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    Yamato Scrub Natural Area

    4.3 (11 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Lisa H.

    Beautiful natural area in Boca. Sandy paths and concrete paths. It seemed as though we walked forever but my fit bit said only 2 mikes. Lol. I did stop to take a lot of photos along the way. I'm a bit obsessed with it There is not a great amount of parking and no restroom facilities. We arrived early.. around 9am on a weekday. There were no parking spots left when we were leaving. Even though it is along side major highways, Not sure i would go alone because it was very isolated further in but i will return again with my friend.

    Beautiful landscape
    Kathy C.

    I returned to this park on a day when it wasn't as busy and it was even more enjoyable. There are some points that I forgot to make in my last review. The first point was to heed the warning and emphasize not to bring pets. There are red fox in these woods that hunt and eat small dogs and cats. People had left Covid-19 masks on the trails. Please be respectful of the natural beauty that the park has to offer and clean up after yourself so that others can enjoy it as well. Last time I didn't take pictures, so I am adding them now.

    Ariel W.

    Located in an industrial area of Boca Raton, Yamato Scrub Area is a 217 acre natural area. The first part of the paved trail takes you north through oak scrub and over a canal. The trail then opens up on to a 10 acre restored wetlands habitat which is great for bird watching.The trail then goes through oak scrub and loops returning you back to the wetlands. The south end of the trail system crosses you over the canal and takes you to a tunnel that goes under Clint Moore road. If you complete all of the paved Cicada Nature Trail it is 0.7 miles. If you complete all of the sandy Skyblue Lupine Hiking Trail it is 2.8 miles. The trails can be a little confusing but there is a sign at the parking lot that has trail maps you can take with you on your hike. On my visit I finally got to see a protected gopher tortoise for the first time in the wild. It was walking right along the north path. Other animals that make their home here include armadillos, Gray Fox, Gray Squirrel as well as many lizards and birds. I picked a very hot day to hike. I will definitely be back to explore more of the paths in the fall when it is cooler.

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    3 months ago

    Beautiful trail trees and wild life,but lots of spiders so if you are phobic just be mindful of that. Banana spiders are hugeeee

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    10 years ago

    This is my favorite nature hiking trail of all time. It's like walking through the jungle. It's magical!!

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    Review Highlights - Yamato Scrub Natural Area

    The south end of the trail system crosses you over the canal and takes you to a tunnel that goes under Clint Moore road.

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    Blazing Star Nature Preserve

    Blazing Star Nature Preserve

    3.5
    (6 reviews)
    4.7 mi

    Blazing Star is 26 acres of scrub pine with a mile loop running on top of sugar sand. It is…read moreadjacent to the much larger Sugar Sand Park. This area was once part of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, ancient dunes that lined the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the trail runs along I-95 and in addition to the cars you may hear the occasional train racing past. Plants you might encounter include sand live oaks, myrtle oak, Chapman oak, saw palmetto, slash pine, sand pine, bromeliad, prickly pear cactus, marsh ferns and cinnamon ferns and the invasive Brazilian pepper. When I came upon the pink and yellow lantana growing in the back of the preserve it was covered in zebra longwing butterflies. If you want to see the blazing star (Liatris), with it's stalks of purple flowers that the area takes it's name from you will have to plan your visit for late summer and early fall. If you are lucky you will see protected gopher tortoises. All I came upon however was a burrow. As you make your way through the preserve you will be serenaded by cicadas and crickets. This is a pretty isolate spot, especially when you get to the back of the preserve. Unlike a lot of other preserves I have visited this one is not paved so it is not wheelchair accessible. It was actually quite hard to even walk in the back but when I came upon a hundred butterflies floating around the plants it made the muddy sneakers and trek worth it. You have to be slow and quiet to fully appreciate this area but once you focus in a lot of surprises await you.

    I'd be lying if I said Blazing Star Nature Preserve is a bundle of fun…read more.. It's located adjacent to the east side of Sugar Sand Park separated by the Tri-Rail road road tracks. The entrance/parking area is small but there is always a spot to park; actually, it's rare to see any cars here at all. Theres a bench to sit and watch nothing... There is a bike rack... There is an informational board mounted on a tiny building; perhaps a storage shed or sorts)... And there is the entrance to the trails.... That's basically what the park offers... trails that meander through a protected 12 acre parcel of land... lots of cabbage palms and pine trees... And there is a bit of wildlife to ooh and ahh at (if you find them)... the wildlife includes all the typical South Florida wildlife but have heard fox are present but Ive never seen (and I'd imagine they'd leave the park and put themselves at risk with vehicular traffic and residential communities). One of the reasons I don't love the park (and it's not because they don't offer more amenities), is the lack of accessible paths. The trails through the park are sugar sand (just like the namesake of our neighboring park, Sugar Sand Park)... they get a sprinkle of pine needles that gives the trail a bit of stabilization but for the most part they are exposed sugar sand... just white, soft, unforgiving sugar sand that makes walking a bit of a challenge (like trying to take a jog on the dry part of the beach). It'd be great if the City of Boca Raton would add or mix some shell rock to the paths... it'd make the park considerably more user friendly... or maybe even covering the paths with mulch.

