Once upon a time, deer roamed these South Florida fields. In their honor, a nearby town was named Deerfield — the Beach was later appended to highlight the area’s immaculate ocean sands. Early residents of Deerfield Beach farmed pineapples, tomatoes, green beans, and squash. The town experienced much early 1900s growth along with the arrival of Henry Morrison Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad. Today’s Deerfield Beach is a full-blown city — primarily part of mainland Florida, with a desirable sliver across the Intracoastal on Deerfield Beach Island. Secluded Deerfield Island Park floats between the two, over 50 acres of natural space only accessible by boat. Per local legend, Al Capone intended to build a home on the remote isle but was arrested for tax evasion before plans could move forward. Across Deerfield Beach is Quiet Waters Park, a hub for activity boasting mountain bike trails, cable water-skiing, a waterpark, and much more.