Things to Do in Wilton Manors

The late founder of Island Water Sports, Kirk Cottrell, first opened shop in a humble 500-square-foot space in Pompano Beach in 1978. His legacy continues to thrive more than 30 years later, as his son Cheyne commands a staff of amateur and professional surfers dedicated to spreading Kirk's passion for wave riding through lessons, board repairs, and sales of gear and accessories. Now situated in more than 7,000 square feet of space, the shop facilitates every aspect of the surfing and skating lifestyle. Group surf clinics and surf camps sharpen budding surfers' longboarding chops, and board repairs rid surfboards of dings.

The PADI-certified instructors at Dixie Divers lead small scuba certification classes and ferry experienced divers to local dive sites aboard their boat, the Lady Go Diver. The vessel also shepherds snorkelers to the historic wreckage of the SS Copenhagen and through the Nursery Reef where they can get acquainted with playful wildlife through a series of secret handshakes.

During certification classes that progress to the level of master diver, small groups endeavor through classroom, pool, and open water training, and advanced diver certification includes adventure dives and trips down as deep as 100 feet. Divers stock up on all things aquatic at Dixie's full-service dive shop, which offers everything from equipment rental and repair to gear sales for activities such as scuba diving, lobstering, jellyfish racing, kayaking, and spearfishing.

State-of-the-art facilities at Sapphire Stables host riding lessons, summer camps, and birthday parties, teaching riders of all abilities how to ride and care for horses. Situated next to Tradewinds Park, Sapphire Stables has access to miles of trails in addition to its 1-acre riding arena. Here, the stable's instructors cement bonds between rider and steed during lessons that teach how to groom, tack up, and ride a horse without training wheels. Pupils choose between the styles of English or Western riding techniques, but before doing so, they must demonstrate mastery of fundamentals including balance and control.

SeaRide Watersports' fleet of Sea-Doo jet boats helps both novice and experienced boaters traverse Fort Lauderdale's Intercoastal waters and bay areas. Designed for ease of use, the sleek vessels carry temporary captains over scenic waterways and toward beaches, where passengers can swim or protest the unjust land use of nearby sand castles.

SeaRide Watersports' staff rents their boats for full or half days, and can complement aquatic journeys with picnic baskets full of sandwiches and snacks. They also maintain an online safety guide that teaches how to understand marine navigation systems such as buoys and traffic signals given by whales.

Opening the Acts 2 Acres Equestrian Center was an ideal decision for Michelle Alvarez, who was eager to make use of both her teaching experience and her lifelong passion for owning and showing horses. Today, her center specializes in training young riders in beginner lessons, which journey through nearby Tradewinds Park's scenic trails and focus on fundamentals such as safety, care, horsemanship, and grooming.

Youth may enjoy mornings at Pony Club or entire days at equestrian camp playing games, filling their noggins with educational material, and riding horses. Acts 2 Acres Equestrian Center is approved by the Girl Scouts of Broward County, meaning that the facility's experienced instructors are accustomed to teaching girl scouts and receiving payment in the form of thin-mint cookies.