Best of March in South Florida March is a huge month for festivals, sporting events, weekend getaways and outdoor activities in South Florida. We worked from 64 to 1, and reader votes crowned a favorite.

SPORTS Spring Training: Batter up! Cities and towns across Florida play host to the big leagues as players and teams gear up for another season. Sony Open: The top players from the world of tennis hit the court in Miami for the closest thing to a Grand Slam this side of Wimbledon. Horse racing at Gulfstream Park: Place your bets at Gulfstream Park, which has been hosting horse racing in South Florida since 1939. UM and FAU spring practices: Football season is still months away, but the University of Miami Hurricanes and FAU Owls are already working hard on the field at spring practice. Miami Hurricanes baseball: Watch baseball's future stars hone their skills as part of one of college baseball's premier programs. Panthers games: As the temperature rises, cool off with the Florida Panthers as one of the NHL's most exciting young teams hits the ice at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. World Golf Classic Championship: Golf's very best return to Doral to battle the Blue Monster at one of four World Golf Classic events featuring the best golfers on Earth. Heat games: The two-time defending NBA champions are getting primed for another playoff run, and with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade leading the way, they could be on their way to another title. March Madness: It's that time of year again, so fill out your bracket and get ready for the madness of college basketball in the month of March. The Florida Derby: Want an early line on the Kentucky Derby? Head to Gulfstream Park's biggest race, where the winner is usually destined for the national stage. Watch polo: Wellington is ground zero for equestrian in America, so it's no surprise that some of the world's best polo action happens here. Miami Hurricanes basketball: The BankUnited Center is the place to catch the University of Miami basketball team as they do battle against the NCAA's best. Try your hand at curling: You've seen it on TV, but did you know you can try your hand at curling right here in South Florida? Most of the area's ice rinks offer classes and league play, so there's no excuse not to give it a try. Racing at Palm Beach International Raceway: If speed is your thing, the Palm Beach International Raceway is the place motorsports action throughout the month of March. Bike Week in Daytona Beach: Rev your engine, polish up that Harley and head up to Daytona Beach for the annual Bike Week, a week-long celebration of motorcycle culture. Firestone Grand Prix: Take a trip across Alligator Alley to St. Petersburg to catch IndyCar racing live at the Firestone Grand Prix.

ENTERTAINMENT Las Olas Art Fair: Browse sculptures, paintings and other works of art at this annual art festival that takes place along Fort Lauderdale's picturesque Las Olas Boulevard. Pride Fort Lauderdale: Show your pride at Fort Lauderdale's biggest annual celebration of the LGBT community, featuring live performers, music, food and more. Winter Party: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is behind Winter Party, a week-long slate of parties, social events and more in Miami Beach. Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden's Annual Orchid Festival: If you're into orchids, there's no better place to be than Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Festival. Explore rare species, buy your own orchids from a variety of vendors and do it all while surrounded by all the beauty of South Florida's foremost botanical garden. Sprung! Craft Beer Festival: Tie one on at the Sprung! Craft Beer Festival in Coconut Grove, featuring tastings and more from some of the world's top craft and small-batch breweries. Calle Ocho: South Florida's biggest and most famous celebration of Latin culture takes place every March in Miami and features live music, art and a whole lot of delicious Latin cuisine. St. Patrick's Day: Even if you're not Irish, you can pretend to be at downtown Fort Lauderdale's annual St. Patrick's Day party. Miami International Film Festival: The Miami International Film Festival brings artists from around the world together for a multicultural celebration of cinema. Past attendees have included Antonio Banderas, Demi Moore and Willem Dafoe. Palm Beach International Boat Show: Explore million-dollar yachts from the world's leading marine manufacturers at the annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, now in its 29th year. Ultra Music Festival: The world's best DJs and electronica acts descend on Miami each March for the Ultra Music Festival. Grab your glowsticks and head to Bayfront Park to catch the action. Festival of the Arts Boca: Experience the fine arts all week long in Boca Raton with concerts, dance performances, lectures and more. Dade County Youth Fair: There's nothing quite like the fair, and this is one of the best, with classic rides, games, exhibits and, of course, delicious fair food. Water taxi bar crawl: Bar-hopping around downtown Fort Lauderdale is nothing new, but why not add a twist by letting the city's famous water taxi carry you from one watering hole to the next? Hatsume Festival: Taiko drummers, tea ceremonies and martial arts demonstrations are all part of this annual Japanese festival that celebrates the first days of spring. Rapids Water Park: While most of the country is still thawing out, South Floridians are already cooling off by careening down water slides at Rapids Water Park. Renaissance Festival: If you're looking for an excuse to wear a corset or a suit of armor, the Renaissance Festival is event for you.

OUTDOORS Play on the beach: Now that the harsh South Florida winter is over, it's time to head back to the beach. Relax in the sun, play in the sand or strap on a snorkel and dive into the ocean. Climb a lighthouse: Have you ever been to the top of a lighthouse? If not, there's no better time than now to make your way to the top of the Hillsboro Lighthouse or the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Shark Valley: Hop on your bike and take a 15-mile journey through Shark Valley, one of the most scenic parts of Everglades National Park. Just remember, there are no shortcuts, so there's no turning back. Airboat Ride: You haven't experienced South Florida until you've zipped through the Everglades on an airboat, so if you haven't done that yet, do it now. Watch alligator wrestling: Alligator wrestling isn't exactly like the wrestling you see on TV. Instead of two grapplers engaging in a choreographed display, alligator wrestling involves one wrestler and one very hungry alligator, and the danger is very real. Zoo Miami: Sure, you could just stare at the animals at the zoo, but at Zoo Miami, you can get up close and personal with a variety of the world's most fascinating creatures. Lion Country Safari: Travel on a wildlife safari without ever leaving the comfort of your car at Lion Country Safari. The famous destination also recently added water slides, giving you more ways to enjoy your day. Watch a sunrise on the beach: Drag yourself out of bed a little earlier than usual and head to the beach, where you can catch a glorious sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. Snorkel and scuba dive: What's lurking beneath the surfae of the Atlantic Ocean? The best way to find out is to strap on some Scuba gear and dive in. If that's a little too much you, grab a snorkel and take a peak underwater. Turkey hunting: Spring turkey season begins in March, so grab your gear, gather up your friends and head out to bag a few of those feathered things. Fish for sailfish: The Jimmy Johnson National Billfish Championship is just one of the major sailfishing events taking place in South Florida in March. If you're not quite qualified for tournament fishing, you can always charter a boat and hit the high seas on your own. Fish for bass: Bass fishing is popular all the time, but March welcomes a King of the Glades qualifier to South Florida. Grab a buddy and enter the team tournament. Pick your own fruits and vegetables: While most of America is still thawing out, local fruits and vegetables are already in bloom in South Florida, and there are numerous places where you can harvest your own bounty. Paddleboarding: Combine surfing and kayaking and you've got paddleboarding, a popular new watersport that's becoming big in South Florida. Kayaking: There are so many spots to kayak in South Florida. Whether you want to bounce around the ocean waves or find a peaceful creek, there's no shortage of places to paddle. Flamingo Gardens: This botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary in Davie is a great place to learn about Florida's native flora and fauna firsthand.