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.

So quiet. Peaceful…read more Up the river is the Wharf. The Wharf is a cool place, been there a couple times, paid $300 minimum for the group to sit in a comfy lounger by the water. But you bring a cooler, a small grill, or use theirs, a call table and chairs and you have the same thing but waaaaay more peaceful. Watching the yachts going up and down the river is fun. This is not your typical free for all park jammed with families on the weekend. No one knows about this little park !! One gazebo, a few picnic tables, playground with rubber below, a couple grills, benches by the water. Plenty of shade. Great park to make- out.

At the turn of the century, the land where the park is was the property of Civil War General Samuel…read moreC. Lawrence of New England. He was injured in the Battle of Bull Run in 1861. In Miami he created an estate with a lush garden in which he planted with royal palms and a boat slip. He grew grapefruits on the rest of his land. After Lawrence passed away in 1911 the land was subdivided and the city of Miami purchased the land where the garden was 1964. A park was created and named for Miami pioneer Everest George Sewell who opened the first store north of the Miami River on March 26, 1896. He also served four terms as mayor of Miami. He died on April 2, 1940 at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The park is 10.33 acres along the Miami River next to the 17th Street Bridge. The park is two levels with the upper level near the parking lot containing a playground, barbecues, and benches. In this portion of the park you can see a historical marker and columns and stairs that are the ruins of Lawrences guest house that the city demolished in 1969. There is also the remains of the water pump Lawrence used to irrigate his garden. The lower portion of the park is a large linear green space along the Miami River providing a beautiful view of the water. The large royal palm trees that General Lawrence planted line the river bank. Here you will also find caves that belong to the Miccosukee Indian Tribe. There is a no trespassing sign but it is fascinating to think that there might be artifacts in there. I would be remiss if I did not talk about the cats here. This park is filled with stray cats. As an animal lover I was concerned but there were trays of food everywhere and they had the notch in the ear indicating that they are fixed. They looked well cared for. Eating at the buffet and interacting with the cats were various raccoons. Another interesting fact about the park is that the Miami New Times claims it is the best public park for Santeria rituals due to it's proximity to the river. Santeria is an Afro Cuban religion. Supposedly offerings of candy, fruit, and other objects are left on the river banks. The beautiful view and history make this one of Miami's more interesting parks to visit.

Not much shade in the waterfront park & marina. Regatta Park is a waterfront park in Coconut…read moreGrove, known for its scenic views of Biscayne Bay, marina access, and green spaces for recreation like walking, picnicking & dog walking. It features a promenade, playground, lawns, and hosts major annual events like the Coconut Grove Arts Festival & sailing competitions, making it a popular spot for both locals and visitors.

Regatta Park is a beautiful place with a wide path alongside the marina. It's conveniently located…read morenear city hall. There is plenty of parking, and I even found an EV charger for my car. I woke up early and went for a walk here before sunrise and just wow! A very pleasant way to start the day.

North Beach Oceanside Park was originally established in the 1950s when the city purchased and…read moredemolished a series of dilapidated villas on the site. Today, it's one of Miami's largest parks, stretching from 78th Street to 87th Terrace. For years, the 28-acre site was left largely to nature. In 2017, the city approved a $6 million renovation, with Calvin, Giordano & Associates as project manager and West 8 leading the redesign. The renovation focused on preserving the park's natural beauty, including large palm trees, sea grapes, and its dune ecosystem, which protects against rising sea levels, while improving both aesthetics and functionality. Today, the park offers beach access with lifeguards on duty and plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sun. Amenities include outdoor showers, restrooms, a dog park, picnic tables and grills, a sand volleyball court, three rentable picnic pavilions with grills, swings, a playground, and trails with a self-powered outdoor fitness course. Parking is available in the municipal lot on 83rd Street and along Harding Avenue. I especially enjoyed walking the trails--the park is much quieter than nearby South Beach, which you can also reach via the paved 8-mile bike trail. It's a peaceful, well-maintained spot for a day at the beach or an active outdoor outing.

