Out of
town visitors… Where do you take them? This question can be frustrating.
Sometimes confusing. Yet unavoidable. Because we all want to be
a good host.
Hello!
I'm Tour Guide Owl. I'm here to help you find fun and interesting
things to do in Miami, Florida.
You may have read
some harsh comments about our City.
We had the
burlesque show cancel, not to mention,
the Colorado congressman who called Miami a 'Third World country'.
Well, I'm here to tell you otherwise - Miami isabeautiful place with lots to offer.
So here is my how to be a great host guide, with 101 best
attractions for having an awesome time! Think of it as
a useful resource to find information about what there is to do.
(By the way, when I say "best", that's just one owl's opinion. The
world is filled with others who are knowledgeable about the area.)
What's cool about this list - if you think I missed something -
you can
add your favorites!
You don't have to be an owl; dogs, cats, fish, visitors, locals,
aliens...everybody's welcome! You could be in Cuba, Colorado, or
Katmandu, We don't give a hoot.
The purpose of this article is to create a growing list of
the best local attractions. Our goal is to reach
10,001 tips. When we do, we'll get together and have a big party,
but more on that later.
Share your favorite places
I know this is an article about Miami attractions, but on a larger
scale it's about sharing and connecting with people.
There are 3 reasons why you need to make sharing your number one
priority for the forthcoming year:
Sharing feels good. The
more we share information from our own life, and our own personal
experiences, the more others around us can progress.
Sharing creates a circulation
of knowledge. Learning from the sum of all experiences
makes progress faster, and leads to better decisions.
Sharing benefits us all.
Withholding information is nothing else but the manifestation of
selfishness, greed and stinginess - traits often found with pigeons.
(I dislike pigeons. I don't trust their stingy little faces.)
So here we go! These are some things I'd share with you if I was
your personal tour guide planning your trip.
A word of warning: don't be daunted by this list
– if you did everything on it, you'd probably fall over from having
too much fun. In reality, just 1 of these 101 things could be what's
needed to turn an ordinary visit into a great one.
To make it easy, I broke it up into four categories: Recreation,
Attractions, Parks, and Local Businesses. I decided to
only talk about attractions that are within a 1-hour drive from
Miami.
Let's get started!
Recreation above and below
the water
Rent a Boat -- To
really experience South Florida, you must get out on the water.
Thankfully, there are some rental companies that offer bareboat
charters:
Tropical Boat
rents power boats in Bayside; Phone (786) 218-3030.
Fast Track
rents power boats in Miami Beach and Bayside; Phone (305) 223-3488.
See Manatees in the Wild
-- You are most likely to see wild manatees from the shore and along
the harbors, canals, and intracoastal. One good place is in Coral
Gables at the intersection of Old Cutler, Sunset, and Douglas Road.
Other good locations are: Black Point Marina, Oleta Park, and Dante
Fascell Visitor Center.
To see manatees in captivity, Miami Seaquarium visitors can view
manatees in the Celebrity Pool, which has both above and underwater
viewing.
Experience Backcounty Flats Fishing
-- Serious anglers should not miss the chance to go fly fishing
and light tackle fishing in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. If
you're busy during the day, try night tarpon fishing at
secret spots in Downtown Miami.
Charter a Deep Sea FishingTrip -- There are 4 marinas in Miami where you
can find a private fishing charter: Crandon Park, Haulover Park,
Bayside Marketplace, and Miami Beach Marina. Deep sea fishing charters
cost $500 to $600 for a half day, and they provide everything you
need to fish. Got that? Flats and deep sea fishing requires a captain
with a boat, so you need toget
a charter to take you.
If you're on a budget, you might be better off paying around $30
for passage on a larger drift fishing party boat like
Reward;
Phone (305) 372-9470, or Sea Legs; Phone (954) 923-2109.
Scuba Dive Artificial Reefs
-- There are 10 artificial reefs offshore, with
5 lying between Miami-Dade and Broward county and another 5 between
Key Biscayne and Monroe County. Some of the best scuba diving is
in less than 100 feet of water and only 2 miles east of Sunny Isles,
Miami Beach, and the Key Biscayne shoreline. Contact
South Beach Divers for information;
Phone (305) 531-6110.
