10 Best Things to Do in Coconut Creek, Florida

April 10, 2020 - Updated

Coconut Creek, Florida, located within the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach metropolitan region, was established in the 1960s and named for the populations of coconut trees planted by the region's early developers. Today, it is best known as the site of Butterfly World, the largest butterfly aviary in the world, which showcases more than 80 species of butterflies from around the world and offers a variety of family-friendly activities.

1.Butterfly World

Butterfly World is the world's largest butterfly park, home to more than 20,000 live butterflies. The park was the vision of Florida electrical engineer Ronald Boender, who founded the organization MetaScience in 1984 to supply global zoos and research programs with butterflies. Following a meeting with London Butterfly House founder Clive Farrell the following year, the pair founded Butterfly World in 1988 as a public attraction and research facility, the first park of its type in the Western Hemisphere. Today, it is also home to the United States' largest free-flight hummingbird aviary, as well as a lorikeet encounter experience, a tropical rainforest aviary, and a butterfly emerging area. Visitors can stroll through the Grace Gardens outdoor botanical garden, view mounted specimens at the park's insectarium, or observe butterflies at different stages of development at the park's laboratory facility.

3600 West Sample Road, Tradewinds Park, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-977-4434

2.Fern Forest Nature Center

Fern Forest Nature Center is a delightful 247-acre nature preserve that was opened to the public in 1985, showcasing one of South Florida's finest collections of preserved native plants. The designated Urban Wilderness Area dates back to the turn of the 20th century, when it was named Cypress Creek Hammock and designated to protect state farmlands. In 1979, the site was surveyed by scientists from Florida Atlantic University and redesignated under its current name to protect more than 200 species of native Florida plants. Today, it is home to over 30 species of native ferns, including the endangered primitive whisk fern. Visitors can explore interpretive exhibits at the park's nature center, which also offers extensive indoor and outdoor special event rental facilities. Outside, the mile-long Prairie Overlook Trail offers a 20-foot observation platform, while the ADA-accessible Cypress Creek Trail meanders along a boardwalk within a hardwood hammock and maple and cypress forest. Other attractions include a Sensory Garden Trail, a Maple Walk, and the Fern Lore Garden sculpture by artist Jerome Meadows.

201 S Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, FL 33063, Phone: 954-357-5198

3.Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is one of Florida's most technologically-advanced gaming facilities, offering a fully-integrated visitor experience on more than 2,000 classic and new state-of-the-art slot machines. 70 live table games are also offered, giving visitors a chance to try their luck at favorite games such as poker, baccarat, and blackjack. Delicious dining options at the casino range from the casual New York-style 1st Street Deli to the award-winning upscale NYY Steak restaurant, with international fare also available at the Sorrisi Italian restaurant and the Asian-style BOL. Live music performances by internationally-renowned acts such as Wayne Newton and Dionne Warwick are offered at the 1,200-seat Pavilion, while DJ sets are presented nightly at the Legends Lounge.

5550 NW 40th St, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-977-6700

4.Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area

Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area is a 56-3-acre natural area that preserves the final remaining forest habitat area of a larger natural area that once spanned the state's interior between the Atlantic Coastal Ridge and the Everglades, located near Cypress Creek and the Hillsboro River. The site is home to a wide variety of native flora and fauna within its pine upland and wetland ecosystems, including slash pine flatwood areas, swamp ferns, zebra longwing butterflies, wood warblers, and a number of hawk species. Visitors can hike along the park's 0.7-mile nature trail, which offers covered overlooks and interpretive signage along a concrete walkway and 2,000-foot elevated boardwalk. Visitors should note that pets, bicycles, skateboards, and inline skates are prohibited at the park. Guided nature walks are offered periodically throughout the year.

5591 NW 74th Pl, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-357-5100

5.Winston Park Nature Center

Winston Park Nature Center is a lovely 25-acre nature center facility and family park in North Coconut Creek, offering abundant amounts of open space for visitors of all ages to play and enjoy nature together. The park showcases the region's natural terrain before the urban development of Broward County, offering a lovely nature trail with a 1,000-foot boardwalk winding through cypress forest areas with giant ferns and other native Florida plant life. A butterfly garden is also showcased, along with a recently-renovated picnic pavilion available for use for private special event rentals. Visitors can enjoy pick-up games at the park's basketball, tennis, racquetball, and sand volleyball courts or bring their children to play on its family-friendly children's playground. Other amenities include day-use picnic sites and public restrooms.

