The City of Miami does not really need an introduction. It is the cultural, economic and financial center of South Florida. It is well known across the globe for its beaches and sunny weather. Miami is a city that will capture you with its dazzling glamor and hold you in its spell. The beauty of the city’s nature will also steal your heart from Biscayne Bay and the clear blue South Florida skies.

     Miami is glamor first and foremost but spend a little time here and dig a little deeper to see what is under the surface. Or simply go with the flow and indulge in the glamor in true Miami style.

     There’s a lot that is taken for granted in Miami: Year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and no worries about cold winters or snow removal. This is a truly special city where you can spend balmy mornings working out on the beach, afternoons driving through a swamp, and night times on vivacious rooftop bars looking out over one of the greatest skylines in the world. And…you can stroll the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk which is as close to a northeastern beach town as it gets in South Florida. Here you will enjoy a lone stretch of funky boardwalk filled with beachside bars, soft serve ice cream, and a very eclectic group of people. There are several different types of beach in Miami. If you want to be in the middle of the action, South Beach is the place. If you prefer a deserted tropical island feel, head out to Crandon Park. Crandon Park is probably the most visited park in the area and for good reason. The reef here means that the swimming conditions are ideal. You will also find an Amusement Center and Nature Center adding even more to the family appeal of Crandon Park.  And…finally, for the real Robinson Crusoe effect, go all the way to the end of Key Biscayne to Bill Baggs State Park to behold nature in its finest and beauty that you’ll not soon forget.

     There may be no better way to see Miami than from 14,000 feet, climbing up slowly in an airplane that feels like it was constructed with model glue, then mercifully jumping out. Skydive Miami in Homestead gives you that spectacular view, followed by an all-out adrenaline rush from the minute-long free-fall while you look out on all of South Florida, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Everglades.  At the end of the adventure you will drop into a field and immediately try to figure out how to do it again.

     Finding the best activities for you is really a matter of narrowing those things that are worth doing for you and your group. There are some really amazing activities that are very affordable and even free.  Here are a few “must sees” in Miami that are tough to find anywhere else:

1. Jungle Island

     Jungle Island is one of the most popular attractions in the City of Miami. It is located on Watson Island and was formerly known as Parrot Jungle and even had Winston Churchill as one of its esteemed visitors in 1946. The Jungle is only minutes away from South Beach and Downtown Miami. It has been recently re-opened after major improvements following damages from Hurricane Irma and provides visitors with adventure and discovery through interactive experiences.

     One of the adrenalin-producing activities to experience at Jungle Island is Super Flight – which is a wind tunnel free-flight activity that sends guests safely soaring into the air. Or…if you have a bit of sleuth in you…take the challenge of the Escape Rooms. Talk about an adrenalin rush! Find yourself locked inside a jungle cabin with a ticking time bomb sitting on the table. If that’s not exciting enough, try escaping The Asylum – an old ward for the criminally insane.

     Jungle Island also provides interactive animal experiences and shows which are always pleasing to families. And…don’t forget the drop-dead beauty of this island with its ponds of flamingos, beautiful blue pools of water with a back-drop of palm trees and sunny beaches. You can also go ziplining on Sky Wire – Miami’s first zipline. The beginning platform towers 80 feet high above the city and then zips down a 600-foot course – giving you beautiful views of both the city and the lush, green jungle.

2. Ride through the Everglades and the Keys

     The Everglades: Driving down US-41 under Big Cypress canopies while blue herons fly overhead and gators sun themselves by the water is one of the most awesome Florida experiences one can have. Everglades National Park rangers estimate that of the 1 million people who visit the preserve every year, about 99 percent never get out of their cars to bike, fish, take a boat ride, birdwatch or even walk around the place. Why?  The sheer size of the reserve is a bit intimidating.  At 2,500 square miles, it’s the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and the third-largest national park in the Lower 48 states. But you don’t have to trek for miles to experience the Everglades in all its oozing, primordial glory. Many of the best walking trails are just a half-mile long and are accessible via paved roads. It’s also easy to explore by bike or canoe, either on your own or with a guide.

     Just remember, NO SWIMMING or SNORKELING in the Everglades because it’s crawling with alligators. But just for the record… park rangers also report that no gator-related fatalities have been recorded in the park since its founding in 1947. Just a short drive from Miami, Everglades National Park boasts the most amazing natural swamp ecosystem that is home to alligators, snakes, crocodiles and a whole host of birds.

     If you don’t feel like walking, an exciting way to view the picturesque beauty and abundant wildlife is aboard a high-speed boat which will escort visitors deep into the marshes and streams. The airboat tour is guaranteed to entertain and is the best way to see alligators.

