Sports & Recreation

Most of the coverage of Florida Atlantic University's football this spring has referred to running back Jay Warren as a costarter, which may be even more true after he sat out the school's spring game with a pulled hamstring only to watch Greg Howell step up with a more-than-solid, two-touchdown performance. But that doesn't mean Warren is not still the best back on the team. Howell and several highly touted recruits will put the pressure on Warren, who is expected to flourish with the team's emphasis on running the ball, quarterback Jaquez Johnson's ability to get the ball downfield, and an offensive line with the potential to open big holes to run through. Warren began last season in high fashion, running for 77 yards against then-number-22 Nebraska and breaking off runs of 31 and 33 yards against Alabama and Tulsa in the weeks after. The FAU offense has improved in each of the past couple of years, and as long as he can hold onto the ball, Warren is the guy who can carry this team down the field, as his 4.7 yards-per-carry average on 571 yards and two touchdowns last year shows. Why does this make Warren FAU's best player? Go ask Dan Marino what he would have done to have a running back who consistently averaged five yards a carry and you'll have the only answer you need.

The photographers of Florida's postcard industry could go on holiday after taking a few snaps at this piece of scenic Boca Raton coastline, its white sands constantly beaten by waves of crystal-clear saltwater. Sure, the shutterbugs would have to go elsewhere for the novelty postcard shots of obese sunbathers and hot babes, as South Beach Park is rarely crammed with people. It may not have the easy access to bars and restaurants of the same-named beach in Miami-Dade, but neither is it littered with empty bottles and cigarette butts. If you're longing for a vista that might inspire you to write something on the blank side of that postcard and make a faraway friend jealous, this is the spot for you.

Readers' Choice: Delray Beach

Nestled right off Mile Marker 37, about an hour from Key West, you'll find a little piece of paradise called Bahia Honda State Park. The three beaches that make up the park stand under the shade of the old Flagler Railroad and look out over crystalline, snorkel-friendly waters. Bahia Honda is the perfect place to just chill on the sand with your toes in the water. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can hike along the Silver Palm Trail or ride along the winding bike path. The Bahia Honda Bridge is a great place for pictures or for spotting the nurse sharks that swim underneath the railroad. The park also offers kayak rentals and boating excursions. Overnight lodging is available for campers if you don't want to go back home right away. Park entry costs $8 per vehicle.

Anyone who's tried surfing in South Florida knows they don't call it Lake Atlantic for nothing; the only thing tubular in this town is the New River Tunnel. But fewer than three hours north, on the Central Florida coast, there exists a rustic slice of surf-town heaven. Start north at Cocoa Beach and score a cheap waterfront room on Airbnb (well, cheap by Fort Lauderdale standards). Wake up early, rent a board, and surf the sunrise. Plan it right and you can be packed up and in Indiatlantic for a late-afternoon lunch. There are tons of surf spots all along the coast — in Melbourne, Sebastian, Fort Pierce — all within an hour of each other (or less!). For those of us who are used to sitting in traffic at the Golden Glades Interchange for 45 minutes a day, that's nothing. Surfline.com offers a pretty good detailed guide (and beach cams) that will explain which spots — like the Streets — are good for beginners and which, like Hangers, have hazards like underwater pilings. Pit stop at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary, which will make you forget the chaos that exists a few hours south. Grab a board and a brew and spend a weekend slowing down. Just, uh, ignore the sharks.

surfline.com/travel

What, pray tell, makes a great pool? Who can describe the Platonic Ideal of the Pool? Should the water be salt-treated or chlorinated? What is the perfect chair-to-umbrella ratio? Kids or no kids whizzing in the water? For us, the slam dunk is simple: a lazy river. Any pool with a lazy river equals automatic badass. The Pelican Grand on Fort Lauderdale Beach offers exactly this sort of entertainment. The hotel's lazy river loops languidly around the pool proper, which is situated just steps from the sand. The hotel provides inner tubes so you can take a relaxing tour down the lazy river. Oh, and that pool proper ain't no slouch — a no-frills peaceful blue lagoon with steps leading down to the waves.

