Launching near Larry and Penny Thompson Park, the nine-mile Black Creek Trail meanders southeast, offering a paved path away from busy roads. A tried-and-true Miami trail, Black Creek offers the observant trekker a variety of wildlife, helping cyclists and joggers to connect with nature and escape from the city bustle. Frequented by birds and punctuated by sunbathing iguanas, it cuts through Cutler Bay toward Homestead, parallel to a canal where you might spot an alligator or three wading about. Toward the end of the trail, keep an eye out for vultures circling above and the telltale stench of the South Dade Landfill. At the trail's eastern terminus at Black Point Park and Marina in Homestead, you might see manatees and crocodiles swimming along Biscayne Bay. Those in search of longer treks should note that the trail intersects with other notable Miami paths, including Old Cutler Trail and Biscayne Trail.

Though tennis was born as the "sport of kings," paupers are entitled to a place to work on their forehand. In a region littered with pay-to-play courts that require reservations, it's nice to know there are four free tennis courts at Polo Park where you can squeeze in some sets even if all you've got is a racquet and some balls. The well-maintained mid-Beach tennis facility operates on an egalitarian first come, first serve (see what we did there?) policy. If no one is waiting, play as long as you like. If a queue forms, singles players get an hour on the court while doubles players get an hour and a half. There are no lights here, so play is restricted to daylight hours. But with free courts and free parking, you'll be able to save up for lessons!

Drive past it on the way to North Beach and you may miss this off-the-beaten path park with three full basketball courts featuring perfect backboards to show off your Chef Curry skills. The park also has a lap pool for your starting five to cool off after a few pick-up games. If you can't find a spot in the lot for your car, there's plenty of street parking along the perimeter of the grounds. You can work on your crossover from dawn till dusk. Normandy Isle Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

As Miamians, we're spoiled when it comes to pools. But even the most diehard pool snob must raise their sunglasses and towel in salute to that jewel of Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool. Carved out nearly a century ago from of a local coral rock quarry and fed with spring water from an underground aquifer, the 820,000-gallon pool is a Miami treasure beyond compare. And thanks to those 820,000 gallons — not to mention a cave and a waterfall — the pool stays cooler than what most 305 natives are used to. The Venetian is open seven days a week in the summer months but closed on Mondays from Labor Day through May. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under. (Coral Gables residents get a handsome discount: only $6.25 for adults and $5.25 for kids.)

Roller skating has taken over the country like it's the 1970s all over again. This is especially true in Miami, with our swaying palm trees and blue skies — we have the perfect backdrop for a leisurely ride on small wheels. If skating outdoors is your thing, you'll find that the cool ocean breeze and optimal sunset views at South Pointe Park make for a great spot. Honorary mentions include Lummus Park, where you can people-watch as you skate, and Lot 11 Skate Park if you're more adventurous. But when it comes to the absolute best place to skate, Super Wheels Skating Center takes the cake. The indoor roller rink is a Miami landmark, having opened in 1987 under its previous name, Hot Wheels Skating Center. Not much has changed — the rink has kept its retro look alive. Think disco balls, colorful strobe lights, Memphis-design carpet, and glow-in-the-dark art on the walls. Super Wheels keeps it fun with themed nights and events, as well as guest DJs such as DJ Laz. If you're a sucker for nostalgia, you won't want to miss Adult Nights, held every Monday, when mostly '70s and '80s hits dominate. Even if you didn't grow up in Miami during that time, you'll be able to escape to a different era, one when skaters glided across the wooden floor to the likes of Debbie Deb, Afrika Bambaataa, and Michael Jackson.

It's easy to fall for the allure of South Beach, what with its art deco architecture, hard bodies, eccentric personalities, and 24/7 party atmosphere. Locals, however, tend to want to avoid that mess, opting instead to enjoy the sun and fun of the charming if scraggly northern Miami Beach enclave known as North Beach. (Did someone get lazy when coming up with neighborhood names for the Beach?) The slice of sand that seems to be the most popular is the strip that faces North Beach Oceanside Park, which is devoid of waterfront high-rises — a rarity in Miami Beach. The atmosphere is low-key, so if you're planning to bring a boombox and a cooler full of beer for you and 20 of your closest friends, just don't. After your dip in the Atlantic, grab a bite to eat in the neighborhood or in adjacent Surfside area and note that a good meal for less than $20 isn't too much to ask for. (Looking at you, South Beach.)

If it's a relaxing day on the water you seek, one during which you don't have to maneuver your vessel through throngs of fellow mariners and tour boats, Pelican Harbor Marina is the place for you. Nestled along the 79th Street Causeway betwixt the mainland and North Bay Island, Pelican Harbor avoids the cramped quarters of other Miami marinas closer to shore and provides uninterrupted views of the Biscayne Bay in all its splendor. Along with a 24-hour boat ramp, the marina offers kayak and paddleboard rentals by I Paddle Miami for beginners and pros, and its proximity to Pelican Island makes it an ideal launch point for anyone looking to have a fun outdoor adventure in Miami's crown jewel of a waterway. For landlubbers who prefer to stay on solid ground but savor that old salt atmosphere, Pelican Harbor hosts a food truck festival each Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Lovebirds looking for a quiet hideaway or families in search of an open place for a peaceful outdoor repast will find the perfect a perfect space to lay down the picnic blanket in the area adjacent to Miami Springs Golf & Country Club and the historic Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs. Parking is available at the mansion, along the golf course grounds, and on nearby Curtiss Parkway, free of charge. There's plenty of shade, and entertainment in the form of watching duffers search for their stray balls. A walking path on the perimeter of the course invites you to walk off your caloric picnic intake or enhance the romantic mood with a hand-in-hand stroll, as the case may be.

After a year stuck (mostly) inside, we've been eager to find new and vibrant places to go outside to stretch our legs — and so have our four-legged friends. For Miamians looking to spend an energetic day out with their doggos, there's no prettier place than at David Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove. With lots of open green space for on-leash walking and a fenced dog area with room to run, your faithful companion will love the park just as much as you will. The leashless area has fun obstacles and platforms for dogs to get a workout and show off their agility chops, and a seating area under a chickee hut means pet parents can get out from under the sun while their canines cavort. The park also has workout equipment for humans with an athletic inclination, and the A.C.'s Icees frozen-lemonade truck has a permanent spot in Kennedy's parking lot. (Just make sure to bring cash!) Hours: sunrise to sunset.

With the amount of change and new development in the ever-dynamic city that is Miami, there aren't a lot of touchstones that connect the city with its colonial past, but the Cape Florida Lighthouse acts as a beacon — both literally and figuratively — to illuminate Miami's roots. Located in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the lighthouse dates back to 1825, when sailors used its light to navigate around the Florida Reef off the coast of Key Biscayne. The original tower was burned down in 1836 by Seminole warriors during the Second Seminole War, but it was rebuilt in 1846 and is the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County. The lighthouse grounds provide a peek into the life of lighthouse keepers and their families, with a replica keeper's lodging and stone water well demonstrating that St. Augustine doesn't have the monopoly on old Florida colonialism. The lighthouse itself is a resplendent white tower with a black top that peeks out just above an arch of palm trees as you walk toward it from the park — a beautiful site for its historic value and its picture-perfect view. The tower is open from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday-Monday; the grounds are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday.