FLORIDA: THE SUNSHINE STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
In
the world of traveling,
there are plenty of great resources available to both new and experienced
travelers alike. There are many websites, guides, books, videos, and other
resources available. By writing this blog I hope that I am providing valuable
information about wonderful vacation destinations. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
Miami “The
Magic City”
Miami
History
Miami history dates back
around 10,000 years when Native American settlers lived on the banks of the
Miami River.
When the first Europeans
arrived, sailing into Biscayne Bay from Spain in the 1500s, the area was
populated by Tequesta Indians. The region's geographic location would attract
swathes of settlers from different continents over the next 300 years.
The US gained possession
of Florida in the 1800s and to help make land available to settlers, they
passed treaties and created reservations to remove the Native Americans. Years
of resistance from the Seminoles followed.
The development of steam
power in the 19th century led tycoon Henry Flagler to build a railroad in Miami
that would carry citrus fruits from the frost-free south.
As additional land for
agriculture, tourism and homes followed, so did roads, bridges and airfields. A
real estate boom in the 1920s brought thousands to the area as cities, tourist
resorts and skyscrapers sprung up. The population continued to grow through the
Depression and the military helped to expand it further during WWII, as South
Florida's mild climate attracted training centers for soldiers.
Post-war, the greatest
period of change came in the early 1960s with thousands of refugees fleeing
Cuba after Fidel Castro seized power. In 1965 alone, 100,000 Cubans fled from
Havana to Miami. Most exiles settled into the Riverside neighborhood, which
became "Little Havana", a predominantly Spanish-speaking community.
In the 1980s, Miami's
growth was spurred on by the cocaine trade as the city became a hub for
narcotics from South America. Money from drugs transformed parts of the city
with the rise of swanky properties and nightclubs but most of it was
underpinned by violent crime.
By 2010, Downtown Miami
was transformed by a high rise building boom, which put the city just behind
New York and Chicago for its skyscraper-dotted skyline.
Did you know?
- Sun tan lotion was invented by Miami's Benjamin Green in the 1940s to help protect WWII soldiers stationed in the South Pacific from the sun.
- Miami remains the only major US city to be founded by a woman - Julia Tuttle.
- There are over 800 art deco buildings from the 1930s and 40s in Miami's South Beach - the highest concentration of art deco architecture in the world.
- Sun tan lotion was invented by Miami's Benjamin Green in the 1940s to help protect WWII soldiers stationed in the South Pacific from the sun.
- Miami remains the only major US city to be founded by a woman - Julia Tuttle.
- There are over 800 art deco buildings from the 1930s and 40s in Miami's South Beach - the highest concentration of art deco architecture in the world.
Things
to do in Miami
Activities
Surfing
Miami Beach and South
Beach provide a year-round mecca for surfers of all levels. Surfing lessons are
available from the beach and the waters are gloriously warm.
Diving
With its close proximity
to the Gulf Stream, Miami's warm waters are wonderful for divers. Thanks to an
artificial reef program, there are 75 wrecks scattered offshore, including two
Vietnamese army tanks.
Website:
www.southbeachdivers.com
Kayaking
An hour's drive from Miami
is Biscayne National Park, a must for outdoor-lovers. Kayaking or canoeing
offers the best way to enjoy the park's mangrove-fringed shores, with guided
trips available from January to April. Shallow Jones Lagoon is the place to
spot sharks, large wading birds and schools of fish whilst Hurricane Creek
teems with crabs and anemones.
Website:
www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm
City
Attractions in Miami
Coconut Grove
One of the city's oldest neighborhoods,
Coconut Grove has been continuously inhabited since 1873. Settled by a
multicultural group of Bahamians and New Englanders, today it is a trendy
district with a bustling village atmosphere, full of colorful galleries,
theatres, nightclubs, fine restaurants, hip sidewalk cafés and shops.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees
No
Telephone +1 305 461 5506.
Website http://www.coconutgrove.com
Coral Gables
Local developer George
Merrick created this elegant, Mediterranean-style residential district during
the boom years of the 1920s. 16km (10 miles) southwest of downtown Miami, Coral
Gables is known for its art galleries and also boasts the exclusive Miracle
Mile shopping street, numerous golf courses and spectacular art deco
architecture.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Telephone +1 305 446 6800.
Website http://www.coralgables.com
Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden
This magnificent
33-hectare (83-acre) botanical garden, landscaped by William Lyman Phillips,
contains an extensive collection of rare tropical plants, a vast conservatory,
11 lakes and lily ponds, and even a rainforest exhibit that is set between a
waterfall and stream. A variety of educational programmes and narrated tram
tours are available.
Opening Times
Mon-Sun 0730-1630.
Telephone +1 305 667 1651.
Website http://www.fairchildgarden.org
History Miami
A must for anyone
interested in getting an insight into Florida's past, this museum has a small
but impressive collection of hands-on displays, archive material, historical
objects and multimedia presentations. Covering some 10,000 years, it stretches
from Seminole Indian artefacts to an aviation collection. It also hosts regular
temporary exhibitions.
Opening Times
Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700.
Telephone +1 305 375 1492.
Website http://www.historymiami.org
Little Havana
After Fidel Castro took
power of Cuba in 1959, refugees fleeing the country settled just west of
downtown Miami, in a neighborhood known as Little Havana. Today, this colorful
district has a distinctly Latin atmosphere with Spanish signs, Cuban coffee bars
and restaurants, small cigar factories, and street-side food stalls.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Miami Beach
A cluster of tiny coastal
towns located on slender sandy island, Miami Beach is the place to go for
top-class watersports, among them windsurfing, jet-skiing, sailing and
parasailing. The best beaches start at Lincoln Road Mall and extend northwards
to 87th Street. The historic boardwalk is also home to pretty art deco
lifeguard stations.
Opening Times
Daily 24 hours.
Pérez Art Museum Miami
(PAMM)
This excellent
contemporary art gallery, which looks out across Biscayne Bay, owes much to
Jorge Perez, the property tycoon whose name hangs above the door. He has
bequeathed much of his collection to PAMM, which is made up of 20th- and
21st-century photography, prints, sculptures and paintings. Visiting
exhibitions change regularly.
Opening Times
Tue-Sun 1000-1800, Thu 1000-2100.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a beautiful
Italian Renaissance-style palace set in 4 hectares (10 acres) of picturesque
formal gardens. Built as a winter residence for Chicago industrialist James
Deering in 1916, the mansion is neo-classical by design and its 70 rooms are filled
with antique furnishings spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. Tours available.
Opening Times
Wed-Mon 0930-1630.
Wolfsonian Museum
Affiliated with Florida
International University, the Wolfsonian is a quirky collection of 180,000
objects amassed by an eccentric world-traveler. One-of-a-kind exhibits address
several 19th- and 20th-century political themes, but the most interesting
displays show propaganda and the art used to persuade, nationalize and rally
citizens.
Opening Times
Mon-Tue 1000-1800, Thu 1000-1800, Fri 1000-2100, Sat 1000-1800,
Sun 1200-1800.
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami is a
state-of-the-art cage less zoo, with more than 310 species of animals roaming
the 116-hectare (290-acre) grounds, separated by moats from spectators.
Wildlife shows, a petting zoo, tram tours, monorail, gift shops, food courts
and a playground provide fun for all the family.
Opening Times
Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 0930-1730.
REFERENCE SITES:
Miami is one of these great
places that is a really sensual, physically beautiful place.
Michael Mann
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