Arch Creek Park & Nature Center

Arch Creek Park & Nature Center in North Miami Beach captures a fascinating aspect of Miami’s Native American history. Named for the natural limestone bridge that once spanned across a small creek flowing from the Everglades into Biscayne Bay, the area was the native habitat of Tequesta Indians. The bridge played a vital role in the tribe’s ability to maneuver across the creek in the 19th century. It collapsed in the 1970s but a replica gives visitors a window into the past.

At just nine acres, the small urban park offers a convenient way to commune with nature and the great outdoors without leaving the city. A half-mile trail winds through hardwood hammocks beneath a canopy of gumbo limbo trees, live oaks and strangler figs. Along the creek, you’re likely to spot kingfisher, egrets and other wading birds. If you’re a history buff, start or end your exploration inside the nature center with its exhibitions on the Tequestas and Miami’s early pioneers.