19 Jul Mizell-Johnson State Park: The South Florida Day Trip That Has It All
Some parks have a great beach. Some have a great mangrove trail. Mizell-Johnson State Park in Dania Beach has both, plus a creek, snorkeling, kayaking, and a history most people don’t know about. We go all the time and it never gets old.
If you’re looking for a full family day that doesn’t cost a fortune, this is it. Six dollars per car and you’re in.
Two parks in one
The magic of Mizell-Johnson is that you get two completely different experiences in one visit. Start on the creek side at Whiskey Creek, a mangrove-lined waterway perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, and exploring by water. The tunnel of trees arching overhead is one of those South Florida moments that stops everyone in their tracks.
Then flip to the beach side for swimming and snorkeling in calm, clear water. When Dad comes along the paddle board comes too, and the boys can spend hours drifting between the two worlds.
The homeschool angle (because there’s always one)
You don’t have to plan the lesson. A morning on Whiskey Creek covers Florida ecosystems, mangrove habitats, and marine life without a single worksheet. The snorkeling alone sparks more questions that we can google and answer on the drive home.
And before you leave, stop at the historic marker near the beach entrance. This park was once Broward County’s designated “colored beach” named for the Civil Rights leaders who led wade-in protests to desegregate South Florida beaches in the 1950s and 60s. Worth a moment and worth talking about.
Plan your visit
📍 6503 N. Ocean Drive, Dania Beach FL 33004
🕐 8am–sunset, 365 days a year
💰 $6 per vehicle
🌐 floridastateparks.org/mizell
🚣 Whiskey Creek Hideout on-site for kayak + paddleboard rentals
Pro tips:
- Bring a wagon, the walk from parking to the beach is long
- Water shoes for the creek side
- Snorkel gear if you have it
- Gome early on weekends, parking fills up fast
There is so much to explore right in our own backyard and we are on a mission to find all of it. Follow along at messylittlehomeschool.com or on Instagram @messylittlehomeschool.
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