Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida Read online

  Key Sights

  1. Miracle Mile Graceful stone fountains bookend this 1950s strip of shops and restaurants decorated down the middle with pretty pineapple-shaped date palms.

  2. Actors’ Playhouse Housed within the vintage Miracle Theatre, with an old-fashioned marquee, it stages plays by and for kids, as well as adult programs.

  3. City Hall Built in Mediterranean Revival style, to match the homes and commercial buildings of the Coral Gables community, this circa-1927 beauty sits on Miracle Mile.

  4. Venetian Pool Stone bridges, caves, waterfalls, and lush vegetation surround this fantasy swimming pool carved from a former coral limestone quarry – the source of building materials in Coral Gables.

  5. The Biltmore Hotel Favored by the rich and famous since its opening in 1926, this historic hotel looks like a castle out of a fairy tale.

  6. Lowe Art Museum This museum at the University of Miami has American, Native American, Renaissance, European, and Asian art in its permanent collection, and also hosts traveling exhibitions.

  7. French Country Village One of Coral Gables’ international villages, this residential village still has several examples of its original architecture. Ivy, wood-slat accents and cottage styling give the homes a French provincial feel.

  8. Matheson Hammock County Park A major draw for families, the Atoll Pool Beach here is entirely enclosed and ringed by palm trees, and is safe for small kids. Playgrounds, shaded picnic areas, bike paths, nature trails, and a sailing school make the park fun for all ages.

  Left Exterior of the Biltmore Hotel Middle Actors’ playhouse at the vintage Miracle Theatre Right House in the French Country Village

  >> Practical Information

  >> More Things to Do

  >> Eat and Drink

  >> Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  Coral Gables mix-up

  Unscramble these jumbled up words and names that are part of the Coral Gables story: EETIMLONS

  CRMRKEI

  HSSAINP

  TROEMIBL

  RCCHERATIUET

  >> Answers

  Bed of limestone

  Miami sits on a foundation of bedrock known as Miami oolite or Miami limestone. It was formed from ancient coral beds when the sea covered southern Florida as a result of drastic climate changes. If you look closely, you can often spot fossilized sea creatures embedded within the rock’s surface.

  Très français

  Many of the homes that were part of the French Country Village can still be seen along Hardee Road. Walk or drive along the road to spot house numbers 500, 501, 508, 524, 535, and 536. What makes them look as if they belong in the French countryside? (Hint: Note the red-brick houses, walled gardens, and decorative balconies.)

  * * *

  < Miami

  2. Coconut Grove

  Groovy in “the Grove”

  The shaded patio of CocoWalk, an upscale shopping mall in Coconut Grove

  Luxurious mansions, and the sight of sailboats racing in the wind or anchored in Biscayne Bay, define Coconut Grove as an affluent community where dining at a sidewalk café is a quintessential experience. The area has come a long way since its countercultural hippie days of the 1960s. Today it appeals to families with its Peacock Park, a lively street scene, art galleries, and CocoWalk, an outdoor mall. Surrounding the area’s main hub, at the intersections of Grand Avenue, McFarlane Avenue, and Miami Highway, are neighborhoods of Mediterranean-style mansions that stand in contrast to the simple Bahamian clapboard “conch” homes.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Letting Off Steam

  >> Eat and Drink

  < Miami

  3. The Barnacle Historic State Park

  A slice of old Miami

  The red-roofed Barnacle house in The Barnacle Historic State Park

  Like many Florida pioneers and modern-day residents, Commodore Ralph Munroe moved to Coconut Grove from the north of the state. In the late 1800s, he established this extensive homesite and built a house called The Barnacle, named for its octagonal central room. Families can visit this narrow strip of parkland, which runs from Main Highway to Biscayne Bay, and see how Coconut Grove looked more than 100 years ago. Part of the once-vast Miami Hammock, the old-growth forest here harbors secret spots, such as a cemetery with unmarked graves and benches shaded by trees.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Letting Off Steam

  >> Eat and Drink

  >> Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  Drawing rooms

  Commodore Munroe named his home for its eight-sided central room, which he thought resembled a barnacle – a crustacean that clings to mangrove roots, boats, and other wooden hosts. Think of other sea creatures, such as an octopus or a jellyfish. Can you draw room designs to match their shapes?

  * * *

  < Miami

  4. Peacock Park

  Hoops, balls, and gumbo limbos

  View of Biscayne Bay from the boardwalk in Peacock Park

  Named not for the bird, but for a Coconut Grove pioneer family, the Peacocks, whose daughter married Coral Gables founder George Merrick, this park spreads like a green blanket down to Biscayne Bay. Kids can play baseball, basketball, tennis, and soccer. Gracious old oaks and gumbo limbo trees shade a playground and outdoor tables, where families can stop for great views or a picnic.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Take Cover

  >> Eat and Drink

  >> Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  Do the gumbo limbo at Peacock Park

  The gumbo limbo’s botanical name is Bursera simaruba.

  Because it has red, papery bark, locals often jokingly call the tree the “tourist tree,” after the visitors who forget to use sunscreen when enjoying the Florida sunshine!

  In some places, the trees are known as “living fences,” because when people stick their branches into the ground in a row, they begin to grow leaves in a short time.

  Gumbo limbo wood was traditionally used to carve horses for fairground carousels.

  Choco loco

  Coconut Grove’s Dolce Vita Gelato Cafe is known for being a little loco (Spanish for crazy) with its chocolate flavors. These use local ingredients, as in the chocolate-chili pepper and chocolate-orange flavors.

