Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Wild beach, mangrove creek and a history of courage

⏱ 3-5 hours👤 All ages$

The wade-ins are the story to carry with you. In the summer of 1961, Black residents led by Eula Johnson, then president of the local NAACP, and Dr. Von D. Mizell walked into the water at the whites-only beach in Fort Lauderdale, defying segregation; the legal fight that followed opened the county's beaches. The background sharpens it: as early as 1946 Black residents petitioned the county for a beach of their own, and the barrier-island site designated in 1954 never got its promised road, so families reached it by boat, ferried across by local boatman Alphonso Giles. The state bought the land in 1973, and the park has since grown to about 310 acres between the ocean and the Intracoastal. Historical markers in the park tell the story, and the Florida Channel and Visit Lauderdale have both produced short features on it.

Using the park well: arrive at opening on weekends because the lots fill, head to the north end if you want the ship-watching show at the inlet, and save Whiskey Creek for a calm morning when the water is glassy and the birds are active. The creek runs parallel to the beach, sheltered from ocean swell. The park concession, Whiskey Creek Hideout, handles kayaks and paddleboards alongside food and drinks, or launch your own craft; there is also a boat ramp. Rangers lead occasional guided walks along the creek, including a New Year's Day hike. The beach has no high-rise backdrop, which makes it feel far wilder than its location between the port and Hollywood suggests.

Candour: facilities are simpler than at city beaches, some areas remain closed pending repairs, and summer brings biting insects near the mangroves. In exchange you get the most natural shoreline within minutes of the airport. Pair it with Hollywood's Broadwalk to the south or Hugh Taylor Birch State Park to the north for a two-park day.