North Shore State Recreation Area is an easy 5 stars, it honestly feels brand new after the redo,…read morewith gorgeous updated paths and an incredibly scenic beachwalk/boardwalk stretch that makes every walk, bike, or skate feel like a little vacation. The whole area looks cleaner, more open, and better designed, and you can tell real thought went into the renovation (from the improved walkways to the way it connects into the longer Miami BeachWalk).

I swear, this is the EXACT beach spot where they record those hypnosis & relaxation CD's where you…read morehear the sounds of waves! During the day, this is an excellent beach if you want to tan, relax and swim, or just lay out in the sun. Waves themselves seem to be a little more active and better for surfing than South Beach proper as you're away from the jetty. There are a couple of volleyball nets, and some picnic tables on the grassy area facing Collins Avenue. You're also within walking distance of three of my favorite restaurants (Rancho Grande, Valentino Sul Mare, and Sazon). Manolos is near here, and Prima Pasta is in the area as well. I've come here plenty of times, for events ranging from my High School reunion's picnic, to just lounging and relaxing. At night is when the "magic" comes out, as this is the general area where the Full Moon Drum Circle is held. (See my review for that event here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/full-moon-drum-circle-miami-beach) Whether you're into making magic or making out, you have to check out the drum circle at least once. When I snap my fingers, you will head straight to North beach :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CyY8sFDKWg

Bay Harbor Islands is a charming 383 acre island town in Biscayne Bay. It is made up of two…read moreislands, originally known as Broadview and Bay Harbor for the streets that run around the perimeter of each island. Today they are known as the West and East Islands. Fun fact, a condo in Bay Harbor Islands was used for the exterior of Dexter Morgan's apartment in the Showtime's TV show Dexter. Officer Scott A. Winters Park is on East Island. This park was named in honor of K-9 Officer Scott A. Winters who attended Bay Harbor Elementary and served as a police officer here in his early career. While he was a Pompano Beach Police Officer he was murdered on July 29, 1990 by a man he was trying to apprehend who was suspected of raping and assaulting a woman. The man who shot Officer Winters is on death row. Winters is the only Pompano Beach Officer to lose his life in the line of duty. After this incident, the Pompano Beach Police Department disbanded when they merged with the Broward Sheriff's Office. There is also a park named in Officer Scott A. Winter's honor in Pompano Beach. Amenities at this park include a restroom, benches, a dog run, pavilion, two shaded play structures equipped with ADA-accessible components. and splash pad. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy the open field with FieldTurf, ideal for a game of soccer. This is the most popular park in Bay Harbor Islands as it offers a clean and safe community hub with diverse facilities that appeal to families, children, and pet owners alike.

Really nice playground. First of all, I'm new here and trying to find good parks for my kid, where…read moreto spend time with. Second, it's very clean and safe. Also it has two activity centers for smaller and bigger kids. It has play grass, where you can play with a ball, and resting area, restrooms and sprinklers(don't forget a bathing suit). Everything covered with sunshades. Third, parking spaces right here. And boom, nice place to visit it ones in a while.

North Shore Open Space Park was originally established in the 1950s when the city purchased and…read moredemolished a series of dilapidated villas on the site. It is one of Miami's largest parks, and it runs from 78th Street to 87th Terrace. Over the years, the 28 acre site was left to nature. In 2017 the city approved a 6 million dollar renovation of the park with Calvin, Giordarno & Associates as the project manager and West 8 heading the re-design. The renovation strived to preserve the parks plants, including large palm trees and sea grapes and the parks natural dune ecosystem which protects the park from rising sea levels. The goal was to improve the beauty and functionality of the park. Today you can enjoy enjoy beach access with lifeguards on duty and plenty of room to spread out as you soak up the sun. North Shore Open Space Park also has a outdoor showers, restroom, dog park, picnic tables and grills, sand volley ball court, three pavilions for picnics with grills which can be rented, swings and a play area, and trails with an outdoor fitness challenge course with self-powered workout stations. Parking can be found in the municipal lot across the street on 83rd street and along Harding Ave. I really enjoyed walking the trails in the the park and it is a lot quieter than nearby South Beach which you can reach via an paved 8 mile bike trail.

Pros: plenty of parking, the bathrooms are decent (but wear sandals!!), the gazebos have been…read morenicely renovated. I really like the new large benches Cons: the beach could be cleaner, but at least it's a chill atmosphere and a doggie area.