  Can you think of other Florida fruits, spices, or vegetables you could mix into chocolate ice cream for a new taste treat?

  * * *

  < Miami

  5. Fairchild Tropical Garden

  Butterflies, cactuses, and mango mania

  At the start of the 20th century, Dr. David Fairchild began a 37-year quest to collect plant specimens from all over the world. The collection continues to gr
ow, and is now one of the most respected of its kind in the world. Brilliant blossoms scent the lakeside botanical gardens, known for their orchids, mangoes, palm trees, and other tropical flora. The gardens include the only outdoor tropical rain forest plantings in the US. Children will enjoy the colorful butterfly garden, the cactus collection, and the edible garden. The gardens also showcase exhibits by noted artists, offer birding opportunities, and organize family programs such as afternoon teas.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Take Cover

  >> Eat and Drink

  < Miami

  6. Deering Estate at Cutler

  Can you keep a secret?

  Elegant Richmond Cottage on the Deering Estate at Cutler

  Once hunting grounds for the Seminole Indians, and then the settlement of Cutler in the late 19th century, this site has a rich history. Today, the property holds two houses. Richmond Cottage, the older one, built in Cutler’s early days, was bought in 1915 by Charles Deering, a businessman and art collector. He built a sturdy Stone House here to contain his vast art collection, which resulted from years of travel abroad. His secret Prohibition-era wine vault adds a dimension of mystery to the house. Richmond Cottage holds historic exhibits, including pictures of the devastating damage from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, from which it took the estate seven years to recover. The estate also offers guided canoeing and biking tours, storytelling, and a tour of its Artist Village; check website for timings.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Letting Off Steam

  >> Eat and Drink

  >> Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  What tree am I?

  Learn the names of the trees you see in parks, and at natural attractions such as the Deering Estate, then see if you can guess the names of these trees: I’m an okra stew doing a Caribbean dance.

  Mix together red and yellow to get my name.

  I’m a guy with a gang of trees.

  I wear my hair pulled back with a rubber band.

  >> Answers

  Architect-in-training

  Richmond Cottage on the Deering Estate was built with steeply pitched shingle roofs and overhanging eaves in the late 19th century. The Stone House was built in 1922 and features terracotta-tiled roofs, balconies, and turrets. Can you spot the differences in architectural styles between the two homes? In which would you prefer to live?

  * * *

  < Miami

  7. Zoo Miami

  Into the ToadStool

  Lions unwinding in the lush outdoors at Zoo Miami

  Formerly known as Miami MetroZoo, Zoo Miami has lots of open space and natural barriers instead of cages and fences. Besides the joy of seeing and even petting animals from around the world, kids can enjoy special attractions designed specifically for them. In the Children’s Zoo, they can ride a camel, feed giraffes and parrots, wonder at the Butterfly Garden, ride a carousel depicting 30 endangered animals, or chill out in the air-conditioned ToadStool, where small animals live. The zoo also has a state-of-the-art playground with water features.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Take Cover

  >> Eat and Drink

  < Miami

  8. Coral Castle

  Thousands of pounds of stone and a 100-pound weakling

  Outer walls of the unique Coral Castle, Homestead

  Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin may have suffered a broken heart, but that did not stop him from creating an engineering feat. In fact, unrequited love is what motivated him. This 100-lb (45-kg) man built a castle out of local coral rock as a monument to his lost love, and the three children he fantasized. A National Register of Historic Places site, its highlights include a Polaris telescope for spotting the North Star, a 5,000-lb (2,268-kg) heart-shaped table featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the “Grotto of the Three Bears” playground, and a working sundial.

  >> Practical Information

  >> Letting Off Steam

  >> Eat and Drink

  >> Kids' Corner

  Kids’ Corner

  Monumental love

  Edward Leedskalnin became engaged to Agnes Scuffs when she was 16, but she jilted him one day before the wedding. Singer Billy Joel, inspired by this story, wrote the song Sweet Sixteen and the video was filmed in Coral Castle.

  * * *

  < Miami

  Downtown, Little Havana, Vizcaya, and around

  Ligers – a lion/tiger cross – lounging in Jungle Island, an interactive zoo

  Although prettiest at night, when its city lights reflect on the bay, downtown Miami exudes aesthetic appeal in the daytime too. Dotted with skyscrapers, the district is also home to numerous charming old-fashioned buildings. Families will enjoy exploring the beautiful gardens at Vizcaya to the south of downtown. Across the bay, Key Biscayne offers beachy bliss to visitors who want to escape the bustle of the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana.

  1. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

  2. Calle Ocho – Little Havana

  3. Pérez Art Museum Miami

  4. Miami Children’s Museum

  5. Jungle Island

  6. Miami Seaquarium®

  7. Virginia Key Beach Park

  8. Crandon Park

  9. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

  >> Practical Information

  >> Sights & Restaurants Map

  >> Where to Stay

  < Miami

  1. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

  Sea horses and frogs in an architectural gem

  Carved light fixture

  Miami’s iconic sight on Biscayne Bay, the palatial Vizcaya is a monument to early 20th-century opulence and one man’s admiration for all things European. Millionaire industrialist James Deering commissioned the 30-plus-room mansion to be built in the style of an Italian palazzo, and filled it with fine furnishings and art. For families, the greatest interest lies outdoors, on the waterfront and in the gardens, where carved dragons, mermaids, and frogs spitting water into basins await.

  Key Features

  1. Courtyard A glass dome was added in the 1980s to protect the museum’s art collection. The leaded glass doors offer views of the bay and gardens.

  2. Entrance