5201 NW 49th Ave, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-973-6700

6.Tradewinds Park and Stables

Tradewinds Park and Stables is one of Broward County's largest public parks, spanning more than 600 acres along both sides of Sample Road. The park is best known as the home of the iconic Butterfly World attraction, the first butterfly park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. On select weekends, the park's Tradewinds and Atlantic Railroad attraction offers small-scale steam railroad rides, giving visitors of all ages a unique vantage point on the park's beautiful scenery. An 18-hole disc golf course is also offered, along with a freshwater fishing pier and a plethora of athletic fields available for day use. Other attractions include equestrian trails, children's pony rides, an educational farm museum, and rental-use picnic shelters and overnight camping tents. During the holiday season, the park hosts autumn hayrides and an annual drive-through Christmas light show spectacular.

3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek, FL 33066, Phone: 954-357-8870

7.Off the Wall Trampoline Fun Center

Off the Wall Trampoline Fun Center is one of Broward County's premiere family entertainment centers, offering active play experiences for young visitors of all ages for more than three decades. The 36,500-square-foot indoor play center is home to four separate trampoline courts, letting visitors jump and play during open jump times throughout the week. Dodgeball and slam dunk basketball courts are available for visitor play, along with an obstacle ropes course, rock climbing wall, and other sporting activities for children and teenagers. A two-level laser tag area is also offered, along with a fully-stocked arcade featuring state-of-the-art video and redemption game favorites. Adult chaperones can take advantage of the center's full espresso bar and sports lounge or dine at the center's full-service cafe, which serves up classic American favorites such as New York-style pizza, chicken wings, and Angus beef burgers.

4939 Coconut Creek Pkwy, Coconut Creek, FL 33063, Phone: 954-973-3031

8.ethos Greek Bistro

ethos Greek Bistro is a fine dining Greek restaurant located within the 23-acre Promenade at Coconut Creek, the city's premiere upscale open-air shopping complex. The restaurant, which is named for the Greek word signifying the cultural beliefs and values of a culture, serves up health-conscious Greek and Mediterranean-style dishes in a sleek, modern dining space with indoor and outdoor seating areas. Tables of two or more diners can enjoy the restaurant's unique Taste of Ethos dining experience, which allows guests to sample some of the restaurant's most popular dishes, including spinach pies, stuffed grape leaves, and the restaurant's spread sampler, which showcases traditional Mediterranean appetizers such as hummus and tzatziki. A wide array of shareable meze-style small plates are also available for purchase, along with entrees such as Mediterranean sea bass, slow-cooked lamb with barrel-aged feta, and Greek-style platters with protein options such as kefte, gyro, or falafel.

4437 Lyons Rd E104, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 754-999-0050

9.SanTo's Modern American Buffet and Sushi

SanTo's Modern American Buffet and Sushi is a delightful all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant in Coconut Creek, serving up a wide variety of sushi selections alongside Asian and modern American style dishes. The restaurant strives for quality over quantity, focusing on lunch and dinner selections prepared with the finest fresh seafood available. Approximately 20 varieties of sushi rolls are available each day, ranging from classic favorites such as tuna and shrimp sushi to unique varieties such as banana rolls. Snow crab and oysters are also available at the restaurant's raw bar, while delicacies such as prime rib and churrasco are served at its grilling station. Family-friendly dining options include American-style choices such as steak, mashed potatoes, and French fries. At brunch, casual favorites such as waffles, omelettes, and French toast are complemented by a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including a selection of imported sakes.

4690 N State Rd 7, Suite 106, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-971-6882

10.NYY Steak

NYY Steak is the award-winning flagship restaurant of the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, open to the public seven days a week for dinner service with reservations. The restaurant, which has been voted as the best restaurant in the North Broward region by SouthFlorida.com, is structured around an open-plan kitchen that serves up dry-aged steaks prepared at its in-house butcher shop. New York Yankees-themed decor flanks its dining area, including an autograph wall and dishes shaped like baseball diamonds. Excellent dining options include USDA prime steaks and five-star seafood entrees, which are prepared to diner's individual specifications. A well-curated wine list has been awarded with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, with fine selections of beers and spirits also available. Sunday brunch seating features live music performances and bottomless cocktails, while lounge seating at the restaurant's Legends Lounge offers access to top-shelf spirits and bottle service. Diners can also book reservations at the restaurant's Chef's Table, which pairs family-style courses with fine wines for up to 12 guests.

5550 NW 40th St, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, Phone: 954-935-6699