5 Reasons to Visit Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

The coastal city of Fort Lauderdale in Florida is a busy and bustling place, especially in the summer months. If you’re planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale, escape the crowds with a visit to the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. This beautiful park was gifted to the state of Florida by Hugh Taylor Birch, an attorney, in 1941, and is open throughout the year, with plenty to see and do.

5 Reasons to Visit Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

1. Terramar Visitor Center

Take a stroll around the home of Hugh Taylor Birch, which is now home to the Terramar Visitor Center. Reflecting Birch’s taste and contemporary fashion, the décor is a combination of Art Deco and Mediterranean styles, complete with original fixtures and fittings. Also on display is information about the area’s history and ecosystem. Better still, your park admission ticket gives you free access to the Visitor Center, which is open on weekends and holidays.

2. Swimming and Water Sports

The state park owns a sizeable portion of the Fort Lauderdale beach, so sunbathing and swimming are popular activities with visitors. Don’t worry about bringing chairs and umbrellas with you as these can be rented from the park. If you’re lucky, you might see Loggerhead Turtles here, as the park is a well-known nesting area.

For those who prefer a more active afternoon, you can rent a canoe or kayak and explore the park’s waterway or hang out on the park’s mile-long freshwater lagoon. Pedal boats and paddle boats are also available to rent, for use on both the waterway and the beach. For those who love to fish, bring your rod to any public access area or the waterway.

3. Flora and Fauna

It’s not hard to see why so many nature lovers flock to this state park. Here, you can get in amongst gopher tortoises, turtles, eastern indigo snakes, butterflies, and more than 200 different species of birds. The park’s live anima exhibits are a real highlight. Get up close to Diamondback Terrapin Turtles, Rat Snakes, and the East Indigo Snake, which is now endangered. The live exhibits take place every Friday and Saturday afternoon.

4. Picnicking

One of the most enjoyable things to do in this park is to take a picnic and hang out with family and friends in scenic surroundings. There are play parks to keep the kids entertained and even grills to hire if you fancy a barbecue. This is the ideal place to have a birthday party or gathering: each of the park’s numerous pavilions is equipped with water and electricity and can hold up to 75 people.

5. Tours of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Because this area is so historic, the park offers guided tours and walks every day. Rangers are well-trained and extremely knowledgeable about this area’s ecosystem, including its beautiful mangrove forest and abundant coral reefs. The cost of a tour is included in the park’s entrance fee. All you need to do is meet the ranger at the entrance station at 10:30 a.m.

If you’re heading to the Fort Lauderdale area, there’s another place you should check out. Stop by Pines Ford and book a test drive!

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