Take a Snorkel Trip --
Eco-Adventure tours
are a great way to explore Miami's parks and wildlife preserves.
These narrated tours combine kayaking and
snorkeling in the warm waters of Biscayne Bay.
Tours are conducted in North Miami at Pelican Harbor Marina and
Crandon Park’s Bear Cut Marine Preserve; Phone (305) 365-3018.
Rent a Wave Runner --
You can find wave runners for rent at Miami Beach Marina with
American
Water Sports; Phone (305) 538-7549,
or take a
Jet Ski Tour
of Miami where you visit six nearby islands; Phone (305) 345-5770.
Rentals are also available right on the beach behind some of the
fancier hotels.
Take a Windsurf Lesson
-- Key Biscayne is recognized as one of the nation's best areas
to learn windsurfing -- the water is warm, the winds are swift,
and it's shallow -- only a few feet deep.
Sailboards Miami promises to teach
you how to windsurf in 2 hours; Phone (305) 361-7245.
Miami
Kiteboarding offers kitesurfing
rentals and lessons at Crandon Park; Phone (305) 345-9974.
Rent a Kayak -- Miami
offers many places where you can have a back-to-nature kayak adventure:
Inside Oleta State Park,
Blue Moon
rents kayaks by the hour. Phone (305) 957-3040.
South Beach Kayak has rentals and
self guided tours where you can paddle around Key Biscayne,
Star Island, Hibiscus Island, and Monument Island; Phone (305)
332-2853.
Activities on land and in
the air
Pamper Yourself -- Miami
is a great place to relax a stressed-out body and mind. While you're
here, treat yourself to a day spa, or massage.
Spa at Mandarin Oriental
is an award-winning sanctuary with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking
the bay. The cost for a Deep Tissue Body Massage is $230; Phone
(305) 913 8332. If you're on a budget,
Educating
Hands massage school offers student
clinic massages on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The 50-minute massage
is $30; Phone (305) 285-6991.
Walk down the Boardwalk
-- Take a stroll down Miami Beach's four mile boardwalk. The boardwalk
runs from 5th to 46th Street. The paved and wooded walkway winds
down Ocean Drive and behind the
oceanfront hotels,
providing views of the hotel pools on one side and the Atlantic
Ocean on the other. You can also find boardwalks near the beach
in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.
Rent a Scooter -- Renting
a scooter is a popular activity for visitors to do while they're
in South Beach. Note: All riders must be at least 18. A drivers
license and credit card card ($300 deposit) is required. Below is
a list of rental companies all located within they same vicinity;
give them a call and mention you found them on MiamiBeach411.com:
Go Off-Road Mountain Biking
-- Oleta State Park has over six miles of singletrack trails
that have been developed exclusively for mountain bikes.
Blue
Moon rents bicycles by the hour;
Phone (305) 957-3040. In Broward county, just west of Interstate
595, Markham State Park also has mountain biking trails.
I've been told, the trails at Markham Park are better than
Oleata.
MIA Skateboard Park --
Miami's only indoor and outdoor skateboard park has a half-pipe,
funbox and ledges outside. Inside is a mini ramp, quarter pipes
and a big vert ramp. MIA
Skatepark is located at
1850 NW 84th Ave., Doral; Phone (305) 599-2172.
Have a Paintball Party
-- This paintball facility has two outdoor fields under a canopy
of pine trees. The forest-like fields give players an adrenalin
rush as they move from bunker to bunker through the thick brush.
Ruff N Tuff
is located at 13200 NW 43 Ave., Miami; Phone (305) 953-7776.
Indoor and Outdoor Shooting Ranges
-- You can shoot a gun at
Ace's indoor shooting range
in Doral. Full automatic firearm rentals are available;
Phone (305) 717-3277. Trail Glades Range, has outdoor shooting;
facilities include: Pistol (25 & 50 yds), Outdoor Rifle (100 yds),
Trap, Skeet, and Clays; Phone (305) 226-1823.
Skydiving Over the Everglades
-- Located at Homestead Airport,
Skydiving
Miami has the closest dropzone
to Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. They offer solo skydives and
tandem parachute jumps where the instructor remains attached to
the student during free fall. Skydivers accelerate to a speed of
120 mph, and open the shoot at 6,000 feet. Jumps last about 4 minutes.
Phone (305) 759-3483.
Take a Helicopter Tour
-- See amazing views of Miami's most exclusive locations.
Helicopter tours
depart from heliports at Tamiami Airport and Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Ultralight Adventures
is a Miami-based tour company and flight school providing ultralight
tours and training. Tours start at $70; Phone (305) 361-3909.
Try Parasailing at the Beach
-- Parasail up 800 feet over the ocean. Take off and land from a
specially designed parasail boat flight deck.
Miami Beach Parasail
is located right in South Beach; Phone (305) 266-4144.
X-treme Indoor Rock Climbing
-- With over 14,000 square feet of climbing space, the
X-treme indoor
climbing center has special obstacles that make it one of the top
climbing gyms in the country; Phone (305) 233-6623.
Watch an IMAX Movie --
The 300-seat IMAX Theater is located inside the
Museum of Science
in Fort Lauderdale; (Map);
Phone (954) 463-4629.
Take a Sightseeing Tour
--A great way to explore Miami is by
taking a narrated sightseeing tour of the City:
Everglades Airboat Rides
-- It's easy to visit the Florida Everglades; they're just 35
miles west of Miami.
Art
Deco Tour -- Learn about South
Beach hotels and other structures with a visit to a number of
interiors.
Miami City Tours
-- Experience all of Miami on these narrated tours. See Bayside,
Little Havana, Coconut Grove, South Beach - and a Biscayne Bay
boat tour.
Duck Tour
-- Miami's only land and sea tour. Your amphibious vehicle will
tour South Beach landmarks, then roll into the water for a Biscayne
Bay cruise.
Take a Boat Cruise
-- Island Queen offers a 90 minute narrated cruise
along Biscayne Bay. You will see the downtown Miami skyline,
the Port of Miami, Fisher Island and Millionaires' Row.
Eco-Adventure Tours
-- Miami-Dade County offers many different ways to see Miami
by canoe. Paddle through canals on the Coral Gables waterway.
Experience a nighttime canoe trip around the Deering Estate.
Watch the sun set over Black Point or Crandon Park.
Miami Cultural Tours
-- Discover the history and culture of Little Havana, Allapatah,
Little Haiti, Downtown Miami, Jewish Heritage, Liberty City,
Coconut Grove, and Miami Beach Art Deco Disctict.
Dr. Paul George is
a history teacher and a historian at the Historical Museum of
South Florida. He also leads guided tours of Little Havana,
Brickell, and Key Biscayne, on themes such as cemeteries and
the Miami River. The cost is $17 to $37. Phone (305) 375-1621.
Take a Jungle Queen Riverboat
Cruise -- The 550 passenger river boat offers narrated
tours up the New River where you can see Fort Lauderdale's famous
waterfront homes, and a stop off at the Jungle Queen Indian Village.
At 7pm
Jungle Queen
leaves the Bahia Mar Docks for a sunset cruise to their private
island, for an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner; Phone (954) 462-5596.
Take a Bahamas Day Cruise
--
Discovery cruise ship
offers daily cruises to Grand Bahama Island. One-way Bahamas trips
start at $39. Cruises depart daily from the Port in Fort Lauderdale
at 7:45am, and return at 10pm.
Hop on the Fort Lauderdale Water
Taxi -- Broward County Transit provides water taxi service
along the Intracoastal, connecting beach attractions and hotels
with downtown Fort Lauderdale. Service is offered from 10:30am to
11:30pm. An All Day Pass is $11. On Tuesdays, the Water Taxi offers
$19 round trip service to South Beach; (Map
and Schedule); Phone (954) 467-6677.
