I visited the Coral Springs Museum of History for a monthly 'Conversation with the City…read moreHistorian'. The topic March 2026 was Electra Lab homes. A partnership between Coral Ridge properties and Westinghouse Electric created three homes of the future to entice future residents to move to Coral Springs. The museum itself is a small building that was originally built in 1964 as a sales office. The building along with the covered bridge also in Coral Springs, are Florida Heritage sites. The small museum located in Mullins Park houses a collection of historic Coral Springs, papers and photos as well as original mailboxes. It was clear to me that the museum is curated and maintained with love. The Coral Springs Museum of History is truly a hidden jam

This is the structure where much of Coral Springs history, going back to Coral Ridge Properties,…read moreall began. This building now rests in Mullins park where it houses a small collection of Coral Springs artifacts. Original city hall post office boxes, Indian relics, newspaper clippings, high school uniforms and an interactive history challenge known as "Sunny" are here. The City celebrates its birthday each year on July 10th. On July 10, 2025 (today) the city turns 62-years-old so there are tours led by members of the Coral Springs Historic Advisory Committee. Located in Mullins Park next to the community pool.

Covered bridges are rare and finding one in South Florida especially so. This is the oldest one in…read morethe state, built in 1964 so relatively modern. It was the first permanent structure in Coral Springs. A single steel span that is 40 feet long. It is an active bridge and I was pleased that the height and weight clearance were sufficient for the Sprinter van. There is no easy parking here with signs indicating private property and no parking on the grass. As such, you can't get any good view of the logos on the side of the bridge. Interesting note - it is the only covered bridge located on a public right-of-way in all of Florida. [Review 20249 overall - 1752 in Florida - 1226 of 2023.]

This was the nicest and "coolest" thing I saw today for Earth Day 2022. Real covered bridges are…read morenot found in South Florida and I was happy to see this one. It has murals painted on each side of the bridge span and recently is was closed for repairs but now it is open for cars. No trucks allowed. The neighborhood that it bridges is also very nice. The history behind this bridge can be found on a raised plaque on the side of the entrance and it has some pretty interesting history. Definitely check it out and drive through if you get the chance.

Stuart and William L. Kester were originally from West Virginia. They came to Pompano to pursue…read morefishing in the 1920's and in 1937 built the wood frame bungalows that they called "pepper crates" in Pompano and Deerfield Beach. Since they were inexpensive to build soon everyone was constructing them for residents and visitors alike. They were constructed of Dade County pine and had indoor plumbing and running water. They measured 25 feet by 35 feet. Some had a beach view and ranged from one to three bedrooms. At their height of popularity there were 150 of them. All of the cottages were white with playing card suites cut of out their shutters. Houses cost under a thousand dollars to build and you could rent one for as little as $29 a month. I wish you could still get beach front property for that amount. The two Kester cottages owned by the Pompano Beach Historical Society were donated to them by Kester's nephew Stewart. They were moved from their original location to Founders Park behind the Historical Society building. Usually they are locked up but they open them for tours when they do the once a month historical trolley tour. The next time the cottages will be open is on January 12 from 9 to 10 AM. The cottages are filled with historical items from Pompano Beach's history. If you can't tour them they have a wonderful 3-D virtual tour on the website they have have set up for the cottages. One other Kester cottage remains on the grounds of the Butler House in Deerfield Beach.

"Sculpture can plant a seed of imagination, creating a guidepost of life through art" CRGray…read more Slices of Springs is a public art sculpture located in front of Sherwood Forest Park in Coral Springs. It was created by Key West artist Craig Berube-Grey who has been carving stone for over 25 years. He likes to chose whimsical subject matter that makes people happy like figures made out of stones, ice pops, conversation hearts, and fruit. He created Rock Et Man in Whispering Woods Park in Coral Springs and Ice Pops in Rachel Richardson Park in Coral Springs. Slice of Springs was created in 2014 and is made out of colored fossilized limestone mixed with cement and painted. The sculpture is of three large orange slices. It is as if a giant was having a snack and wandered off. I love the detail and the pop of color this art adds to the park.

Peaceful park, great for shorter dog walks. You can walk on the water and there's some shade and a…read morefew benches. There's a playground area and bathroom as well. Free parking.

Im on another quest, and this time to find the most tranquil park in Broward County. Weston does…read morehave many and the Yelpers reviews seem to indicate that the smaller parks maintained by the city are much more relaxing than the larger parks maintained by the county. Several parking spaces and a short walk down the sidewalk, across a wooden walkway to the amazing water view. Plenty of grassy areas to play fetch with your dog, toss a frisbee, take a jog or just read a good book under the sprawling trees.

In 2012 the City of Pompano Beach adopted an ordinance to place public art in the city. Works are…read morechosen by the Public Art Committee and the Old Town Mural is part of the public art program. It's so much fun finding new art popping up in different places in the city. There is a ten year master plan that proposes 27 new pieces of art. Periodically Pompano will list a call for artist submissions on their public arts page and at that time artists can submit their work for consideration for the next project. The Old Town Mural was created by South Florida artist Carlos Gonzalez. He won the competition held by the Public Arts Committee and his design was chosen. The mural is located on an exterior wall in the Old Town section of Pompano located across the street frrom the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. In bright colors, the 98 foot high mural depicts the landmarks and historic sites in Pompano Beach. Scenes include the Pompano Beach pier, the Hillsboro Lighthouse, fruilts and vegetables from when Pompano Beach started out as a farming community, historic buildings, and a Pompano fish. The best time to come and see this mural is during Old Town Untapped, a food arts, and shopping event held on the first Friday of every month. The city planted some flowers in front of the mural and it is the perfect back drop for taking pictures. I really love this mural and am excited to see what the committee approves next.

