The Miami area is a great place for outdoors types, with beaches, parks, nature preserves, and gardens galore.

The Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65th St., Hialeah (tel. 305/685-8389), is the only real reason to travel to industrial, traffic-riddled Hialeah. The park has five lakes stocked with bass and bream for fishing; playgrounds; picnic facilities; and a big red barn that houses cows, sheep, and goats for petting and ponies for riding. There's also a country store and dozens of old-time farm activities like horseshoeing, sugarcane processing, and more. Parking is free on weekdays and $3.50 per car on weekends. Open daily from 9am to sunset. To drive here, take I-95 north to the NW 103rd Street exit, go west to East 4th Avenue, and then turn right. Parking is 1 1/2 miles down the street. Depending on traffic, Hialeah is about a half hour from downtown Miami.

At the historic Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, 1200 Crandon Blvd. (tel. 305/361-5811), at the southern tip of Key Biscayne about 20 minutes from downtown Miami, you can explore the unfettered wilds and enjoy some of the most secluded beaches in Miami. There's also a historic lighthouse that was built in 1825, which is the oldest lighthouse in South Florida. The lighthouse was damaged during the Second Seminole War (1836) and again in 1861 during the Civil War. Out of commission for a while, in 1978 the U.S. Coast Guard restored it to working lighthouse condition. A rental shack leases bikes, hydrobikes, kayaks, and many more water toys. It's a great place to picnic, and a newly constructed restaurant serves homemade Latin food, including great fish soups and sandwiches. Just be careful that the raccoons don't get your lunch--the furry black-eyed beasts are everywhere. Wildlife aside, however, Bill Baggs has been consistently rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the U.S. for its 1 1/4miles of wide, sandy beaches and its secluded, serene atmosphere. Admission is $4 per car with up to eight people. Open daily from 8am to sunset. Tours of the lighthouse are available every Thursday through Monday at 10am and 1pm. Arrive at least half an hour early to sign up--there is only room for 10 people on each. Take I-95 to the Rickenbacker Causeway and take that all the way to the end.

Fairchild Tropical Garden, at 10901 Old Cutler Rd. in South Miami (tel. 305/667-1651; www.ftg.org), is the largest of its kind in the continental United States. A veritable rain forest of both rare and exotic plants, as well as 11 lakes and countless meadows, are spread across 83 acres. Palmettos, vine pergola, palm glades, and other unique species create a scenic, lush environment. More than 100 species of birds have been spotted at the garden (ask for a checklist at the front gate), and it's home to a variety of animals. You should not miss the 30-minute narrated tram tour (tours leave on the hour from 10am to 3pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends) to learn about the various flowers and trees on the grounds. There is also a museum, a cafe, a picnic area, and a gift shop with fantastic books on gardening, cooking, and edible gifts. The 2-acre rain-forest exhibit, Windows to the Tropics, will save you a trip to the Amazon. Expect to spend a minimum of 2 hours here.

Admission is $8 for adults and free for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Open daily, except Dec. 25, from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Take I-95 south to U.S. 1, turn left onto Le Jeune Road, and follow it straight to the traffic circle; from there, take Old Cutler Road 2 miles to the park.

You might remember the pink flamingos at Hialeah Park, 2200 E. 4th Ave., Hialeah (tel. 305/885-8000; www.hialeahpark.com), from Miami Vice. This famous flamingo colony is the largest of its kind. The track (which no longer hosts races), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the most beautiful in the world, featuring old-fashioned stands and acres of immaculately manicured grounds. It is open to the public, for free, to tour around and see the spectacular grounds. Call before going as hours can be erratic.

Located on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove (4013 Douglas Rd.; www.ntbg.org/kampong.html), the Kampong is a 7-acre botanical garden featuring a stunning array of flowering trees and tropical fruit trees including mango, avocado, and pomelos. In the early 1900s, noted plant explorer David Fairchild traveled the world seeking rare plants of economic and aesthetic value that might be cultivated in the United States. In 1928, he and his wife, Marian (daughter of Alexander Graham Bell), built a two-story residence here (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) amid some of his collections, borrowing the Malaysian word kampong for his home in a garden. In the 1960s, the Fairchilds sold the Kampong to Catherine Hauberg Sweeney, who donated the property to the National Tropical Botanical Garden to promote and preserve this South Florida treasure. It's a must-see for those interested in horticulture. Tours are by appointment only, from Monday to Friday. For tour information, call tel. 305/442-7169. Admission is $10 a person. Take U.S. 1 to Douglas Road (SW 37th Ave.). Go east on Douglas Road for about a mile. The Kampong will be on your left.