Picnic on the Beach --
There are over a dozen
great beaches in Miami
many with picnic areas, barbecue grills, and play areas for kids.
Some noteworthy beach parks include: Sunny Isles Beach, South Pointe
Park, Haulover Beach, Matheson Park, and Crandon Park.
Drink a Cuban Coffee
-- Don't leave Miami without sampling a Cuban-style coffee. It starts
with strong, sweet espresso. Add a little steamed milk for a
cortadito, and a lot of milk for a café con leche.
Fly a Kite -- Haulover
Beach is a great place to fly a kite. The Park gets a strong afternoon
ocean breeze. If you don't have a kite of your own,
Skyward
Kites sells kites starting at $5;
Phone (305) 893-0906.
Nearby attractions
Head Over to South Beach
-- Also called SoBe, this is the southern most section of
Miami Beach that encompasses the lower 23 blocks of the
island.
This area of Miami
is the most popular tourist and entertainment destination in the
City with hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants, and hotels. The secret
to having a great time here is exploring the different sections
on the island (Map):
Art Deco District
-- South Beach has the world's largest collection of Streamline
Moderne Art Deco architecture. Some noteworthy Art Deco buildings
include, Sherbrooke Hotel and the Miami Beach Post Office. Visit
the Art Deco Museum on Ocean Drive and ask about their walking
tours.
Ocean Drive -- Running
in a north-south direction, Ocean Drive is the easternmost street
in South Beach, from 1st to 15th Street (Lummus Park). Ocean
Drive is responsible for the South Beach aesthetic that visitors
expect. It's also home to several prominent restaurants including
News Cafe, Mango's, Clevelander, and is the site of the infamous
Versace House.
Lincoln Road -- An
open-air pedestrian mall, considered to be the premiere shopping
area in South Beach. Lincoln Road Mall is home to many restaurants,
shops, art galleries, as well as retail outlets and the Regal
Cinema movie theatre.
Espanola Way
-- This street runs from Collins west to Pennsylvania. The area
was modeled after the Mediterranean villages found in France
and Spain. Today it's home to a yoga studio, art house movie
theatre, restaurants, shops, and more.
Stop by the Versace House
-- Probably the most photographed landmark in South Beach, Casa
Casuarina aka Versace House was built by Gianni Versace
in 1993, and is the site of his tragic death. The house was sold
to Peter Loftin, and is not open to the public.
Casa
Casuarina is located at 1116 Ocean
Dr., Miami Beach; (Map).
Visit the Holocaust Memorial
-- Also in South Beach, this memorial is a world famous sculpture
garden honoring the people who perished in the Holocaust. The
Convention Center, Botanical Garden, and
Visitor Center are within walking distance.
Holocaust Memorial
is located at 1945 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 538-1663.
Take a Swim in the Venetian Pool
-- Formed from a rock quarry in 1923, this is the only swimming
pool on the National Register of Historic Places. This chlorine-free
pool is fed with cool spring water, and features two waterfalls,
a three-story observation tower, coral rock caves, and a palm-fringed
island. The pool ranges in depth from four feet to over eight feet
near the grand waterfall. There's also a kiddy pool near the lifeguard
station.
Venetian Pool
is located at 2701 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables; (Map);
Phone (305) 460-5306.
Stroll Around the Fairchild Garden
-- The 83 acre garden contains an extensive collection of tropical
plants. Visitors can enjoy tram, audio and walking tours, as well
as a butterfly garden, a bird watching section, and a tropical fruit
tree pavilion. There is also a 13-acre palm collection, a green
house with orchids, and the only outdoor tropical rainforest in
the United States.
Fairchild Garden is located at
10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; (Map);
Phone (305) 667-1651
Explore the Charles Deering Estate
-- The estate covers a 440-acre property and mansion. The grounds
have the largest coastal tropical hardwood hammock in the United
States. Guided day and moonlight canoe tours are available by appointment.
