Go Riverwalk Salutes Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
See a slice of pristine Florida on an island where you can swim in the ocean on one side, fish on the other and canoe down the middle.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park sits on a beautiful barrier island. You can drive through 180 acres (73 hectares) and find a spot to soak up the sun for the day. If you crave action, hike or cycle along the nature trails, or canoe in the lake. The park’s white sand beach is quieter than many other public beaches around Fort Lauderdale.
Start at the Terramar Visitor Center for an introduction to the history of the area, as well as information about flora and fauna you will find here. The park takes its name from Hugh Taylor Birch, who saw the beauty of this coastal area and bought three miles (five kilometers) of undeveloped coastline for a dollar an acre in 1895. His winter home, built in 1940, is an example of Mediterranean-style art deco architecture, uncommon in this part of Florida. Today the building is the park’s visitor center.
Free, ranger-guided walks are held on certain days, covering a variety of topics. Contact the Ranger Station for departure points and a schedule of tour topics. The Ranger Station also offers a self-guided audio tour you can download to your cell phone. (It’s free but a donation is appreciated.) On the three-quarter-mile (1.2-kilometer) Mid Trail learn about the park’s history, ecology, and wildlife. Birch introduced some of the flora and fauna himself.
See more native species along the 20-minute Coastal Hammock Trail. Signs along the way point out significant plants, such as white stopper tree, which gives off a pungent, musky scent.
Rent a canoe and explore the mile-long (1.6-kilometer) freshwater lagoon known as Long Lake. Fishing is allowed along the inter-coastal waterway on the west side of the park. M. Cruz Rentals has an outlet inside the park, with bicycles and rollerblades for rent, plus Segway tours.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a 10-minute drive northwest of central Fort Lauderdale. Bring a packed lunch or picnic basket as there are plenty of facilities, including restrooms and grills. The park is open every day of the year.A short walk from beachside shops and condominiums, this park is an oasis of tropical hammocks-a gift from Hugh Taylor Birch to Florida's posterity.
His former estate preserves four distinct natural communities, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Visitors can rent a canoe and paddle along a mile-long freshwater lagoon or fish from the seawall.
Nature lovers can hike along two short trails and learn about local plants and wildlife while bicyclists and skaters glide along the paved park road.
Visitors can access the beach via the pedestrian tunnel under A1A. Picnic areas overlook the channel; pavilions with water and electricity are available for rental. A group/youth campground is available to organized groups. Located on East Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, off A1A.
Friends of Birch State Park
birchstatepark.org
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
floridastateparks.org/park/Hugh-Taylor-Birch
Video Produced By
Jason Leidy
middleriverarts.com
&
John Floyd Sr
medialab.tv
Q2 News 10 p.m. Top Stories with Dustin Klemann, Saturday 2-17-18
Q2 News 10 p.m. Top Stories with Dustin Klemann, Saturday 2-17-18