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!

Perfect location to cool off. Love the scenic drive to this location from central Miami. Love the…read morefresh air and the boardwalk to walk around and get your step. Definitely do the tour as majority of the park is water and you'll need tho boat tour. The gift shop has WiFi so if you need WiFi you'll be able to connect fast. You can also bring some things with you and have a picnic and enjoy your meal at the park. A must visit if you are in the area. Totally different vibes from the Everglades.

Great little neighborhood park. Huge playground for your…read moretwo legged kids and probably even bigger playgrounds for the four-legged variety. The fact that the kids playground is fenced in is incredible. Don't understand why more parks don't add this seemingly simple feature. It gives parents an added sense of safety. Plenty of parking and bathrooms There isn't any courts but there is an empty field to set up a soccer game or football

I didn't know there was a dog park by me, I would just go to the dog park by Senior High school…read moreBroncos. It's a nice place, has good playground dog areas, enough seats for dog owners to sit down, and good park surrounded by playgrounds, neighborhood, small water park, and both areas for big/small dogs. My only reason is I hope they can cover up underneath the fence due to my dog crawling underneath and playing with the small dogs. Covering up underneath with cement or rocks so that no dogs would be able to fight against one another.

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.

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.

As a native South Floridian, I've heard of, and driven by signs for, Fruit & Spice Park for as long…read moreas I can remember, but today was the first time I ever actually went, and I'm sorry I waited so long! 37 acres of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and medicinal plants here for you to explore, and sample!! We started with a seasonal special event, the Mango Tasting Tour. Our guide, Madelyn was a font of knowledge about the park itself, the trees we were passing through, and the fruits we sampled. I think in the end it was about 8 different varieties and everyone on the tour had their own favorites. Then we went back to base for different tasting tour with Phillip, who showed us new areas of the park and we tasted another 6 fruits with him! Really cool fruits like longan and caviar limes, but also things I'd never heard of, like bael and bilimbi. Once our tours were done we went back to the gift shop / lobby for some cold drinks. They sell iced coffee, soda, energy drinks, Gatorade, and even beer, wine, and cider, so something for everyone. You can also simply walk the grounds on your own if you don't feel like riding around in a tram. Anything on the ground is up for grabs, so if you want to try something go ahead and taste it! They do have rules, no picking growing fruits, and you can't take fruit home, but they welcome you taking all the seeds you want.

The plant version of a zoo, this park is amazing! Trees of all kinds, where patrons can see how all…read morethings tropical grow - from the ice cream bean to baobob trees, from dragon fruit to mangoes, this is the only place in the continental United States where one can see over 500 varieties of fruit, nut and spice trees (even poisonous ones!) all in one setting. The path will wind and walk you around the property, where you can not only see the trees, but also the ponds and invasive iguana population. Beautiful little waterfall features are also on the property. We took the tram tour, offered daily at 11:00 and 1:30. Andrew was very knowledgeable, excited and passionate about his work and interests in gardening, and since there were just four of us on the tour, he offered samples of some freshly picked produce. He also shared interesting facts and information - the bananas we eat today are overproduced and so prone to disease, that likely we will no longer have them in the next 8 years! Instead, we should diversify our farming practices and learn to enjoy things like the dwarf Brazilian bananas, and any of the plethora other varieties.

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.

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

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.

After a pleasant drive south from the Cocoa FL area we arrived at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial…read morePark and Campground. The campground was suggested by our friends Bob and Lori. We're absolutely delighted to overnight in quiet Pod 5 site 1 which is a back in site with full hookup. Larry Thompson was a humor columnist for the Miami Herald for more than two decades until his death February 18, 1973. He is in the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame. His wife Gladys "Penny" Thompson (née Rhodes), who died September 22, 1975, was a pioneer in women's aviation during the 1940s-1950s. She is in the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame and the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She was the Florida chapter president of the Ninety-Nines, the women's pilot organization founded by Amelia Earhart. While in the Civil Air Patrol, she flew over the Gulf of Mexico searching for German submarines during World War II. Her plane was one of several hundred destroyed in a 1945 blimp hangar fire at the Naval Air Station Richmond, part of which was rebuilt as the park.

I love the layout of this park and the amount of trees!! The shelters are amazing for bday parties…read moreand if you get the ones by the lake then you're in for a treat for a beautiful sunset

Patch of Heaven Sanctuary is a very comfortable and relaxing place. If you're an anxious person…read morelike I am, this spot is especially soothing and great for calming the mind. There are tons of beautiful plants throughout the property, making it a peaceful place to explore. I visited in January when it was pretty cold, so there wasn't much natural activity, but even then there was still a lot to see. I'd definitely recommend visiting when it's warmer to experience it fully. The sanctuary sits on about 20 acres, so be prepared for a good amount of walking. They also have a horse stable with some beautiful horses, and a "Bee Hotel," which sounded funny at first but was actually really interesting to learn about. There's a small restaurant on-site called Thai Tapas. The menu is limited, but the food is really good. Overall, this is another great spot for nature lovers and anyone looking for a peaceful, grounding experience.

I went to the Patch of Heaven Sanctuary over the weekend and it was breathtaking! I got to…read moreexperience the lush forestry, beautiful water falls, butterfly room, tea room, Thai tapas. It was definitely a place you could spend hours just wandering outside and get lost in. I was there for three hours and still didn't see all of its wonders. They also have so many beautiful events that you can attend throughout the month to get in tune with both nature and yourself. You feel like you're in another world while you're there. It's so peaceful and majestic. I'm glad I found this beautiful treasure in Miami.

We stayed in the tent loop. Loved it. Not many people there which was great. Did the nature boat…read moretour, had a snack at the restaurant before we set up camp.

We stayed at the newer Flamingo lodges. Built out of shipping containers, there's a bit of wind…read morenoise at night. There are ear plugs in the bathroom for guests, but it's not that bad, but we did have a middle unit. The place was NICE! Our family easily fit in the 1 bedroom, using the pull-out couch too. The kitchenette was AMAZING! We brought some pasta and sauce, not knowing what they had. They had multiple pots and pans, plates, bowls, and utensils for 4, and cooking utensils. A dishwasher to toss it all in at the end. We explored all around, taking a 2+ mile hike a couple of times. Lovely views! We went in 95+ heat and the AC kept up just fine and there were fans in the unit as well. Was worth the price to stay here in the National Park for a night and experience this.