If you're looking to soak in the outdoors in South Florida, Fern Forest in north Broward is a lush oasis for nature walks and occasional free astronomy programs with telescopes.
Delight in the scenic setting on your own or register for a guided hike. Most events are free or relatively inexpensive. Entry into the natural area and parking are free.
Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
The 244-acre wilderness preserve features walking trails for savoring the sights, scents and sounds of nature. Highlights include an elevated boardwalk, more than 30 species of ferns, plus resident wildlife.
Fern Forest park naturalist Ashley Grace says the boardwalk excursion winds along forest and swampy wetlands habitats with ferns, air plants, orchids, turtles and mosquito fish.
“A couple of my favorite spots in the park are in the heart of the swamp along our Cypress Creek Boardwalk,” Grace says. “Especially after it rains and the frogs are singing, and walking along the Prairie Perimeter Road in the afternoon when the gopher tortoises are out and about.”
She has tips on what to bring along: “I would say dress comfortable with a good pair of sneakers, just in case you plan on venturing out on the foot trails. It is also always a good plan to carry a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, hat, and bug spray if you're going to be enjoying the great outdoors for an extended amount of time – and always remember to leave nature better than you found it.”
Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Events at Fern Forest
Phone 954-357-5198 to inquire about events, or register for events that require an RSVP
South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association sets up telescopes in Fern Forest parking lot occasionally, free entry. Phone for information.
Guided nature walks, usually 1 p.m. Sundays in English and 1 p.m. third Sundays in Spanish. Free.
Occasional night hikes are $5, phone for information and registration.
Upcoming Fern Forest events
Friday, December 8, 2023
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00
See the full schedule of Fern Forest events here .
Wildlife in Fern Forest
gopher tortoises
raccoons
coyotes
marsh rabbits
great horned owls
migratory birds: “The hottest months for birding here tend to be October and April,” Grace says
Information
Fern Forest is at 201 Lyons Road S., Coconut Creek, FL, 954-357-5198, website
No bikes. No pets.
It's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free entry and free parking.
Other Events & Fun
South Florida's scenic parks & natural areas, plenty are free
Sunday, December 3, 2023
FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach
9:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park Tamarac
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hollywood
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sanborn Square Park, Boca
11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk
11:30 am | $5.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | $5.00 | Bill Cosford Cinema
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Greynolds Park
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Old School Square, Delray
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Bailey Hall in Davie
2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe
2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Dania Pointe
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | 93 St. Collins and Harding Avenues
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $6.00 | CMX Cinemas
3:00 pm | FREE | Granada Church, Coral Gables
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade, Miami Beach
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Plantation Baptist Church
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 7:15 pm | FREE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade
9:00 pm | FREE | Ball & Chain
Monday, December 4, 2023
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
3:00 pm | FREE | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Old School Square, Delray
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Palmetto Bay Library
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Sandbar Sports Grill, Miami-Dade
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE
5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sunset Cove Amphitheater, Boca Raton
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Old School Square, Delray
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haulover Beach Park
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Haulover Beach Park
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Landmark Theatre at Merrick Park, Coral Gables
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE
7:00 pm | FREE | Black Archives Historic Lyric Theatre, Miami
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Arts Garage, Delray Beach
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $6.00 | CMX Cinemas
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anglin Square
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Old School Square, Delray
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pelican Harbor Marina
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bailey Hall in Davie
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade
8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Exit One Taproom, Miami-Dade
8:00 pm | FREE | New World Center, Miami Beach
Thursday, December 7, 2023
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE
4:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Old Post Office, Miami-Dade
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Old School Square, Delray
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Highland Oaks Park
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Las Olas Oceanside Park
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Plantation Baptist Church
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:00 pm | FREE | Old School Square, Delray
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Flippen Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Meli Park
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
Friday, December 8, 2023
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Coconut Creek community center
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Old School Square, Delray
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Tropical Park
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pine Trails Park
5:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Plantation Baptist Church
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-40.00 | Okeeheelee Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Boynton Harbor Marina
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
7:00 pm to 7:15 pm | FREE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | South Florida Center for Percussive Arts
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lawn at Atlantic Boulevard and Pompano Beach Boulevard
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mizner Park in Boca
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall
7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood ArtsPark
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Davie Pine Island Park
Saturday, December 9, 2023
FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach
8:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Volunteer Park Plantation
9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Miami Children's Museum
9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE
9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres
10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE
10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sanborn Square Park, Boca
10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Margate sports complex
11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
11:30 am | $5.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Old School Square, Delray
1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe
2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | 223 E. Flagler St, Miami
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Carter Park
5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Magic City Casino
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Town Center Promenade, Wellington
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cultural Plaza, Lake Worth Beach
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Plantation Baptist Church
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-40.00 | Okeeheelee Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $20.00-45.00 | Tradewinds Park
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:00 pm | FREE | West Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Galleria mall
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-45.00 | Intracoastal Waterway
7:00 pm to 7:15 pm | FREE
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE
7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall
7:30 pm | FREE | Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard
9:00 pm to 11:30 pm | $5.00 | Coral Gables Art Cinema