Greynolds Park

Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach is the perfect place to get lost for a couple of hours. Situated next to the Oleta River, this is not Oleta River State Park but instead a northern crown jewel in the Miami-Dade parks system. Featuring a lake, hiking trails, bird watching opportunities (I spotted a woodpecker on my trip) and even a golf course, the park offers numerous opportunities for recreation. Open space is available as well, for those who want to have picnics or just run wild or toss the ball around, and then there's the lake and river for all you canoe and kayak enthusiasts. This is the kind of park where you'll see nature lovers, joggers and birthday party guests enjoying each other's company and the glories of the outdoors in Miami. A great urban park!

Greynolds Park: 17530 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, FL

A nice 15 minute hike through the hammock trail is recomended

A really cool feature at the park is this walkable mound.

Greynolds Park's very own top of the rock.

Matheson Hammock Park

August in Miami. It is hot, it is humid, it is truly tropical. Where can you escape the heat but still enjoy the outdoors? The best answer might lie along the eastern edge of Miami, in Matheson Hammock Park. Here, the sea breeze cools you with its gentle yet constant presence, and the mugginess melts away.

Matheson Hammock Park is huge, one of the biggest and best in Miami-Dade County. It has that great, only in the tropics feel to it, pushing right into Biscayne Bay. Standing at the edge of the park, one is graced with some of the best views of downtown Miami in the distance.

Since it sits right on the water, the park is a great launching space for people participating in water sports like kite surfing.

Probably one of the most popular features of the park is the man made lagoon and surrounding beach area. Different from any other beach in Miami, this is a unique feature that makes Matheson Hammock one of the coolest parks around.

Retreating inland, the area takes on a different feel, becoming more like a tropical nature park. There are some great trees and funky structures that are perfect for parties or picnics.

The park also has a marina, and a beach side restaurant called Red Fish Grill. After I got home, I was surprised to learn that the park actually extends further inland, west of Old Cutler Road. Here, it turns into a nature hike through a natural hammock habitat that used to cover the whole area before it was developed. My hope is to return to this part of the park, take pictures, and use that for another update. For now, enjoy the rest of the pictures and if you ever need a cool beach to check out, try Matheson Hammock Park.

Ken Burns on National Parks

Interview with filmmaker Ken Burns from Time Magazine online:

Ken Burns on the Danger and Wonder of National Parks