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    Winding Waters Nature Area

    4.4 (10 reviews)

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    Sandy J.

    Highlight: Another nice place of the very many nature preserves and natural areas scattered around West Palm. While this place definitely is naturesy- I caution that it is not the most friendly in terms of trails and it is not as "tamed" as its neighbors like Grassy Preserves or Loxahatchee or Wakodahatchee etc. The variation in wildlife is not as nice as the other places- not as scenic for photos. And if you're someone allergic to wasps and bees, definitely carry an epi pen. However, you can get an epic shot of the West Palm VA from this area's wetlands if you're adventurous enough to take the unmarked trails around the small wetland area. Free to get in and parking is not a problem Scenery- So, one can always find beauty in nature. I thought the scenary here was a little off beaten and repetitive. there wasn't much of a trail to follow once you thread through the trees- it's just sand and overgrown grass trails that you sometimes have stand and scrutinize the path ahead to see where it goes. The tall trees at the beginning are nice to take pics at, but the whole place was really only 3 kinds of scenary- tall pines, short palms with same Savannah like grass, and then this long sand weather beaten trail around the small wetland. I personally preferred Grassy Preserves and other places' wooden walkways and clearly marked trails- really added the aesthetic effect of photos and calming effect of nature without worrying if you're going to step through poison oak, thorns, wasps, etc. Trails- Honestly, I had to take deep breaths walking around that beaten trail around the wetland. I have a bee/wasp allergy and had no epi pen and honestly wasn't expecting there to be wasps/bees aplenty on the ground hovering around the wildflowers and grass. I was 0.7 miles away from the end of the trail and walking through wasps- I had never felt so nervous in my life b/c I knew I wouldn't be able to seek help in time if I got stung. It was a hot, miserable, and frightening experience. Good concrete paths along the main areas before you branch around the really beaten trails Wildlife- not much- I thought the vegetation and wildlife here was bland. HOWEVER, because this area is not as monitored or tamed, if you're someone whos' game, you could probably do some wading int he pond and get up close to some serious bush if you're really into the untame wildlife. Flowers were bland but I thought the fish were interesting b/c this was truly unspoiled wilderness Bring sunscreen, water, epi pen, and your camera :)

    Ariel W.

    This is a lovely 548 acre natural area that is part of the Northeast Everglades Natural Area. It is located just south of Dyer Park which was the site of a landfill that was closed in 1989 before opening in 1997 as a county park. It's so nice to see garbage being reclaimed by nature. A three year restoration project was done at Winding Waters and it reopened in 2015 with nature trails, a kayak launch and an observation platform. There are 5 miles of hiking trails and a 3 mile canoe trail through the marsh. Winding Waters contains six Florida ecosystems, Wet-Flatwoods, Mesic-Flatwoods, Depression Marsh, Hydric Hammock, Dome Swamp and Wet Prairie. During the restoration Cabbage-Palm,Laurel Oak,Pond -Cypress,Red-bay and Red maple were added to the area. Other plants you may see include Royal fern, netted pawpaw, slash pine, and button bush. Animals that have been observed here include alligators (there are signs everywhere warning you of their presence although I didn't see any), Bald Eagles, Green Snakes, Green Herons ,raccoons, and Anhingas. I did the first part of the hike that takes down from the parking lot and past a fishing pier. From there I took a paved walkway that eventually crosses a bridge and an observation platform. From there you can hike the 4.3 mile sandy Wetlands trail that circles the island but I had already hiked at other places earlier that day so I opted instead to make my way back to the parking lot by following a different trail that ran along the edge of the wetlands. The scenery was beautiful and although I didn't see any alligators I did see a lot of wading birds. I am sure that it is filled with even more birds during the winter months on it's nesting and rookery islands. I will be back to explore the trails I missed in the cooler months. It is important to note that there are no restrooms here so plan accordingly and plan on bringing your own hydration. If you like the natural side of Florida this area offers abundant scenery whether you are hiking across the islands or canoeing down the water trails.

    Sherry W.

