9 minute read
ALL NATURAL
Flora and fauna are abundant year-round in the temperate climate of the Palm Beaches, from the iconic Florida gator to the graceful roseate spoonbill and the mangroves of the Everglades. Take a walk on the wild side and get your steps in—or your feet wet.
Airboat Rides West Palm Beach
561.252.4030 | airboatrideswestpalmbeach.com
Visit us today for a fun trip to the Florida Everglades, leaving from Loxahatchee Preserve in Parkland. The Everglades is known for its many species of reptiles, birds, and the famous American Alligator. On our airboat rides, every trip into the Everglades is different.
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge
10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach
561.734.8303 | fws.gov/loxahatchee
This acclaimed refuge consists of 145,188 acres, or 226 square miles, of Everglades ecosystems including a mosaic of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, cattail communities and a 400-acre cypress swamp. These lands provide habitat—food, water, shelter and space—for more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies and 20 types of mammals.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
2500 Jupiter Park Drive, Jupiter
561.575.3399 | buschwildlife.org
The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and con- servation of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources. The concept of this facility was not to simply build a “zoo” exhibiting caged animals but to create a unique sanctuary that combines a community nature and learning center with a wildlife hospital. Along the trails are wildlife habitats exhibiting a variety of native animals from bald eagles to Florida panthers, deer, otters, foxes, alligators, bears and much more. *By fall 2023, Busch is expected to move to a new location in Jupiter Farms, at the intersection of Rocky Pines Road and Indiantown Road; visit the center’s website for the most updated information.
Daggerwing Nature Center
Located in Burt Aaronson
South County Regional Park
11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton 561.629.8760 | pbcparks.com/nature
Daggerwing features include a 3,000-square-foot exhibit hall with live animals and interactive stateof-the-art exhibits, classroom facilities, laboratory, art gallery, reading area, butterfly garden, and an elevated boardwalk which takes you on a relaxing journey through a swamp. The boardwalk has two trails with benches, as well as an observation tower available for you to view the abundant plant and animal life, including ospreys, woodpeckers, butterflies, turtles, alligators and a wide variety of bromeliads.
Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours
954.434.8113 | evergladesholidaypark.com
Climb aboard one of our state-of-the-art vessels for an unforgettable Everglades airboat ride, then experience a live alligator presentation featuring the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue Team in our world-famous Gator Pit! With miles of wetlands before you, you’ll journey deep into the Everglades, zipping across the “River of Grass” at top speeds, with an expert tour guide leading the way. Lock eyes with an American alligator and snap amazing pictures as you come face-to-face with some of the Everglades most unusual and exciting animals. Our Everglades’ airboat tours are an hour long, which is plenty of time for an animal encounter with some of the most exotic and unforgettable wildlife.
Grassy Waters Preserve
8264 Northlake Blvd., West Palm Beach
561.804.4985 wpb.org/government/public-utilities/ grassy-waters-preserve
Grassy Waters Preserve is a 23-square-mile wetlands ecosystem. It remains a pristine remnant of the once great Everglades system. A mosaic of wetlands, tree islands, and forested hammocks, Grassy Waters is home to a variety of native wildlife. Commonly sighted species including the everglades snail kite, wood stork, white ibis, great blue heron, white-tailed deer, otter, bobcat and alligator.
Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands
12800 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach
561.966.7000 | pbcparks.com/nature
Green Cay Nature Center is the county’s newest nature center, overlooking 100 acres of constructed wetland and providing educational opportunities about this unique habitat. The wetland features 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk featuring interpretive signs about the habitat. The Nature Center includes a lecture hall, gift shop, and live animals in an extensive exhibit room that highlights wetland attributes.