Kudos to the artist . We were near the mural in the small park listening to a free rock band …read more Apparently they have free monthly concerts near the old town mural . Yippy to free concerts and beautiful art .

The City of Sunrise was founded in 1961 as Sunrise Golf Village by developer Norman Johnson who was…read morefrom Iowa. He brought prospective buyers to this city on the western edge of Broward County by building model homes. Johnson had originally considering using Sunset in the name but reconsidered for the more optimistic Sunrise which he planned to market to retirees. The new community became famous for its upside down house created by Johnson and F. E. Dykstra. The home was completely furnished, and the carport had an upside-down car. There were many news features about the house and a feature in Life magazine. Thousands were drawn to the attraction and many stayed to make their home in the new city. By 1967 the city had a population of 4,300 and was 1.75 square miles. The city eventually expanded westward out to the edge of the Everglades for a total of 18 square miles and changed its name to Sunrise in 1971. Today the city has a population of approximately 100,000 people. The Amerant Bank Arena previously known as the National Car Rental Center, Office Depot Center, BankAtlantic Center, BB&T Center, and FLA Live Arena opened in 1998. The arena is the home of the Florida Panthers and hosts concerts and other major events. In 1990 the first phase of Sawgrass Mills Mall opened. The mall now offers a large and diverse selection of stores and restaurants. In 2007 Ikea opened which enabled everyone to get their Swedish meatball fix and be able to purchase cheap put together furniture. While most people visit Sunrise for the arena and mall, there is much more to Sunrise if you dig a little deeper. For one thing the city has some amazing parks which include Welleby Park, Oscar Wind Park, Sawgrass Sanctuary, and Oak Hammock Park. The city's commitment to maintaining well-kept parks enhances the overall quality of life for residents. Cultural events can be enjoyed at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre and Art Gallery. The city has a number of restaurants especially by the mall. \Whether you are craving traditional Floridian cuisine or international restaurants that offer a taste of global flavors, there's something to satisfy every palate. As the city grew, the residential areas were able to maintain a suburban charm, providing a pleasant contrast to the bustling commercial areas. The neighborhoods are well-planned, with clean streets and a sense of community that makes it an ideal place for families. Sunrise, Florida, is a destination for entertainment, recreation, and community living. With its diverse offerings and friendly atmosphere, Sunrise continues to shine bright in Broward County.

Every visit seems to involve excessive wait times, unclear instructions, and staff members who…read moreappear overwhelmed or uninformed. Simple requests, such as obtaining permits or accessing public records, become unnecessarily complicated due to poor organization and lack of communication. Additionally, phone lines frequently go unanswered, and online resources are outdated or incomplete. As residents, we rely on City Hall to provide essential services, yet the current system feels dismissive of our time and concerns. I urge the administration to address these issues and prioritize meaningful improvements.

The Central Arcade building is located in Hollywood's historic business district which was…read moredesigned by Hollywood founder Joseph Young in 1921. Many of it's original design features remain. Architectural features of the buildings include those used the 1920's Florida land boom time and after it went bust during the Depression and New Deal eras. The Central Arcade Building is part of the city of Hollywood's Historical Landmark Plaque Tour sponsored by the Hollywood Historical Society and the Community Redevelopment Agency. This is stop number 12. The arcade was a popular building design in the 1920's and 1930's. It was one to two stories in height and had space in the building for individual retailers. The arcade was a precursor to the mall. In the 1930's Hollywood's mayor had a dental office in the building. In the late 1990's the building was the Hollywood Boulevard Theater. Today the building houses Cabo Blanco and Uncle Buck's, a discount store. The upstairs is available for lease.

Self- guided historic tour #2. The Central Arcade was built in 1923 for professional office spaces…read morespecifically for a dentist (Hlwd mayor) thru the 1930's and a photographer sixty years later. The Hollywood Blvd Theater was a tenant here in the right side space and closed forever in 2001. Today, the two storefront locations of 1936 and 1938 Hollywood Blvd are the Cabo Blanco Restaurant & Bar. The words Central Arcade in the mid 1900s meant retail shopping area not as the meaning today which an arcade refers to pinball entertainment. The bronze marker plaque on the outer wall legitimizes the landmark by the Hollywood Historical Society.

On this beautiful day, I rode my bike along Himmarshee Street and veered off one road to the south…read morealong the historic district of Riverwalk with scenic views of the New River just in time to watch the railroad draw bridge open its rusty steel jaws to allow yachts to pass. In this area of the Linear Park, which was densely fortified with plants, trees, winding bike and walk paths, there were restaurants, historic landmarks, cultural exhibits and monuments.

The Riverwalk pathway runs from the Esplanade Park through the historic district to the New River…read morebridge and train tracks. Nice area shaded by trees with incredible views of the New River. Great pathways to ride your bike or walk your puppy and have a matcha at Pure Vida.