Fighting for space in the sand is about the last thing any beachgoer wants to do when they're trying to get away from the hustle and bustle. If you fancy a bit of serenity, Dr. Von D. Mizell–Eula Johnson State Park offers a surprising quantity of shoreside space to stretch out and explore compared to the crowds that throng other beaches in the Fort Lauderdale area. Open from 8 a.m. till sunset and asking a modest $6 for vehicle admission to its multiple parking lots, the park is equipped with covered pavilions, grills, and 2.5 miles of beach. At the heart of the park, near a mangrove-lined waterway, seek out the Whiskey Creek Hideout, which offers food, beverages, and kayak and paddle board rentals. Hiking trails weave throughout the area, and if you don't mind walking a bit, you might encounter an idyllic stretch of sand to enjoy all to yourself.

Pinpointing the pool that reigns supreme is no easy task in a town with almost as many of 'em as there are backyards. But no matter how you shuffle the deck, Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach comes up near the tippy top. Whether it be the funky painted concrete rubber duckie, bites from chef José Andrés and sushi master Katsuya Uechi, or big-time DJs who burn up the turntables till the morning on weekends, this a pool and pool deck that never underdelivers. Other pools can get a bit cramped and start to feel like a weird, warm bath, but with 8,000-plus square feet of indoor/outdoor space to wiggle in, Hyde Beach is a claustrophobe's dream. Be it a leisurely lap in the middle of a stay or live sets by Sofi Tukker and DJ Ruckus, you're guaranteed a memorable dip.

It's easy to overlook a tiny shop inside a hotel as grand and glamorous as the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Surfside. But don't be fooled. Haremlique à la Mer boutique offers an array of items, from caftans to candles to Selamlique Istanbul sweets to bikinis to jewelry. Most of the luxury beachwear for sale is custom-produced in Turkey and printed in geometric patterns and unique fabrics that will stop the jet set in their tracks.

In a town that has a predilection for the newest, sleekest, and most modern, Vizcaya Gardens is a nod to the past and a throwback to classical beauty. The gardens feature Italian and French Renaissance elements lined with walkways and ponds that make you feel as though you're strolling through a 400-year-old villa in Tuscany rather than a property near the heart of Miami. Designed more than 100 years ago by Diego Suarez for James Deering (heir to an agricultural equipment fortune), the gardens remain a serene spot to spend an afternoon on the edge of Biscayne Bay. Overlooking the gardens is Deering's historic mansion, which boasts one of the most impressive local collections of antique Italian furniture. Tickets for the mansion and gardens run $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12 (free for the youngest ones). The gate is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Tuesday.

In a town where summer never really ends, there's a place where it's always winter. It's not a cryptic fortune cookie or meteorological riddle, but the southernmost ice rink in the continental United States. The Kendall Ice Arena offers public skating hours, hockey and figure skating programs, expert sharpening and blade-mounting services, skating lessons, a vintage arcade, a concession stand, and a Colombian restaurant overlooking the ice. More than anything, it offers locals one of the only legitimate reasons to leave home with their mittens.

True cue masters know the Billiard Club has been racking up an unspoken reputation as the go-to spot for some eight-ball and nine-ball action since its grand opening in the early 2000s. At $12 an hour Sunday through Thursday and $15 an hour on Friday and Saturday, prices remain fixed since the early 2000s. Located in Royal Oaks Plaza just south of the big bend in the Palmetto Expressway, this Miami Lakes pool joint is not subject to Florida's indoor smoking ban, so the stale miasma of Marlboro Reds and Cohiba cigars sticks to you like blue chalk on a cue the moment you walk in — as it should be at any reputable pool joint. There are plenty of tables, so there's little to zero wait time. Sleepless boozehounds should note that this is one of the few late-night spots in northwest Miami-Dade. Depending on your budget and taste, you can enjoy top-shelf or bottom-of-the-barrel liquor and beer.

The appeal of the oceanfront stretch known as North Beach Oceanside Park is its location. It's far enough from the touristy throngs of South Beach and the teeny thongs of the nude beach at Haulover. Unlike Crandon Park, you don't have to schlep across Biscayne Bay or succumb to a $3 toll. There's typically ample street parking, pavilions to rent for parties, playgrounds for the kids, shaded areas with picnic tables, and, of course, that big, beautiful expanse where the sand meets the Atlantic surf.

It was a sad day in 2008 when the Orange Bowl, the stadium that hosted University of Miami Hurricanes football since 1937, was demolished. But the legacy of those hallowed grounds couldn't be wiped away with a wrecking ball. Just three years later, in honor of the Orange Bowl's 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee celebrated the debut of the $5.7 million Orange Bowl Field at Moore Park, which happened to be the Allapattah grounds where the 'Canes sometimes played during the decade before the Orange Bowl was built. Thanks to the investment, Moore Park now boasts some of the best athletic facilities in the city, including 11 tennis courts, two basketball courts, a baseball field, and a running track on the football field's perimeter. It's equipped with track and field gear, outdoor gym furniture, workout courses, a playground, an indoor recreation center, and barbecue grills. It's a great place to post up and watch athletes train — and if you're lucky, the morning custodian might even suggest a few workout plans, free of charge.

Braving I-95 is no small feat, but what wouldn't man do for his best friend? Just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Bark Park at Snyder Park offers fresh air, a clean lake for swimming, and a fenced-in area where Fido can mingle with other members of his species. There's even an obstacle course for the agility-minded pooch.

Take us out to the basketball game! Scientists haven't been able to pinpoint precisely why Miami's single men exhibit such a strong tendency to spend their disposable income on Miami Heat jerseys, Miami Heat tickets, and booze at Miami Heat games when there are other sports in town, but that's neither here nor there. For the best odds on a meet-cute, stake out the concession stands that serve local craft beers outside Sections 110, 114, and 123. Choose your mark, compliment the player he's repping on the back of his shirsey, and you're off and running. The rest is up to you.