Charles Deering Estate
is located at 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 235-1668.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
-- Often called "Hearst Castle of the East", Vizcaya is
a 10-acre, Italian Renaissance-style mansion with gardens open to
the public. The museum consists of Villa Vizcaya, its grounds, and
the museum's collections.Vizcaya
is located at 3251 South Miami Ave., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 250-9133.
See the Coral Castle
-- Located near Homestead, the castle is comprised of numerous coral
stones, each weighing several tons. Many of the castle structures
are notable, including machines to tell time, home-made air conditioners,
and a nine-ton revolving door. Psychic Day is the first Saturday
of every month.
Coral Castle
is located at 28655 South Dixie Hwy., Homestead; (Map);
Phone (305) 248-6345.
Theme parks
Parrot Jungle
Island -- This animal theme park is minutes from South
Beach. The park features exotic wild animals such as the world's
largest crocodile, baby orangutans, tigers, and parrots of every
species. There's also an inflatable water slide for kids.
Parrot
Jungle is located at 1111 Parrot
Jungle Trail, Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 248-6345.
Miami MetroZoo -- Just
20 miles from downtown Miami, you'll find the largest zoological
preserve in South Florida. The zoo houses over 900 wild animals
and is the only subtropical zoo in the United States. From October
to March, the zoo offers nighttime tours that start
with a pizza dinner and last 2 hours.
MetroZoo
is located at 12400 SW 152 St., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 251-0400.
Miami Seaquarium -- Tucked
away on Key Biscayne, the Seaquarium was the first marine park attraction
in South Florida. In addition to marine mammals, they house fish,
sharks, sea turtles, reptiles and manatees.
Seaquarium is located at 4400 Rickenbacker
Cswy., Key Biscayne; (Map);
Phone (305) 365-2507.
Lion Country Safari --
This drive-through safari-like theme park is 45 miles north of Miami.
The Park claims to be the first cageless zoo in the United States.Lion
Country Safari is located at 2003
Lion Country Safari Rd., Loxahatchee; Phone (561) 793-1084.
Gator Park -- Just just
35 minutes west of Miami, this Everglades wildlife park offers daily
airboat rides and wildlife shows rain or shine.
Gator Park
is located at 24050 SW 8th St., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 559-2255. (Pictures)
Boomers -- This family
amusement center is north of Miami in Dania Beach. The park has
miniature golf, batting cages, go-karts, laser tag, a roller coaster,
and video game arcade.
Boomers is
located at 1700 NW 1st St., Dania Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 559-2255.
Wannado City -- Housed
in the Sawgrass Mills Mall, this children's indoor role-playing
theme park transports kids to a world where they can take on roles
as a firefighter, archaeologist, actor, news reporter, chef, judge,
airplane pilot, doctor and a host of other professions.
Wannado
is located at 12801 Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise; (Map);
Phone (954) 838-7100.
Place your bets
Seminole Hard Rock Casino
-- Between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, this 86-acre resort has a Vegas-like
casino, a tropical pool area with water slides, and a Hard Rock
Cafe.
Hard Rock
is located at 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood; (Map);
Phone (954) 364-4140.
Miccosukee Casino --
Just 15 minutes west of Miami Airport, Miccosukee Casino is situated
along the edge of the Florida Everglades. The Casino has a hotel,
and 24-hour-a-day gaming.
Miccosukee
is located at 500 SW 177th Ave., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 222-4600.
Horizon's Edge Casino Cruise
-- Miami's only casino cruise departs from Bayside Marketplace 7
days a week.
Horizon's Edge
features onboard gambling, gourmet buffet, and live entertainment;
Phone (781) 581-7733.
Jai-Alai -- There are
two jai-alai frontons in South Florida:
Miami Jai-Alai
is open year-round from noon to 5pm (closed: Tuesdays). Evening
matches start at 7pm Mon, Fri and Sat. They also have simulcast
wagering, and a card room for poker & dominoes.
Dania Jai-Alai
opens at 7pm Tues. - Sat. The poker room is open 12pm to 12am
Tue - Sat. Dania Jai-Alai is set to open its slots room sometime
in 2008.
