Living near the water isn't only about a dock. For many people, it's about a beach they can walk to, a state park for weekend mornings or a quiet nature trail. These are the parks and beaches I've picked from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton and Delray Beach, based on how prominently Visit Lauderdale, the cities, Broward County and Florida State Parks feature them. Every fact comes from those official sources.
Access, programs and conditions change, and some areas are closed for erosion or construction right now, so please check each official site before you go.
Fort Lauderdale
Florida State Parks calls Birch the city's own "Central Park," set between the ocean and the Intracoastal, with a crosswalk on A1A to the beach. Birch's former home, the Terramar House, is now an interpretive center and museum. Some facilities are closed for construction; check the state's alerts before you go.
Photo based on "Ft Laud FL Hugh Taylor Birch SP03" by Ebyabe, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0; cropped and modified. Derivatives of this image must use the same or a compatible license.
Fort Lauderdale
Where Las Olas Boulevard meets the beach, this city park has open lawns, a walking path, a splash pad and outdoor showers. Completed in late October 2019, it replaced the old Oceanside parking lot, according to The LOOP, the park's website.
Fort Lauderdale
This 93.44-acre city park is home to the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center and the Baptist Health IcePlex, the Florida Panthers' practice facility, plus courts, fields and a dog park. The city expects park upgrades that began in May 2026 to finish by summer 2027; the playground and part of the dog park are closed during the work.
Dania Beach
Formerly John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, this Dania Beach park just south of Port Everglades is named for civil rights leaders who led wade-ins to desegregate South Florida beaches. The state calls it Broward's last undeveloped coastal ecosystem. As of Nov. 9, 2026, the state posts that beach access from Parking Lot 5 and the Jetty Parking Lot, including the Pelican, Sea Grape and Jetty pavilions, is closed until further notice due to king-tide erosion.
Hollywood
Broward County says this Hollywood park has the Atlantic on one side and the Intracoastal on the other. It is home to the historic Carpenter House, marks the north end of the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, and starts the 1.55-mile Hollywood-Dania North Beach Trail.
Hollywood
Broward County says this Hollywood nature center became the largest in its park system when it opened in 1996. It is a coastal mangrove wetland with an exhibit hall, an amphitheater, trails and an observation tower.
Photo based on "Anne Kolb Nature Center observation tower boardwalk view" by quyentr, licensed under CC BY 3.0; cropped and modified.
Deerfield Beach
The City of Deerfield Beach calls its international fishing pier "the crowning jewel on our beach," and Visit Lauderdale calls it the beach's main draw. The city's beach carries the Clean Beach Council's "Blue Wave" designation.
Deerfield Beach
This Broward County regional park in Deerfield Beach is known for Ski Rixen USA cable water-skiing, which Visit Lauderdale calls one of America's first cable ski parks. The county also lists seven miles of mountain bike trails, a campground and the seasonal Splash Adventure water park.
Photo based on "Quiet-waters-ski" by Dtobias, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; cropped and modified. Derivatives of this image must use the same or a compatible license.
Boca Raton
One of Boca Raton's three beach parks, Red Reef has a boardwalk, a walking trail and what the city calls snorkeling pods, plus picnic pavilions and an oceanfront wedding site.
Photo based on "Rocks on beach Boca Raton FL" by Ianaré Sévi, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0; cropped and modified. Derivatives of this image must use the same or a compatible license.
Boca Raton
This Boca Raton beach park reaches the Intracoastal, with walking trails, a canoe and kayak launch, 10 rentable pavilions and tunnels to the beach. The city notes its beach is a Blue Flag Award winner.
Delray Beach
The City of Delray Beach says its municipal beach runs one and one-half miles and is centered at the east end of Atlantic Avenue, with marked areas for swimming, surfing, sailing and volleyball.
Being near a park or beach can mean walking to the sand, a short drive to a state park or a quiet street close to a nature trail. I start with how you'd actually use these places, then line up homes that fit your commute, your budget and the kind of outdoor access you want. I'll also point you to the official park and city pages for current access, closures and rules, since those change.
Yes. All of them are on this page, and I can show you homes near any of them.
They change, so I don't list them here. Each page links to the official park or city site, and I'll help you check current details.
Some areas are. As of Nov. 9, 2026, Florida State Parks lists erosion closures at Mizell-Eula Johnson and construction closures at Birch, and Fort Lauderdale is upgrading Holiday Park through summer 2027. Please check the official sites before you go.
Tell me which beaches you like and how far you're willing to walk, and I'll put together homes that fit and send new listings as they come up.
Tell me which parks and beaches you'd use most, and I'll put together homes that fit your lifestyle, your budget and your timeline.
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