    You park at the trail head and it is a loop trail. It was about a four mile walk. 80% of the trail is not shaded. About 10% of the trail is a sidewalk. We saw a gator in the water. There are NO restrooms (reason for a star deduction). There are a few pavilions to take shelter if it rains. It was a quiet trail. We saw snail shells.

    Monica O.

    Great open area for a walk. We truly enjoyed walking through and spotting a few animals. We will be returning.

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    Review Highlights - Winding Waters Nature Area

    A three year restoration project was done at Winding Waters and it reopened in 2015 with nature trails, a kayak launch and an observation platform.

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    Flamingo Park - Love the majestic banyan trees in this park.

    Flamingo Park

    5.0(3 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    Flamingo Park is a 2 acre open green space in the Flamingo Park neighborhood of Palm Beach. The…read morepark has a small swing sweet, benches, and majestic banyan trees. What most people don't know about the park is that it is also a cemetery. Approximately 100 bodies lie beneath the grass. No one knows how many exactly because people who could not afford a formal burial would come here in the middle of the night to bury their dead. The land the park sits on was once owned by the Lakeside Cemetery Association who purchased the property from the city in 1902. They then used it as an African-American cemetery while white people were buried in Pioneer Memorial Park on land where the Norton Museum of Art now resides. In 1913 the city wanted the land back so they could sell it for development but they were blocked by the Supreme Court. Burials were stopped and five years later the land was donated to the city who turned it into a park named Dixie Playground and later the name changed to Flamingo Park, the same as the historic neighborhood that surrounds it. The city didn't give up on selling the land first in 1966 for houses and in 1991 as an exotic car shoot room. Neighborhood protest blocked both projects. The city seems to be resigned to having a park here now and they have made improvements including a walkway and benches. A statue called Girl With a Shawl was added to act as a memorial to the people who are buried here but whose names have been lost to time. You can read about the history of the park on a historical marker that has been placed in the park. The park is now mainly used by homeless people but the centuries old banyan trees will sometimes attract people posing for a picture. This park is a piece of the history of Palm Beach. Thanks to community activists we still have it to enjoy today.

    Small little park with a lot of history. This park use to be an African American cemetery back in…read more1902. Its located in down town West Palm beach not far from City Place and Clematis Street. Flamingo park has a monument of a girl and around the girl are some benches. I am told by a friend that knows the area that there are a lot of vagrant people in this area . So we stayed for a short time. We could see that there were a lot of beers cans laying around .What a shame to trash a park that should be respected because of its history. The park has beautiful large trees and even a small playground. Come check out this neighborhood park. Parking is not good.

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    Flamingo Park
    Flamingo Park
    Flamingo Park

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    John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Safety First. Wear It & Buckle Up.

    John D. MacArthur Beach State Park

    4.4(113 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    John D. MacArthur Beach State Park seemed like such a hidden gem from everything I had read and…read moreseen online. I loved that it offers so many activities in one place--kayaking, paddleboarding, the beach, picnic areas, a gift shop, and educational exhibits--all at very reasonable prices. Parking was only $5, and the kayak and paddleboard rentals were affordable too. Unfortunately, I happened to visit on a day with an extremely low tide. Paddleboard rentals were suspended, but kayak rentals were still available. The staff did warn us about the low tide and advised us to stay near the edges to avoid getting stuck. However, as someone new to kayaking, I didn't realize just how much the tide would impact the experience. For a large portion of our trip, the water was so shallow that our kayaks constantly got stuck. We had to repeatedly get out and drag them through the water. At times, the water wasn't even ankle deep. I completely understand that the staff can't control the tides, but I honestly wish kayak rentals had also been paused that day because the conditions made it difficult to really enjoy the experience. By the time we finished kayaking, we were exhausted and felt pretty gross from walking through the murky water, so we ended up skipping the beach altogether. Outside of that, the park itself looked lovely. There was a nice picnic area, a cute gift shop, and they even had a rescued sea turtle with a volunteer sharing information about sea turtle conservation, which was a really nice touch. There also appeared to be several educational exhibits throughout the park, although they happened to be closed during our visit. One downside was a pretty unpleasant smell near the gift shop, but I'm guessing that may have also been related to the unusually low tide. Despite my experience, I haven't written the park off. The photos I've seen online make it look absolutely beautiful, and I think we were just unlucky with the timing. I'd definitely consider coming back on a day with higher water levels to give it another chance. It sounds like a great park overall--I just recommend checking the tide conditions before planning to kayak or paddleboard so you can enjoy it at its best.

