Top Rated Parks to Visit in Sunny Isles Beach

"In the midst of rusted warehouses and concrete blah, there's a pastel-and-graffiti explosion of urban art. Wynwood Walls is a collection of murals and paintings laid out over an open courtyard that invariably bowls people over with its sheer color profile and unexpected location. What’s on offer tends to change with the coming and going of major arts events such as Art Basel, but it's always interesting stuff."

"Our last day was spent at the creative Wynwood Walls art exhibit. Beautiful mosaics are spread across a few blocks on streets and on buildings, even on the sidewalks!"

"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 as Biscayne Bay, but this fantastic green space is packed full of freebies too, including a great playground for the kids. The Tina Hills Pavilion has free concerts and yoga sessions, but Bayfront Park has some interesting public art worth discovering as well. The JFK Torch of Friendship recognizes the accomplishments of US congressman Claude Pepper, while Isamu Noguchi, who redesigned much of Bayfront Park in the 1980s, has three great sculptures: the Challenger Memorial, The Light Tower, and our favorite, the Slide Mantra."

"Few American parks can claim to front such a lovely stretch of turquoise as Biscayne Bay, but Miamians are lucky like that. Noted artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi redesigned much of Bayfront Park in... Top ChoiceMuseum in Downtown Miami"

"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."

"Lummus Park Beach is a public park with over 74 acres of land. It can be found on the east of Ocean Drive and was created in 1985."

"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"

"For Little Havana’s most evocative reminder of Cuba, visit Máximo Gómez Park (known locally as Domino Park), where the sound of elderly men trash-talking over games of dominoes is harmonized with the quick clack-clack of slapping tiles. The heavy cigar smell and a sunrise-bright mural of the 1994 Summit of the Americas add to the atmosphere."

"The Barnacle Historic State Park is home to the oldest house in Miami|© William Silver / Shutterstock. Also in Coconut Grove, this fairly small park tops our list for having the oldest house in its original location in Miami. Visitors can tour the 1891 home, The Barnacle, to learn about the frontier life during the “Era of the Bay” at a time when all travel to the city was done by boat."

"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."

"The domino park is located in Máximo Gómez Park on SW 15th ave. As you walk along Calle Ocho, you should be able to spot it. This is the perfect place to visit if you love traditional and authentic vibes!"

"#GoNative tip:Before you leave the ’hood, at least stroll by “Domino Park,” where old-timers join to play frequently and the clatter of dominoes can be heard down the street."

"Head to Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) to watch the heated competition at Domino Park or shop for a quality stogie. Plan to stay:2-3 hours"

"The shallow and relatively calm waters make it the perfect location for your fur babies to have a carefree splash. If you’re feeling generous, you can even give them a bite of your arepa from the nearby concession stand. Lined with palm trees, there's always a place to cool off in the shade after a frolic in the sun, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you could opt for a parasailing session from nearby Miami Watersports for $110 per person."

"Beautiful waterfront gardens and a glass pavilion are the main attractions inEsplanade Park. This riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale has great views of a variety of events, like the Winterfest boat parade, Stone Crab & Seafood Fest, or Smoke on the Water BBQ Fest. The park is often set up with live music, food trucks, and vendors."

"If you’re feeling ambitious on your townie cruiser, you can ride north to Bal Harbour or Haulover beaches; natives know these as water-sports havens—and for Bal Harbour’s luxury shopping. 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."

"801 Johnson Street A delightful Intracoastal-front park with boat ramps, two pavilions, bicycle path, nature trails restrooms and a waterfront observation tower."

"Located on Las Olas Boulevard, Gran Forno Bakery is a popular open-air bakery known for its delightful artisanal breads, particularly its famous fennel raisin loaf. There's also a mouthwatering selection of homemade pastries, cakes, and tarts, and if you're here for lunch, you can order a panini as well. You'll probably want to get a loaf of bread or a box of pastries to take home, but customers are also welcome to sit down and enjoy a pastry and a cup of Illy coffee."

"This Italian style eatery has an assortment of meat and cheese breakfast sandwiches in the morning and pizza for lunch and dinner. We came for breakfast and were enamored with the fresh baked bread here. I hear the pizza and especially the crust are even better and definitely worth coming here later in the day."

"One of my favourite places to eat in South Beach which was ultra affordable was Andrix Cafe. We ended up having lunch here a couple of times in the 4 days we stayed in South Beach. Andrix Cafe has super yummy pizza and drinks available as well as free Wifi."

"Walk off your breakfast at the Aventura Mall, a beautiful locale with top brands like Chanel, Fendi and Givenchy, as well as mall staples like Zara and Anthropologie. For those of you who want a little more variety (or for those that don't like shopping), you can stop at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, where there is something for everyone. Guests have the option to enjoy the casino, horse racing, live entertainment and more."

"You also have the Dolphin Mall relatively close to you. However, if you can’t spare too many hours, there are some interesting things to do in Miami airport, as well. The food is great, and you can try many Cuban specialties to get a taste of what it’s like around here, but the airport also boasts a yoga room, art exhibits and even a spa."