Readers' Choice: The W Fort Lauderdale

Parks were created because even before modern "green" movements to preserve the environment, humans innately craved natural space in the middle of civilization. Most parks these days, however, feature unnatural, brightly colored plastic playgrounds set atop artificial, shock-absorbent turf. But nature still reigns at Tradewinds Park & Stables, a huge 626.7-acre retreat and one of the few places in South Florida where you can ride horses. The park has the usual amenities: jogging path, picnic shelters, athletic fields, and playgrounds. You can fish, rent a bounce house, walk the Cypress Trail Boardwalk, and play disc golf all in the same day. But the stables also host kids' summer camp programs and equine-assisted therapy for the disabled. There's an educational farm where you can learn about Broward's agrarian past as well as model-steam-train rides. And, of course, there's always Butterfly World; this park within a park is a breathtaking botanical garden that breeds butterflies and is home to the country's largest free-flight hummingbird aviary.

Readers' Choice: Quiet Waters Park

There's one part of music festivals that sucks: the bathrooms. Whether you're squatting in a hot porta-potty or waiting in a poorly ventilated concrete fortress for 30 minutes, small bladders and big concerts don't mix. But this year, West Palm Beach's SunFest music festival revolutionized the concert toilet with its VIPee restrooms. If you have $5 and a stomach full of Coors Light, you will thank the heavens for this development in concertgoing technology. The bathrooms featured wood floors and individual stalls, but by far, the best part of the VIPee toilets was the mind-blowing foot-flush feature. Basically, it's an attachment at the bottom of the toilet that lets you flush with your foot like a brilliant little gas pedal. Once you pay to get in, you receive a wristband and can return anytime nature calls. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from the VIPee bathrooms went to the Palm Beach County Food Bank. VIPee, we'll see you in 2016.

Whiskey Creek got its name from the bootleggers that used its winding, shallow waters to hide from authorities back in the day. Today, the creek remains undeveloped and pristine, snaking around a white, soft beach that curls into a nature preserve connected to John Lloyd Park. What makes it the perfect kayaking spot is that both beautiful extremes of Florida are found here. The creek itself is flanked by shallow swamp water and deep ocean. On one side, the view is sandy beach with tall palm trees swaying in the breeze. On the other, it's mangroves and sea-grape leaves flapping in the wind. You can kayak the tepid waters of the creek, paddling in the shade of the seemingly endless mangroves, and then wind around the beach before looping back into the open waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. Next, head over to Port Everglades to catch a glimpse of the massive cruise ships in the distance. It's an entire South Florida kayaking experience in one shot.

Of all the things South Floridians can do in and around the ocean, fishing might be the easiest. Then again, if you have no idea what you're doing, it can also be the toughest. That's where Flamingo Deep Sea Fishing comes in. This 65-foot boat and its crew provide the best way for an amateur South Florida fisherman to get out on the open water and learn the ropes. They provide everything you could possibly need while trying to pull in the big catch, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg. Flamingo runs boats multiple times a day and has a long track record of finding fish. Hell, their slogan is "Fish Can't Hide From the Flamingo." Everything from kingfish, snappers black fin tuna, bonito, mahi-mahi, barracuda, grouper, and wahoo to cobia and sailfish are routinely pulled up onto their deck, making the $40 price of admission a deal, seeing as you are likely to take home many meals. Regulars boast of shark sightings on deep-sea trips, and photography — something not all boat crews are fond of — is encouraged.

flamingofishing.com

South Florida presents ample fishing destinations, but fishing off a good, well-set-up pier is one of the best. The fishing pier at Deerfield Beach is the best of the best. The 976-foot structure, which costs just a buck to walk on, provides amateur fishermen a place to get their feet wet. At the bait and tackle shop, novices can purchase an entire kit for less than $20 that will get them through an entire day of fishing, and judging by the pictures of recent catches on the pier, they can expect to bring home dinner worth at least that much. Group and private lessons are available too. The destination doubles as a terrific place to take a date, with views stretching to Pompano Beach on a clear night.

In 2012, authorities used 600 tons of limestone boulders to build an 800-foot-long underwater snorkeling trail over two acres on the south side of the Blue Heron Bridge. Six to ten feet deep and marked off from boat traffic by buoys, it's enough to be adventurous yet not too intimidating. The underwater rock trail was built with little ledges and crannies in which sea critters love to hide. On a calm day, you might encounter squid, octopus, spotted rays, tarpon, starfish, and even cute lil' seahorses. Free parking, outdoor showers, picnic tables, and a lifeguard make this a near-perfect place to while away a beach day.