Arch Creek was a Native American settlement in what is now present day Miami. Tequesta Indians…read morethrived here until the early 16th century when European settlers arrived. The name Arch Creek comes from a natural limestone bridge that spanned the creek and was once part of an important Native American trail. The bridge collapsed in 1973 after trees with roots likely holding the bridge were removed. This area includes Arch Creek Memorial Park and the Arch Creek Environmental Preserve. Arch Creek Environmental Preserve is a 13 acre nature preserve with a mangrove forest and coastal estuary. Mangroves are important because they help reduce erosion and they filter pollutants out of the water. It is a vital wildlife corridor between two major state conservation areas, Oleta River State Park Annex and the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve. Some of the diverse wildlife you may see here includes manatees, saltwater crocodiles, wood storks, great-horned owls, egrets, herons, pelicans, ospreys, swamp rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, box turtles, land crabs, ghost crabs, eagle rays, mullet, snapper, snook, grouper, and more. Arch Creek Environmental Preserve was designated as an Environmental Preserve in perpetuity by the City of North Miami in 2007. The Urban Paradise Guild has worked for years on habitat restoration projects such as removing invasive plants like Australian Pines and planting mangroves. There is limited parking at the start of the trail and the trail ends at the campus of Florida International University. The preserve includes a butterfly garden and the paved exercise trail used by walkers, runners, cyclists, bird watchers, and nature lovers. This was an enjoyable place to take a walk and enjoy nature in the middle of urban Miami. Whether you're looking for a quiet stroll, a safe place to exercise, or simply somewhere to unwind outside, Arch Creek Environmental Preserve offers a welcoming and accessible haven for nature enthusiasts.

I lived across the street from Arch Creek East for 10 years and somehow missed paradise hiding in…read moreplain sight. It took a global pandemic, endless doomscrolling, and one long walk to realize there was a slice of untouched Florida literally across the street from me the whole time. COVID-19 gave us a lot of things -- paranoia, banana bread obsessions, and, for me, the gift of finally discovering this little Eden. Arch Creek East is where Miami sheds the neon and noise and quietly reminds you what existed before developers paved paradise into condo parking lots. It's part of the ancient hammock ecosystem, sitting on what was once a Tequesta Native American settlement. Spanish explorers passed through here centuries ago, and if you close your eyes long enough, you can almost hear the whispers of history in the mangroves -- or maybe that's just the ibis arguing with the egrets. This place is wild Florida at its best. Winding trails, shaded canopies, and a breeze off Biscayne Bay that feels like nature hitting the reset button. You'll spot herons, manatees if you're lucky, and the occasional kayaker who looks way more coordinated than I'll ever be. During lockdown, this became my sanctuary -- my daily escape from cabin fever and bad news cycles. Arch Creek East isn't just beautiful, though; it's peaceful in a way Miami rarely is. There's no blasting reggaeton, no condo noise, no traffic screaming at you -- just water, wildlife, and sky. Pro tip: bring bug spray, a camera, and your curiosity. And if you've been living nearby for nearly two decades without visiting, do yourself a favor -- don't wait for a pandemic to stumble into paradise like I did.

The 96th Street Park in Surfside is the town's main recreational area. It is now an inviting…read moreoutdoor destination thanks to a new design by architect William Lane who prioritized creating a space for both activity and leisure. After significant construction, the park reopened to the public on December 15, 2024. 96th Street Park is located on Indian Creek so there is scenic water views. During the upgrades to the park, a multipurpose field, state-of-the-art playground equipment, and a full-size basketball court were added. There is also a new LEED Silver-certified multi story municipal community center, Thrive 250 fitness equipment, and a kayak launch. Shade structures, fencing, advanced lighting solutions, landscaping, and comprehensive irrigation systems were also added to the park. The city holds many of its resident events here like a Winter Wonderland and Spring Egg Hunt. With its fresh design and new features, this park is a premier gathering space for the community. Whether you're looking to engage in sports, enjoy water activities, or simply relax in a beautiful setting, this modern park has something for everyone.

