The Current 2020

Oreintation 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 17 Lifestyle All around NSU are a plethora of parks to go and spend the day at. Whether you want to see wildlife, have a picnic or just unwind, Broward county’s parks have got you covered. If you want to see turtles Tree Tops Park 3900 SW 100th Ave Davie, FL 33328 Visiting Tree Tops Park, located on Nob Hill -- a short drive from NSU -- is a great way to spend the day. With more than 140 acres of ancient live oaks, tropical hammocks and wetlands, this park also has nature trails, playgrounds and an equestrian center. A great place to see some wildlife -- especially turtles -- Tree Tops Park also has picnic areas, seasonal paddle boating and even an observation tower that gives you a great view of the park’s greenery. Admission is free on weekdays and only $1.50 per person on weekends. If you want to fly a kite -- or a drone Vista View Park 4001 SW 142nd Ave Davie, FL 33330 What once was a garbage dump has now been transformed into a beautiful park surrounded with hills. Standing at 65 feet above sea level, Vista View Park’s hilltops are the highest man-made elevation in Broward county, giving you a perfect view of Davie. This park is also the perfect place for exercising and flying kites, drones or even model airplanes, which you can often find people doing during their visit. With over 270 acres of land to explore, you’re sure to have a great time. Like Tree Tops Park, admission is free on weekdays and only $1.50 per person on weekends, making it an affordable place to spend an afternoon and catch a great sunset atop the hills. If you want to have a picnic Topeekeegee Yugnee Park 3300 N Park Rd Hollywood, FL 33021 A bit further from NSU in Hollywood, FL is Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, the perfect place to have a picnic and spend an afternoon with friends and family. Named after the Seminole term for “meeting or gathering place,” this park is great for walkers, picnickers and even athletes. With a campground, two water playgrounds and a swim lagoon -- appropriately titled Castaway Island -- you just might needmore than one day to explore all this park has to offer. With free admission on weekdays and $1.50 admission per person on weekends, Topeekeegee Yugnee Park even has a large shaded playground, basketball and tennis courts, a fishing pier and a scenic lake water fountain. If you want some history with your nature Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center 3501 S.W. 130th Ave Davie, FL 33330 Across the street from Flamingo Gardens, with beautiful architecture and lots of wildlife, Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center is home to an exhibit hall that displays the Native American presence of the Tequesta and Seminole in the area. This park also has both nature and equestrian trails as well as picnic areas and daily free admission. If you want to see butterflies Secret Woods Nature Center 2701 W. State Rd. 84 Dania Beach, FL 33312 Located on Dania Beach, Secret Woods Nature Center has a butterfly conservatory and is the one of the best places to see butterflies in Broward county. While smaller than the parks previously mentioned, Secret Woods Nature Center puts an emphasis on nature with many nature trails, a nature exhibit hall and even a full schedule of nature-oriented programming. Given the park’s proximity to the water, you’re also bound to see crabs, iguanas and lots of birds on your visit. With free admission daily, it’s definitely worth the drive and visit as you get to spend a peaceful and serene afternoon near the water and experience what nature has to offer. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM F. SHABAN Shark Shuttle making its daily rounds at the UC round about NSU’s nearby parks: add some nature to your day Don’t be stranded on campus: transportation options for NSU students PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM F. MIRELES Views of the Canopy at Tree Tops Park in Davie, FL By: Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor By: Sofia Gallus Arts & Entertainment Editor Believe it or not, you don’t have to travel by horse in Davie. While living in a big city can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a vehicle of your own, it isn’t impossible to get around Davie and Fort Lauderdale. There are several options for students at NSU to explore the city they live in and become immersed in local culture. Public transportation There are public transportation options for students offered by the city. There is a free shuttle service that stops on campus called SFEC Tri-Rail Express, which runs Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The shuttle route encompasses several different stops, including a stop on College Avenue and the tri-rail station that provides transportation to the airport. The SFEC Tri-Rail Express is free to students, and while it often runs late and isn’t associated with NSU, it can be a useful resource for students, especially if they need to get to the airport. Other options for public transportation include transportation apps like Uber or Lyft. These rideshare apps are affordable ways to get around Davie and Fort Lauderdale. The easiest way to travel off campus is to call a rideshare to and from the Don Taft University Center as the rest of campus can be hard to traverse with all of the security gates. When you’re using a rideshare app, always make sure to be safe. Wait for the driver to say your name before getting in the car and let your friends know where you are going, when you leave and arrive. University transportation NSU offers free transportation to students through the NSU Shark Shuttle. The Shark Shuttle runs to different places around campus during the week for quick transport between buildings, and on the weekends the Shark Shuttle offers service to different places around Fort Lauderdale as well. The bus also runs to the nearby Publix and Walmart for students who want to pick up groceries and there’s a shuttle that runs to downtown Fort Lauderdale for students who would like to explore. The shuttle stops at the Museum of Science and Discovery, Galleria Mall, Beach Place A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. Whether you want to shop until you drop, check out some local art and eateries or simply enjoy a day on the beach, each of these places offers a great destination for students who wish to get off campus, relax and enjoy South Florida.