Top Rated Parks to Visit in Medley

"Located at the new W South Beach Hotel, the WALL is a chic destination, brought to the Miami night scene by KNR Group: the name behind other dining and clubbing hot spots including Solea, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, Mokai and Mynt. Velvet ropes, bron...[Learn more]"

"Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant when we first arrived in Wynwood. After parking in an enormous lot of an industrial-looking area, I found myself wondering where all the “pretty stuff” was. It was honestly a bit overwhelming."

"Teach kiddos about contemporary art and get outside at the same time by perusing the city’s colorful and creative murals."

"Few American parks can claim to front such a lovely stretch of turquoise (Biscayne Bay), but Miamians are lucky like that. Notable park features are two performance venues: the Klipsch Amphitheater, which boasts excellent views over Biscayne Bay and is a good spot for live-music shows, and the smaller 200-seat (lawn seating can accommodate 800 more) Tina Hills Pavilion, which hosts free springtime performances."

"Located in downtown Miami, parents flock to this park for its sunning beach, large sea creature-themed playground, and views of Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami. A good choice for a picnic when your kids need to run around. A post shared by Laura (@talais25) on Nov 4, 2014 at 2:38pm PST"

"When you’re dreaming of Miami, you're dreaming of Lummus Park Beach, a postcard-perfect spot surrounded by historic art deco buildings, high-end hotels, a winding beachfront walkway, and bronzed athletes playing volleyball games on the sandy courts. This beach is full of action and a favorite among tourists looking for the full Miami experience (Muscle Beach and frozen margaritas included). At the heart of Lummus Park, find Miami Beach's LGBTQ+ beach located at the intersection of 12th street, a hotspot during Miami Beach Pride and identifiable year-round by the rainbow flags at each lifeguard station."

"Because South Beach is such a broad description, and the varying beaches here go on for miles, we thought we'd narrow it down. Lummus Park, the area of the beach located along Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th Street, is the all-encompassing South Beach experience. This is the strip of sand that is always the most crowded, which makes for excellent people watching."

"Otherwise, drop off your bike along Ocean Drive and grab a spot on the beach, Lummus Beach, which runs from around 6th to 14th streets. This is a beach for locals and tourists alike, and the spread of humanity—supermodels, families and even topless tanners—make this a go-to spot for people-watching."

"Little Havana’s most evocative reminder of Old Cuba is Máximo Gómez Park, or ‘Domino Park,’ where the sound of elderly men trash-talking over games of chess is harmonized with the quick clack-clack of slapping dominoes. The jarring backtrack, plus the heavy smell of cigars and a sunrise-bright mural of the 1994 Summit of the Americas, combine to make Máximo Gómez one of the most sensory sites in Miami (although it is admittedly one of the most tourist-heavy ones as well)."

"It’s neither polished nor particularly pretty, but it’s a glimpse into real life in Spanish-speaking Miami and a place to watch Cuba’s old guard face off over dominos in Maximo Gomez Park; grab a 50 cent cortadito (a shot of Cuban coffee with steamed milk) from a walk-up window; and watch cigar rollers hand roll stogies at family-run factories. End your jaunt in Little Havana with a scoop (or two or three) of homemade Abuela Maria® ice cream at"

"The Barnacle Historic State Park offers an opportunity to relax in a serene atmosphere. Also, there are a few beautiful boutiques (The Showroom, First Flight Out, Nikki's Beachouse Boutique) on Commodore Plaza -beach style clothes, cosy decoration, design accessories. Fringed by trees and cafés with terraces, this district has a cool Caribbean vibe going on."

"3485 Main Hwy This historic Florida State Park is located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood and spans about 5 acres. Dade County’s oldest home resides on this five-acre site that overlooks the scenic Biscayne Bay. It was built by Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe in 1891."

"Loggerhead and Vista Park in Fort Lauderdale, FL are a quiet reprieve from the typical beach crowds in Fort Lauderdale. Address: 2851 N Atlantic Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 | Hours: 8 am – 8 pm daily. These two beaches, just a block away from each other, are a local secret spot."

"Just shy of the beachfront, visiting West Lake Park is ones of the best things to do in Hollywood, Florida if you love to Kayak. You see, here they have a heap of waterways to test your skills and master the art of bobbing and not crashing into fellow kayakers. Trust me, that’s the biggest challenge… I always end up smacking into Yaya, which usually results in a few splashes from his paddle!"

"2660 Coolidge Street This small neighborhood waterfront park is enjoyed by residents seeking a quiet place for reflection. This passive park has a view of the adjacent waterway."

"Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing, peaceful afternoon at Colee Hammock Park. Grassy areas shaded by large trees provide the perfect spot to spread out a blanket, plant your lawn chair, or hang a hammock and enjoy the amazing views along the shore of New River. You’ll have a beautiful vantage point of the mansions that line the shore and the amazing yachts and boats sailing in and out of the waterway."

"One of the best parks in Fort Lauderdale for a picnic on a sunny South Florida day is theColee Hammock Park. You can grab a bite to eat from a local shop in Las Olas and then wander over to this premier park to sit under the palms and watch fishermen and yachts. You will experience gorgeous, romantic views of the river and an enchanting serenity."

