Paddy's Ranges State Park (1,954 ha) and Maryborough Regional Park (270 ha) are great places to see relics of the gold mining era. evidence is all around with mullock heaps and remnants of a once thriving Eucalyptus Distillery. The spring flowers are wonderful and the Golden Wattle blossoming amid the Box -Ironbark forest is a visual delight in springtime. There are over 230 species of wildflowers and about 30 Orchid varieties.
The natural features of the park provide plenty of low-impact recreational opportunities for walking, bird watching or spotting wildflowers. The park has numerous walking tracks, a picnic area and camping facilities with toilets, a water tank and fireplaces for winter. Be sure to take note of any fire restrictions as current drought conditions make this a must. Fires must be confined to provided fireplaces.
Fauna in the park includes wallabies, kangaroo's and echidna's. Nocturnal species like possum's and antechinus are present but not easily spotted. The park is also home to the rare Brush-tailed Phascogale (Tuan).
Over 140 species of birds call Paddy's Ranges home including the rare Painted Honeyeater, Crested Bellbirds, Wedge Tailed Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Fossicking is still allowed in certain areas which are clearly marked on the park maps a Miners Right is essential. All domestic animals and firearms are strictly prohibited.
Maps are available at Maryborough Visitor Information Centre.
The Venetian Causeway crosses Biscayne Bay between Miami on the mainland and Miami Beach on a barrier island in south Florida. The man-made Venetian Islands and non-bridge portions of the causeway were created by materials which came from the dredging of the bay. The Venetian Causeway follows the original route of the Collins Bridge, a wooden 2.5 mi (4 km) long structure built in 1913 by John S. Collins and Carl G. Fisher which opened up the barrier island for unprecedented growth and development.
The causeway has one toll plaza (administered by the Miami-Dade County Public Works department) on Biscayne Island, the westernmost Venetian Island. The toll for an automobile is $1.75 (US).
The causeway has two bascule bridges.
At the Downtown/Western Beginning of the causeway travelers are greeted by two columns vertically saying "VENETIAN WAY" along with a sign indicating that there is a weight limit .
At the South Beach/Eastern Terminus, drivers must choose whether to go north onto Dade Boulevard or eastbound onto 17th Street to Ocean Drive, Collins Ave/A1A, Lincoln Road, City Hall, The Convention Center, Jackie Gleason Theater and the beach .
The Venetian Causeway was re-dedicated in 1999 after the completion of a $29 million restoration and replacement project.
A popular use of the causeway is for exercising, which includes both jogging and bicycling
The Wynwood Arts District is home to over 70 Art Galleries, Retail Stores, Antique Shops, Eclectic Bars, and one of the largest open-air street-art installations in the world.
The Wynwood Arts District Association has been legally operating since 2009 for the well-being and improvement of the Wynwood Arts District, one of the largest and most prominent creative communities in the United States.
Taking over what used to be the warehouse and manufacturing district of Greater Miami, developers have rehabilitated neglected warehouses, shuttered factories, and other unused buildings, transforming them into the numerous art complexes, galleries, performing art spaces, restaurants, cafes, and other creative businesses that are seen here today.
With the introduction of the Second Saturday Art Walk in the District and the arrival of the Art Basel fair in 2002, Wynwood has seen some unexpected growth in a relatively short period of time as it gets more and more attention by the locals as the go-to place for an alternative and more cultural nightlife in the City of Miami.
Though the influence and relevance of the arts community in Wynwood is undeniable, new, creative businesses of all types are opening their doors in the District and encountering success here.
This nest has been a place to visit for years now since in 2014 the family hatched a bald eagle chick. You can see the nest from the side of Pines Blvd. The nest is located atop a dead tree on the south side of the road. The area has been fenced off so no one will disturb the nest. With a good camera or binoculars, you can see the Bald Eagles while they are in the nest. Most times the male sits outside the nest on a neighboring tree to keep a lookout. You can visit the official website of the nesting eagles at http://southfloridaeaglenest.org/
Yes,,, you will see the Eagles,,,, park safely and you and your family will be apart of the beautiful site. BALD EAGLES........The nest is very visible. Bring camera, binoculars
Located almost directly opposite the entrance to West Broward High School, on a good day you will find birders lining the road with cameras and binoculars trying to catch a glimpse of our local celebrity. With all of the development that has taken place in South Western Broward County, it is amazing to see that this wonderful creature continues to call this little spot of our neighborhood home.
Visited February 2016
Beautiful paved 2.5 mile boardwalk for pedestrians, skaters, and bicyclists. Plenty of restaurants and entertainment along its length including a children's water park and playground. Limited street parking, but several public parking garages steps away from it and the beach.
Visited September 2016
15 Amazing Outdoor Mural Projects That Paint Florida
Florida artists and historians have taken art to the street, creating outdoor art galleries that provide a sense of place -- and fantastic vacation photos.
Bold and bright, these public murals can be found in unexpected and surprising places: the backs of buildings, alleys, parking garages and hidden staircases.
Find them easily with this guide to 15 of the state’s most Instagram-ready walls.
http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/articles/16/culture/outdoor-murals-in-florida.html
A great place to walk around and see the sights. Lots of boat traffic. Also have small historic sites in the area. Has a nice walkway to follow the river. Clean with a variety of local plants to see. You can spend an hour or several hours in the area checking it out.
Difficult to find as their are no signs on the main road. We had to ask around and then just found it by accident. A nice little walk but nothing spectacular. Lots of iguanas running around
Green Cay Nature Center is the county's newest nature center that overlooks 100 acres of constructed wetland and provides 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
HOURS
The nature center is closed during observed holidays.
Exhibits:
Wednesday-Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday: CLOSED
Programs:
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (by reservation only)
Boardwalk:
Daily: sunrise - sunset
This pier is in excellent condition, compared to some other piers along other beaches. There were quite a few fishermen out while we walked the pier. It costs $2. to go past Benny's Restaurant. If you eat there, you get a pass for walking out on the pier. Beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Several benches. Parking close by. Visited April 2015