We've been visiting this park since we moved here four years ago. This is not our favorite park,…read moreas it tends to get very crowded at times. But the tree shade is a rare plus. We usually stop by when we're walking to or from Surfside. We visited midday on a Saturday when I took these photos and there was only one other family there, so it was a very pleasant experience. The shade under the trees gives you a breezy and cool feel on a hot summer day. The equipment at this park is a bit outdated and needs an upgrade, in my opinion. Our son loves the basketball courts and they also have a very large soccer field (grassy area) to play on. The Surfside community has many events here for residents only, which we are unable to attend since we live across the bridge. :-P

A nice little park. It has a strip of grass with picnic areas and an enclosed dog park. The…read morehighlight is the fishing pier that juts over Biscayne Bay. No restrooms. The water fountain doesn't work.

Visited this park for a Caribbean heritage event with the city. Very clean park with views of the…read morewater. Not sure jow parking works there was no real parking g for the actual park. But you can park across the street at the plaza.

Bay Harbor Islands is a charming 383 acre island town in Biscayne Bay. It is made up of two…read moreislands, originally known as Broadview and Bay Harbor for the streets that run around the perimeter of each island. Today they are known as the West and East Islands. Fun fact, a condo in Bay Harbor Islands was used for the exterior of Dexter Morgan's apartment in the Showtime's TV show Dexter. 95th Street Park is on East Island behind the Morris N. Broad Community Center. Morris's father Shepard Broad created and built Bay Harbor Islands. One of his first jobs was to work on the dredging of Bay Harbor Islands. After a successful banking career he became a philanthropist and he served as Chairman of the Shepard Broad Foundation and Vice President and Director of the Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation, Inc. at Duke University School of Medicine. The Community Center named in his honor has meeting rooms and a library. The 95th Street Park is more of an event space than a traditional park. There are paved pathways, benches, and picnic tables. The city uses this park to stage outdoor movies and concerts or you can just come here to enjoy an outdoor meal. Note that dogs are not allowed. Parking is available in the garage and along the street.

I'm not sure what this park's purpose was pre-COVID-19. There's not much here except a couple…read morebenches and a short walking path. According to Google, Bay Harbor has concerts, outdoor movies, carnivals, etc. here. I came here to get my COVID-19 vaccine booster. COVID-19 PCR tests are available here too. There is a public parking garage right next to the park. There are also a few street parking spaces available on 95th St by the school. Getting the booster was incredibly easy. I was in and out in about 5 mins.

The Hawthorne Tot Lot is a pocket park located in Surfside. The park is located at the intersection…read moreof 90th Street and Bay Drive. Pocket parks are generally less than a half acre in size and can have different amenities for the public. This type of mini park arose from a desire in communities to have places for kids to play instead of another building or wasted vacant land. Hawthorne Tot Lot is an example of a really well thought out and useful pocket park. While small in space, it is big on recreation. Hawthorne Tot Lot was first dedicated on June 29, 1991. After being renovated the park was rededicated in April of 2023. Park amenities include an outdoor fitness area, a sand pit, 2 play apparatuses, swings, picnic tables, and benches. The park was clean and colorful making it very inviting to children. I really like how it was also fenced for additional safety. The Hawthorne Tot Lot is also a Citi Bike kiosk station that promotes eco friendly transportation in the city. Citi Bike is a solar-powered bike sharing system at docking stations throughout the city. Bikes are available to use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can be paid for with a Bike Share Membership or an hour rental rate through an app.

This is a tot park for kids 6 and under. It has slides, swings, a sandbox and more. There is plenty…read moreof shade, so it never gets too hot. There are no services such as staff or bathrooms.

Altos Del Mar Park is a two acre, square park located between 76th and 77th streets just south of…read morethe private residences of Altos del Mar. Once a state-owned park, Altos del Mar Park was acquired by the City of Miami Beach in 2003. Parking is available inexpensively in a city lot next door that uses the ParkMobile app. The beach is guarded by a lifeguard tower. The well maintained park has a sand volleyball court, open lawn with seating, restrooms, shower, pirate themed playground, and access to the beach. Running between the park and the ocean is a paved beach trail, which extends for over a mile, starting from Allison Park and ending at North Shore Open Space Park. People use it to bike, jog, stroll, and rollerblade. The white, wide sandy beach was clean and the water was a beautiful clear blue. Despite it being a cooler day the beach was still filled with people enjoying the weekend. While families were enjoying the playground and beach, hanging out at the edges of the park were some really sketchy looking people that made me nervous. They were the only drawback to this park as I started to wonder if the cars were really safe in the parking lot.