    This was a nude beach when I was a kid. That ended in 1982 when it became a beloved state park…read more They have done a lot to preserve native plants. You can rent kayaks here or swim. It's usually not too crowded. This is where we would go to see sea turtles laying eggs. And that continues to this day. It's a great location and a beautiful park.

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    John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Just saying...

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    Okeeheelee Park

    Okeeheelee Park

    4.6(60 reviews)
    9.3 mi

    wow, what a park. It's a bit of a drive from me, so I hadn't…read moremade way up there to Okeeheelee till recently. Some different friends who also Disc Golf had said it was one of the best courses around so I finally felt the urge to make it up there. The open a little early which is nice too. Entering the park is impressive in itself. There are so mnay things going on from a large lake spanning waterpark, wildlife all over, a BMX park that's a good size, and of course, the disc course. The things some had said that was obvious immediately, is that the place had far more rolling hills than any park or place in South Florida. I started off at the top of a hill and had to through down to the bottom of the hill. There were shots later where I had to throw over a pond and up a hill. From the elevation changes to the great forest and water holes, it really was worth the drive. Heck, I've been back 2 more times this month already.

    Hands down one of my favorite parks in the community! Okeeheelee Park has so much to offer, and…read moreI've been coming here for years. During the COVID lockdown, walking the trails became my favorite pastime. Especially as a pregnant woman looking for peace and fresh air, lol. Years later, those same trails are still a favorite activity for my son and me. More recently, I've taken up disc golf and was excited to find out the group I joined regularly plays at the Okeeheelee course. It's been such a fun and engaging experience! Just yesterday, I attended a picnic at one of the park's pavilions, and it was wonderful. The swings and playground next to the pavilion made it perfect for a family-friendly event. The space provided plenty of seating and shade, so everyone could enjoy themselves without being overwhelmed by the heat. There's still so much of this park I haven't explored yet, and I genuinely look forward to continuing to visit for years to come.

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    Okeeheelee Park
    Okeeheelee Park
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    Mary Brandon Park

    Mary Brandon Park

    4.2(5 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    While looking for place to get a few steps in I stumbled across Mary Brandon Park. It is a small…read moreneighborhood park tucked near the northeast corner of the West Palm Beach Golf Course, just east of Forest Hill High School and the West Palm Beach Country Club. It's named after Mary Brandon, a local politician who served on the city's Parks and Recreation Commission in the 1960s. Established in 1999, this park holds the distinction of being the first dog park in the City of West Palm Beach. It features two separate fenced areas--one for small dogs (25 pounds and under) and another for larger dogs. Amenities include dog-friendly water fountains, play tunnels, as well as plenty of chairs, benches, and tables for owners to relax. In July 2019, the city unveiled a brand-new playground, replacing older equipment with updated, shade-covered slides and climbing structures. In addition to the dog park and playground, the park also offers picnic pavilions, a baseball field, restrooms, and a large open green space that's perfect for running around or getting some exercise. I really appreciate how the city created a space that caters to both kids and dogs. It's a welcoming, versatile park that serves the neighborhood well--perfect for a casual afternoon outdoors. I'd definitely come back, especially if I brought my dog or just wanted a quiet place to unwind outside for a while.

    We were heading south on Georgia Avenue after our lunch and came across this neighborhood park…read more This is a West Palm Beach park of about six and a half acres. It's perfect for kids and dogs. There is a nice playground area with a structure, benches, a softball field, a basketball court, a walking path, and open grass to run around in. For the pet owner, there are two dog "parks"/dog run areas for differing size dogs that are fenced in. When we stopped by, there was only one other car parked in the lot. It was lovely weather so I was surprised that more people were not taking advantage of the first sunny day in a while. There are some large old trees providing shade, too. We'd be here often if we lived in the neighborhood.

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    Mary Brandon Park
    Mary Brandon Park
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    Winding Waters Nature Area - parks - Updated September 2026

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