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.

Home of the $1,000,000 Florida Derby and the six-race Sunshine Millions series, the Gulfstream Park's track has hosted live thoroughbred races since 1939. Steeds charge around corners on the main track or the turf course as onlookers track the race from the comfort of the stands, a luxury suite, or a cloud rented from overlooking deities. Beyond concession-stand offerings, the facility invites visitors to grab more substantial fare from one of its onsite restaurants. In addition to the Asian-inspired menu at Christine Lee's, diners can visit Ten Palms at Gulfstream Park and sample the contemporary American fare of celebrity chef Ralph Pagano, a former competitor on Iron Chef America and host of Pressure Cook on the National Geographic Channel.

Outside of the racing facility, Gulfstream Park includes a casino with more than 850 slot machines, electric table games, and high-stakes poker tables spread across two floors. At the nearby The Village at Gulfstream Park, visitors can wander through boutique fashion and home-decor stores, including Next and Williams-Sonoma, while searching for the park's fabled hide-and-seek world champion.

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.

Boca Raton Helicopters' stealthy cloud cutters whisk patrons around the atmospheric edges of Florida's scenic coastline. Each of the eight tours begins with an introductory spin around the sky, circling the new FAU stadium and the Boca shoreline. Other sight-seeing spots include Palm Beach's opulent real estate, Manalapan Island, and the Everglades to search for alligators playing frisbee golf. The savvy pilots also have experience working with aerial photographers and aspire to help patrons capture stunning footage or photos with a special harness that allows them to film or shoot with the chopper door open, as long as they promise to not let any flying monkeys in.