5 /5 Kevin Horst: When you’re looking for a break from the beach and want to check out some of Florida’s natural beauty, this is a great place to go. There is a beautiful visitor center with lots of exhibits on local wildlife and a bit of history on the area. There is also an observation tower where you can look out across the area and see the skyline of Fort Lauderdale and Miami, as well as well some nice boardwalks that take you through the mangroves out to shaded pavilions on the water. We did not see any manatees when we were here, but we enjoyed hiking and the peacefulness of the surroundings. It’s amazing that such a large, wild and natural area remains in this thoroughly developed part of the state. The fact that it was totally free to visit made it even better!