John U. Lloyd Beach State Park

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park straddles the barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in the City of Hollywood. The park offers two boat ramps (Launch fees: $9 per boat) on the Intracoastal Waterway. Access to the open ocean is gained through Port Everglades Inlet about one mile to the north. Whiskey Creek, a designated manatee sanctuary, flows through the park and offers folks in canoes and kayaks an excellent opportunity to observe the underwater wildlife.

The Loggerhead Cafe is a full service restaurant at the northern end of Whiskey Creek that also offers drinks, snacks, canoe and kayak rentals, limited picnic supplies and fishing bait.

At the south end of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is a 45-minute self-guided nature trail through a native sub-tropical coastal hardwood hammock. There are more than 300 individual picnic tables scattered throughout the park, in addition to the seven rentable picnic pavilions. All the rental pavilions seat between 100 and 150 people and offer water, electric, picnic tables and barbecue grills.

Swimmers and snorkelers get to enjoy their sports in designated areas. Scuba divers and snorkelers also get to enjoy a swim along a line of submerged Eurojacks that extends out to the first reef, allowing folks to see a large array of sport and tropical fish, Florida lobster and various rays and sharks.

For day use only, John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is open from 8 am until sunset every day of the year. To get there: Exit Interstate 95 at Sheridan Street (milepost 21) and go east to State Route A1A, then turn and go north on A1A for 1.5 miles to the park entrance. From the Florida Turnpike: exit at exit 49 to Hollywood Boulevard, then go east to State Route A1A. Turn north on A1A and go 2.5 miles to the park entrance.

All fees quoted are subject to change.