Miami's party scene is legendary, from the nightclubs of South Beach to the block parties of Calle Ocho in Little Havana. But there's a quieter side to the city as well—lush gardens, pools, and parks that preserve the ideals of Old Florida in the midst of a bustling metropolis.
Elegant attractions blend into the tropical landscape at several spots south of downtown Miami. In Coral Gables, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden enlivens the senses with an extensive collection of orchids, butterfly gardens, and rare palms from around the world. Built in 1924, the nearby Venetian Pool is an 800,000-gallon lagoon fed straight from the Floridan aquifer, surrounded by coral outcroppings and tiered waterfalls.
While tourists flock to Lummus Park Beach, part of the lively and often crowded strip better known as South Beach, locals often prefer the more secluded stretches along the barrier islands that line Miami's coast. Here, spiky palmettos, live oaks, and strolling ibises and egrets provide an image of what South Florida looked like before the skyscrapers arrived.
The area’s protected parks also offer a serene getaway for those looking to take advantage of Florida’s natural scenery. Hop on the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge to Key Biscayne, home to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Here, you’ll find scrub-covered sand dunes, sea-turtle nests, and a lighthouse that's the oldest-standing structure in Greater Miami. Up in North Miami Beach, Oleta River State Park fronts the placid Biscayne Bay harbor, and attracts kayakers with mangrove stands clustered around river inlets. Back on the mainland, Matheson Hammock Park is a circular, sandy lagoon that draws visitors for its spectacular views of the Miami skyline—Frommer's called it the city's Best Scenic Beach.
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Things To Do In Florida City
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Homestead-Miami Speedway
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Homestead
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NASCAR Racing Experience
Homestead-Miami Speedway
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$64
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$4 for Redland Fish Fry & Seafood Festival on November 16 at Fruit and Spice Park ($8 Value)
Fruit and Spice Park
Homestead, South Miami
$8
$4
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Gymnastics Classes at All-Star Panthers (Up to 73% Off). Four Options Available.
All-Star Panthers
Homestead
$125
$49
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$159 for a Discovery Flight Lesson Package at Orient Flight School ($400 Value)
Orient Flight School
Homestead General Aviation Airport
$400
$159
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15 Dance-Fitness Classes at Miami Fitness International (65% Off)
Miami Fitness International
Homestead
$75
$26
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5 or 10 Kickboxing Classes at Kickboxing Homestead (Up to 88% Off)
Kickboxing Homestead
Homestead
$90
$14
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Visit for Two or Four or Tour for Four at Everglades Outpost Wildlife Refuge and Rescue (Up to 67% Off)
Everglades Outpost Wildlife Refuge And Rescue
Homestead
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$12
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$29 for a Wine-Tasting Package for Two on a Friday or Saturday at Schnebly Redland's Winery (Up to 52% Off)
Schnebly Redland's Winery
Everglades
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The passionate wildlife guides at Tours in the Glades usher nature-starved sightseers into the lush wetlands and past the stunning marine wildlife of the Everglades. Captivating facts about the Everglades’ ecological and cultural significance abound, as do anecdotes about some of the birds and reptiles that call the wetlands home. All tours include the proper gear for watery odysseys and transportation into the park, thereby obviating the need to hitch rides on the backs of water-walking lizards.
20 Southwest 2nd Avenue
Florida City,
FL
US
The technicolor interior of Wonder Games is filled wall-to-wall with arcade games, trampolines, educational activities, and even a candy bar. Toddlers can crawl through a soft, indoor playground complete with miniature castle, while parents watch nearby from clusters of tables and chairs. Bigger kids can jump on trampolines, which are surrounded by protective nets, or head to the arcade to rack up game tickets that can be used to redeem prizes. The candy bar's bins are filled with bulk candies, which are weighed by the ounce, and include sour gummy worms and a rainbow of gumball flavors.
258 West Palm Drive
Florida City,
FL
US
The owner of Orient Flight School knows a thing or two about getting up in the air. Yogini Modi began her career flying gliders in India, then operating micro-light aircraft for the Indian Army. She then set several records, including the longest crossing of India. Now, as the owner of Orient Flight School and one of its full-time instructors, she introduces other students to the skies she loves. Though classes in the air and on the ground, she helps them earn private pilot licenses, pass written FAA exams, and obtain instrument and multi-engine ratings necessary to rule the air and chop any cloud into a dinosaur shape.
28790 SW 217th Ave.
Homestead,
FL
US
At Family Paintball Center, players armed with rented markers storm the fields during classic games: capture the flag, elimination, and elimination’s cousin, resurrection, in which tagged players can be reborn. Separated by sky-high screens, the sprawling fields are scattered with wooden fences and spools as well as inflatable shapes that players can use to dodge incoming pellets. To make a day of it, groups can bring along food and drink, and even set up their own barbecue grill. There is also a concessions stand on-site, and local pizzerias deliver to the field, rather than just throwing their pies there Frisbee-style.
27401 Southwest 127th Avenue
Homestead,
FL
US
At Redline Xperience, racecar enthusiasts hit their choice of two professional-caliber tracks, driving rental rides such as an Audi R8, Aston Martin, and Porsche Carerra. In one two-hour session, a driver can switch between up to six autos, including a Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Nissan GT-R, for the full-spectrum driving experience. During warm-up laps, veteran instructors dole out tips and set drivers at ease.
1 Ralph Sanchez Speedway Blvd
Homestead,
FL
US
Since its inception in 1916, the YMCA of Greater Miami has opened its doors to whoever needed it. It welcomed African American youths during the Great Depression, hosted military personnel in the 1940s, and gave Cuban refugees a home in the 1960s. Today, it continues the tradition of depolarizing Miami's fractured populous, remaining a haven for people of all faiths, races, ages, and income. Staffers uphold the YMCA’s core values of honesty, acceptance, and fairness as they ensure each location is a safe place for members to play, exercise, and strengthen family bonds weakened by overzealous games of Monopoly. YMCA of Greater Miami also raises much-needed funding for kids and families who can’t afford the full cost of any of YMCA’s progressive programs.
At the current locations, kids can leap into activities ranging from swim lessons and youth sports to afterschool programs and day camps. Adults, meanwhile, can take Zumba, boot-camp, and aquatic fitness classes or work out within wellness centers replete with strength-training and cardio equipment. Adult basketball and indoor speed-soccer leagues further help guests flex their competitive spirits in an encouraging environment.
1034 Northeast 8th Street
Homestead,
FL
US
