Water Play

Smathers Beach is the largest publc beach in Key West.  This municipal beach stretches about a half mile long and features a volleyball area, picnic tables, and restrooms.  Visitors can wash away the salt and sand with fresh water showers.  This beach is a popular destination for Spring Breakers.  If you'd like a little adventure on the water, you can rent jetskis from Smathers Beach or bring out your boat since Smathers does have a boat ramp.

Biscayne National Park is located south of the city of Miami and borders John Pennekamp State Park, Key Largo, and the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. The park was formed in 1980 after being expanded from a National Monument (1968) into a much larger National Park.  It's goal is to preserve the natural habitats and wildlife of Biscayne Bay, its offshore barrier reefs, and the upper keys (Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key, Adams Key and more).

Milander Park in Hialeah is a 19+ acre park that consists of an aquatic center, football stadium, sports fields and a new venue.  The park, in addition to these big amenities, also provides recreation for multiple kinds of sporting activities.  Lighted sports fields help make this park an active destination even into the evening hours.  Milander has two lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball courts, a lit softball field, and a lit baseball diamond.

Bayfront Park is located in downtown Miami right along the Biscayne Bay. This urban waterside park is a wonderful jumping off point for a family's time in the city of Miami.  Come and enjoy a stroll along the waterside with a picturesque fountain and sculptures.  Walk over to the adjacent Bayside Marketplace with its shops and restaurants.

Grapeland Heights Park is located in the Grapeland Heights area of Miami that runs just east of the Miami International Airport and alongside the Miami river.  This park contains the only water park in the city of Miami.  The water park is open seasonally during the warmest months and is quite popular with families.  The park itself offers year round fun with walking trails, an open green space, walking trails and a baseball field.  

So much to do that you can plan to spend the entire day!

Matheson Hammock Park & Beach is a large, 130 acre water-side area east of Kendall and Pinecrest, just south of Coconut Grove.  The park is adjacent to the beautiful Fairchild Gardens. This park was created back in the 1930s and developed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).  The sparkling jewel of the park is the manmade tidal pool filled and flushed naturally with water from Biscayne Bay.  It is a wonderful place for young children or beginning swimmers.

Everglades National Park spans more than 1.5 million acres with multiple entrances and visitor centers.  The main entrance is located in the city of Homestead in Miami-Dade county.  The park was created in 1947 in an effort to protect the area from further damage to this extremely important environmental area.  The Everglades, or "River of Grass",  consists of wetlands and forests fed by water flowing out of Lake Okeechobee  located to the north of the park.

McDonald Park is located in northeast Hialeah just off Ludlam Road and east of the Palmetto Parkway.  This 17 acre park consists of a large lake, 10 reservable pavilions, playground, lighted raquetball courts and 3 lighted tennis courts.  Within the park is the affordable McDonald Aquatic Center with a wave pool, lazy river that floats under scenic waterfalls, and plenty of space in the shade.  There are funbrellas to rent for private parties and a nice size splash pad for the younger children.

South Pointe Park is located at the southernmost tip of South Beach just across from the island home of the rich and famous, Fisher Island.  The park is just south of the MacArthur Causeway and runs adjacent to Government Cut the main inlet from the Atlantic to the Intracoastal Waterway.  This park is not only in a prime location but it's landscaping and layout make it a picturesque spot to stroll along the paved pathways or sit and fish on the soon to be completed pier.