In a destination that bustles with energy day and night, Miami-Dade County’s Parks
system offers moments of calmness and beauty as well as connection with local history. The properties owned and managed by the park system include lush green spaces, beautiful beaches, marinas, golf courses and even several attractions.
Start by exploring some of the county’s 280 parks - with standouts such as Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Amelia Earhart Park and Black Point Park & Marina. Also be sure to check out Miami-Dade County’s EcoAdventures Program, offering guided excursions for kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling and fishing.
Beachlovers will want to visit expansive Matheson Hammock Park with its man-made atoll pool, refreshed naturally by the tidal waters of Biscayne Bay. The park is also a great place to watch kite boarders in action. Crandon Park’s two miles of beachfront is considered one of the top beaches in the U.S. An offshore sandbar here keeps the waters tranquil. The pretty beaches at Haulover Park and Homestead Bayfront Park are also popular with visitors.
Miami’s perfect weather offers golfers the opportunity for year-round play on the county’s public courses, including Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, Greynolds Golf Course and Briar Bay Golf Course.
Two major attractions are part of the Miami-Dade County Parks portfolio. Visitors can explore the only subtropical zoo in the continental U.S. at Zoo Miami - more than 2,000 animals call the zoo home, including giraffes, African lions, elephants, lemurs and New Guinea singing dogs. History buffs will want to plan a visit to the Deering Estate, built in the 1920s by Chicago industrialist Charles Deering. Visitors can tour the expansive home, and also enjoy other activities such as guided nature tours, night hikes and campfire programs, bird walks and boat cruises.
