west lake

West Lake Park is a neighborhood park for my family. I recommend it for visitors because it's the kind of place I look for when I travel: off the beaten path and a great place to tire out my kids. Since this is its first review, I'll summarize the pros and cons.Pros:- Peace and Quiet. The park has a long entrance road. Once you pass the guard station, urban sounds disappear. Serenity takes over.- Cheap. Free during the week; $1.50 per person on the weekend. - Two Playgrounds. There's a large, sunny pirate ship playground right in the middle of the park. It turns into a water playground for a few hours a day during the summer months. The other playground is smaller, dry, shaded and surrounded by a fence. My kids like both of them. - Variety of Sports. The basketball and tennis courts are well-loved but in good condition. There's a nice paved walking trail around the lake that we like to skateboard. You can also rent kayaks and canoes to poke around on the water - or just sit by the shore and fish.- Open Space. I love that this compact county park is so well-designed. Even on the weekends, there's a freeing feeling of space here that I don't get at nearby T.Y. Park. Over our many visits, I've discovered secluded sunny meadows; party pavilions with grills; a memorial garden for veterans; shady nooks for picnics; and tons of areas for games. Cons:- Equipment. The playgrounds and shelters need some TLC. The astroturf is really damaged in spots, and everything needs a coat of paint. - Closes Early. Why does the park close at 6 when it doesn't get dark until after 8? If you're in the area and looking for a relaxing spot that never feels crowded, I highly recommend West Lake Park.

I was pleasantly surprised at the nice boardwalk trail through the mangroves out to the viewing area of West Lake. We saw hundreds if not thousands of ducks nearby in the water. Solitude and beauty. One of the highlights for me in the park.

This lake is actually in the city of Hollywood. But it, and its associated flora and fauna, is a welcome break from the sights and sounds of urban life. The boardwalk trail is a good way to traverse the trees and shrubs, especially the mangroves. And there is a good view of the lake from its eastern boundary. The lake is a easy body of water to kayak on, as I can personally attest to.

Like walking into another world, under the deep canopy of the think mangrove forest that covers this vital ecosystem inside ENP. Great view of mangroves and the lake, where fresh meets salt water, and the uniqueness of the Everglades is very prominent.

It was really cool to see the mangroves in a "forest" state and then as they are along the coast. The boardwalk was an easy walk. Nice experience.

The West Lake trail is simple but, really worth your while. The water in the background makes for great photos for both yourself and the birds that flourish.

OK I had this trail on my 'must-see' list of ENP but we got there close to 5 pm and maybe that was why the normal 1/2 hr walk turn into a 15 minutes jog/ run the get away from the mosquitoes !it started out right and calm..thee was only 1 other car park in the lot - essentially we had the trail to our selves...quiet among the mangroves and on an elevated walkway/path and yes we came out onto a huge lake...and saw some very large anhingas ? on the path...but upon my return I got 10+ mosquitoes bites!!! on my legs and a few on my body - while my husband got none..

Better view of mangrove root systems than from other trails. Boardwalk loop trail can be walked quickly. Less about wildlife than other areas, though vultures only reluctantly cleared from their trailside perches ahead of me as I got closer to the lake.

This 0.4 mile boardwalk trail starts you out through a mangrove forest and works it's way out to the lake. The boardwalk actually goes out over the water. You encounter all three types of mangroves on the walk (white, black and red). Lovely and serene.

This small park is extremely clean and well cared for. The walk to west lake is beautiful and very peaceful. The indoor exhibit has plenty of information on local animals. 5 stars.

We spent the afternoon at West Lake, but was unable to kayak because it was during the week. We were able to walk the trail and see quite a bit of wildlife. The kids played basketball, handball, and frisbee while we were there. The grounds were beautiful and the facilities were clean and kept up. We were able to picnic and enjoy several relaxing hours here on our visit. What a great find!

We were looking for a rest room but ended up doing the walking loop. Lots of mangroves and birds and wild life.

The West Lake trail can be reached from the Everglades park's east entrance, about 7 miles before you reach Flamingo. There is a spur road to your left, which leads back to a parking lot with restrooms (with running water) at the trailhead. This is a boardwalk trail with no stairs, so it would be fine (a little bumpy) for strollers or wheelchairs. It is a loop trail that leads through dense mangroves and eventually out over West Lake. Coming out of the mangroves onto the lake was such a beautiful surprise! The trail was shady the whole way except for the short portion over the lake.

Lugar perfeito para levar a familia para as proximas ferias, acomodaçoes confortaveis e localizaçao proxima as melhores Atraçoes.

Hermoso sitio con fauna de pantano. La vista desde el avión es incleible. Los tours ofrecen adentrarse en la fauna y observar lagartos.