In the 1960s, Coral Springs was farmland. Not a suburb with farmland nearby—just pure, flat tomato and bean fields, 20 miles west of the ocean and not much else. In fact, the city’s very first structure was a covered bridge built in 1964 to prove to skeptical investors that it wasn’t just an idea on a blueprint. Today, over 130,000 people live in Coral Springs. That bridge? Still there. Still covered. Still weirdly proud.
Coral Springs is one of Florida’s few master-planned cities. But instead of ending up sterile and paved over, it evolved into a surprisingly vibrant place: part art installation, part nature reserve, part family playground. It’s a city that says: “We planned everything—except how charming it would feel.”
Start your visit at the Downtown Coral Springs ArtWalk—a palm-lined promenade where murals bloom on walls and metal sculptures bloom in the air. There’s a nine-foot-tall aluminum man doing a handstand. There’s a flock of painted butterflies near the splash pad. You’re in the middle of suburbia, yet it feels like an open-air museum curated by a very fun, very local committee.
Coral Springs is famous for its public art—and proud of it. Since 2003, the city has required developers to fund art installations or contribute to a fund. That means sculptures pop up in parks, plazas, even parking lots. There’s a dancing flame outside the library. A mosaic arch at the nature center. And kids who learn to spot color theory before cursive.
Just off the ArtWalk is Coral Springs Museum of Art, a sunlit space where you’re more likely to find surrealist student installations than dusty oil portraits. Exhibits change monthly and often feature local or emerging artists. It’s free for kids, air-conditioned, and one of the best calm-down stops for families after a high-energy playground visit.
Speaking of which—Coral Springs takes playgrounds seriously. There are over 50 public parks in the city, many connected by bike-friendly greenways. Head to Betti Stradling Park for a sprawling playground, shaded pavilions, and a tiny skate park perfect for beginners. Or visit Cypress Park, where kids can bounce between the water play area and athletic fields while adults admire the quiet canal views.
But if you’re craving true wildness, head west—literally. Just past the last housing development is the Cypress Hammock Natural Area, a 16-acre pocket of old-growth cypress, slash pine, and sabal palm. It’s a self-guided loop through shaded trails, where you might spot raccoons, marsh rabbits, or an osprey scanning for dinner. On quiet days, the wind makes the sabal fronds sing.
Want more nature? Coral Springs borders the Everglades Wildlife Management Area, which means you’re never more than 10 minutes from alligator habitat. Check out Sawgrass Trailhead or nearby Tamarac’s Waters Edge Park, where fishing piers extend into wetlands and sunset birdwatching becomes a community event.
Of course, all that fresh air builds up an appetite. For something quirky, head to Big Bear Brewing Co.—a locally beloved spot known for hearty pub food, award-winning beers, and a kid-friendly patio. Their root beer is house-made, and their onion soup has its own cult following. Prefer Latin flavors? La Union Mexican Bakery serves flaky pan dulce and tacos de barbacoa that locals swear rival anything in Miami.
For breakfast, Croissan’Time is the unsung hero. It’s technically in Fort Lauderdale, but just a few minutes away, and worth the drive. Think buttery croissants, house-roasted espresso, and the best almond Danish in the tri-county area.
Prefer something healthy? Try Juice 2U, where you can grab açai bowls piled high with strawberries and granola, or Green Bar & Kitchen, known for plant-based wraps and cold-pressed juices in a laid-back setting.
Coral Springs also hosts some of the most under-the-radar festivals in South Florida. Each spring, Unplugged brings live music, food trucks, craft beer, and funky art booths to the downtown corridor. It’s a kids-on-shoulders, dogs-on-leashes kind of vibe, and ends with indie bands playing under string lights. In October, the Family Fun Day & Car Show draws crowds with bounce houses, vintage Camaros, and funnel cake stands—all against a background of fall decorations (yes, in 85-degree heat).
On rainy days, families flock to Monster Mini Golf, a glow-in-the-dark indoor course with animated skeletons, arcade games, and a soundtrack straight out of an ‘80s Halloween party. Or catch a matinee at Coral Square Mall’s Regal Theater, a retro spot that’s managed to keep its seats comfy and its popcorn prices reasonable.
As for where to stay—while Coral Springs doesn’t boast beachfront resorts (you’re 25–30 minutes inland), it offers a range of family-friendly hotels close to everything. The Courtyard by Marriott Coral Springs is modern, well-located, and has a pool that stays open late for splash-happy kids. For longer stays, try La Quinta Inn & Suites Coral Springs South, where clean rooms and waffle breakfasts keep both parents and kids satisfied.
Here’s a fun historical detour: Coral Springs was once the site of the world’s largest single-day cattle auction. In 1964, the Coral Ridge Properties company flew in 600 buyers and served steak dinners under circus tents—just to hype the land’s potential. They sold plots faster than the cattle, and the rest is Florida real estate history.
But the city has always been a little different. Its early charter included unusual rules—no billboards, no car lots, and every home had to have a garage and a tree in the yard. The aesthetic was enforced not by HOAs, but by citywide planning committees. That’s why Coral Springs still looks so…clean. It was designed that way.
And yet, it doesn’t feel cookie-cutter. The blend of Caribbean, South American, and snowbird influences gives Coral Springs a cultural depth you don’t expect from its name. Haitian patisseries sit next to Brazilian churrasco joints. Soccer leagues fill the fields every Saturday. And the library’s language section includes Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish children’s books on the same shelf.
Locals know the real magic happens in the margins: Saturday morning farmers’ markets at City Hall Lawn, where families pick up guava jam and microgreens. Sunset walks along the Canal Greenway, where turtles poke their heads up as joggers pass. Or twilight jazz concerts at The Walk, the city’s outdoor shopping and dining hub with fountains, public pianos, and often, a guy playing saxophone just for the vibe.
Want a clever insider tip? The best time to visit Betti Stradling Park is late afternoon on weekdays—around 4:30 PM. School’s just let out, the sun’s softening, and the playground fills with neighborhood kids and parents who greet each other by name. It feels less like a park and more like a backyard—only bigger, better, and open to all.
Coral Springs might not have beaches. It might not make national headlines. But it’s one of those rare cities that grows on you—one greenway at a time. A place where kids can bike to the ice cream shop, where public art is part of daily life, and where a covered bridge still stands as a monument to imagination.
It’s not the loudest Florida city. But it might be the best-kept secret.
