Things to do in Davie Florida go well beyond what most South Florida suburbs offer. This is Cowboy Town — a place where you can watch professional bull riding on a Saturday, walk horse trails through a nature preserve on Sunday, and be at the beach in 25 minutes either way. For families researching whether Davie is the right place to plant roots, what you do here every weekend tells you more than any spreadsheet of zip code statistics.
I grew up in Davie. I left for 13 years working across the Miami market and came back in 2025. What brought me back was not just the real estate opportunity. It was the lifestyle that I could not replicate anywhere else in Broward County.
Here is what actually fills a week in Davie.
The Outdoor Life
Tree Tops Park
Tree Tops Park sits on 243 acres of pine flatwoods and cypress sloughs in the heart of Davie. Broward County manages the park at 3900 SW 100th Ave, and it functions as one of the last significant natural areas left in western Broward. There are canoe and kayak rentals, nature trails, fishing, picnic areas, and an observation tower that gives you a perspective on how much green space Davie has preserved against the development pressure every other South Florida suburb has surrendered to.
This park is the reason Davie families stay. Their kids grow up knowing what Florida actually looks like before the concrete arrived.
Vista View Park
Vista View Park is the highest natural point in Broward County. The hill at 4001 SW 142nd Ave gives families a place to fly kites, run dogs off-leash in the designated area, and hold birthday parties with actual elevation. You will see the same families there every weekend for 10 years.
Quiet Waters Park and Markham Park
Broward County’s regional parks are within 15 minutes of most Davie neighborhoods. Quiet Waters Park has a cable water ski system, a small beach, and camping, which makes it a weekend destination families use year-round. Markham Park to the northwest has a model airplane field, a shooting range, and trails. Annual passes pay for themselves in one month.
Horse Trails and the Equestrian Culture
Davie is one of the last equestrian communities in South Florida where you can legally keep horses on residential property. The zoning is protected and the community is serious about it. Griffis Road, Ranch Road, and parts of the western Davie grid still have working horse properties, and the trail system connects to regional paths that extend toward the Everglades periphery. If you own horses or want your kids around horses without driving to a distant stable, Davie is one of the very few places in Broward where that is a realistic weekday life.
Things to Do in Davie Florida: The Rodeo and Live Events
Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds at 4271 Davie Road Extension is the center of Cowboy Town culture and the reason Davie has an identity that no other South Florida suburb can replicate. The facility hosts professional rodeo events, bull riding competitions, barrel racing, and the annual Davie Pro Rodeo. If you are moving from a northern state and picturing Florida as beaches and nightlife, the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds is going to be a surprise. It is a serious venue that draws professional competitors and genuine livestock culture. The crowd on rodeo nights is multigenerational and entirely local.
Local Events Calendar
The Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce runs a community events calendar that covers everything from business networking nights to holiday festivals. The western Broward corridor has a genuine small-town event culture that does not require driving to Fort Lauderdale. Food truck nights, art walks, and local concerts fill weekend evenings through the spring and fall.
Education and Intellectual Life
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University sits directly inside Davie and is one of the largest private universities in the country. The campus at 3300 South University Drive hosts public lectures, performances, athletic events, and community programs that most Davie residents do not fully explore. The Performing Arts Center brings touring productions that range from Broadway road shows to classical music. The university brings academic and professional diversity to the local population and gives Davie a university-town character that the surrounding suburbs do not have.
Food and Neighborhood Life
Davie does not have a single downtown strip the way Brickell or Las Olas does. The community is spread across a large geographic footprint, and the food and retail culture reflects that: good local restaurants scattered across the grid rather than concentrated in one walkable zone. University Drive is the main commercial corridor with a range of independent restaurants and local chains between Griffin Road and the Nova campus.
For families moving from cities with a strong restaurant culture, the expectation adjustment is real. Davie is not a food destination. It is a place where the quality of life happens outside restaurants — on trails, at parks, in a backyard with a pool, and on a Saturday at the rodeo. That is the trade and most residents consider it a good one.
The Beach Question
Davie is 25 to 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Beach and 20 minutes from Dania Beach, depending on your specific neighborhood. Griffith Road to I-595 east is the fastest corridor. Dania Beach Pier and John U. Lloyd State Park are the closest options and considerably less crowded than the Fort Lauderdale tourist strip. Living in Davie means the beach is a planned trip rather than a daily walk — and most families who make that trade find it worthwhile within three months.
Things to Do in Davie Florida for Families with Children
The combination of outdoor space, top-rated public schools, and a safety record that consistently outperforms Broward County averages makes Davie one of the strongest family relocation markets in South Florida. Fox Trail Elementary, Silver Ridge Elementary, and Western High School anchor the public school options for most of western Davie. Families researching the move in detail can review the full school zone breakdown in the best schools in Davie Florida guide.
Children growing up in Davie have access to team sports through Broward County parks leagues, equestrian programs, and NSU athletic events at a price point that does not require a private club membership. That combination is rare in South Florida and it is the reason Davie keeps its families long after their kids are old enough to have chosen somewhere else.
What Buyers Are Really Asking
When a family researching a move to Davie asks what there is to do here, they are almost always asking a different question. They are asking whether Davie is the kind of place where a life would feel full without requiring a lot of money or a lot of driving. The answer is yes. It is not the most exciting zip code in South Florida. It is one of the most livable ones.
For a full breakdown of what the market looks like right now and what your budget actually buys here, read the Is Davie Florida a Good Place to Live guide and the $600K buyer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Davie Florida known for?
Davie is known as Cowboy Town — one of the last equestrian communities in South Florida with legal horse properties, an active rodeo grounds, and a preserved rural identity inside a major metro area. It is also home to Nova Southeastern University, major county parks, and school zones that consistently rank among the top in Broward County.
Is Davie Florida a good place to live for families?
Yes. Davie consistently ranks as one of the strongest family relocation markets in Broward County because of its school zones, outdoor space, equestrian culture, and safety record. The crime rate runs below the Florida state average and the public school system includes several top-rated programs.
How far is Davie from the beach?
Most Davie neighborhoods are 20 to 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Beach and 20 minutes from Dania Beach. Dania Beach is the closest and least crowded option. The beach is a planned outing rather than a daily walk for most Davie residents.
Are there parks in Davie Florida?
Yes. Tree Tops Park (243 acres), Vista View Park, and several Broward County regional parks serve the Davie area. Tree Tops Park offers canoe rentals, nature trails, fishing, and picnic areas. Broward County annual passes provide affordable access to the full park system year-round.
What is the equestrian culture like in Davie Florida?
Davie maintains one of the last active equestrian zoning codes in Broward County. Residential horse keeping is legal on qualifying lots and the community has preserved horse trails, a working rodeo grounds at Bergeron, and an active ranching tradition in the western portions of town. Professional rodeo events run seasonally at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds.
Does Davie have good restaurants?
Davie does not have a concentrated downtown dining district. University Drive is the main commercial corridor with independent restaurants and local chains throughout. The local food culture rewards exploration rather than a single destination.
Talk to a Davie Real Estate Expert
If Davie is on your shortlist, the best next step is a direct conversation about what your budget actually buys here and which neighborhoods fit your lifestyle. Anthony is a Davie native and licensed agent with EXP Realty who can walk you through the market without a sales pitch.
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