Greyhound Dog Racing
-- There are two tracks (with poker rooms) nearby:
Mardi Gras
race track and gaming center is open year round. The casino
is the only place in Florida with Class III -- traditional --
slot machines. Mardi Gras is located at 831 N. Federal Hwy.
Hallandale Beach; Phone (954) 924-3200.
Flagler Dog Track
has racing during it's June to November season, and a poker
room that's open when the track is running. Flagler is just
five minutes east of Miami Airport. The track is located at
NW 37th Ave., Miami; Phone (305) 649-3000.
Horse Racing at Gulfstream Park
-- Gulfstream Park is a casino and horse racing facility with two
tracks that feature thoroughbred racing. The casino has 512 slots,
and 17 poker tables. The property has 10 restaurants, and is also
a popular venue for concerts. The track is open from mid-January
through late March.
Gulfstream
Park is located at 901 South Federal
Hwy., Hallandale; (Map);
Phone (954) 454-7000.
Parks and nature preserves
Flamingo Park
-- Visitors can find a beautiful tree-lined grassy park located
in the middle of South Beach. The facilities include a swimming
pool with lap lanes, a water playground for kids, dog park,
tennis, basketball, and handball courts, and a baseball, football,
soccer field, and a gym.
Flamingo Park
is located at 999 11th Street (Map);
Phone (954) 454-7000.
Everglades National Park
-- A subtropical climate, a broad, shallow river, and a variety
of plant and animal life make this National Park a must visit. Wildlife
species include the Florida Panther, American Crocodile, and West
Indian Manatee. If you enter through the Flamingo Main Entrance,
make sure to stop and take the 45-minute walk around the
Anhinga Trail, it’s a partially paved trail with a boardwalk
that stretches out over the water. This is a good spot to see alligators
in their natural habitat.
Everglades
National Park is located at 40001
State Rd. 9336, Homestead; (Map);
Phone (305) 242-7700.
John Pennekamp Park --
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park includes approximately
70 nautical square miles of Atlantic Ocean waters.
The reefs can be viewed from glass-bottom boats, or by snorkeling
or scuba diving. Other activities available in the park are canoeing,
kayaking, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming and wildlife viewing.
The visitor center has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium.
John Pennekamp Park
is located at 102601 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo; Phone (305) 451-1202.
Quiet Water Park -- Located
in Deerfield Beach, this county park has cable water skiing,
a freshwater swimming beach, a ariety of boats for rent, and an
interactive children's water playground. The park also has a skateboard
park and biking trail.
Quiet Water Park
is located at 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach; (Map);
Phone (954) 360-1315
Matheson Hammock Park
-- Miami's oldest and most scenic park, Matheson Hammock has a bathing
beach and a popular restaurant, housed in a historic coral-rock
building that overlooks the swimming lagoon. The
marina has boat slips, a bait-and-tackle shop, and sailing school.
Matheson Hammock
is located at 9610 Old Cutler Rd., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 665-5475.
Oleta River State Park
-- Florida's largest urban park, Oleta Park offers visitors a variety
of recreational activities including kayaking, camping, swimming,
fishing, trail walking, picnicking, and six miles of mountain
bike trails.
Blue
Moon rents kayaks, canoes and bikes;
Phone (305) 957-3040.
Oleta River Park
is located at 3400 NE 163rd St., North Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 919-1846.
South Pointe Park --
This park is found at the southernmost end of Miami Beach. It's
a great place to watch the cruise ships come in
and out of the Port of Miami (a good time to see departing ships
is Sundays after 3pm). South Pointe also has BBQ pits and pavilions.
The park is adjacent to the beach, and has a good supply of metered
parking spaces. Valet parking is available at Smith & Wollensky.
South Pointe Park
is located at 1 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 643-7224.
Domino Park -- Maximo
Gomez Park, also known as "Domino Park", is one of the main meeting
places in Little Havana. Almost anytime of the day, the park is
filled with neighborhood locals playing dominoes and chess.
Domino Park
is located at 801 SW 15th Ave., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 285-1684.
