Discover the Wild Side of Glamorous Fort Lauderdale The Best Places to Explore Nature and Experience Local Culture

Fort Lauderdale is known for its lively, vibrant, sunny, tropical and glamorous atmosphere. With beautiful beaches, upscale restaurants and cosmopolitan architecture, its a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. However, beneath the glitz and glamour lies a wild side of Fort Lauderdale that many visitors overlook.

If youre an avid naturalist looking to explore the great outdoors while experiencing local culture in Fort Lauderdale, there are plenty of options available to you. Here are some of our top recommendations:

1) Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (3109 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale): Located just minutes away from downtown Fort Lauderdale, this park offers over 200 acres of pristine nature featuring hiking trails through lush vegetation filled with exotic plants and wildlife such as gopher turtles, raccoons or squirrels. Once home to Muscogee Native American settlements dating back thousands of years ago!

2) Bonnet House Museum & Gardens (900 N Birch Rd., Fort Lauderdale): A mustvisit place if you want to experience both historic architecture AND natural beauty! This eclectic estate features extensive gardens full of native Florida plant life like mangroves (which provide habitat for blue crabs!) while also showcasing unique architectural styles prevalent in South Florida during the early part 20th century.

3) Anne Kolb Nature Center (751 Sheridan St., Hollywood FL): Just outside central Ft.Lauderdale be sure not miss out on this hidden gem! It includes over 1400 acres wetlands accessible via boardwalks where visitors can spot rare birds such as Roseate Spoonbills or Least Tern along with other reptiles like Black SpinyTailed iguanas basking in sun!

4) Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary (3750 S Flamingo Rd., Davie FL): This sanctuary features rare plants and trees native to the region, providing habitat for many animal species including over 90 species of birds that visit annually! Not only will you find wildlife at Flamingo Gardens but also hit up their Farmers Market on weekends along with plenty of other family friendly activities.

From state parks nestled in urban areas to museums combining history and nature, Fort Lauderdale has something for everyone. These locations serve as a reminder that even in glamorous cities one can still get a taste of natural wonder and experience local culture.

So next time youre looking to explore the wild side of this vibrant city, be sure to check out these top spots! Your inner naturalist will thank you for it.

Scientific fact: A variety of ecosystems coexist within Florida making its biodiversity richer than much larger states like California!

Natural Fact: Invasive nonnative reptiles like Pythons have made their way into South Florida wreaking havoc on native animals alike making conservation efforts critical.

Websites:

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/HughTaylorBirch

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens https://www.bonnethouse.org/

Anne Kolb Nature Center http://anniekolbnaturecenter.com/

Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary https://flamingogardens.org/

Twitter handles:

@FLStateParks

@bonnethouseftl

@daniabeachfl

@FGWSanctuary