, a concession…read morestand, an indoor shelter for parties , skatepark, basketball courts and a very large, well maintained playground area. In terms of parks in Miami, this is probably one of the nicer parks and not as well known. It's essentially hidden from US 1 and as a result, rarely gets very packed. Highlights include: 1. Separate playground areas for age groups. Toddler play area consists of several obstacles, slides and swings. The larger kids area has a wide range of playsets including swings, slides, rocks to climb, and a large spinning climbing "tree". There's also plenty of benches and a covered seating area that offers shade. 2. Nice sized skatepark which has recently been painted. 3. Nice sized indoor shelter to host birthday parties. You need to call and book in advance. 4. Fields are nicely run and often hosts softball and baseball games. All in all, one of the nicer parks in Miami. A great place to visit with the kids. They also frequently host county and local activities and events as well.

This park is full of beautiful and shaded trees , also extraordinary walking trails. A lot of space…read morefor people to have their personal space. Excellent park for exercising and training for self or group trainings.

This is a wide open park. It is also very huge and has different sections. There is a parking lot…read moreby a huge open field. Near the parking lot is a restroom facility and some picnic tables sprinkled around. They have some beautiful trees over there including banyan trees. The field is ginormous and has a disc golf course. A little further down from that area is another part of the park. There is a large parking lot over there and a huge football/soccer field and 8-10 artificial turf soccer fields that are enclosed by a fence. They have a covered patio area with picnic tables over there as well. Even though there are a bunch of trees around, there is not a lot of shade on either section of the park, so plan accordingly. You do not need a military ID to visit the park, as it sits outside of the gate. It is a very peaceful park and easy to get to. If you are looking for a low key park to hang out and relax then this is your spot.

There is a lot of history here at this 15 acre preserve. The land is currently owned by EEL, the…read moreDepartment of Environmentally Endangered Lands. The preserve is named after Hattie Bauer a school teacher, whose pioneer family homesteaded in the early 1900's. Hattie passed away in 1961. The land became a private farm in 1922 and a year later it was sold to Lee Arthur Fennell who turned it into one of Miami's first roadside attractions, Fennell's Orchid Jungle which opened in 1923.. Four generations of the Fennell family occupied the land for 70 years until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the attraction. Fortunately for the Fennell family their luck changed when they won several million dollars in the lottery. Shortly after that the land was was purchased by the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Florida Communities Trust who turned it into a preserve. In 1999 Orchid Jungle was designated as a historic site by Miami -Dade County. The preserve has a loop trail with interpretive boards. Some of the old historic Orchid Jungle buildings remain but you are not allowed to go in them. The trail goes through a tropical hardwood hammock lined with gumbo limbo and oak trees which add to the feeling that you are walking in a jungle. The preserve contains rare plant species including ferns that grow in the solution holes formed when acid rain eroded the oolitic limestone. The Miami-Dade Parks Department periodically runs $6 guided hikes through Hattie Bauer. Call (305) 242-7688 for future dates.

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. lots of history here. had a private tour for my class's field trip…read more super cool place, they're doing a really amazing job restoring the forest

We are new to the area and are searching for parks to walk the dog and get some exercise. First up?…read moreModello park. When we arrived, there were tons of people engaged in different sports. There were people playing soccer, basketball and even solo runners. I enjoyed how many different areas were available and how many sports could be comfortably played there. While there wasn't a running path per say, people were running on the grass and on the sidewalk around the park. There were a few trees that gave off good shade. A good playground and bathrooms. Even has a few grills and picnic tables available for a BBQ. The only reason I give this park 4 stars is because there was quite a bit of litter. It really brings down the appeal of the park when people can't clean up after themselves.