Haulover Beach -- Situated
between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, this 180-acre
park boasts sandy beaches, and Miami's only nude beach.
An underground path leads from the Marina parking area to the Beach.
Haulover Beach
is located at 10800 Collins Ave., Miami; Phone (305) 947-3525.
Fruit and Spice Park
-- This unique 35-acre public facility is owned and operated by
Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation. The park showcases 125 varieties
of mango (orange, green, purple, red, and yellow), 75 varieties
of bananas, 70 varieties of bamboo, and many exotic edibles. They
also offer a tram tour. Visitors are invited to munch at the tasting
counter inside the store.
Fruit and Spice Park
is located at 24801 SW 187th Ave., Homestead; (Map);
Phone (305) 247-5727.
Biscayne National Park
-- Southeast of Miami, this National Park is 99 percent underwater
and features colorful coral reefs and undeveloped keys in Biscayne
Bay. Three-hour glass-bottom bout tours are offered
from 10am to 1pm daily. Reservations are necessary, and six passenger
minimum applies. Reminiscent of area pioneer homes, with wooden
walks and a metal roof, Dante Fascell Visitor Center
has a wide veranda with sweeping views across mangroves and the
Bay. The center is the base of operations for the boat tours, and
houses a museum that explores the park's ecosystem. Note: this is
the only area of
Biscayne National Park
accessible without a boat; (Map);
Phone (305) 230-7275.
Museums and art galleries
Wolfsonian Museum --
A must see if you're visiting Miami Beach, this museum exhibits
a collection of propaganda art that includes furniture, paintings,
books, prints, industrial and decorative art objects. The Museum
explores the role of design at the height of the industrial age
(1885-1945) in the context of social, political, and technological
issues. Admission is free after 6pm on Friday.
Wolfsonian
is located at 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 531-1001.
ArtCenter of South Florida
-- This public art gallery exists to provide affordable workspace
for outstanding visual artists. The gallery encompasses 2 buildings
with 52 artists' studios, exhibition galleries, and art classrooms.
Admission is Free.
ArtCenter
is located at 800 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 674-8278.
World Erotic Art Museum
-- This museum houses an impressive collection of erotic art. Visitors
can find 4,000 objects, and pop-culture fare, such as the giant
rocking male member used in Stanley Kubrick’s film “A Clockwork
Orange”.
World Erotic Art
is located at 1205 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; (Map);
Phone (305) 532-9336.
Rubell Family Art Collection
-- This contemporary art collection is owned by the Miami hotelier
family, the Rubell's. The gallery is housed north of Downtown Miami
inside a former Drug Enforcement Agency warehouse. The collection
contains more than a thousand works of contemporary art, by artists
such as Keith Haring, Julian Schnabel, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paul
McCarthy, and Charles Ray. The gallery is located at 95 NW 29th
St., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 573-6090.
Historical Museum of Southern
Florida -- This museum is one of the largest private history
museums in the country. The Research Center includes 1,900 maps,
and more than one and a half million photographic images. The museum
also houses over 12,000 local artifacts, including a lighthouse
lens, refugee rafts, a 1920s trolley car, shipwreck treasure, and
artifacts from Pan American Airways. Much of the collection illustrates
the main themes permeating South Florida history: environmental
influences, immigration, maritime industries, aviation, and tourism.
Historical Museum
is located at 101 W Flagler St., Miami; (Map);
Phone (305) 375-1492.
Bay of Pigs Museum --
This museum documents memoirs of the Cold War Era, the Bay of Pigs
invasion, Operation Mongoose, the Missile Crisis, and contributions
made by Cuban exiles. The collection includes artifacts used by
brigade members, and secret pictures taken by CIA and foreign news
persons stationed in Cuba at the time of the events.
Bay of Pigs Museum is located at
1821 SW 9th St., Miami; Phone (305) 649-4719.
World of Bacardi Museum
-- Bacardi's Miami site is home to two amazing structures:
an 8-story tower with ceramic tile murals, and a square building
with stained glass walls, raised 47 feet off the ground. The museum