     Survival Tip: Apply bug spray liberally and often. There are more insects in the park than any other animal.

     The Keys:  There may be many snorkeling spots in the Keys, but only one can claim that it’s the first underwater park in the U.S. Established in 1963 and named after a Miami newspaper editor. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo is a gorgeous historic place to snorkel. Made up of more than 70 miles and containing parts of the only living coral reef in the continental United States, the park offers the chance to swim with tropical fish as well as spot Florida seabirds and other underwater wildlife. There’s even a 4,000-pound underwater statue called Christ of the Abyss. You can also rent kayaks and paddle boards or take glass-bottom boat tours. There’s also a saltwater aquarium, gift shop, and snack bar on-site.

     The Florida Keys are home to a special species of deer – the Key deer. It’s only found in the Florida Keys and is the smallest deer species in North America. And although the endangered animals used to roam throughout the Keys, today, you’ll only find them from Sugarloaf Key to Bahia Honda State Park. The National Key Deer Refuge spreads across 9,200 acres, including freshwater wetlands, mangrove forests, and more. Take a beautiful nature hike and if you’re lucky, you’ll spot one of these endangered animals.

3. Little Havana

     It’s impossible to live in or visit Miami and not experience Cuban culture. There’s a whole neighborhood dedicated to it which we’ve even named Little Havana.  Cuba’s influence in Miami dates back to the 1950s and ’60s, when Fidel Castro came to power and Cubans started fleeing to South Florida for a better life. Around 1960 the area around Calle Ocho, built in 1925, became home to Cuban immigrants fleeing the revolution and it played an important role of immigration processing center for hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees. It is generally known as the heart of little Havana and is the place to go for most of the action. Today a freedom tower in this same area stands out as one of the most striking skyscrapers in the south eastern part of the United States and is a tribute to Cuban immigration.

     Well recognized for its cultural flavor, Little Havana offers a great deal of entertainment from open air social areas to its many restaurants and specialty food shops. With lively Latin music drifting through the air and street art depicting important Cuban figures, you will feel completely immersed in the distinctive cultural atmosphere.

     The Cuban Sandwich is at the center of Little Havana’s culture and is the quintessential must-try food for anyone visiting Miami. The sandwich, at its most basic, is a mixture of ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, and mustard… all placed betwixt Cuban bread and served warm.

4. Coral Gables – Venetian Pool

     This old Coral Gables rock quarry is a family favorite, where coral buildings stand around turquoise water and families spend the day enjoying the tropical landscaping that makes this place feel like a jungle hideaway.

     The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables just outside of Miami is a little taste of Venice. It is an historic aquatic facility and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It was built in 1923 inside the quarry and the original coral rock was used to border and accentuate the pool. The pool holds 820,000 gallons of water that is fed from underground spring water and in the busy spring and summer months is emptied and refilled daily. The pool’s beauty is further accented by its loggias, porticos, palm trees and signature bridge. It is truly an unforgettable experience.

5. Stroll through The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

     Recognized as one of Miami’s greatest treasures, The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, with its stunning architecture, grounds and artwork are certainly worth a visit. Featuring 34 rooms arranged around a breathtaking courtyard, the Renaissance-style villa is filled with the most exquisite European furniture and art from the 15th to the 19th century. Over 1,100 craftsmen were bought over from Europe for true authenticity in design, to complete this 28-acre estate where the heart and main living area of the house is the Courtyard  – originally open to the sky.

     The rooms in the Main House were designed around pieces of furniture, paneling and architectural elements such as gates and fireplaces. Every object contributes to the decorative context of the room in which it resides. As such, the objects and interiors played an important role in determining the architecture of the house.

     Vizcaya’s European-inspired gardens are among the most elaborate in the United States – reminiscent of gardens created in seventeenth and eighteenth-century Italy and France.  The overall landscape design is conceived as a series of rooms and the central space is dominated by low hedges in a geometric arrangement. You may also have great interest in Secret Garden, the intimate Theater Garden, the playful Maze Garden and the once-watery domain of the Fountain Garden. The statues, busts, vases and urns that decorate Vizcaya’s gardens range from antiquity to the Renaissance and Baroque periods and include modern art as well.

REMINDER:  Rawhide Travel and Tours will be hosting an amazing Super Cruise to Panama Canal.

Rawhide Travel and Tours
presents it’s….

Panama Canal “Locks of Fun” Super Cruise
and Miami Sleepover
 
October 24 – November 09, 2019

     Only a few spots left for this amazing cruise and there is a pre-cruise sale going on right now so visit:  https://rawhidetravel.com/#HotDeals  to learn more. Don’t wait too long….the few available tickets won’t last long!