Coral Gables, Florida

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is a state park that covers nearly a third of Key Biscayne Island in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The park is home to Greater Miami’s oldest standing structure, the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Visitors to Cape Florida can enjoy everything from sunbathing on white-sand beaches to fishing from the seawall along the bay to grilling with friends or family at a pavilion. There are guided tours given twice a day Thursdays through Mondays for the Cape Florida Lighthouse, as well as the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. There are umbrellas, beach chairs, and bicycles available for rent. Visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean during their trip to the park.

1200 South Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL, Phone: 305-361-5811

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Cape Florida Lighthouse is a lighthouse with a long-standing history that is located on the island of Key Biscayne in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The lighthouse is situated on a part of the island that has been designated as the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The nearly two-hundred-year-old lighthouse has been partially or completely destroyed and rebuilt many times over the course of its existence. The las time being in August of 1992 when Hurricane Andrew inflicted major damage on the tower. This steady piece of Florida history can be viewed by guided tour Monday through Thursday, twice a day.

1200 South Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL, Phone: 305-361-5811

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Coral Gables Merrick House , also known as Merrick Manor and the Merrick House, is a large historic house that is located in Coral Gables, Florida. The house was originally built in the year of 1906 by architect Althea Fink Merrick. It was constructed for the purpose of being the family residence for George E. Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables. Since April 13th of 1973, the house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can enjoy tours of this historic property two times a week. The tours are led by volunteer docents who have a plethora of knowledge regarding the property and a passion to share that knowledge with all who visit.

907 Coral Way, Coral Gables, FL, Phone: 305-446-6800

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Coral Gables Museum is a vintage, coral-rock museum complex that is located in the heart of Coral Gables, Florida. The museum is housed within the Old Police and Fire Station, and features outdoor spaces and additional galleries that were added in 2010. The new spaces include a courtyard just off the main lobby, a gorgeous 5000-square-foot public plaza, and the 3000-square-foot Fewell Gallery. Visitors can explore and learn about the building’s rich history by taking cellphone audio tours, viewing photography exhibits in the lobby, or schedule guided tours. Current exhibits include Coral Gables Sister Cities: Partners in Peace / On-Going, and Creating the Dream: George E. Merrick and His Vision for Coral Gables / On-Going.

285 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL, Phone: 305-603-8067

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What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Crandon Park is a beautiful 808-acre urban park that is situated within Miami, Florida’s metropolitan area, on the north end of the island of Key Biscayne. It is connected to Florida’s mainland and the city of Miami via the Rickenbacker Causeway. With its tennis and golf facilities, pristine beaches, and unique eco-adventures, the park offers a little something for everyone. There are a wide array of leisure activities available for visitors to enjoy, such as walking, windsurfing, wakeboarding, sailing, snorkeling, paddle-boarding, kite-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, biking, and skateboarding. The park is equipped with restrooms, restaurants, picnic pavilions, cabanas, boat ramps, docks, marinas, and a nature center.

6747 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL, Phone: 305-361-5421

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Curtiss Mansion, also known as Dar-Err-Aha, MSTR Now. 2, and the Miami Springs Villas House, is a historic mansion located in Miami Springs, Florida. In 1998, funds were raised by the Curtiss Mansion, Inc. Corporation and city of Miami Springs to restore and manage the rehabilitation of Curtiss Mansion. In 2011, another contractual phase with the city and CMI continued fundraising efforts for the operation and maintenance of the mansion. Today the mansion can be reserved for corporate events, engagements, special moments, weddings, celebrations, and historic tours. The mansion is also the host of youth activities, classes, exhibits, films, lectures, performing arts presentations, and many other events.

500 Deer Run, Miami Springs, FL, Phone: 305-869-5180

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Located in Miami, Florida, the Deering Estate proudly preserves the 1920s estate of Charles Deering – the International Harvester Company’s first chairman, a philanthropist, art collector, environmentalist, early preservationist, and Chicago industrialist. Nestled along South Dade’s coast, the Deering estate is a historic site and cultural asset that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A main focal point of the community’s cultural memory and identity, the Deering Estate is a unique, 21st Century museum where residents and visitors can enjoy programs, signature events, and the preservation of history. Visitors will have the chance to partake in daily tours where they can hike through natural areas, tour historic homes, and examine pre-historic tools and fossils.

16701 Southwest 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL, Phone: 305-235-1668

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For Garden and Nature Lovers:

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a wonderfully picturesque, 83-acre botanic garden in Coral Gables, Florida. Fairchild is devoted to explaining, exploring, and conserving the tropical plants of the world. Fairchild is a premier, education-based garden that has been recognized internationally for its conservation efforts. With over 1,200 volunteers and 45,000 members, Fairchild plays several roles, including a learning center, laboratory, museum, and conservation facility; the garden’s biggest and most important role however, is the preservation of biodiversity. There are several fun festivals throughout the year for visitors to enjoy that include the International Chocolate Festival, International Orchid Festival, and International Mango Festival.

10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL, Phone: 305-667-1651

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The Kampong, National Tropical Botanical Garden is a gorgeous 9-acre botanical garden that is situated within the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida. This garden is one of five gardens that are part of a non-profit organization called the National Tropical Botanical Garden. The garden contains a fascinating variety of tropical fruit flowering trees and cultivars for visitors to explore. Some of the exotic fruits found here include over 50 different varieties of mango, cocoplums, egg fruit, peanut butter fruit, and candle fruit. The garden also contains numerous species of flowering trees, cycads, and palms that scientists study from all over the world. Visitors can enjoy guided and self-guided tours of the gardens all throughout the year.

4013 Douglas Road, Miami, FL, Phone: 305-442-7169

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The Tropical Audubon Society has a mission of conserving and restoring South Florida’s ecosystems, putting an emphasis on birds and other wildlife in their natural habitats. They aim to protect the environment, indigenous species, and native plants by promoting intelligent stewardship of natural and habitat resources. Visitors will have the chance to explore the Doc Thomas House – an old property listed on the National Register of Historic Places; as well as the Steinberg Nature Center. Visitors will find the Tropical Audubon Society near Miami’s bustling south downtown area. The 2.2 acres of lush landscape consists of hardwood hammock habitats and pine rockland.

5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL, Phone: 305-667-7337

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Rum Renaissance Festival is a unique annual festival.