Warning: Do not try this at home. Now, with that out of the way... swimming with alligators is probably the biggest wildlife thrill out there. We know. Earlier this year, New Times went along with Hal Kreitman — AKA the Haligator — as the former chiropractor paddled around the water with a pack of hungry gators. This was Kreitman's thing, and he was offering to take people along with him for a fee, calling the adventures "wildlife photo shoots." It was intense, watching him park kisses on the noses of wild reptiles. The initial investment in this kind of thrill-seeking might be just the gas out to the 'Glades, but the cost comes down the line. If you try it, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will come after your ass. A few weeks after our story ran, Kreitman was busted by Fish and Wildlife agents and charged with a felony for playing with the gators. So swimming with alligators may be thrilling, but it's gonna cost you some lawyer's fees after the fact. Kreitman is fighting the charges against him.

Want to chase around some albino peacocks, feed a fish to a pelican, or adopt a disabled box turtle? If so, look no further than Flamingo Gardens — a wildlife preserve that exists to rehabilitate and support injured animals. This is the best place to see Florida wildlife up-close and personal and also to make a difference in preserving our great state's animal habitats. It has the largest collection of native Florida animals, 3,000 species of rare and exotic plants, and some of the largest trees in the state. Many of the birds and other wildlife have been hit by cars or are just too dependent on humans to be released. But some of them, like the otters Fast Eddie and Patches, are doing their part to repopulate their species. Since 1989, Flamingo Gardens has helped release dozens of otters into the wild through a breeding program. This is made possible by an $18 entry fee and by unique fundraisers like the adopt-a-flamingo program ($50 to sponsor one). Warning to new visitors: Even though they're not fluffy in that traditional way, these critters are addictive. You might whimper because you can't take Winnie — the disabled turtle who used to live in a Winnebago — home. You will, however, get the assurance that with such great care, the little critter won't be eaten by alligators.

Perhaps the only downside to living in sunny southeast Florida is that despite our miles and miles of beautiful coastlines, they all face east. While this makes for some awe-inspiring sunrise-watching, most of us are more lucid during the sun's big evening performance, exit stage west. That doesn't mean we're out of luck when it comes to viewing sunsets. It just means we have to find a way to put some of that ocean water west of us. (Hint: It's called a boat, people.) Solution: the Cast Away the Day Sunset Cruise aboard Spirit of Lauderdale, a 50-foot catamaran with 1,500 feet of deck space, a shaded bar and lounge, and plenty of cushy seating. After navigating the Intracoastal Waterway — and for once enjoying the schadenfreude of being on the boat that stops auto traffic on the drawbridge — you're out onto the Atlantic Ocean. Once the Spirit of Lauderdale is in optimum solar-event-viewing position, complimentary Champagne will be doled out to those of legal age. Warning: It might in this moment occur to you that you should buy a boat.

It's a summer afternoon. You peep out the window and see gray skies. Suddenly, the rain pours down in buckets, blasting away that beach-barbecue idea you had moments ago. Suck it up and spend the day on the couch, or liven things up and head to the perfect place for amusement and superb craft beers. This popular hangout has ever-changing new-release brews on tap to keep adventurous palates devoid of boredom. Aside from the award-winning hops and artisan selection, you can enjoy a game room featuring bocce ball and cornhole, plus board games and cushy couches. Sporting events are broadcast on the large TVs, giving sports lovers something to watch. The friendly bartenders here are a special breed and knowledgeable beyond belief about how your beer is made. Try striking up a conversation, and get schooled on the whole brewing process. Be sure to check out the yoga events and special tours of the brewery. Bottoms up!

