Best Parks in Tri-county South Florida

Tucked within all of the hustle and bustle of city life in South Florida, and sometimes in a setting so far away from the beach you wouldn't even know it, lie a few parks worthy of your visit. Even considering how over populated the Tri-County areas are (Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach), the urban development agencies were kind enough to leave cites to remind us of what Florida was before we were here.

Deerfield Beach is home to two of South Florida's most magnificent parks. Deerfield Island Park is a magnificent nature reserve accessible only by boat. Established in 1980, Deerfield Island Park has a rich history dating back to before the 1830s. The park is an official Gopher Tortoise Reserve and a Designated Urban Wilderness Area. The park offers a covered pavilion to accommodate picnickers and group events, as well as youth camping grounds for non-profit groups and scouts.

The park is located in the Intercoastal Waterway just above Hillsboro Beach Blvd. You can contact the office at (954)360-1320 or visit the website (http://www.broward.org/parks/di.htm).

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Florida is sure to impress and entertain the whole family. Offering a wide array of activities spanning from rent-a-tent style camping, to a children's water park, mountain bike trails, fishing and water Rixen cable water skiing, there is never a dull moment. The park is beautifully lush and rich in wildlife, but is a great place to spend a weekend camping or a day in the sun.

Quiet Waters is also very popular because it hosts the annual South Florida Renaissance Festival. For more information about Quiet Waters, you can visit their website (http://www.broward.org/parks/qw.htm).

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida is a fabulous nature reserve in the area. Providing education and awareness of native marine life and wildlife, Gumbo Limbo strongly encourages all people to conserve and protect. The sanctuary offers many animal exhibits including a giant Sea Turtle garden, tanks of marine life, an observation tower amongst the Gumbo Limbo trees and many events and workshops promoting all aspects of wildlife preservation. The nature trails are tranquil and calming, as Gumbo Limbo is a wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon. For more information, visit their website (http://gumbolimbo.org/).

Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach was voted Miami-Dades best park. The location is rich in wildlife species, offers camping, bird watching and tranquility. The park hosts many exhibitions, including Kayaking in the Oleta River, golfing and many other activities. Reynold's park is huge, measuring out to 249 acres. The site of the park was once a rock quarry, but the diameter encompasses an amazing mangrove forest, which is the last protected hammock in North Miami. You can visit (http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/Parks/greynolds.asp) for more information.

Even though this is more of a tourist trap than an actual, government funded park or preserve, Holiday Park in Davie is a fantastic park for visitors and locals. Hop on an air boat and ski through the Everglades, experiencing nature at its finest; view a man wrestle an alligator (barefoot, might I add), and enjoy the slowest moving river in the world.

The park also offers camping and fishing, amongst a full convenience store and the guided Everglade's tours are not only exhilarating, but informative as well. The Everglades are the heart of South Florida and for anyone who has never experienced the sight needs to check it out. Visit http://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/ for more info.

During Great Outdoors Month, take the time to visit a park in your area. Not only can you show your adventurous side, but you can relax in the environments of wild animals, beautiful views, and foliage.