Turtle Run - Coral Springs, FL

Formerly the site of the South's largest bean field, Coral Springs was incorporated in 1963 and originally developed by Coral Ridge Properties when the company began running out of residential land in Fort Lauderdale. Early real estate investors in Coral Springs included late-night legend Johnny Carson.

Residential growth continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, at which point businesses began to set up shop in the area to accommodate the needs of the increasing population.

Ground first broke on the Turtle Run neighborhood in the 1980s, and the area has since grown to house a diverse mix of residents, while staving off overcrowded conditions and maintaining plenty of green space.

At the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, residents catch anything from local productions to Broadway shows. The Coral Springs Museum of art features numerous programs and exhibitions. Annual events include the Coral Springs Festival of the Arts and Crafts.

Despite covering a small land area, Turtle Run contains shopping areas located in the neighborhood's northeast and southeast corners, and each features multiple dining options. Most of the restaurants in Turtle Run are part of large chains, but the neighborhood houses at least one local haunt as well as a few smaller chains.

A longtime Turtle Run staple, JC's Wok serves authentic Chinese food in a comfortable setting that is suitable for either a casual meal after the gym or a business lunch. The crab rangoon ranks highly among regulars as a menu item of choice, while the family meal consisting of a large chicken, spring rolls, crab rangoon, rice and soup rates as an excellent value. JC's Wok also receives high marks for its noodles, much to the pleasure of diners who enjoy a good beef or chicken lo mein.

Directly across State Route 7 from Turtle Run sits Sorrisi. Small but cozy, and perfect for date night, this little gem of a pasta house captures diners from the minute they walk in with inviting scents and rustic decor, and then keeps them coming back with delectable entrees and an impressive wine selection. Locals love the Chilean bass and the swordfish seared in balsamic brown butter. Oenophiles have a broad selection of whites, reds, champagnes and dessert wines from which to choose. If any room is left after devouring one of the filling entrees, the creme brulee from the dessert menu is a popular choice.

Also nearby, 160 Degrees The Muffuletta not only grills the most popular hamburgers around, the little burger house also cooks up a fine selection of Cuban cuisine. Loved by vegetarians as well because of the locally renowned veggie burger on a poppy seed bun, 160 Degrees The Muffuletta is the place to go for a casual meal that doesn't break the bank.

Turtle Run features limited nightlife options, although the Turtle Crossing shopping center is home to the popular sports bar and grill Buffalo Wild Wings. Lima 51 Ceviche Bar sits just west of the neighborhood, and locals call it a hidden gem. A little further away lies the city of Fort Lauderdale, which is known for its active nightlife districts such as Las Olas and Beach Place.

Turtle Run features limited nightlife options, although the Turtle Crossing shopping center is home to the popular sports bar and grill Buffalo Wild Wings. Lima 51 Ceviche Bar sits just west of the neighborhood, and locals call it a hidden gem. A little further away lies the city of Fort Lauderdale, which is known for its active nightlife districts such as Las Olas and Beach Place.

Turtle Run has very pedestrian-friendly residential streets. They do not feature bike lanes, but they are wide and have low speed limits and well-kept sidewalks. When traveling to destinations outside the neighborhood, most residents use automobiles as their primary method of transportation. Coral Springs provides abundant free parking and easy access to several major highways.

While you cannot hail a cab in Turtle Run, numerous taxi companies are available for pick ups if you call in advance. Uber also maintains a presence in Turtle Run, Coral Springs and much of South Florida.

If you prefer to take public transportation, the community bus in Coral Springs stops just west of Turtle Run, and a bus ticket costs only 50 cents. Otherwise, directly east in Pompano Beach is the closest Tri-Rail station, which provides access to Miami to the south and West Palm Beach to the north.

Turtle Run doesn't have any parks with exercise facilities, but it serves as home to Turtle Run Park, which offers a baseball field and plenty of green space for picnicking, playing pick-up sports, or throwing Frisbees with kids or dogs. Parking and admission are free.

Across the street is the larger Fern Glen Park, also with baseball fields and green space, but featuring pavilions that can be rented by the day for parties or events. Otherwise, this park also provides free parking and admission.

Neither park hosts annual events or festivals, but numerous local groups and businesses, such as the United Martial Arts Center, hold activities at both places, many of which are open for the public to enjoy.

The cost of living in Turtle Run is higher than the South Florida average. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $1,161 per month, and a beer at a local pub typically costs about $3. Gas prices in the area are about 4 percent higher than the national average.

The neighborhood of Turtle Run contains a Walmart, Target and Lowe's, and the Coral Square Mall is located only a few miles away. At Coral Square, shoppers can find big-box retailers and high-end stores. Several boutiques and specialty stores also operate in the vicinity of Turtle Run.

InSeason, directly across Sample Road from Turtle Run, features trendy clothing, jewelry and accessories. A small boutique staffed by fashion experts focused on giving personal attention to every customer, InSeason fills a much-needed niche for shoppers who are tired of the big-box experience.

Bargain hunters love to shop at Stylewear 4Less, also just south of Turtle Run. Carrying everything from dress shirts to athletic wear at a fraction of department-store prices, this small apparel shop makes shopping for clothes less of a hassle and an expense than going to the mall.

Turtle Run residents have access to a Publix, an Aldi and a Walmart Supercenter for large grocery trips, although many residents prefer the Penn Dutch on State Route 7 for the quality meat cuts and daily email specials. Coral Springs has a farmers market, the Coral Springs Mega Green Market, that operates year-round on Saturdays.