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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 readsome
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 canadd
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:
North American Canoes,
specializes in Everglades kayaking tours; Phone (239) 695-3299.
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 JungleIsland -- 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 decorat
