Home AdventuresU.S.A. Lake Forest Park: A Hidden Gem in Hollywood, Florida

Lake Forest Park: A Hidden Gem in Hollywood, Florida

by Bryan Lor

Adventure Date: 06/07/2023 – 06/11/2023

We started our day with a sunrise beachside brunch, then headed to Lake Forest Park to explore a nature preserve in the heart of the city by the coast.

The preserve was surprisingly quiet, with few other visitors. We wandered the boardwalk paths, taking in the sights and sounds of the forest.

The highlight of the visit was the observation tower, which offered stunning 360-degree views of the area. We took the elevator to the top, since I’m not a big fan of stairs.

We spent a few hours exploring the preserve, and it was a great way to experience the beauty of nature in the city.

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Looking north, northwest towards Fort Lauderdale on top of the observation tower.

As we walked around, we noticed that there were a bunch these crabs that were climbing the mangroves! They were all in the mud too, coming out of the water.

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Mangrove tree crab on a leaf.

Even though my wife doesn’t like spiders, she pointed out some cool ones for me to take a photo of like the one below! I have never seen these before but I will just assume they are not to be messed around with.

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Creepy, cool-looking spider on its web in the middle of the day. Not sure what kind it is, but we’re staying far away.

As we walked backed to our car, we saw a bunch of lizards running around. They do have a visitor center here so you can grab a drink of water or use the bathroom if needed. As a part of the visitor center, they do have educational programs that they put on throughout the week too.

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Lizard a big ol’ palm tree.

Check the map below for the location of Lake Forest Park!

Want more photos from Lake Forest Park?

If you want more photos from our time in Lake Forest Park, continue on to the photo gallery!

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