Named after the late champion of the Everglades, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, 6767 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne (tel. 305/361-6767; www.biscaynenaturecenter.org), has just moved into a brand-new $4 million facility and offers hands-on marine exploration, hikes through coastal hammocks, bike trips, and beach walks. Local environmentalists and historians lead intriguing trips through the local habitat. Call to reserve a spot on a regularly scheduled weekend tour or program. Be sure to wear comfortable closed-toe shoes for hikes through wet or rocky terrain. Open daily 10am to 7pm Memorial Day through Labor Day; daily 10am to 4pm the rest of year. Admission to park is $4 per person; admission to nature center free. Call for weekend programs. To get there, take I-95 to the Rickenbacker Causeway Exit (#1) and take the causeway all the way until it becomes Crandon Boulevard. The center is on the east side of the street (the Atlantic Ocean side). Driving time is about 25 minutes from downtown Miami.

Because so many people are so focused on the beach itself, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach (tel. 305/673-7256), remains, for the most part, a secret garden. The lush, tropical 4 1/2-acre garden is a fabulous, all-natural retreat from the hustle and bustle of the silicone-enhanced city. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am to 5pm. Admission is free.

The Oleta River State Recreation Area, 3400 NE 163rd St., North Miami (tel. 305/919-1846), consists of 993 acres--the largest urban park in the state--on Biscayne Bay. The beauty of the Oleta River combined with the fact that you're essentially in the middle of a city makes this park especially worth visiting. With miles of bicycle and canoe trails, a sandy swimming beach, shaded picnic pavilions, and a fishing pier, Oleta River State Recreation Area offers visitors an outstanding outdoor recreational experience cloistered from the confines of the big city. Open daily from 8am to sunset. Admission for pedestrians and cyclists is $1 per person; by car: driver plus car, $2; driver plus up to 7 passengers and car, $4. Take 1-95 to exit 17 (SR 826 East), and go all the way east until just before the causeway. The park entrance is on your right. Driving time from downtown Miami is about a half hour.

A testament to Miami's unusual climate, the Preston B. Bird and Mary Heinlein Fruit and Spice Park, 24801 SW 187th Ave., Homestead (tel. 305/247-5727), harbors rare fruit trees that cannot survive elsewhere in the country. If a volunteer is available, you'll learn some fascinating things about this 30-acre living plant museum, where the most exotic varieties of fruits and spices--ackee, mango, Ugli fruits, carambola, and breadfruit--grow on strange-looking trees with unpronounceable names. There are also original coral rock buildings dating back to 1912. An art festival here in January is among the park's most popular--and populated--events.

The best part? You're free to take anything that naturally falls to the ground. You'll also find samples of interesting fruits and jellies made from the park's bounty as well as exotic ingredients and cookbooks in the gift store.

Admission to the spice park is $3.50 for adults and $1 for children under 12. It's open daily from 10am to 5pm; closed major holidays. Tours are included in the price of admission and are offered at 11am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. Take U.S. 1 south, turn right on SW 248th Street, and go straight for 5 miles to SW 187th Avenue. The drive from Miami should take 45 minutes to an hour.

Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St. in West Miami (tel. 305/226-8315), has it all. Enjoy a game of tennis and racquetball for a minimal fee, or swim and sun yourself on the secluded little lake. You can use the fishing pond for free, and they'll even supply you with the rods and bait. If you catch anything, however, you're on your own. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. To get there, go west on Bird Road until you reach the overpass for the Palmetto Expressway (826). The park is on the left-hand side immediately after the overpass.

A Berry Good Time--South Florida's farming region has been steadily shrinking in the face of industrial expansion, but you'll still find several spots where you can get back to nature while indulging in a local gastronomic delight--picking your own produce at the "U-Pic-'Em" farms that dot South Dade's landscape. Depending on what's in season, you can get everything from fresh herbs and vegetables to a mélange of citrus fruits and berries. During berry season--January to April--it's not uncommon to see hardy pickers leaving the groves with hands and faces that are stained a tale-telling crimson and garnished with happy smiles. On your way through South Dade, keep an eye out for the bright red "U-Pic-'Em" signs.

There are also a number of fantastic fruit stands in the region.

Burr's Berry Farms, 12741 SW 216th St. (tel. 305/251-0145), located in the township of Goulds about an hour from downtown Miami, has created a sensation with their fabulous strawberry milk shakes. To get there, go south on U.S. 1 and turn right on SW 216th Street. The fruit stand is about 1 mile west. Open daily from 9am to 5:30pm.

For fresh fruit in a tasty pastry or tart, head over to Knaus Berry Farm at 15980 SW 248th St. (tel. 305/247-0668), in an area known as the Redlands. Some people erroneously call this farm an Amish farm, but in actuality it's run by a sect of German Baptists. The stand offers items ranging from fresh flowers to homemade ice cream, but be sure to indulge in one of their famous homemade cinnamon buns. Be prepared to wait on a long line to stock up--people flock here from as far away as Palm Beach. Head south on U.S. 1 and turn right on 248th Street. The stand is 2 1/2 miles further on the left-hand side. Open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5:30pm.