I thought I might stop posting since I am all out of travel content. Then I thought about how everyone is going through the same thing right now. Every traveler is stuck at home. So how are we getting through this life without travel?
In this post, I share some of the little self-care adventures I take locally around Miami. I take my kayak out. I go for walks through an absolutely stunning Jungle forest. Sometimes I meet up with a friend for a socially distant hang out in these parks. Other times, I just hop online for some family bonding time inside a virtual, post-apocalyptic video game world.
Here’s a look at two parks I’ve explored as I’ve been staying local during 5 months of quarantine!
Oleta River Park
Before quarantine kicked in, Oleta River was the park I visited to break in my new inflatable kayak. It’s continued to be an awesome park to revisit even during the pandemic.
I’m able to put the kayak in the water for free from Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay Campus. I can also put the kayak in the water from inside the park. The University is across the river from the park. If you enter the park, there is only a $6 parking fee for the day. I think it’s worth it because there is a hose at the kayak launch which is super handy for easy cleanup after.
I’ve been to Oleta River twice now since the pandemic hit to paddle around. The following photos are from a combination of times I’ve been!
The kayak creates a natural distancing from others. I love being able to be mask-free and enjoying the outdoors from my kayak.
There is a public beach at Oleta River Park. The beach isn’t too busy during the pandemic. There’s enough room to spread out and not have to interact with others.
Up one of the channels along the park is a ship-wrecked sailboat! It’s pretty neat to paddle up to and check out. I always think about how I wish I had some snorkel gear to give it a more thorough look.
I could probably beach my kayak nearby and do it. But I’m a little scared to—Oleta River Park does mention alligators in the mangroves area of this park!
Down another channel, you can find Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There are some research boats and nice mangroves down this area. To the left of the building and docks, I have found the same giant iguana twice now! Look in the trees on both sides and you’ll probably spot them!
I can always count on seeing lots of people out partying on their boats and yachts (yes, even during a pandemic - oy!). While it’s entertaining to see, it does make me wonder and worry for their safety and the safety of others. Here’s hoping they are all living together or in a “bubble” together and otherwise being safe!
Overall, this is a really nice park to visit during the pandemic. I can be physically distant, take off my mask, soak up some Vitamin D, exercise, and people-watch. I can also see some really great nature and, when the water is right, it’s crystal clear and a beautiful aqua blue! That’s all I need to fill my cup.
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park
I scored big time moving to Kendall when I decided on a place to live in Miami. Kendall is a neighborhood in Miami that is a bit inland, closer to the Everglades. Still considered Miami, this area is much more suburban.
And the most amazing park is situated not too far from my condo rental—it’s called Kendall Indian Hammocks Park.
From the outside, Kendall Indian Hammocks Park looks like a really nice, quasi-urban public park in the suburbs of Miami. There's softball fields, picnic tables, 36-hole disc golf course, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, and even a skate park.
There’s also some really pretty trees and pathways winding between them through the main, open park area.
Look a little more closely and you’ll find hidden toward the Northern side of the park another world entirely.
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is home to one of the last natural forests of Miami. Called the Snapper Creek Glade, this tropical hardwood hammock feels like walking through a Caribbean jungle with its variety of palms, creeping vines, and shadowy canopy.
There are marked trailheads here in the .7 mile long park. The trails wind this way and that and have many intersecting paths. I can easily get lost or find myself on a path I didn’t intend to—but that’s ok! There’s always amazing photo opportunities.
I’ve visited this park more times than I can count now. I usually go by myself. But sometimes I meet a friend there. I love showing others this park because it is just so impressive—everyone loves it!
My yogi friend, Victoria, was so inspired, she decided to do a handstand one time against one of the park’s gorgeous Banyan figs.
Different flowers are in bloom throughout the forest and stand out against all the green. I also love the bright purple beautyberries which are found all over!
You’ll catch lots of wildlife in the park, too. During the beginning of the pandemic, after the parks reopened in Florida, I spotted a raccoon hanging around the park on two separate occasions. I haven’t seen the raccoon since humans have more consistently been back around the park.
But I still spot tons of beautiful insect-life around the park. Anywhere you look, you’ll catch ENORMOUS banana spider webs high above in the canopy. Sometimes they’re not so high up and you’ll even walk right into them on some of the less traveled paths.
I often visit the park in the later hours of the day when the sun is lowering in the sky. This makes for some really fun photography using the sunlight as my prop.
Sometimes this park catches me completely off guard. I’ll walk along a familiar path or find a new one and then come across something totally unexpected! One time, I found prayer flags strung up around a tree.
There was a big storm once, and after the storm, the forest completely changed! Paths were blocked off and along one path there was a little cave made out of fallen trees. Inside was someone’s knitting project hanging from the “ceiling.”
I even found a little sitting area in one section of the forest. I still haven’t been able to find it again (spooky!)—but I imagine this is a fun little spot for smokers to hang out!
The hanging vines and moss-covered trees and logs make this forest feel epic, old, and overgrown like it’s been around for ages. I absolutely love it!
Almost every time I visit, I usually spot a jungle cat or two! There are tons of stray cats all over Miami, especially in this park. The ones hanging out in the forest, however, seem to be the happiest and most well taken care of cats I’ve seen in all of Miami.
I would be pretty happy if I were them and got to call this forest my forever home!
Overall, Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is the perfect place to escape to while staying close to home!
A Virtual, Post-Apocalyptic World
Speaking of escaping—sometimes there’s no place like an imaginary place to take my mind off the challenges of quarantining.
As another self-care practice, I started playing an online role playing game called Fallout 76. I used to play versions of this game regularly as a solo-player. But the game creators released this online version not too long ago. The best part? I managed to convince my entire family (who are back in New York) to play it with me!
Me (center) and my family playing together on my birthday!
We all meet online together and play.
So now I get to bond with my family and submerge myself in a post-apocalyptic world that puts our current world in perspective. Yes, it can get worse! It can get post-nuclear war, super mutant enemies worse!
Don’t worry, my character typically wears a mask in-game, too. Just to be on the safe side, what with all the radiation around!
In Conclusion
Between these two parks in Miami and this virtual world with my family, I have found some wonderful adventures to engage in despite the global pandemic. Honestly, I don’t know what I would be doing without these places to visit for a little escapism! I might be bouncing off the walls a bit!
I hope other travelers and adventurers are finding ways to have fun, too. I hope you are finding ways to visit other “worlds”—whether its by immersing yourself in nature or in a video game.
Happy, safe adventuring!
