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Park is not open temporarily — Secret Woods in Dania offers nature walks

Secret Woods is not open during repair work.

 

If you enjoy nature walks, Secret Woods in Dania Beach is a delightful natural area that's easily accessible for South Florida residents. 

Entry and parking are free.

Embark on nature walks on your own. Or join guided nature walks. They usually are offered on the first full weekends of the month. Please phone to verify. Regular nature walks are free.

Night hikes are offered occasionally, too, for $5 and reservations are required. 

Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation

Parks naturalist Julie Morris offered insider information.

 Please describe some of the outstanding features of your park.

A: “Our butterfly habitat on Pollinator Pathway attracts a wide variety of south Florida native butterflies,” Julie said. “Raccoons, Gray Squirrels and an occasional Gray Fox make an appearance on our trails. Marlberry blooming throughout October gives a very floral scent through the forest…Population of Fiddler and blue land crabs that very few expect to see so far from the ocean. White ibis stalk through the high tidal waters using their unique beaks to forage fish, snails and other aquatic foods.”

Please describe your favorite place in the park.

A: “My favorite place is on Laurel Oak Trail, it’s where I feel like I have left society and the world behind when I step onto the woodchipped surface.  I can feel the gentle press of the woods along me as I walk with the presence of shiny leaf wild coffee, fragrant marlberry, Sabal palm, the ancient laurel oak and towering cypress trees, the fruit of cocoplum and pond apple lay along the trail to draw out the raccoons and crabs which in turn draw out the Yellow Crowned Night Heron.  Butterflies occasionally flitter onto the flowering plants along the trail and you can always hear an undertone of skittering as the fiddler crabs anticipate your approach.”

Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation

Q: Please discuss distinctive trees, flowers and other interesting natural elements.

A: “One reason the area was preserved was because of the very large Laurel Oaks, one of which is highlighted on the Laurel Oak Trail.  We also have native red maple trees that give the Fall color with bright red leaves in the Fall.

“Our observation deck on the New River offers the opportunity to glimpse manatees and several varieties of native fish as well as Ospreys seeking sushi dinner.  Mangrove trees show off their ‘walking root system’ and demonstrate how they are able to trap floating debris — marine plastic, tons of coconuts, and discarded trash floating along the river — for us to remove more easily.”

Q: Please offer recommendations for people walking through the park. 

A: “Camera or phone for photos and videos, binoculars to identify birds in the canopy and through the brush, everyday clothing for a hike works best unless there is rain or King tides then be prepared to slog through a few puddles or underwater walkways.  The groundskeeper has maintained a few areas under Strangler Figs for unique photo opportunities and we offer every shade of green you could ever want in your background.  Bringing snacks is fine but there are no picnic areas available and no sharing with the wildlife, trash receptacles are at trailheads and near park facilities only.  There are none along the trail, please pack out your trash. ”

Information

Secret Woods Nature Center, 954-357-8886, 2701 W. State Road 84, Dania Beach, website

Free & inexpensive things to do this weekend in South Florida

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More free and inexpensive nature events at parks and venues:

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Public Walking Tour, Manatee Lagoon, WPB

2:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Animal feedings at nature center, WPB

3:30 pm | FREE | Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach

Friday, March 29, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Guided nature hike, Jupiter

9:00 am | FREE | Riverbend Park, Jupiter

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Public Walking Tour, Manatee Lagoon, WPB

2:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Animal Feeding: Aquatic Turtles, Boynton Beach

2:15 pm | FREE | Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands, Boynton Beach

Animal feedings at nature center, WPB

3:30 pm | FREE | Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Free film: Sea Turtles of the Palm Beaches

10:30 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Alligator feedings at nature center, WPB

1:00 pm | FREE | Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Public Walking Tour, Manatee Lagoon, WPB

2:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Night sky viewing with telescopes in west Broward

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fox Observatory

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Free film: Sea Turtles of the Palm Beaches

10:30 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Public Walking Tour, Manatee Lagoon, WPB

2:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Monday, April 1, 2024

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Free admission, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding, daily, Boca Raton

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings, Delray Beach

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: Fish Feeding Talks

1:30 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

Reptile Encounter: Jupiter

2:30 pm | FREE | Riverbend Park, Jupiter

Animal feedings at nature center, WPB

3:30 pm | FREE | Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach

Patti Roth

About Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

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