Chances are that the best place to make new friends is not on your living room sofa, karaoke night when you're wasted, or Facebook. If you are brave enough to come out to a local dance club, then your odds are a lot higher. One, you are forced to interact with new people you've never met. Two, you're in a fun environment. Three, you're in a judge-free zone, because everyone is learning a new skill. Swing Out South Florida has an all-ages social swing dance every Monday from 7:30 to 11:15 p.m. The night starts with a beginner lesson at 7:30, followed by an intermediate lesson at 8:15, then a social dance from 8:45 till close. Your first visit is always free, and it's just $12 after that. With an average of 70 to 100 locals coming out every week (and visitors from all over the country), you're bound to get a new job through networking, meet your future mate, or make a new best friend. A few tips to increase your success: chew minty gum, wear deodorant, and smile!

swingoutsouthflorida.com

Cat ladies gone saintly! This all-volunteer animal-welfare group works to eliminate the cycle of overpopulation of the cat species. It identifies feral cat colonies, then traps, neuters, and releases the kitties back into their families — or gets the cats adopted. Every cat it takes in gets up-to-date shots and is tested and treated for diseases. The group also goes above and beyond what most ordinary shelters can pull off by keeping cats in foster homes rather than in cages while they are being cared for. Paws treats about 150 cats per year and has even been credited with eliminating entire cat colonies.

pawssouthflorida.org

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have virtually killed the taxi industry. Those big yellow things you see on the road are no different from wild tigers: Their numbers are dwindling, and soon they'll be a thing of the past, something we'll point to in history books, telling our children about. Those were the days — when we used to watch the meter rise from the back seat, we'll tell them as they Twitter away on their iPhone 98s. But there is one taxi in Fort Lauderdale that you can't order on your cell phone. It's big and yellow, but you won't find it on the road. The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi has been stewarding the masses through Fort Lauderdale's waterways for years, and there's no better way to get to know the Venice of America than on the water. Plus, it takes you to some of the best drinking spots in Lauderdale. It's like having a designated driver, except this DD won't guilt you into helping it move by reminding you about that time you threw up in the back seat.

watertaxi.com

If you took Las Olas Boulevard and added a tablespoon of wealth, a dash of Caucasian, and a handle of vodka and put the whole darned thing in a blender, you'd have Delray Beach's posh Atlantic Avenue. The tiny strip of road is the heartbeat of the burgeoning city. And there is perhaps no better place for people-watching. By day, you can sit back and watch the elderly shuffle around in Birkenstocks as they pop in and out of boutiques, credit cards in hand. And with the beach within earshot, you're bound to get a few shirtless, glistening bods waltzing by, ripe for ocular judging. By night, the young and drunk take control of the streets. Hundreds of brightly colored polo shirts weave in between intoxicated selfies. It's wonderful. Think The Walking Dead meets Ralph Lauren.

Hey, man. You wanna know a supercool place to smoke a bowl and, like, totally also, like, look at the stars and contemplate the multiverse? Oh, wait. What was I saying? Yeah. Get some of your finest chronic and head over to Markham Park. It's 40 bucks a night for a campground site with picnic tables and a barbecue grill and an open field where people fly remote-control planes. It's trippy as hell, bro. You might need to make a reservation during the high season... heh heh, high season!... but, it's totally worth it. Because there's nothing like getting baked and watching tiny planes fly around.

The 2014-15 NBA season was a dark, bleak experience for Heat fans. It began with the team losing LeBron to Cleveland and stretched into beloved Chris Bosh being sidelined for the season with blood clots in his lungs. Injuries, poor play, and downright crap luck were recurring themes for the four-consecutive Eastern Conference Champions. All seemed lost. The darkness was stark and endless. And then the Heat called up 25-year-old center Hassan Whiteside from the D-league squad to plug in a hole. And all Whiteside proceeded to do was become the Second Coming of Wilt Chamberlain. The seven-foot Whiteside has been obliterating opposing defenses since snatching up the starting-center gig with the Heat. His rebounding numbers reached double digits on a nightly basis, he has an unstoppable fadeaway, and he blocks shots so hard that they fly into outer space and leave dents on the moon. Whiteside has taken the NBA by storm as a colossal presence who has had everyone wondering where the hell he came from. NBA legend Bob Cousy declared that Whiteside is the one big man in 40 years to truly remind him of Bill Russell. And he has shown no signs that his phenomenal play is just an aberration. Whiteside is not only the real deal but he's the kind of center the Heat can build its franchise around. The Miami Heat's past season might have been bleak, but its future is quite bright, thanks to this dude and his shot-blocking, rebound-hoarding badassery.