"The best feeling is when you have nothing to do and nothing on your mind. This isn’t a state of mind that can be pulled out of nowhere, even when you’re on vacation. However, when you’re in Florida, Colee Hammock Park does a great of letting you draw out these feelings."

"Totalling nearly 10 acres, the Liberty Tree Park is an ever evolving local favorite. The park has installed restroom facilities, bike storage, trash receptacles, and park benches to make the park more usable."

"Miami is home to a plethora of top-tier parks that offer vibrant greenery and a respite from the urban bustle. But when it comes to your jog, why not enhance the experience by availing yourself of the unique, ten-mile linear park that stretches all the way from Brickell to Dadeland?. Welcome to the Underline, an outdoor park-in-progress that's revitalizing the space underneath the Metrorail."

"Think of it as the place to go for a mix of recovery, hydrotherapy and luxury. There’s a Turkish-style hammam, aroma steam room, Roman waterfall hot tub, Finnish sauna, arctic plunge, mud lounge and infinity pool as well as treatment baths. And that’s not even counting the dozens of different treatments available, such as facials, massages, body scrubs and even nail art."

"Featuring a full-service spa, this adult-only Miami Beach hotel also boasts rooms with a view of the garden, Intracoastal Waterway, or outdoor pool. Guests will be 12 minutes' walk to Lincoln Road ..."

"Mandarin Oriental, Miami presents a Peruvian gastronomic extravaganza with dozens of authentic dishes, from ceviches to traditional street foods and an endless Pisco sour (or champagne, depending on your mood). Work past the food coma with a stroll through Little Havana, the core of Miami’s Hispanic community. Originally a Cuban neighborhood, Little Havana is now a melting pot of Latin American immigrants. It’s neither polished nor particularly pretty, but it’s a glimpse into real life in Spanish-speaking Miami and a place to watch Cuba’s old guard face off over dominos in Maximo Gomez Park; grab a 50 cent cortadito (a shot of Cuban coffee with steamed milk) from a walk-up window; and watch cigar rollers hand roll stogies at family-run factories."

"Fresh off receiving a Five-Star award from Forbes for a seventh consecutive year (which is crazy!), the Mandarin Oriental continues its reign as one of the most luxuruious spas in Miami, with treatments inspired by ancient Chinese, Balinese and Thai cultures. Mandarin Oriental just released a new spa and wellness program, Inspiring Rituals. Each month focuses on a different theme, like strength or beauty, and includes two hours of related spa treatments, an inspirational cookie, a spa gift, and at home spa tips."

"The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami Photo: Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, George Apostolidis. The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami strikes that hard-to-find balance of having something for everyone while avoiding a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all experience. So even if you choose a signature body treatment like the Oriental Essence or Therapeutic Massage—both of which blend Chinese, European, Balinese, and Thai techniques—the results will be highly personalized."

"Bunnie Cakes is a charming Wynwood Miami-based dessert shop with a triple threat—vegan, gluten-free and kosher sweets. Find mouth-watering cupcakes in an assortment of flavors including guava, vanilla chocolate chip, espresso, red velvet, banana chocolate chip and many more. These two-biters are among the best cupcakes in Miami."

"Bunnie Cakes is baking up a vegan storm with fan favorite cake flavors like guava, funfetti, and triple chocolate. There’s even a “Party In A Box” option that comes complete with a birthday banner, cake topper, 24 candles, party blowers, and balloons. Order on BunnieCakes.com by noon for next-day delivery."

"This drop-dead gorgeous cake is—wait for it—100 percent vegan. So is everything else at Bunnie Cakes. The bright-pink bakeshop in Doral has been turning out vegan treats since before it was cool."

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Design District. Pastry chef Soraya Caraccioli-Kilgore’s playful dessert spot sells vibrant unicorn cakes, rich chocolate bark and soft-serve in unexpected flavors. Her ice cream, in varieties such as matcha and berry rhubarb, is already pretty special yet she always finds a way to kick it up a notch with add-ons like edible glitter, gold leaf, gold dust, cotton candy and fancy sprinkles—and we’re all the more grateful for it."

"Soraya Kilgore — best known as the pastry chef at restaurants like Brava and Alter — is the woman behind this palace of sweets in Miami's Design District. MadLab Creamery isn't just about the ice cream, however. This spot also entices young and old to create their own sweet-treat work of art via more than 30 toppings, including edible glitter, tufts of pink cotton candy, golden-sheet sprinkles, even a macaroon or two."

"Baccano is an intimate locally owned Italian café and wine bar located in the heart of Miami's booming Wynwood Art District. Formally known as Café Santa Miami, Baccano offers authentic wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza, mouthwatering desserts, a unique selection of Italian wines and an assortment of local craft beer. Signature pizzas include Sausage and Friarielli (mozzarella cheese, sausage, broccoli), The Santa (bacon and egg), Sicily (smoked buffalo mozzarella and eggplant), and Vesuvius (mozzarella, ricotta, sauce, ham and eggplant)."