South Florida Outside Guide

Hiking is not only great exercise; Broward’s trails also give you a dose of still-wild Florida nature to keep you happy and grounded. Imagine strolling down zig-zagging boardwalks and footpaths through jungle-growth treetops on your way to a colorful plant garden filled with hundreds of fluttering butterflies. Or roaming under an oak canopy and spotting a burrowing gopher tortoise as you pass. It sounds like a dream, but it’s possible to experience with a visit to Tree Tops Park in Davie, which gives you access to more than 7 miles of designated trails.

Nearby at Flamingo Gardens, stroll through more than 3,000 species of rare, tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees (including the largest tree in Florida) at the 60-acre botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary.

For an all-day hike, pack your essentials and head to the Atlantic trail entrance of Conservation Levee Greenway in Tamarac, a 48.4-mile greenway running from Parkland to Miramar, where you will be greeted by a variety of wildlife, including sun-seeking gators and trees full of parrots.

Fern Forest Nature Center showcases more than 30 fern species as you roam along marked trails, ranging from a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that winds through a tropical hardwood forest to a dirt footpath surrounded by natural wetlands. A pet-friendly outing to Miramar Pineland offers a beautiful concrete walking path through the pines, shaded by a combination of scrubby flatwoods, as well as views of restored wetlands. At Dania Beach’s Secret Woods Nature Center, navigating the wilderness of wetlands, hammocks, and mangroves will give you new insight into the unique ecology of South Florida’s forests. 

Stretch Yourself

Yoga allows you to slow down and to journey inward, giving you a chance to fully connect to the peacefulness of the outdoors. Broward offers a few different outdoor yoga options; one of the best is The Nest’s restorative group hatha yoga sessions, held at a place of your choosing or public areas such as Robbins Lodge. Options include pregnancy, post-partum, and “Mommy and Me” classes. 

SUP PUP in Fort Lauderdale hosts morning tours that let you lose yourself physically, concentrate utterly, and find that coveted mental peace. But this isn’t any ordinary paddle excursion; you’ll be accompanied by Fort Lauderdale’s famous Mr. Beaches, a super-cute Welsh corgi who comes along for the ride with tour guide Natasha Baker Williams. Have fun executing downward dogs and sun salutations on a paddleboard—an hour-and-a-half energizing workout that begins with a paddle to Victoria Park, followed by breath and core work, balancing, and vinyasa-style flow. You’ll also get the chance to take pics with the pint-sized pup. Or, practice on your own: If you make your way south down the canal, pass Las Olas Boulevard bridge, and paddle about 15 minutes out to the New River, you will find ample zen-like secluded areas to explore.

Paddle Away

Kayaking is not only great aerobic exercise but also a wonderful way to interact with South Florida’s unique sceneries. If unpredictable is your thing, a Broward trail worth discovering is the “mangrove maze” in Hollywood. Rent your equipment at Waterway Adventures and paddle north to find yourself among diverse mangrove-lined canals and cypress routes that serve as peaceful homes to birds, iguanas, and marine life of all kinds.

If you prefer convenience, Easton Watersports delivers your kayak to Sullivan Park in Deerfield Beach, where you can explore 3-acres of the Intracoastal just northwest of the Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge and catch glimpses of mangroves and wildlife. Venture north into Royal Palm’s canals, and you will be rewarded with an impressive view of multimillion dollar homes.