The Tamiami Trail, linking Miami and Florida’s west coast, gets you close to alligators, cypress swamps and Everglades scenery. It also offers outstanding stops along the way, particularly the Shark Valley area of Everglades National Park.
Cinnamon rolls and the fall season are both back; Knaus Berry Farms reopened Oct. 25. This 50-year-old institution south of Miami has generations of devoted fans. It’s a good stop for an Everglades trip or a day exploring the Redland.
Crandon Park Beach is the Miami you see in magazine ads. A picture-perfect beach, a beautiful model in a bikini holding a bottle of body cream. Or somesuch.
Biscayne National Park is 95% underwater. Boat trips to shipwrecks, reefs and islands are the best way to see this park. The shipwreck snorkel tour often goes to the wreck of the Mandalay, which has a fascinating story.
This state park is more natural than it has been for decades. Enjoy the terrific beach and tropical hammock, tour the historic lighthouse, dine at restaurants with great views and walk or bike trails.
Folks have been fascinated with Stiltsville since the first shack went up in Biscayne Bay a mile from land in the 1930s. Biscayne National Park and a non-profit partner offer regular boat tours that tell the Stiltsville story and take you close to the houses.
This Miami state park is a remarkable island of green where you can kayak, mountain bike, picnic and enjoy a sandy beach. There are even rustic cabins to rent. Now, the historic Blue Marlin Fish House, located on park property on 163rd Street, has re-opened and rents SUPs and kayaks on the Oleta River as well as offering sandwiches, salads and beer.
Deering Estate is a serene spot in South Dade offering sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, a fascinating tour of a castle-like home and boat tours of Biscayne National Park.
One of the best ways to see Florida’s Everglades is via the Tamiami Trail to the Shark Valley entrance, home to a terrific bike trail and abundant wildlife.
A Virginia Key kayak outing offers an amazing combo – views of the Miami skyline rising out of Biscayne Bay in one direction, mangrove lagoons with shore birds in the other. An extra treat: It’s the best way to see the old Miami Marine Stadium.
This paved trail in Coral Gables lets you experience one of Miami’s most beautiful public spaces — Old Cutler Road. It passes several special gardens and parks and is shaded by historic ficus trees, It’s a delightful way to experience one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami.
The Kampong is an intimate and charming tropical estate and gardens, built by one of Florida’s most interesting characters, David Fairchild.
After a dozen years, a prehistoric Native American archaeological site is saved and opened as a park. It makes a nice stop on a walking or bicycle tour of the Brickell area of downtown Miami.