Between Fort Lauderdale And Coral Springs Is Florida's Underrated City With Parks And Family-Friendly Outings

For many, the Sunshine State of Florida represents paradise. Green palms, white sandy beaches, verdant parks, and vibrant wildlife all draw people to America's East Coast peninsula. Although the state is known for its partying and nightlife, many want to find family-friendly activities. For those looking for Florida parks and family fun, the city of Margate is worth looking into. 

Located around 30 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale by car and a mere 15 minutes from Coral Springs, Margate is a city encompassing around 9 square miles and housing about 60,000 people. The city is known for its typical Florida-style palm-lined streets, 30 miles of canals, and multiple parks. Unlike many popular travel destinations in Florida, Margate is not known for its nightlife, downtown, or bustling coastal vibe. Instead, it's a quiet area with family-friendly activities. This wholesome nature is what makes the town underrated for travelers who are less interested in partying and abundant booze. With plenty of parks for outdoor fun in Florida's sunshine, access to golf, an arboretum, and diverse food, Margate is a great place for families. 

What really sells Margate as a travel destination, though, is its placement. Because it's so close to places like Fort Lauderdale, Delray, and Boca, this friendly community is also an excellent gateway for those wanting to explore the iconic white sandy beaches of the Sunshine State's Atlantic Coast. At the same time, its distance from these locations keeps it under the radar.

Margate is home to several parks. For a curated experience, visitors can head to Royal Palm Park or Firefighters Park.  Both parks have playgrounds and bathrooms, but there are some differences. Royal Palm has multiple playgrounds and outdoor picnic areas along with a fishing dock on the lake and even a waterpark. But Firefighters Park emphasizes sports a bit more. While Royal Palm only has half-court basketball courts, Firefighters Park has tennis courts, a half-mile walking trail complete with exercise stations, a 1.5-acre dog park, a soccer rink, full-size basketball courts, a volleyball court, and pickleball courts. That said, the latter park's one playground is covered and it has a community game room to get you out of the blazing Florida sun. 

Those looking to get in touch with Florida's wild side can head to Fern Forest Nature Center in nearby Coconut Creek, just eight minutes away. The 247 acres of wilderness, located right in the middle of the heavily built-up Broward County, is a plant sanctuary. There are 200 species of plants that thrive here, including 30 species of ferns, which give the park its name. There are picnic tables, boardwalk hikes, and an amphitheater too, but no dogs allowed.

If visitors to Margate want to spend some time at the beach, Delray Beach — which has the clearest, bluest water in the Southeast – is an easy 40-minute drive away. This beach has the white sands and coastal views that make Florida so appealing as a vacation destination. 

Calypso Cove, located within Royal Palm Park, is a community waterpark. With 5-and-over prices of only $6 per person for residents and $12 each for visitors, it's very affordable for families. It features three pools, two 30-foot waterslides, a water-based play structure, and a deck area with chairs.

Oriole Golf Club is a semi-private golf club that's open to the public. The club offers an 18-hole course and allows visitors to book tee times for the day. It's great for golfers of all skill levels: those under 15 who accompany adults after 3 p.m. can play for free. It runs several four-day junior golf camps during the summer, making it good for families. It even has a pub-style restaurant which is open to all visitors, where you can eat when your round is done. Margate is also really close to some of the area's best attractions. Butterfly World in Coconut Creek is only 4 miles away and gives Coconut Creek the moniker "Florida's butterfly capital." Here, visitors can see 20,000 butterflies from around the world. There's a museum and gardens, and there are even birds like Macaw parrots and lorikeets for visitors to see. Similarly, The Coral Springs Museum of Art isn't too far, either — it's only around 5 miles away in Coral Springs, a vibrant Florida city with artsy charm. Visitors here can see historic and contemporary art.

The community also has plenty of family-friendly restaurants where you can eat after a long day of golfing or swimming at Calypso Cove. The restaurants here are very diverse. There's Mexican restaurant La Bamba, Jasmine Thai and Sushi, and Peruvian restaurant Los Reyes del Sabor.