Getaways to the authentic Florida
The historic Nike missile site in Everglades National Park is a well-preserved relic of the 1960s Cold War.F or lovers of history, folks who remember the Cold War or aviation fans, it’s a fascinating trip back in time, available only during the winter season.
After a long wait, Miami’s favorite place for cinnamon rolls has reopened under new ownership at a new location. This institution south of Miami has generations of devoted fans.
This guide will help you see wildlife and experience the essence of Everglades National Park. We offer tips, too, for more in-depth Everglades experiences too.
The historic agricultural area surrounding the Homestead entrance to Everglades National Park offers so many cool experiences — a park where you can see and sample exotic fruits, a historic village of shops and restaurants, a local tropical-fruit winery. In October there is a big orchid festival too.
For decades, the only way to stay overnight in Everglades National Park was to camp with your tent or RV. But a few years ago, an alternative was introduced at Flamingo — 20 eco-tents, a cross beween a tent and a cabin, with beds and linens but using a central bath facility.
At Fruit and Spice Park, you can taste exotic tropical fruit and learn about unusual plants that grow in this fertile rural area in Homestead. There are 500 varieties of fruit, spices and nuts from around the world.
Robert Is Here, just outside Everglades National Park, is a must-stop for my family on the basis of its fresh-fruit milkshakes alone. But we also love the menangerie out back, the exotic tropical fruits there for the tasting and the overall ambiance.
Florida has a surprisingly rich history of rodeos in its small towns, and the one is Homestead is special. It’s the first rodeo of the year where professional cowboys can earn points.
Stopping at Alabama Jack’s, a fish shack and dive bar on a remote road between Homestead and Key Largo, has been the classic way to start a Keys trip for decades. It’s shabby, atmospheric and authentic.
In the rural Redland area in Homestead, you can tour Fruit and Spice Park, where you taste exotic tropical fruit. The big Redland International Orchid Festival is here May 17 to 19, 2024.