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    Blazing Star Nature Preserve
    Blazing Star Nature Preserve
    Blazing Star Nature Preserve

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    Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

    Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

    4.6
    (876 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    I can't even tell you how lovely this place is! 25 nature destinations walked in a loop that goes a…read moremile long, with bridges, waterfalls, bamboo parks, pagoda-styled buildings. Big bright green iguanas prancing around the property. It is a wonderful day trip, you can have lunch at the cafe on the outdoor patio and enjoy a variety of Asian dishes, boba tea, and other cold treats. There is a short movie that tells visitors about the inspiring life of George Morikami, the man who created this place and dedicated hundreds of acres back to Florida. There was an exhibition on Japanese Bridal Kimonos, Japan's efforts in American wars, and a model 16th century tea house with a very informative diagram explaining the traditions and build out. The gift shop had so many cool things bookmarks, Japanese candy, art, keep sakes, clothes, and so much more. Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens is unforgettable.

    We came here on Mother's Day -- a Sunday in May. As you can imagine, it was quite busy. So busy, in…read morefact, that we only saw a peak at the inside museum and a quick visit to the gift shop. We spent our time visiting the Japanese gardens. It was excruciatingly hot the day we visited. We were glad for the frequent benches to stop and rest. We enjoyed the beauty of the various gardens. Especially liked the bamboo grove as my husband got to explain to a few folks a bit about bamboo and the ingenuity of his grandfather using bamboo on his farm in Georgia as irrigation conduits. The sign saying don't carve the bamboo next to a carved stalk was ironic... In addition to the various plant gardens, there were the rock gardens, the waterfalls, and the pine forest. Liked seeing the koi fish and turtles. Another highlight was the bonsai exhibit. Throughout the winding path, there were stone lanterns and small wooden huts. At the entrance to the area with the original 1977 museum is a laughing Buddha statue of Hotei, the god of happiness. Smaller than expected, you might miss it the first time you pass by. As a caveat, prepare for lots of walking. Wear comfortable shoes, a hat or carry a parasol, sunglasses. They have a couple areas with steps, but there is an alternative "easier" path for strollers or handicapped. And if possible, come when it's cooler. I'm glad we walked the entire perimeter. But for someone very much out of shape, I know I'll be feeling my achy muscles. I'm glad we got this brief glimpse into the history and culture of the Japanese in South Florida. It's one of the most distinctive tourist attractions in our area.

    Photos
    It's all about the views.
    It's all about the views.
    Tea House
    Tea House
    Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

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    Atlantic Dunes Park

    Atlantic Dunes Park

    4.5
    (33 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    This is our local beach when we go to Delray. In the past, it would have been a 5 star but sadly…read morethe beach is being washed away. What is left of it makes for cramped seating unless you are willing to walk, which we did, but had we been with our in-laws it would not have been that easy. Also the stairs and walking path seems as if they are falling apart. Need some remediation and a good paint job. Positives are still showers and restrooms. And easy metered parking right across the street. Very sad to see.

    Saturday morning, I got up early and headed to Atlantic Dunes Park. I arrived early enough that the…read moreregular parking lot was still locked, which was a serious bummer. I get that someone needs to be here to open it but this was a disappointment. Once I did find a spot to park, it was a nice walk through the mangroves and along the boardwalk over the dunes to the beach. I found a seat, probably trespassing from one of the communities but the chair was comfy. With my coffee in hand, I was here for over an hour as the Sun slowly came over the horizon. I was undisturbed. Other beachgoers walking back and forth but folks seemed to get my vibe and did not approach. There is a beached sailboat here since December. Maybe it's still here when you visit. It made for some fun photos. There is a bathroom facility and a beach shower and a picnic pavilion. Parking across the street requires feeding a meter. Don't forget that. [Round number review 22000 - 972 of 2024 - 1848 in Florida]

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    Atlantic Dunes Park
    Atlantic Dunes Park, Delray Beach
    Atlantic Dunes Park, Delray Beach
    Atlantic Dunes Park, Delray Beach

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    Atlantic Dunes Park, Delray Beach
    Everglades Holiday Park

    Everglades Holiday Park

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    32.3 mi

    I did the Animal Encounter with my family and had Ethan as our presenter. He was awesome! Very…read moreknowledgeable and thorough in his explanation of each of the animals. The rest of the staff with whom I interacted was good too! The reason I am giving this review 4 stars instead of 5 is there were certain employees in the gift shop who left a little to be desired. They seemed as if they didn't really want to be there. Could have caught them on a bad day, but I noticed a difference between those few and the rest of the staff around the premisis.

    Overall fun experience. I booked a tour through viator which included hotel pickup. The pickup was…read moreon time and the driver narrated some fun facts about the everglades on the short ride there. We visited on a Saturday so it was busy as expected. There is no shade on the grounds so much of the time was spent standing in the hot sun. Waiting to get into an airboat was a bit chaotic and tiresome. There were shade canopies along the queue but they were not deployed for some reason. Staff seemed a bit disorganized, groups were confused on where to go and given mixed directions from staff members. The experience on the boat was nice and we saw a variety of wildlife. The captain was knowledgeable and spotted alligators quickly. The gator show was fun but short. The host Paul was funny and engaging, the entire audience was captivated. All the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. Our highlight was getting to hold a baby alligator and knowing that our money was going to one of the only no kill gator rescues!

    Photos
    Family photo - Animal Encounters at Everglades Holiday Park
    Family photo - Animal Encounters at Everglades Holiday Park
    Paul Bedard holding a BIG alligator at Everglades Holiday Park
    Paul Bedard holding a BIG alligator at Everglades Holiday Park
    Lady Liberty airboat at Everglades Holiday Park

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    Lady Liberty airboat at Everglades Holiday Park

    Yamato Scrub Natural Area - hiking - Updated July 2026

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