Readers' Choice: Dwyane Wade

The Florida Panthers' season ended in heartbreak when the Cats fell painfully short of making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. It was particularly tough to watch, because this team is filled with young, likable, budding stars. But that's actually good news when you think about it. The Panthers, largely considered the bottom of the South Florida sports barrel, are so very close to being the talk of the town thanks to young, talented players on the brink of being hockey badasses. And one of those young studs is center Nick Bjugstad. The 19th overall pick of the 2010 draft had himself a whale of a season, leading the Panthers in goals with 24 and points with 43. At 22, Bjugstad is the prototype for future NHL stars. He's huge, standing at six-foot-six. He's quick. And he has amazing goal-scoring instincts. But Bjugstad also has some old-school in him. For most of the season, the dude played with an injured back. He's big, he's fast, and he plays with pain — that's everything you want in your starting center. And that is what the future of the Florida Panthers looks like.

Readers' Choice: Roberto Luongo

Ndamukong Suh has yet to play a single down for the Miami Dolphins, and yet, Ndamukong Suh is the best thing that's happened to the Miami Dolphins in a long while. When the Detroit Lions inexplicably announced that they wouldn't be re-signing Suh, there was little hope the Dolphins would be the team that would land the über-talented defensive tackle — mainly because the Dolphins are terrible at landing good players. But as the free-agency period unfolded, whispers began to swirl that Suh wanted to join the Fins. And it soon became apparent that the Dolphins weren't screwing around. They offered Suh the biggest contract ever for a defensive lineman — a six-year, $114 million contract with $60 million guaranteed — outbidding all other suitors and making sure they landed the hard-hitting, bone-crushing Suh. For the better part of nearly two decades, the Miami Dolphins have been a team that hasn't had a single player that's awesome at any one position. But now, with Ndamukong roaming the line, ready to devour opposing quarterbacks, the Dolphins finally have a game-changer in the form of a six-foot-four, 307-pound, quarterback-eating behemoth.

Readers' Choice: Ryan Tannehill

Giancarlo Stanton is the living embodiment of Thor's hammer. His bat is a bolt of lightning, filling the skies with flashes of blinding light with every swing, demolishing pitches and sending baseballs into the stratosphere like streaking balls of fire. The 25-year-old slugger is not only a star in the making and not only has the quickest, strongest bat in the big leagues but is the current face of the MLB, as voted by baseball fans across America. That's right, Marlins fans. Baseball's most popular star plays for your team. Stanton is the perfect baseball specimen: chiseled like a Greek god, square-jawed, handsome, nimble, quick, and more powerful than an F5 tornado. Stanton crushes pitches into the stands, often breaking the scoreboard in the process, making the Marlins a formidable opponent. The historically stingy Marlins knew this. So to make sure Stanton not only stuck around but played his prime years in a Miami uniform, the Fish gave him the biggest contract in Major League Baseball history. He also demanded the team add better players around him. Now, armed with the riches his talent deserves and backed by a team that is poised to make a run, Giancarlo Stanton is ready to confirm to the baseball-watching world that he is a force to be reckoned with. And he's ours. All ours.

Readers' Choice: Giancarlo Stanton

Thiago Alves grew up training and fighting in muay thai but has since mastered all things MMA during his successful stint in the UFC. In his last fight this past January, Alves defeated Jordan Mein, in the process earning himself the UFC Performance of the Night award. Alves is expected to be asked to face some stiff competition this year in the UFC, as his past few performances have garnered him much more contender-for-the-belt consideration. Alves relocated from Brazil to Coconut Creek to train full-time at the worldwide-respected American Top Team camp and since doing so has seen his game catapult to the next level in mixed martial arts. An impressive 2014 turns to a 2015 full of promise for Alves.

Soccer is becoming more and more popular in South Florida, and with an MLS team possibly on the way to Miami in the near future, the sport will only continue to grow — which means you need a go-to place to watch the games. Set beautifully just off the Deerfield Beach shore, Bru's provides the perfect atmosphere to watch the game with the entire family. While Bru's might not be the dedicated-to-the-diehard-soccer-fan bar some competitors boast of, its setting, location, and atmosphere make it a little spot of heaven where you can enjoy the game, then head into the ocean. With hundreds of TVs covering other sports too, you won't miss a minute of the games — no matter how many are on at the same time.