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton
561.544.8605 | gumbolimbo.org
As a beacon for environmental education, research and conservation, Gumbo Limbo’s 20 acres on a protected barrier island provide refuge to many varieties of plants and animals, some rare or endangered. Last year, more than 200,000 visitors took a break from the city bustle to enjoy a walk on our boardwalk, count the thousands of tropical fish in our aquariums, relax in our butterfly garden, or check on the patients in our sea turtle rehabilitation facility.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach
561.624.6950 | floridastateparks.org
A unique mixture of coastal and tropical hammock and mangrove forest, this barrier island provides a haven for several rare or endangered native tropical and coastal plant species. The park’s nature center shows visitors why the park is a biological treasure. Visitors can swim, picnic and surf at the beach; snorkeling is also a popular activity.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound
772.546.2771 | floridastateparks.org
Sixteen distinct natural communities create the mosaic that is Jonathan Dickinson, the largest state park in South Florida. Rare environments such as coastal sand hills, upland lakes and scrub forests, as well as the pristine Loxahatchee River, make this park a unique spot to explore on land or by water.
Juno Beach Pier
14775 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach
561.855.6185 | marinelife.org/pier-experiences
The Juno Beach Pier has been managed by Loggerhead Marinelife Center since 2014. The pier offers guests 990 feet of great saltwater fishing and wonderful opportunities to enjoy the scenic view. The full-service Pier House features a friendly guest services team, snack bar and gift store, as well as a variety of fishing tackle, including rental poles and bait.
Juno Dunes Natural Area
14501 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach
561.233.2400
Visitors to the 569-acre Juno Dunes Natural Area can travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The oceanfront tract has a great view of the surrounding area atop an ancient sand dune. The west tract has several miles of trails and floating docks to allow boaters access to the site from the Intracoastal waterway.
J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area
n North Entrance:
20110 Bee Line Highway, Jupiter n South Entrance:
11835 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road
West Palm Beach
561.624.6989 | myfwc.com
Tucked between the Gold Coast and Lake Okeechobee are 60,330 acres, open to a wide range of recreation. Enjoy wildlife viewing, high-quality hunts and a network of trails, including a boardwalk through a cypress wetland.
The Lake Trail
The north end of Bradley Park, Palm Beach
Walking or biking along this nearly six-mile trail will introduce you to a variety of Palm Beach’s architectural styles and provide a peek behind the hedges along the Intracoastal Waterway. You’ll be treated to countless views of magnificent kapok trees and swaying cocoanut palms, along with boats from around the world moored at Palm Beach Docks. The Lake Trail also showcases the remnants of historical Palm Beach, including the oldest tree in Palm Beach County, and includes a few spots for fishing.
Lake Worth Lagoon
Ocean Avenue, from PGA Boulevard to Boynton Beach Bridge
Lake Worth Lagoon is a valuable urban estuary, not just because of its appealing charm but for its incredible habitat. Two permanent, man-made inlets—the Lake Worth Inlet and the South Lake Worth Inlet—make it possible for saltwater to mix with freshwater from canals. This creates a fine environment for marine life to thrive: seagrass, mangroves, sea turtles, oyster reefs, wading birds, crabs, more than 250 fish species and, of course, exotic creatures coming in from the ocean.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach 561.627.8280 | marinelife.org
Loggerhead Marinelife Center is an ocean conservation organization and sea turtle hospital. Open seven days a week, the center features free admission and hosts more than 350,000 visitors each year that come from down the street, across the country and around the world.
Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center
6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach 561.626.2833 | visitmanateelagoon.com
Manatee Lagoon is a free educational attraction with interactive exhibits and engaging opportunities to learn about the unique Florida manatee and Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem. On cold days, the Center is the ideal spot to view wild manatee herds basking in warm-water outflows from FPL’s adjacent Next Generation Clean Energy Center.
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary
12943 61st St. North, West Palm Beach
561.790.2116 | mccarthyswildlife.com
McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary has treated hundreds of native animals that were sick or injured. Everything from foxes to bobcats, sandhill cranes to pelicans, hawks, owls, and many others have received veterinary care by our staff and then were released back into the wild. Today, founder Mark McCarthy cares for more than 170 beautiful creatures, and keeps the sanctuary and its animals in immaculate conditions.