15 years Miami and never had I been to this park up until today. And the reason why I ended up here…read moretoday is I was having breakfast close by and we wanted to find the closest dog friendly beach. Well Google and website says bark beach is here however upon arrival there were signs everywhere of no animals allowed however we saw there was dogs on the beach and went for it too. very beautiful park however i feel its only purpose is people coming here to barbecue as its one after the other. paid street parking only

This pretty park is located in Coconut Grove next to the bay. We took a short walk along S…read moreBayshore Drive on a nicely paved walkway. We saw joggers, families and athletes working out. You can take a stroll to the bay to appreciate a marina and the boats as well as beautiful views of the Miami area. You can also jog, bike, push your baby in its stroller, or walk your dog. There are a couple of tall colorful metal sculptures of a giraffe, horse and a bull for kids to climb. All in all it's a nice, quiet park to explore. There are approximately 280+ parks in Miami-Dade county to enjoy.

We took a quick stroll to come and see the fountain. It was a small park with a lot of areas fenced…read moreoff. Not sure if it was in preparation of an event coming up or if it is always like that! There was a tall fence around the fountain where I was just able to get my phone high enough not to include in a photo, but wouldn't be able to get selfies or full body photos without the ugly fence. We sat by the water for a short time and enjoyed watching the boats and cruise lines coming back & forth. There was a shopping market happening across the street, so we ended up going there to kill more time before meeting the rest of our group.

Where is it Christmas every day of the year in Coral Gables? At Merrie Christmas Park of course…read more Randall Norton "Randy" Christmas was the Mayor of Miami from 1955-1957. He must have quite the sense of humor to name his daughter Merrie. Not so funny was the fact that Merrie passed away at the age of 15 in 1969 and her father named the park in her honor. In 2014 the city of Miami discovered toxic metals at the park and shut it down for the next 2 years. Clean up of the park cost over a million dollars. Today the park is open and is a popular destination for the people who live in the neighborhood. The park has giant banyan trees and a large open area perfect for play. Other park amenities include an exercise path, picnic tables, and a playground. On the evening I visited people were having a party, kids were playing on the playground, and dogs were running across the lawn. This is a beautiful spot for the community of Coral Gables to gather.

A really nice park in a pretty nice neighborhood. This park is right of Lejuene but the huge trees…read moredo a great job of keeping out the traffic noise. They also provide a great deal of shade all around the park. The trees are also great places to explore with your little ones. So guess what, the main draw of this park I would say is the huge trees The park also has a nice playground and swings. A pretty nice patch of grass to run around in and a bit of a walking path. The one huge negatives is the serious lack of parking. Great for the folks that live around there cause I'm sure it keeps the rifraf away but since I'm the rifraf, I wish parking was easier to find

Best, most cleaned, serene park ever! Great for all ages! Elderly, middle aged, young adults, and…read morekids. My family and I loved it!! It doesn't seem like it from the outside but it's humongous! Nice for nature walk, Picnics, and exercise. The kids have lots of place to run wild.

You know that no one loves parks more than the big guy…read more Miami Beach, you've done a really good thing here. This park is beautiful and a welcomed oasis in the zaniness of South Beach. The playground is great but the should've known that the zip line was going to be the big hit and put multiples The meandering paths and hills create inviting zones to picnic and just hang out. Tennis courts that are open to the public are a nice touch Parking? Where is it? We found parking but I'm not sure it was entirely legal so

Where is Rapunzel? Can you see the cut out hearts? This gem is called Coral Gables Wayside Park…read moreand is located in Coral Gables. Talk about Mediterranean Revival. It consists of 8 towers and a park at the western entrance to Coral Gables. Coral Gables Waterway passes right through this park. A pair of 13-foot square towers form the entrance with additional smaller towers that flank SW 34th and 35th street. On January 19, 1989, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

This park looks like something out of a fairy tale. Located at the western edge of Coral Gables…read morethis park has eight Mediterranean Revival style towers that were built in 1925. Two thirteen foot tall towers form the entrance while the smaller towers are on 34th and 35th street. The Coral Gables waterway passes through the park and it is filled with ducks and wading birds. This park was added to the US National Register of Historic places on January 19, 1989. It is a lovely spot to have a picnic under one of the large shade trees as you take in the charming view.