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John D. MacArthur Beach State Park Topeekeegee Yugnee Park

3300 N. Park Rd.

Hollywood 33021

954-985-1980 Lake Worth Municipal Beach and Fishing Pier

10 S. Ocean Blvd.

Lake Worth 33460

561-533-7367 Fort Lauderdale Beach

So what do you want from a picnic spot? A little quiet. A little solitude. A nice view. And, if you have kids, a playground nearby to keep them entertained while you soak up the best Mother Nature has to offer. If that's your criteria, you can't do better than John D. MacArthur State Park. The 336-acre idyll (161 acres are underwater) is the perfect place to peel off the stresses of work-a-day life. While some naturists have taken the park's allure literally, stripping off their bathing suits much to the dismay of park staff, this is no place for controversy. With towering pines, a nature center, a 1,600-foot boardwalk, playgrounds, and 1.8 miles of beach, the place allows visitors to do as much or as little as they like. And in this setting, less is truly more. Grab a picnic table. Grill a hotdog. Sit back. Enjoy.This place rocks if you're 7 years old or younger. It swings too. And it has one of those gizmos that kids hold with both hands as they slide across a rail while suspended eight feet in the air. There's also stuff from smaller, less-sophisticated playgrounds like slides, climbing bars, and bridges to walk over. Lots of 'em. There are even two sections to this monstrous facility, one for very little ones and one for big kids. Then there are the huge sun shades that keep it cool in the summer. And the facility, located in the center of TY's 150 acres, is close to dozens of other recreational activities like the water park at Castaway Island, boat rentals, tennis and basketball courts, picnic shelters, and a campground. The place's name means "meeting place" in the Seminole language; your kids are sure to meet others here. Thus, you can kick back and enjoy some peace -- a rarity on the parental front. On weekends, as many as 100 kids jam this place, so get there early. The park is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter. Admission is a buck a person. Kids under age 5, the real target audience for this sixth wonder of the juvenile world, are admitted free.

Memo to the Lake Worth City Commission: You have spent much of the past decade wringing your hands about what to do with the city's municipal beach. Stop it! Leave it alone. This throwback to the 1950s has everything any beachgoer could want. For those who are content to spend an afternoon soaking up the rays, there's 1,300-feet of uninterrupted white stuff. For those who begin to get bored shortly after the sunscreen kicks in, there are plenty of diversions, including a 962-foot fishing pier, surfing, volleyball, and even a pier-side restaurant where you can down a couple of cold ones while checking out the near-naked crowd. Like your water without salt? Venture across the street and do a couple of laps in the city's Olympic-sized swimming pool, then cool down by taking a stroll through a half-dozen kitschy shops. Improve it? How do you improve upon perfection?Two words: free parking.

Racheal Wood

is a Deerfield Beach stay-at-home mother who, at last year's Hawaiian Ironman World Triathlon Championship, won the title for 40- to 44-year-olds. She's a member of the Runner's Depot Elite Racing Team.

Q: Ever watch reality-TV shows?

A: Well, I've seen one that Ford sponsors. A sort of "no boundaries" show. It's kind of hard to remember. They actually go around the world with their teammates. Then they all pick a leader. Then the leader votes off one of the members.

Q: You sure? Sounds like a combination of Amazing Race and Survivor.

A: I can't remember the name. I think the interesting part was actually doing all those things -- mountain biking, running, working together as a team. The part I don't like is when they get rid of team members. The person they get rid of isn't always best. There's strategy. People being pitted against each other.

Q: You know sponsors, not shows.

A: I'm into getting sponsors. I know the gentleman from Ford who does the Mountain Bike Experience here. Toyota does a show too.

Q: Are there any others you've watched?

A: I've seen Fear Factor periodically. People will do just about anything for money. I wouldn't do half of that stuff. It's not healthy. Like eating maggots. My husband watches and says, "Mmm, protein." But things like that are really not good for you. Physically or mentally.

Q: Is it real?

A: I don't think so. It's all for show. It's all to get ratings. They're missing the point. Most of what they do is for money and publicity. It's a lot different to really work toward a goal, to achieve something you really want to achieve, to make yourself a better person.

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