Okeeheelee Nature Center
7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach
561.233.1400
Okeeheelee Nature Center features 2.5 miles of trails winding through 90 acres of pine flatwoods and wetlands. Highlights of the center include hands-on exhibits, animal encounters and a nature-related gift shop. Marvel at our birds of prey, touch a live snake or prowl for owls during one of our many programs scheduled throughout the year for families, youth and adults.
Phil Foster Park
900 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach
561.966.6600 discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/ Phil-Foster.aspx
The world-famous waters under the Blue Heron Bridge and one-of-a-kind Underwater Snorkel Trail make a premier spot for experienced scuba divers and beginner snorkelers alike. Underwater photographers delight in the abundance of unique marine life, with frequent visits from stingrays, eels, giant starfish, brightly-colored tropical fish and even an occasional octopus or manatee.
Pondhawk Natural Area
1501 Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton
561.233.2400
An eight-acre wetland restoration project inside this natural area provides habitat for osprey, black-necked stilt and white ibis. The natural area is named for a common dragonfly found throughout the woodlands.
Sandoway Discovery Center
142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach 561.274.7263 | sandoway.org
For more than 20 years, this nature center has offered a glimpse into South Florida’s fragile marine and freshwater environments through educational exhibits and programs. Visitors can get an up-close view of Florida’s native and invasive reptile species, meet sharks and other fish at the coral reef pool, and explore Southeast Florida’s largest private shell collection.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands
13270 Jog Road, Delray Beach
561.493.6000
Wakodahatchee features a three-quarter-mile boardwalk that crosses between open water pond areas and islands with shrubs and snags to foster nesting and roosting. The boardwalk has interpretive signage as well as gazebos with benches along the way. This site is part of the South section of the Great Florida Birding Trail and offers many opportunities to observe birds in their natural habitats. More than 178 bird species have been identified here, along with turtles, alligators, rabbits, fish, frogs and raccoons.
Wellington Environmental Preserve
3491 Flying Cow Ranch Road, Wellington
561.791.4005
The Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat is a 365-acre rainwater storage area with nature trails and learning centers. Interior uplands and native landscaping provide an exhibition of natural Florida, from the paved pedestrian path and boardwalk to seven designated Learning Areas.
Gardens
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach
561.832.5328 | ansg.org
Located in the historic El Cid neighborhood is the historic home, intact artist studio and gardens of Ann Weaver Norton (1905-1982), featuring nine monolithic sculptures and rotating exhibitions. The Gardens’ assemblage of more than 250 rare palm species, cycads and unusual tropicals is recognized as one of the largest public collections in Florida.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach
561.495.0233 | morikami.org
Celebrating more than 45 years of bringing Japa- nese arts and culture to South Florida, the Morikami Museum houses more than 7,000 Japanese art objects and artifacts, including a 500-piece collection of tea ceremony items, while the expansive Japanese gardens include strolling paths, resting areas, a world-class bonsai collection and lakes teeming with koi and other wildlife.
Mounts Botanical Garden
531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach
561.233.1757 | mounts.org
With a mission to “inspire and educate through nature” and a history spanning more than 40 years, Mounts Botanical Garden is a 14-acre tropical oasis with an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas. Each garden is a living exhibit, with plants chosen specifically to tell a story to visitors about choices they can make within a challenging subtropical climate. With more than 5,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida native plants, flowering and fruit trees, exotics, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, and bromeliads, the gardens illustrate what visitors can emulate in their own spaces, large or small.
Pan’s Garden
311 Peruvian Ave., Palm Beach
561.832.0731 | palmbeachpreservation.org/visit/pans-garden
Established in 1994, Pan’s Garden takes its name from the bronze statue of Pan of Rohallion that graces the garden’s entrance pool. Designed by Frederick MacMonnies in 1890, the statue depicts Pan—the ancient god of shepherds who protects and guards the flocks—in idealized human form playing his enchanted pipe of reeds. It is a fitting name and symbol for a garden that serves to protect and showcase Florida’s indigenous plants and the wildlife they support.