Historic and Touristic Sights
Sitios Historicos y Turisticos
MIAMI Ft. Lauderdale Key West West Palm Beach
The Barnacle is a State Historic Site which contains the oldest home in Dade County still in its original location. The Barnacle belonged to Ralph Munroe, one of Miami's earliest settlers back in the 1800's. The Barnacle is a nice place to spend an afternoon reading on the porch of the big house, or just having a picnic on the lawn. The home is a museum now, preserving the artifacts that belonged to the Munroe family. Ralph Munroe was a wrecker, a sailor, and all around businessman who traded with the local indigenous tribes and brought several innovations to the then mosquito infested swamps that were Coconut Grove. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tours begin at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the porch of the main house. 3485 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove. (305) 448-9445.
The Biltmore Hotel Old hotel in downtown Coral Gables.
Viscaya Another famous and fabulous home to visit in Miami is this former estate of James Deering. Deering built the mansion and gardens in Italian Rennaissance and Baroque design, and is famous for its view of Biscayne Bay. Approaching it on dinghy is a treat. Although admission is pricey, its museum and gardens are incredible. Bring a lunch and make a picnic out of it! 3521 South Miami Ave. (305) 579-2708
Miami Seaquarium Houses more than 10,000 marine and tropical animals. Live shows daily with Salty the Sea Lion, Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale. Protesters tried to get the Seaquarium to release Lolita. Many have said that this place is overpriced.Open from 9:30 to 6 p.m. 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne (305) 361-5705
Parrot Jungle Neat place with lots of birds flying free and other tropical endangered animals, including an albino crocodile, in cages. Live entertainment featuring many trained macaws, guacamayos and other beautiful birds. They push hard to sell you their polaroid pictures. Hefty admission price should include a polariod! A Miami institution for 60 years. 11000 SW57th Ave., Miami. (305) 666-7834
The Lighthouse on Key Biscayne This lighthouse was built on Cape Florida in 1825, and is the oldest building in South Florida. Its located in the Bill Baggs State Recreational Area and has been voted one of the top 10 beaches in the US. Overnight boat mooring is available in No Name Harbor. There is a one dollar admission for cars, pedestrians and bicycles. Guided tours are conducted Thursday through Monday at 10 am and 1 p.m. The Lighthouse Cafe is considered to be a good restaurant with a casual atmosphere. 1200 S. Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne, Fl. (305) 361-5811 capefla@gate.net.
Little Havana Take a drive down famous Calle Ocho, stop and have a Cuban coffee, visit the "Cubanity" monument on Flagler and SW17th Ave. Lots of places to have a great Latin American meal, take a walk around. From SW 17th St. to NW 7th St. and from 4th to 27th Ave.
South Beach At South Beach the party never ends. Early morning joggers and roller bladers mix with people still out from the night before. Take a walk down Ocean Drive and see what all the hype is about. It's a people watchers paradise. South Beach itself is wide and clean, sometimes topless. Watch out for the Beach Patrol, they may just run right over you. (No Kidding) Washington Ave., parallel to Collins and Ocean Drive, is home to many clubs and a variety of restaurants with food from around the world, music from Jazz to Trance. Lincoln Road is also a strolling favorite, lots of shops and outdoor cafes, nighttime live entertainment and more. South Beach is also known as "a mecca for Miami's gay community." Home of the Art Deco District. On Miami Beach bordered by 1st (South) to 19th St. (North) and Alton Rd. (West) to Ocean Drive (East)
Miami Metrozoo 12400 SW 152nd. St., Miami (305) 251-0400
Ft. Lauderdale still under construction